39 Amendments of Harald VILIMSKY related to 2019/2172(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the fact that the hostilities in the Western Balkan are not over and that there is no stabile Peace established, merely a standstill in hostilities,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
- having regard to the fact that no comprehensive transitional justice process was implemented in Kosovo in order to come to terms with the conflict and as such most if not all underlying issues leading to the conflict remains unsolved today,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
Citation 21 a (new)
- having in regard that the EU member states of Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece have not recognized the Republic of Kosovo,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)
Citation 21 b (new)
- having regard to the fact that Serbia has not recognized the Republic of Kosovo,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 c (new)
Citation 21 c (new)
- having regard to that the number of unregistered firearms in civilian illegal possession in the Western Balkans is thought to be around 3.8 million and large quantities of ammunition and military explosive devices such as but not limited to hand grenades, anti-personnel- as well as an anti-tank mines,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 d (new)
Citation 21 d (new)
- having regard to: 24.7.2020COM(2020) 608 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking, and the Europol reports: Threat Assessment Report on Illicit Trafficking in Firearms (EDOC#673806v7A of June2013), Intelligence Notification (19/2014); “Firearms in the hands of Terrorist in Europe”(EDOC:#759937v3; May 2015). - observing that Europol confirmed that Western Balkans remain among the main supplying regions of trafficking to the EU,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 e (new)
Citation 21 e (new)
- Observing the reports: Strengthening Resilience in the Western Balkans: Mapping Assistance for SALW Control, Small Arms Survey, September 2018; and UNODC (2020), Global Study on Firearms Trafficking, Vienna and their observations that provides the information: that the ongoing threat in the Western Balkans region was confirmed by several studies. It is stresses that weapons used in terrorist attacks in the EU “were acquired through local illicit firearm markets and were found to originate from the Western Balkans and the Western Balkans is the main supplier of illicit firearms in Europe. In addition it is described of the links between the Western Balkans and small arms used in EU member states in various types of criminal activity. The latest report from the UN on the subject, UNODC Global Firearms Study confirms that the Western Balkans remain a source of illicit firearms, notably assault rifles for Western Europe,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Kosovo needs to focus on fundamental reforms to address acute structural shortcomings in the areas of rule of law, fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform, as well as economic development and competitiveness;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Kosovo continues to struggle with political instability, in particular since that has marked the early legislative elections of 6 October 2019ea since the 1970s;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Kosovo remains the only countryarea in the Western Balkans whose citizens need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area although all benchmarks for visa liberalisation have been fulfilled since 2018;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Kosovo is in urgent needs to step up its efforts inart the fight ing earnest against corruption and organised crime, especially the close links to local and central government and key institutions;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Kosovo has made progress in adapting its legal framework to the EU acquis but needs to increase its efforts and resources in order to effectively implement new laws and rules in a more committed and serious manner across policy fieldsmplement new laws and rules in a serious manner;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic, just like in the rest of the world that implemented a "shut-down" of their societies, represents an unprecedented burden on Kosovo’s already ailing health-, economy-, and social protection- systems;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the attraction of working in a Member State or other more developed nation has created a detrimental loss of both highly to medium skilled individuals in Kosovo, and this is to the general detriment of the development of Kosovo; currently it is estimated that 11 million immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, or ten percent of their population, currently reside in Western Europe a number that has substantially risen in the last 20 years; and according to the Gallup survey presented in 2018 showing that 42% of the population in Kosovo, excluding children, wanted to immigrate;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the EU haMember States mobilised financial support of more than EUR 3.3 billion forto use for the Western Balkan countries/area to address the immediate health crisis and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas Kosovo needs to ensure the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites belonging to minority groups, especially for the Serbian community as well as Christian Albanians;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes Kosovo’s continued commitment to advancing on its European path, as well as the strong support for European integration among Kosovo’s populationCalls on Kosovo to implement a full transitional justice process as defined by the United Nations;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Does not accept the lack of willingness and ability by the Government and its institutions to control the possession of illegal fire arms and military-grade explosive devices and stop the illegal movement of these weapons into the Member States as this undermines and deny the full utilization of human rights for citizens in the Member States, urges the Government to show credible action to control these weapons and stop their entry into the Member States;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses concern about the dissolution of the Ministry of the EU Integration, and calls on the Government of Kosovo to ensuregoal of the Government of Kosovo to join the EU as it would provide the conditions for a major exodus of their citizens that thare new structure is granted the level of competence and reseded in the future development of Kosovo as a loss of these individuals will seriously compromise the ponssibilities appropriate to ensuring proper coordination of thfor the citizens in Kosovo to create an environment that can ensure fintegration processancial development, democratic stability and an acceptable welfare system;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls onProposes the EU Member States to show continued commitment to enlargement, and to pursue a more effective communication policy towards EU citizens ontart a new debate on the need and use of EU enlargement, the debate shall also include a consultative element for all citizens of the Member States to provide their view on EU enlargement;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the signature of the agreement for economic normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia on 4 September in Washington; underlines that transatlantic cooperation is a crucial factor for stability in the region;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the progress inattempts of adapting the legal framework on the rule of law; regrets, however, the weaknotes the level of none- implementation, and calls on the Kosovo authorities to step up efforts in enforcing the laws to the benefit of their citizens;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to intensify the fight againsfight corruption, and expresses its serious concern about the abolition of the special anti-corruption department within the Kosovo Police (KP) as well as the low level of implementation of the multitude of expert proposals delivered by the countless senior law enforcement experts provided by the Member States and partner nations, within the longstanding rule of law mission EULEX, that has been operational since 2009;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the adoption of measures helping to limit external interference in judicial proceedings, as well as the increase in final court judgments published; believes that further measures are required to ensure greater independence of the judiciary and to stop undue interference in high- profile cases;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates that selections and appointments for high-level decision- making positions in the civil service and publicly owned enterprises remain of great concernis one of many corrupt practices that must be abolished if any steps shall be taken towards reducing the rampant corruption at central and local levels;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for greater protection and inclusion of persons belonging to minorities, including Turkish, Bosniak, Serb, Croat, Gorani, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, as well as persons with disabilities, by providing them with adequate health and social protection and care; urges more efforts to fight discrimination and antigypsyism;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for better cooperation between government and civil society, and for increased participation of civil society in policymaking organizations with a proven track record of professional engagement;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes Kosovo’s efforts in maintaining constructive neighbourly relations throughout the region and in proactively aligning with the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP);
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is a priority and a precondition for EU accession; calls for active and constructive engagement in the EU-facilitated dialogue led by the EU Special Representative, seeking a comprehensive and legally binding agreementshould be viewed as a priority by the two parties; proposes an active and constructive engagement in seeking a comprehensive and legally binding agreement, through a fully implemented Transitional Justice Process in accordance with international law; reiterates its call to move forward with the fullthe proposal to implementation, in good faith and in a timely manner, of all the agreements already reached;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Commends the good regional cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia in the fight against the spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic, including cooperation between the mayors of Mitrovica andNorth and Mitrovica South as well as the communication between Ministers of Health;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Emphasises the need for investing in digitalisation as a way of minimising the digital divide and ensuring equal access to the internet, including for the most vulnerable groups and rural areas;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the authorities to ensure alignment with EU standards and policy objectives on climate protection and environment, in line with the commitments made under the Paris Agreement and the strategic objective of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal, and asks the Commission to include Kosovo in the European Green Dealconsider to strive for environmental protection and an effort to cut down on pollution across Kosovo;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Expresses serious concern about the continuing high rate of premature deaths due to polluted air; urges the Kosovo authorities to tackle air pollution immediately and phase out coal;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls onSuggest Kosovo to implement safe, credible and sustainable public transport and mobility policies for addressing long- standing infrastructure deficiencies, including regular public transport links to North Mitrovica and safety concerns, especially for minority groups such as the Serbs;