Activities of Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL related to 2019/2172(INI)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Kosovo
Amendments (77)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the framework agreement with Kosovo on participation in Union programmes, in force since 1 August 2017,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2018 and the Sofia Priority Agenda,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
— having regard to the reports of the UN Secretary-General on the activities of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), including the most recent report of 31 March 2020, and the reports on the operations of the Kosovo Forces (KFOR) of 7 February 2018,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the Council conclusions of 5 June 2020 on enhancing cooperation with Western Balkans partners in the field of migration and security,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the joint communication of 8 April 2020 of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy entitled ‘Communication on the Global EU response to COVID-19’ (JOIN(2020) 11 final), and the Commission communication of 29 April 2020 entitled ‘Support to the Western Balkans in tackling COVID-19 and the post-pandemic recovery’,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the joint declaration of the European Parliament – Western Balkans Speakers’ Summit, convened by the President of the European Parliament with the leadership of the Western Balkan parliaments on 28 January 2020,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)
Citation 18 b (new)
- having regard to the Zagreb Declaration agreed during the EU- Western Balkans summit that took place via video conference on 6 May 2020,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Kosovo’s flourishing informal economy is hindering the development of a viable economy for the country overall;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Kosovo continues to struggle with political instability, in particular since the early legislative elections of 6 October 2019; whereas the end of the Kurti government exposed several structural issues, including undue interference of external actors into the work of the government and the Assembly, independence of the Constitutional Court, and lack of clarity on the legality of the vote on the government;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas there has been a lack of coordination between trans-Atlantic actors recently, with political pressure on Kosovo from the US, and the incoming US administration will provide a new opportunity for better cooperation;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, according to the government of Kosovo, 114 countries have recognised Kosovo’s independence, including 22 of the 27 EU Member States;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes Kosovo’s continued commitment to advancing on its European path and to accelerate reforms, as well as the strong support for European integration among Kosovo’s population;
Amendment 70 #
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 ensure that the new structure is granted the level of competence and responsibilities appropriate to ensuring proper coordination and steering of the integration process;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the peaceful and orderly conduct of the early legislative elections of 6 October 2019, but expresses its concern over the fundamental lack of competition, freedom of choice and expression in the Kosovo Serb community, noted by the EUEOM report; stresses the importance of addressing all the shortcomings identified and recommendations made by the EUEOM;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission’s statement of 26 August 2020 confirmingconfirmation, in its 2020 Kosovo report, of its assessment ofregarding Kosovo’s ability to benefit from the visa liberalisation regime, and calls on the Council to urgently proceed with the adoption of a visa-free regime for the citizens of Kosovo; recalls, in this regard, that Kosovo continues to fulfil all the benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap, as consistently confirmed by the Commission since July 2018; notes that the delay in approving visa liberalisation for Kosovo is weakening the EU’s credibility and withholding urgently needed opportunities for the citizens of Kosovo;
Amendment 96 #
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; regrets, however, provisions in the text that ask Kosovo to stop seeking membership in international organisations, as well as provisions that run counter to accession countries’ ambition to align with EU CFSP; recalls, in that regard, that establishing an Embassy of Kosovo to Israel in Jerusalem would go against the EU's position on Jerusalem and its firm commitment to the two-state solution with Jerusalem as capital of both the State of Israel and the future State of Palestine;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Is concerned about disinformation campaigns to delegitimise Kosovo’s statehood;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to intensify the fight against corruption, and expresses its serious concern about the abolition of the special anti-corruption departmenttask force within the Kosovo Police (KP); underlines that a strong political will is needed to effectively fight corruption and calls to cease any changes of law enforcement and anti- corruption institutions based on party political interests;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the proposal for the new Law on Financing of Political Parties and encourages the National Assembly to adopt a legal framework regulating political party financing in line with the Venice Commission recommendations;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on Kosovo to improve the implementation of its regulatory measures forrelating to the freezing, confiscation and recovery of assets, and forregarding final convictions in cases of high-level corruption, organised and financial crime, money laundering and terrorist financing, and ensure there is no interference with operational activities of law enforcement bodies and the prosecution; notes also the need to improve the financial oversight and accountability of publicly owned enterprises;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the concluding of a Working Arrangement between the Kosovo Police and Europol aimed at increased cooperation, in particular in fighting terrorism and transnational organized crime;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Is concerned that despite an adequate normative framework, Kosovo’s justice system continues to be undermined by accountability shortcomings and transparency issues, failures to properly punish high-level corruption, and political interference;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Is concerned by third countries’ efforts in supporting radicalisation, especially of young people, often by financing or providing significant resources to education institutions in Kosovo;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Welcomes progress in fighting radicalisation, extremism and terrorism; underlines that additional efforts are needed in addressing the financing of terrorism, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign fighters;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Commends Kosovo’s efforts in stemming the outflow of foreign fighters and in tackling terrorist threats; calls for active regional cooperation in countering potential terrorist activities;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the adoption by the Kosovo Judicial Council 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 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Reiterates its support for the work of the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which are an important demonstration of Kosovo’s commitment to the rule of law and whose work is also in the interest of Kosovo; stresses the importance of the Specialist Chambers being able to continue their work independently, without any outside interference; welcomes the prolongation of the mandate of the KSC and its work in The Hague;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Welcomes the prolongation of EULEX mission and asks Kosovo to fully cooperate with EULEX and with the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Welcomes the adoption of the law on Accessing Public Documents; recommends further efforts in increasing the transparency and better monitoring of public spending, including by improving the public procurement system;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates that non-merit based selections and appointments for high-level decision- making positions in the civil service and publicly owned enterprises remain of great concern and repeats its call for progress and clear political commitment to public administration reform, including depoliticisation, increased professionalism, and by advancing the implementation of the relevant legislation;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the improvement in the organisation of the work of the National Assembly and the management of plenary sessions based on the rules of procedure; regrets however the frequent lack of quorum, and ongoing hold-ups in parliamentary work, which has been particularly damaging in the process of adopting the pandemic-related relief package; calls on the Assembly and the Government to adhere to parliamentary best practices;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that Kosovo’s legal and institutional framework broadly guarantees the protection of human and fundamental rights; underlines that challenges remain in its implementation, in particular as regards language rights, including multilingual broadcasting, a lack of which impacts the minority communities’ access to information and has been particularly harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for greater protection and inclusion of persons belonging to minorities, including 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, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of its socio- economic consequences; urges more efforts to fight discrimination and antigypsyism; is particularly concerned by the social discrimination against Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, their exclusion from political and social decision-making and continued lack of resources and access to employment opportunities, justice, public services, housing, healthcare, sewage systems, and running water;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes the pluralistic media environment, but also the failure to ensure the financial and editorial freedom of the public broadcaster; reiterates the need to guarantee full transparency of media ownership, independence of media, free from any political influence, as well as an end to impunity for crimes against journalists; calls for a swift appointment of the commissioner of media protection;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Urges the EEAS to address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the European perspective of the region by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to citizens in the region; stresses the need to improve coordination in order to fight regional disinformation campaigns; reminds of the strong link between weaknesses in media freedom and opportunities for local and foreign actors to manipulate facts and spread disinformation; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to closely cooperate on the those linkages and overlapping challenges, as well as to foster the creation of a Balkan-focused Centre of Excellence on disinformation;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Welcomes the adoption of the Law on Protection of Whistleblowers and encourages to proceed with all the necessary by-laws for its effective and efficient implementation; calls in this respect for the swift appointment of the Commissioner for the Information and Privacy Agency;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Regrets the increasing number of SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) cases, by which journalists and individuals are being threatened and sued in order to silence them and make public debate impossible;
Amendment 169 #
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; reiterates the need for an enhanced accountability and transparency in public funding for civil society;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Is concerned by the lack of coordination of international donors, cited by several organisations active in the country, and urges the Kosovar government to take action in order to avoid doubling efforts and unnecessary overlaps, and to manage its relations with international donors more effectively;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the progress on the protection of LGBTI rights at the legislative and policy level; notes, however, the need for full implementation of the existing anti-discrimination framework, and calls for the proper investigation of cases of hate crime against LGBTI persons; calls on the government to include same-sex partnerships in the Civil Code project, as guaranteed by the country’s Constitution;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Hails the unanimous decision by the National Assembly of Kosovo on 25 September 2020 to give direct effect to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention); expects the Kosovo government to move swiftly to implement the content of the Convention and provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to that effect;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Kosovo authorities to increase efforts to promote t gender equality, including by prioritising gender mainstreaming and increased cooperation with civil society, including women’s organisations, as well as by creating an environment conducive to the better representation of women in decision- making positions; and by making sure school textbooks do not perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination; calls in this respect for the participation of women in the negotiation team responsible for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue; equally, demands that the EU side supports this endeavour and these efforts by adhering to the above mentioned recommendations itself;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Is concerned about the inactivity rate of women, including due to ongoing gender discrimination in the labour market, and calls on the Kosovo authorities to improve the participation of women in the labour market; urges Kosovo to adapt the new Labour law to also regulate leave in order to avoid gender-based discrimination when it comes to rights related to maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its concern about the scale of domestic and gender-based violence; welcomes the revisions of the Criminal Code in this respect; notes, however, that the, as well as improvements observed in the EULEX report in certain aspects of the Kosovo police’s handling of sexual violence cases; notes, however, that the lack of prosecutions and serious punishment, impunity of perpetrators, isnsufficient systems for tracking and case databases, lack of adequate resources and services for victims (shelters, centres for examination, trauma support, counselling), outstanding training and institutionalised treatment protocols for the entire justice system are still of concern;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses the fact that the COVID- 19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on women and minorities by deepening inequality, exacerbating existing problems, including increased domestic violence, and calls on the Kosovar government and authorities to take these issues into account in their responses to the pandemic;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Commends the work of the outgoing Ombudsperson in promoting a culture of human rights and the increased number of his recommendations being implemented by Kosovo authorities, effectively contributing, among others, to the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Hails the adoption of the Law on Child Protection, as a significant step in the protection of children’s rights in Kosovo; stresses that adequate financial and human resources are needed to ensure its effective implementation; points to a particular need to tackle the persistent problem of child and forced marriages, especially in Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, by introducing a legal age for marriage and ensuring adequate actions by and reporting to law enforcement and justice institutions;
Amendment 198 #
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 agreement in accordance with international law; reiterates its call to move forward with the full implementation, in good faith and in a timely manner, of all the agreements already reached; in relation to possible adjustments of the border between Serbia and Kosovo, including exchanges of territories, reiterates the importance of the multi-ethnic nature of both Kosovo and Serbia and that ethnically homogeneous states should not be the objective in the region; calls on Kosovo to tackle ongoing internal problems of Kosovo’s approach to the dialogue, introduce a dedicated team for the negotiations, as well as a joint negotiating platform and a dialogue between the ruling coalition and opposition parties;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that five Member States have not yet recognised Kosovo, and reiterates its call for them to do so; stresses that recognition would be beneficial to the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and condemns in this regard Serbia’s non-recognition campaign against Kosovo which led to several countries withdrawing their recognition;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Regrets that the Mitrovica Bridge has not yet been opened to all traffic, in spite of the completion of the renovation works; calls on the Serbian and Kosovar authorities to promote people-to-people contacts between local communities in order to strengthen dialogue, including at a non-governmental level; in that regard, calls on Kosovar authorities to ensure access to official documents in all official languages across Kosovo;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Calls on the Commission, EEAS and the Council to support the Prime Minister and his team in the internal reconciliation dialogue with Kosovo Serbs, providing concrete security guarantees and opportunities for socio- economic integration and working towards the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities, consistent with the Constitution of Kosovo, and as part of a mutual agreement;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to invest more strategically in the Western Balkans through a dedicated Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) and Kosovo’s inclusion in the EIP, in particular in terms of regional and cross- border cooperation; stresses that any investment must be in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and EU decarbonisation targets;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Reiterates its support for the initiative to establish the Regional Commission for the establishment of facts about war crimes and other gross human rights violations on the territory of the former Yugoslavia (RECOM); highlights the importance of the work carried out by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and welcomes Kosovo’s active participation; reiterates the need to reach out to young people from the northern municipalities and to integrate them in the socio-economic structures of the country;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for more efforts in dealing with the requests of family members of missing persons, the opening of wartime archives, and for information to be revealed about people who are still listed as missing from the 1998-99 Kosovo war; urges the continued implementation of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council’s strategy on war crimes that is still severely hampered by political issues, a lack of resources and the lack of international and regional cooperation; underlines the importance of information on grave sites and convictions of all war crimes in order to provide justice for victims;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Encourages Kosovo authorities, in particular local municipalities, to use cultural heritage as a means of bringing different communities together and to promote more effectively the multi-ethnic cultural and religious heritage of the country; is concerned by the growing trend towards monolingualism and the lack of understanding of different languages of Kosovo communities, particularly among young people; therefore stresses the need to learn each other’s languages, introduce platforms to interact, adapt the education system, and tackle the underrepresentation of non- majority communities in the civil service;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Notes that visa-free travel between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo is a necessary pre-condition to expand regional cooperation;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Calls on the Commission to focus IPA III funds on the ongoing democratic transition of Kosovo, more so than infrastructure projects, especially in light of persistent problems with the investment climate, absorption capacity, and environmental standards in Kosovo;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Stresses the need for urgent implementation of active labour market policies, including upskilling and on-the- job training, in order to increase employment of vulnerable groups; underlines that the training and education system should be reformed to cope with labour and market needs; reiterates the importance of creating further opportunities for youth and women;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Urges Kosovo to work towards improving the quality of education in the country through further progress of school reforms, providing necessary learning materials and the right physical conditions for all students, in particular regarding problems of access to education during the current pandemic;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. EWelcomes the fact that Kosovo will also benefit from the EU Digital Single Market, and emphasises the need for investing in digitalisation as a way of improving services for citizens, minimising the digital divide and ensuring equal access to the internet, including for the most vulnerable groups and rural areas;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Notes that structural weaknesses have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular due to the delay in adopting the law on economic recovery, and urges Kosovo authorities to implement effective structural reforms to mitigate the impact of pandemic and accelerate the post-crisis economic recovery, including the lack of public health insurance, as well as the issue of division of competences between President and Prime Minister in handling the pandemic, as demonstrated when declaring a state of emergency to enable a country-wide lockdown;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Regional Roaming Agreement signed in April 2019 as a clear example of how regional cooperation can bring concrete benefits for the citizens and the businesses of the region;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Notes that the pandemic is putting the health system under stress; urges Kosovo to strengthen the health sector in order to provide adequate and accessible primary health services for all citizens, in particular through needs-based social benefits for the groups most affected by the COVID-19 crisis; notes that a high number of health professionals have left Kosovo, mostly to EEA countries, which is further worsening the lack of healthcare professionals;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Reiterates that the EU has swiftly mobilised immediate support for the Western Balkans to tackle the health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the socio-economic recovery of the region;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33b. Notes the adoption of over EUR 138 million in assistance for Kosovo through the IPA 2019 and IPA 2020 programmes, out of which EUR 50 million has been re-programmed to tackle the social and economic fallout of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the short and medium term; calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that Kosovo is also included in the joint EU procurement for vaccination;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33c. Calls for improved revenue collection and better supervision of publicly owned enterprises; commends initial progress in reducing tax debt; stresses that further efforts are needed to raise tax revenue by reducing the informal economy and improving the efficiency of tax revenue collection, which could secure more funding for priority areas, including education and health;
Amendment 264 #
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 theKosovo to work on the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which mirrors European Green Deal priorities;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Is deeply concerned that the overwhelming majority of energy in Kosovo derives from coal power, as well as at the plans to build a new coal power plant; urges Kosovo to increase the sustainability of its energy sector by diversifying its energy sources, removing without delay all non-compliant coal subsidies, decentralising energy production and moving towards renewables; calls on Kosovo to conduct environmental impact assessments of international standard and adopt necessary measures to preserve and protect environmentally sensitive areas;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Recalls that prioritising and improving energy efficiency measures, including conversion of the existing coal- and petroleum products-based district heating into a high efficiency cogeneration and renewables-based system is a key factor in reaching climate targets; emphasises the importance of tackling energy poverty;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Calls on the full implementation of the Energy Community Treaty, including the implementation of the state aid acquis and full opening of the national electricity market, moving towards regional market integration; encourages work on regional connectivity and completion of the Regional Energy Market;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Expresses serious concern about the continuing high rate of premature deaths due to polluted air stemming from the emissions exceeding the legally established ceilings for large combustion plants; urges the Kosovo authorities to tackle air pollution immediately and phase out coal; calls on Kosovo to implement its National Emission Reduction Plan;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Encourages Kosovo authorities to give more priority to the enforcement of environmental legislation and biodiversity standards, as well as to environmental awareness and education among Kosovo citizens; encourages Kosovo to adopt the Law on Climate Change as soon as possible; calls on Kosovo to develop and adopt an integrated National Energy and Climate Plan without further delay;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Welcomes the adoption of the 2020 IPA Annual Action Programme for Kosovo of a total value of EUR 90 million, and insists that IPA funds are used to promote the green agenda by reinforcing environmental protection, contributing to mitigation and increasing resilience to climate change and, accelerating the shift towards a low-carbon economy; calls on the Commission to better monitor the use of funds and report any misuse of EU funds;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38b. Calls on Kosovo authorities to respect the law on special protected zones, including the plans to build a new road near the Serbian Orthodox Visoki Decani monastery;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 c (new)
Paragraph 38 c (new)
38c. Is concerned about the low amount of available water resources; calls on Kosovo authorities to respect special natural and protected zones when planning hydropower plants and not to put in danger the sustainability of the water supply;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 d (new)
Paragraph 38 d (new)
38d. Calls on Kosovo to continue to increase the waste collection coverage, notably with the improvement of separation of waste and recycling, introduce circular economy measures to reduce waste and address the issue of illegal dumpsites;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 e (new)
Paragraph 38 e (new)
38e. Commends Kosovo in its continuous and constructive cooperation on migration; stresses that further actions are needed to ensure sufficient administrative and enforcement capacity to tackle migration challenges, including smuggling of migrants;