Activities of Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL related to 2021/2246(INI)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the 2021 Commission Report on Kosovo
Amendments (69)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the Sofia Summit of 10 November2020, including the Declaration on the Common Regional Market and the Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the European Union is Kosovo’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 33 % of total exports and 50 % of total imports in 2020;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the EU is the largest provider of financial assistance to Kosovo and whereas Kosovo benefits from pre- accession assistance under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), with a total of EUR 1.21 billion between 2007 and 2020;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas the Commission adopted a package of EUR 70 million under IPA II to help fund the access of Western Balkan countries to COVID-19 vaccines procured by EU Member States;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Ed. whereas the assistance under IPA III is based on strict conditionality and envisages modulation and suspension of assistance in cases of backsliding in democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes Kosovo’s renewed commitment to advance on EU-related reforms and the overwhelming public support for European integration; notes the strong majority in the Kosovo Parliament following the general elections and calls on the government to make use of its stable majority to urgently advance the necessary reforms;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. WelcomeCommends the peaceful and orderly conduct of the early legislative elections of 14 February 2021 and the municipal elections of 17 October and 14 November 2021;, regrets, however, the low representation of women and the limited political competition in the Kosovo-Serb municipalitie, freedom of choice and of expression in the Kosovo-Serb municipalities, as noted in the EU election observation mission reports;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on Kosovo to address the long-standing deficiencies in the electoral process as a matter of urgency, in particular with regard to campaign rules, the voting by citizens abroad and the accuracy of voter lists; deplores the fact that many of the recommendations issued by previous EU election observation missions since 2013 remain unaddressed and underlines that these long overdue reforms need strong political commitment and meaningful involvement of the political parties and civil society;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its call on the Council to proceed urgently with the adoption of a visa-free regime for the citizens of Kosovo; Deeply regrets that the Council has failed to deliver on the EU’s promise to approve the visa-free regime for Kosovo, as well as on starting accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania; emphasises its full solidarity and sympathies with the countries’ citizens and considers this failure, which undermines the public attitude towards the EU, a serious danger to the enlargement policy as a whole, damaging the EU’s reputation as a reliable partner and serious geopolitical actor; reiterates its call on the Member States in the Council, in particular France and the Netherlands, to proceed urgently with the adoption of a visa-free regime for the citizens of Kosovo and recalls that Kosovo has consistently fulfilled all the benchmarks since 2018; underlines that the lack of visa liberalisation affects directly Kosovo citizens while emboldening criminal networks involved in illicit smuggling and organised crime;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes also Kosovo’s intention to apply for membership of the European Union in 2022, but stresses that there is no fast-track procedure and thatfor any candidate or potential candidate country and theat normalisation of relations with Serbia is necessary for Kosovo to advance on its European path; therefore, encourages Kosovo’s authorities to refocus their efforts on advancing and delivering on the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue process, and to not create another source of disappointment for its citizens by prematurely applying for EU membership;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the fact that five EU Member States, namely Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain, have not yet recognised Kosovo and reiterates its call for them to do so;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. WNotes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a source of utmost concern for the Western Balkans, in particular for Kosovo citizens; welcomes the adoption of the resolution of the Assembly of Kosovo strongly condemning the military aggression and the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and commends Kosovo for its speedy alignment with the EU by adopting sanctions against Russia and its strong solidarity expressed with Ukraine, positioning Kosovo as a very reliable partner, deeply anchored in the European and transatlantic alliance; notes with relief that no concrete serious threats to the security and the territorial integrity of Kosovo have been reported recently; underlines that a successful integration of the North and further efforts to improve the daily life of Kosovo Serbs can contribute essentially to the overall stability and security situation in the country;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the increased efforts to fight corruption, including by the adoption of the Rule of Law Strategy and underlines that implementation is key; commends Kosovo for having moved up 17 places on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021; encourages Kosovo to continue improving its track record in the fight against high- level corruption and organised crime and to be more active in the fight against money laundering;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
Paragraph 16 e (new)
16e. Welcomes Kosovo’s continued efforts to repatriate and integrate foreign fighters; encourages Kosovo to adopt a new Strategy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Radicalism Leading to Terrorism, bearing in mind that the implementation of the previous strategy faced a lack of institutional coordination and of financial tools;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is concerned that the judiciary continues to be inefficient and vulnerable to political interference; welcomes, in this respect, the proposals for the reform of the prosecutorial system and underlines that the opinion of the Venice Commission should be fully taken into account in their implementation, highlighting that it is of utmost importance to ensure irreversible political independence and integrity of the judiciary;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Encourages Kosovo to step up efforts to strengthen in general the independence of the judiciary, increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies, enforce assets declaration and confiscation of criminal assets; notes in this context the proposal for a new agency on civil confiscation of assets and reiterates the need to fully take into account the Venice Commission opinion before proceeding with the legislation;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note of the government’s plans for the vetting of judges and prosecutors, and underlines the importance of the Venice Commission’s opinion; stresses that vetting should be used as a last resort and insists that the EU and the US reservations should not be disregardedabout a possible paralysis of the justice system should not be disregarded; strongly encourages Kosovar authorities to make full use of the already existing mechanisms and instruments to immediately improve the justice system’s integrity and functioning;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Regrets that despite the EU’s repeated calls to ensure a fair, transparent and merit-based selection of the Chief State Prosecutor, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council has concluded the selection process disregarding these principles;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the efforts to de- politicise and professionalise Kosovo’s civil service and public administration, and calls on Kosovo to step up its reforms of the public administration and public finances in a progressive and proportionate manner; reiterates the importance of a sound, depoliticised and citizen-oriented public administration appointed through a competitive, merit- based, transparent and fair process;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the long-overdue adoption of the laws on Political Party Financing and Disclosure of Assets by the Assembly of Kosovo and calls for their rigorous implementation;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Deplores the practice of continuous boycotts of the Presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo by Srpska Lista representatives and the high absenteeism of deputies in the Assembly sessions, leading to blockages of some agenda points; welcomes the first-reading adoption of the new Regulation of the Assembly introducing financial sanctions against parliamentarians who do not justify their absence and calls for its speedy final adoption and implementation;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Commends Kosovo’s vibrant and constructive civil society for its work and engagement; encourages the government to establish cooperative working relations with them, based on mutual trust, while respecting their independence, and to ensure their meaningful involvement in the respective reform projects, in particular for key legislation;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges the government to implement the ruling of the Constitutional Court granting parcels of land to the Visoki Dečani Monastery; is concerned that the authorities have still not implemented this court decision, thereby undermining the government’s commitment to enforcing the rule of law and its respect for an independent judiciary; underlines the importance of implementing all Constitutional Court decisions and to apply a non-selective approach to the concept of rule of law;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Welcomes the prolongation of the mandate of the EULEX mission and the cooperation shown by Kosovo authorities, as well as the recent deployment of a temporary unit to strengthen capacities of the EULEX Formed Police Unit (FPU); encourages Kosovo to continue its cooperation with EULEX and with the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, as an important demonstration of its commitment to the rule of law;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Commends the agreement with Europol for secure exchange of information as a step towards further cooperation between the Kosovo Police and Europol;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16d. Underlines in this context that Interpol is an important instrument in the fight against organised crime; regrets that Kosovo is not yet a member of Interpol, despite its multiple attempts to become one; calls for Kosovo’s inclusion in Interpol and on EU Member States to proactively support Kosovo's bid to join this organisation;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Urges the Commission to implement the findingrecommendations of the European Court of Auditors Special Report 01/2022, in order to ensuringe an effective rule-of-law impact of EU financial assistance in the Western Balkanssupport to the rule of law in the Western Balkans, in particular by developing guidelines on the application of IPA III provisions on modulation/ conditionality;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls upon the EU and the Western Balkan countries to establish a framework for a fruitful cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Western Balkan countries, in order to ensure that the EPPO can effectively exert its competences in the area of EU funds, in particular in the area of IPA III funds in the Western Balkan countries;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on the European Commission to link funding more closely to progress on the rule of law, to increase support to civil-society organisations and independent media;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that Kosovo’s legal and institutional framework broadly guarantees the protection of human, minority and fundamental rights, but that implementation is key;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets the Kosovo Assembly’s failure to adopt the draft Civil Code, which would bring much-needed progress for Kosovo citizens, in particular in improving the conditions of the most vulnerable parts of Kosovo society, especially women and children, as well as LGBTI+ persons, and would have a positive impact on the economic development of Kosovo;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Condemns in this context all derogatory, discriminating, and degrading speech against the LGBTI+ community, single parents and others, including by some high-level politicians; calls on the competent authorities to continue working on the Civil Code, fully in line with the constitution and ensuring its swift adoption; calls in this regard for more public engagement of the Kosovar leadership promoting fundamental human rights for all Kosovar citizens, including LGBTI+ people; expresses its support for the inclusion of same-sex partnerships into the legislation, in line with the Kosovar constitutions;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Regrets the fact that the initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures are only very limited; reiterates that the institutionalisation of the learning of official languages in Kosovo and equal access to services and information in the official languages are essential; welcomes in this respect the establishing of the Department for Balkan studies at the University of Pristina and the decision to open a language centre for learning Kosovo’s official languages; reiterates its call to the Kosovar government to considerably step up its efforts, improve the internal dialogue and genuinely engage with independent civil society organisations of Kosovo Serbs, in particular in the North, with the aim of improving the daily life of Kosovo Serbs and successfully integrating them;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates its call for greater inclusion and protection of persons belonging to minorities, including the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, as well as persons with disabilities and displaced persons, by providing them with access to adequate healthcare and social protection, ensuring their access to education, justice, public services, housing and the labour market, as well as to political and social decision-making, while efficiently tackling intersectional forms of discriminations these groups are facing, through a systemic institutional approach; urges for more efforts to fight antigypsyism; encourages the government to accelerate work on a new 2021-2026 strategy and action plan for the inclusion of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls for the urgent revision of high-school textbooks, which provide misinformation and use discriminatory language and descriptions for ethnic minorities, sexual minorities and women; encourages government authorities to pursue the initiative started in late 2021 aimed at updating them;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines that the free media are one of the essential pillars of democracy and that journalists must be protected from political pressure; stresses that the use of defamatory language against journalists is unacceptabcondemns the political pressure to which they are often subjected, as well as the use of SLAPPs to intimidate them and which also leads to self-censorship; stresses that the use of defamatory language against journalists is unacceptable; warns against any statements stigmatising media in particular from officials and public figures who should lead by example;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the media landscape has been distorted in recent years, with large- scale investments leading to increased private sector influence over major media outlets and online media being frequently used for commercial and political blackmail; reiterates the need to guarantee media transparency, including on media ownership; warmly welcomes the appointment of the new members of the Board of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) while noting that further steps are needed in order to safeguard its independence;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Is deeply concerned about the continuing high level of domestic and gender-based violence in Kosovo; calls for the effective implementation of the national strategy against domestic and gender-based violence; and the number of femicide cases, as well as the underwhelming performance of the judiciary in efficiently prosecuting femicides and cases of GBV; calls for the effective implementation of the national strategy against domestic and gender-based violence; underlines that education is key in order to fight gender-based discrimination; highlights the need to ensure a proper functioning of the system of protection, prevention and adjudication of all forms of gender-based violence, including through an increase of the number of gender-sensitive law enforcement agents and judges, of support to women shelters and legal aid to victims, as well as of public awareness raising campaigns;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes Kosovo's efforts to improve overall coordination on gender equality while calling for further progress in achieving gender equality and advancing women’s rights, including by prioritising gender mainstreaming and increased cooperation with civil society, in particular women’s organisations;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls against this backdrop for the EU to urgently strengthen its support for and cooperation with Kosovo in addressing disinformation and fighting malign hybrid activities, in particular from Russia and China;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Is highly alerted that the EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being hit particularly hard by attacks in the form of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns stemming from Russia and China; is alarmed that Hungary and Serbia are helping China and Russia with their geopolitical objectives; recommends convening dialogues with Western Balkan civil society and the private sector to coordinate anti-disinformation efforts in the region, with an emphasis on research and analysis and the inclusion of regional expertise; calls on the Commission to build up the infrastructure required to produce evidence-based responses to both short-term and long-term disinformation threats in the Western Balkans; calls on the EEAS to pivot to a more proactive stance, focusing on building the EU’s credibility in the region, rather than defending it, in expanding StratCom monitoring to focus on cross-border disinformation threats emanating from Western Balkan countries and their neighbours;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Emphasises that all regional economic cooperation schemes in the Western Balkans should be inclusive and acceptable to all six countries, establishing cooperation on an equal footing among all six countries, while strengthening further alignment with EU standards and acquis; expresses, in this context, its scepticism towards the Open Balkan Initiative, while pointing to the danger that a regional economic cooperation initiative not encompassing all six countries and not being based on EU rules could have a negative impact on the EU integration processes;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reconfirms its unequivocal support for the EU- facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and explicitly commends the work of the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák; reiterates the importance of constructive engagement on the part of the authorities of both Serbia and Kosovo in order to achieve a comprehensive legally binding normalisation agreement, which is crucial for both countries to advance on their respective European paths; calls for all past agreements to be respected and fully implemented, including the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the EU actors to support Kosovo’s authorities, providing concrete security guarantees and opportunities for socio-economic integration when working towards the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities consistent with the Constitution of Kosovo, and as part of a mutual agreement;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29c. Reiterates its regret 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;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Reiterates its call to improve the quality of the dialogue process through the participation of women, including in the negotiation team, increased transparency towards the public and meaningful involvement of civil society;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for the stepping up of efforts and the delivery of solutions on the issues of missing persons and the electricity arrangements in the north of Kosovo; expresses its deep sympathy to the families of the missing persons and urges the government to pay particular attention to keeping them informed and apply a more sensitive mode of communication;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Regrets the destabilisation activities on the border in the North of Kosovo in September 2021, strongly condemning Serbia’s show of military threats, and calls on Kosovo and Serbia to address all issues through dialogue; welcomes the establishment of the Working Group tasked to find a solution on the use of vehicle license plate and urges it to finally come up with a sustainable solution to the benefit of the citizens of both countries;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Deplores several instances of officials not being allowed to enter the territories of Kosovo or Serbia; calls on both parties to treat all visits in a way that is beneficial to the normalisation process and to the overall work in the context of EU-facilitated dialogue;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 e (new)
Paragraph 29 e (new)
29e. 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 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the introduction of a roaming-free zone in the entire Western Balkans as of 1 July 2021, improving connectivity and bringing concrete and tangible benefits to citizens and businesses in the region;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 d (new)
Paragraph 29 d (new)
29d. Commends cultural and youth initiatives, such as the annual cross- border art festival Mirëdita, Dobar Dan, which promotes cooperation between artists and activists of Kosovo and Serbia; encourages Kosovar and Serbian authorities, including at the local level, to further build upon such positive initiatives and use cultural heritage as means of bringing different communities together;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls for the EU to further strengthen foreign policy and security cooperation, public diplomacy and international partnerships in order to achieve progress in reconciliation; welcomes the renewed engagement of the EU allies, in particular the appointment of US and UK special envoys for the Western Balkans, as well as the one from Germany; calls for their close cooperation and coordination with the EU envoy, with a view to strengthening leverage and to provide coherent advice and support;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Welcomes positive developments in Kosovo’s economic growth; welcomes that Kosovo will also benefit from the EU Digital Single Market, given the great potential of digitalisation for the development of Kosovo’s economy;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Notes the heavy impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kosovo economy and welcomes the government’s emergency measures; underlines, however that assistance for the groups most affected by the pandemic was limited; encourages Kosovo to provide well-targeted and temporary pandemic- related fiscal support to vulnerable households and businesses; stresses that the post-pandemic recovery will significantly depend on the authorities’ ability to address the structural challenges and the effective implementation of the economic support packages;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Underlines that the implementation of both fundamental and structural reforms remains essential for economic recovery and development, as efforts to tackle corruption, improving the rule of law, enhance transparency and strengthen institutions and social dialogue would also contribute to attracting foreign direct investments to the country;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Underlines that the inadequate and unreliable supply of electricity is one of the constraints on Kosovo’s competitiveness and that the lack of energy security gives rise to significant costs for business and represents big obstacle to attracting high-quality foreign direct investment; urges Kosovo to step-up efforts to make use of the potential for energy efficiency;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Urges the authorities to continue their efforts to reform the education system so that it provides students with the skills and knowledge required by the labour market; calls for increased efforts to integrate women into the labour marketunderlines the necessity of improving the quality and relevance of the education system to increase employment and mitigate skills mismatches; calls for increased efforts to integrate women into the labour market and in particular to address the lack of implementation of women workers’ rights, gender stereotyping, gender imbalance, and gender pay gap in the labour market; points to significant gender differences in participation and quality of work, insufficient action on sexual harassment in the workplace, discrimination in legal provisions related to maternity leave, and the lack of childcare and pre-school capacity;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33b. Is concerned about the continuing emigration, which deprives Kosovo of much-needed highly skilled workers; welcomes the launch of reforms to improve the capacity of the employment service and the implementation of relevant active labour market policies, including upskilling and on-the-job training;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Stresses the need to streamline the social security system, including the revision of the war veteran pension scheme, and to establish a coherent, fair and fiscally affordable compensation system for public employment;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Encourages Kosovo to effect transition in the agricultural sector in order to increase local food production and reduce imports of basic food items;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the government to speed up its work on the Energy Strategy 2022- 2030, in cooperation with civil society, with a particular focus on a sustainable and affordable energy supply, increased energy efficiency and the further diversification of energy sources in line with the Green Deal Agenda and the Paris Agreement; regrets the continuous delay of the publication of the strategy;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Reiterates its concern that the overwhelming majority of Kosovo’s energy derives from coal and calls on removing all non-compliant coal subsidies, decentralising energy production and moving towards renewables; recognizes the need to fully integrate the northern part of Kosovo into the billing system;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Stresses the need for a healthy environment and the protection of water resources and ecosystems, with a particular focus on rivers for the development of agriculture and strengthening food and water security;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Calls to stop all dam projects inside protected areas, including future Natura 2000 sites (Emerald);
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Commends the efforts in improving the quality of the water basin management and the related permits; welcomes the verdict of Kosovo Supreme Court to suspend the water permit of a hydropower plant in Shterpce;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Reiterates its call to implement sustainable public transport and mobility policies and address long-standing infrastructure deficiencies; welcomes plans for the modernisation of railways with loans from the EBRD and EU grants;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Encourages Kosovo to liberalize its energy market, including retail electricity, in order to allow choice to consumers and to terminate the existing monopoly in the sector; welcomes the opening of a new district heating plant in Gjakova, financed by the EU funds, which is the only plant in Kosovo operating with biomass, and which is expected to reduce the pollution in the area by over 90%;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38b. Welcomes the operations undertaken by Kosovo Police in cooperation with EULEX to disrupt illegal logging throughout Kosovo, encourages the relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies of north and south to increase their cooperation in order to combat this and other crimes;