47 Amendments of Andrey KOVATCHEV related to 2022/2201(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
— having regard to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2019 and the Sofia Declaration, annexed thereto,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
— having regard to the Zagreb Declaration adopted at the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 6 May 2020,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
— having regard to the 8th Berlin Process Summit of 5 July 2021,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
— having regard to the Sofia Summit of 10 November 2020, including the Declaration on Common Regional Market and the Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2018 and the Sofia Declaration, annexed thereto;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the EU made a promise 20 years ago in Thessaloniki, but also more recently in the Tirana Summit the EU gave full commitment to EU membership for WB6 and called for an accelerated accession process;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas the EU is Kosovo’s biggest donor, trading partner and investor;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes Kosovo’s application for EU membership, which reflects continued the pro- European orientation of its citizens and a clear geopolitical strategic choice, as well as overwhelming public support for European integration and identity; welcomes the population's pro-western spirit and the rate of progress with regards to EU-related reforms calls on the Commission to take the necessary further steps to launch the application process without further delay; calls on the Member States to invite the European Commission to present the questionnaire without further delay in order to assess Kosovo’s readiness for EU candidate status;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the declarations of support for Kosovo’s application for EU membership received by governmental representatives from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands and Sweden;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that by the end of the third quarter of 2022 Kosovo has implemented 40% of reforms, or 135 out of 341; notes that an additional 22% of reforms, or 77, were under implementation;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the long-awaited agreement on granting visa liberalisation to the citizens of Kosovo, at the latest on 1 January 2024;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the long-awaited agreement on granting visa liberalisation to the citizens of Kosovo, and urges the smooth and fast implementation of the agreement;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the five Member States that have not yet recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state to do so without further delay; welcomes the fact that Israel has recognized Kosovo on 4 September 2020; regrets that despite the fact that the Republic of Korea has recognized Kosovo as an independent state, it has not yet established diplomatic relations with Kosovo;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes note of theWelcomes the longest period of political stability following the 2021 elections and encourages Kosovo to make further efforts to address the challenges on its European path; underlines the fact that the pace of the accession process will depend on progress on the rule of law and fundamental rights and the normalisation of relations with Serbia based on mutual recognition ;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. CommendWelcomes Kosovo’s ongoing alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, in particular its strong condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its implementation of the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus; notes that this alignment reflects continued and strong commitment towards EU integration;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes Kosovo's readiness to host Ukrainian refugees and the adoption of measures to support them; welcomes the implementation of the "Journalists in Residence" programme that enables Ukrainian journalists to live and work in Kosovo;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its support for Kosovo’s application for membership of the Council of Europe and the country’s plan to join the NATO Partnership for Peace programme; calls on Serbia to lift its blocking vote that prohibits Kosovo from being a member in the Council of Europe and other international organisations;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes the progress made by Kosovo in the implementation of the priorities of the European Reform Agenda II; commends the efforts in strengthening the institutional capacities for implementation, monitoring and reporting of EU related reforms;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes Kosovo’s increased ranking second time in a row in the 2022 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index; notes that compared to other countries in the region, Kosovo is the most democratic country recognized so by international acknowledged indexes;1a _________________ 1a https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of- law-index/ https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022 /index/ksv
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Notes that Kosovo is in the final stages of completing the new National Development Strategy (NDS) 2030, together with the implementation plan (NDSP) covering 2023-2025; NDSP will be the work plan for the entire government; welcomes that NDS is developed through a very inclusive process involving a broad range of stakeholders from civil society, business community and development partners;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7 e. Notes that key progress in the area of home affairs was made by the adoption of the Migration Strategy and of the Concept Document on Foreigners;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. NotWelcomes the adoption of significant anti-corruption legislation and calls for the rigorous implementation thereof; underlines that a strong political will is necessary to effectively address high-level corruption;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the positive steps taken towards reforming Kosovo’s public administration and encourages the government to intensify its efforts to create a professional, depoliticised and citizen- oriented civil service; welcomes that within this year Kosovo will put in force two framework laws (on public officials and on salaries in the public sector), as well as legislative changes for two rounds of the rationalization of independent agencies; notes that the government has also adopted a new, integrated Public Administration Reform Strategy 2022- 2027 and Action Plan (covering 2022- 2024), as well as the Public Financial Management Strategy 2022-2026 and Action Plan 2022-2024;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Regrets the fact that legislative work has been negatively affected by a polarised political atmosphere and difficulties in achieving a quorum; calls on the relevant stakeholders to improve the management of the legislative agenda and urges the members of the opposition to cease the practice of absnot taking part in the sessions and not takiningg part in the votes;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the fact that there haves been somean increased number of successful operations targeting organised crime, but notes with regret that limited progress has been made in investigating and prosecuting such cases; is concerned about the challenging situation regarding the fight against organised crime in the north of Kosovo;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the many cases of femicide and gender-based and sexual violence; calls on the police, courts and government to step up its efforts to combat domestic and gender-based violence and improve the protective and preventive measures in place;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Acknowledges that Kosovo’s constitution is very progressive in terms of minority rights; in that respect, notes with regret that the petition signed by nearly 500 people who have historically self- identified as Bulgarian, which was registered at the Assembly of Kosovo in May 2018, has still not been considered and recommends that those rights be enshrined in law and ensured in practice;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Regrets the fact that the initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures remain very limited; welcomes, however, the government’s increased dialogue with Kosovo Serbian citizens over the last year; calls on the Government of Kosovo and the representatives of Kosovo Serbs to further commit to genuine dialogue in order to increase mutual trust;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its full support for the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue; calls on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in this dialogue in good faith and in the spirit of compromise to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of their relations, based on mutual recognition, in accordance with international law; calls for the full implementation of all the relevant agreements, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb- Majority Municipalities; welcomes the firm commitment of Kosovo’s government to constructively contribute in creating necessary conditions for productive dialogue that will effectively lead to reach a Comprehensive Agreement on the normalisation of Relations with Serbia centred on mutual recognition;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Condemns all actions that endanger stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process, including the tensions in Norththe northern municipalities of Kosovo, and recalls the shared responsibility for peace and the rule of law for all people in Kosovo; regrets that in order to mobilize reluctant Kosovo Serbs into active disobedience, Belgrade resorted to burning their cars to dissuade Kosovo Serbs from taking RKS plates;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Expresses its concern about the emergence of hybrid threats, such as by the presence of the Russian Wagner Group in Serbia; expresses its concern about the recently appeared “Wagner” sign on the wall of a school in a majority- Albanian village in the northern part of Kosovo and other Wagner signs in Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Urges Kosovan authorities to investigate the alleged presence of the Russian Wagner Group mercenaries on the border with Serbia; in that respect expresses serious concern about the Russian Wagner Group graffiti, that appeared in public spaces in the northern regions Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Expresses its concern about Serbia’s consistent propaganda that Serbs in Kosovo are threatened, who will no longer tolerate Kosovo’s “terror” and that given that KFOR & EULEX “are doing nothing”, Serbia must return its troops to come to their defence;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24 d. Calls for the opening and the publication of all wartime archives; reiterates its call, therefore, for the former Yugoslav archives to be opened and, in particular, for access to be granted to the files of the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS), and for the files to be returned to the respective governments if they so request;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls for the opening and the publication of all wartime archives; reiterates its call, therefore, for the former Yugoslav archives to be opened and, in particular, for access to be granted to the files of the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS), and for the files to be returned to the respective governments if they so request;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Welcomes the fact that in 2022 the Kosovan economy has grown again, GDP grew by 4.51% in the first quarter of the year and 2.14% in the second, a cumulative growth of 3.32% in the first half of the year;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26 b. Welcomes Kosovo’s efforts to boost competitiveness, business environment, SMEs and internal market, by implementing reforms including the law on inspections, amended law on protection of competition, Consumer Protection Programme 2021-2025, Programme for Removing Obstacles to Trade under Articles 34-36 TFEU (2021- 2025), Concept Documents on Copyright and Related Rights, on Industrial Property, on Occupational Safety and Health, Action Plan to implement the 2022-2027 Programme on Occupational Safety and Health;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to develop a regional strategy to address the persistent youth unemployment and brain drain by tackling the skills mismatch between the education system and the labour market, improving the quality of teaching, and ensuring adequate funding for active labour market measures and vocational training schemes, along with adequate childcare and pre-school education facilities; regrets the lack of progress in improving the quality of education; calls on the relevant actors to include persons belonging to minority groups in the design and implementation of employment measures;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Highlights Kosovo’s potential in the area of digitalisation and ICT skills, including its remarkable development of the ICT sector since 1999; notes, in this regard, Kosovo’s young population, which has advanced knowledge in ICT and could therefore become Europe’s next Silicon Valley;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. 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 people living in rural areas and outermost-regions; notes the great potential of Kosovo's young population for world class talent and in this regard the potential of digitalisation for the development of Kosovo's economy;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the progress made in digitalising the economy, in particular by increased number of quality services provided by online government platform E-Kosovo;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs; in this respect calls on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data on 1 October 2023 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Stresses the importance of taking action to address the climate and environment emergency by reducing fossil fuel dependency; urges the government to implement the climate change strategy and the associated action plan; welcomes the fact that Kosovo has finalized the Climate Change Law and will approve this law in 2023, opening the road for the National Energy and Climate Plan and the revision of the Climate Change Strategy to a Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. RWelcomes the objectives of the Energy Strategy of the Republic of Kosovo 2022-2031, which was approved by the government in December 2022; regrets the fact that Kosovo has failed to adopt the long-announced energy strategy for 2022-2030, and calls for the immediate adoption and implementation of both this strategy and the law on renewable energy sources; welcomes the adoption of a roadmap for the implementation of the 2013 and 2015 energy agreements regarding the supply of electricity in four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls for urgent action to tackle air pollution and soil and water contamination; urges Kosovo to comply with emission ceilings and increase environmental mainstreaming in different sectoral policies; welcomes efforts made by Kosovo in this regard, most notably by adoption and implementation of the Law No. 08/L- 025 on protection of air from pollution;