Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Socio-economic reforms

Change 19

Changed29.52. Notes that Kosovo is moderately prepared in the areas of economic and monetary policy and competitiveness; stressesunderlines that it needsKosovo tomust align its budgetaryfiscal framework with the EU acquis and address structural weaknesses, includingnotably a narrow manufacturing base and difficult access to financefinancing for SMEs; underlines the importance of ensuring sustainable economic growth, reducing unemployment and strengthening the country’s social protection system in line with the EU’s social acquis; stresses that it needs to undertake more extensive reforms to tackle remaining structural weaknesses;

Change 20

Removed30. Notes that Kosovo has made some progress in preparing for digital transformation, including in expanding online services and 5G coverage; regrets that only 10 % of public services are currently offered online and that digitalisation remains fragmented;

Added53. Welcomes the Commission’s finding that Kosovo made some progress in developing a functioning market economy, notably through stronger growth, a sound and resilient banking sector, a reduction in the informal sector, and a speedier settlement of commercial disputes; takes note of the continued prevalence of the informal economy and calls on the authorities to give the labour inspectorate the resources it needs to carry out its tasks in full;

Added54. Welcomes the fact that Kosovo’s Commercial Court handles intellectual property rights cases effectively; calls on the Commercial Court to further cooperate with the European Union Intellectual Property Office;

Added55. Calls for adequate labour protection, fair wages and enforcement of labour laws to be ensured in line with EU standards; regrets the fact that social dialogue in Kosovo remains limited; calls for targeted support for building the capacity of the social partners; calls on the authorities to guarantee the independence and legitimate role of recognised trade unions and the fundamental rights of workers, notably the right to collective bargaining, both in law and in practice, in the public and private sectors; calls on Kosovo’s authorities to renew the mandate of the Social Economic Council, to promote social dialogue, and to use the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans to help build the capacity of the social partners;

Added56. Welcomes the consolidation of the remuneration system under the law on salaries in the public sector; regrets, however, the fact that job classification, systematisation of positions and the Constitutional Court’s judgment on unconstitutional provisions remain unaddressed; calls on the authorities to adopt the draft law on public financial management and to integrate fiscal risk assessment and public investment methodology into the legislation;

Added57. Expresses concern that life expectancy at birth remains lower than the EU average and that child mortality remains the highest in the region and significantly higher than the EU average; regrets the fact that progress towards universal health coverage remains very limited and that significant inefficiencies persist; calls on the authorities to ensure better access to healthcare services for all citizens;

Added58. Calls on Kosovo to prioritise high-quality vocational education, stronger links between education and labour market needs, and targeted support for young entrepreneurs and researchers in order to create credible prospects for young people in the country;

Added59. Encourages Kosovo to continue concluding agreements on social security coordination with EU Member States;

Added60. Notes that Kosovo has made some progress in preparing for the digital transformation, including in expanding online services and 5G coverage; regrets the fact that only 10 % of public services are currently offered online and that digitalisation remains fragmented; emphasises the need for Kosovo to align with relevant EU digital legislation, including the European Electronic Communications Code, the NIS2 Directive, the EU 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act and the EU Digital Identity Framework; regrets the fact that Kosovo has adopted only 8 of the 14 pieces of secondary legislation stemming from the Law on cybersecurity and that both the Cybersecurity Agency and the National Cyber Security Council are yet to become fully operational; calls for the adoption of a comprehensive e-governance strategy aligned with EU standards and for the improved interoperability of public administration systems; calls on Kosovo to promote digitalisation more intensively and to further develop secure digital public services;

Added61. Welcomes the first steps taken by Kosovo towards a more strategic approach to research and innovation, including the start of funding for innovation support measures and Kosovo’s participation in the European Digital Innovation Hubs Network;

Added62. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to open negotiations on extending the EU’s ‘roam like at home’ scheme to the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, with a view to delivering tangible benefits for citizens and businesses and strengthening regional connectivity; notes that this initiative builds on existing regional roaming arrangements; calls for the swift adoption of negotiating mandates and the timely conclusion of agreements to ensure rapid and effective integration into the EU’s ‘roam like at home’ area;

Energy, environment, sustainable development and connectivity

Change 21

Removed31. Notes that Kosovo remains heavily reliant on outdated coal-fired power plants and needs to accelerate investments in energy efficiency;

Added63. Notes that Kosovo remains heavily reliant on outdated coal-fired power plants and needs to accelerate investments in energy efficiency; welcomes the fact that some progress has been made in the energy sector, notably with the launch of a 100 MW wind power auction; urges Kosovo to accelerate its green transition and significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and coal-fired power plants; calls for the EU to step up its efforts to help Kosovo reach these objectives; calls on the Kosovo Government to invest in a diversified energy mix that strengthens security of supply; encourages Kosovo to continue its efforts to integrate its electricity market with European electricity markets, including through the effective implementation of electricity market reforms and strengthened cross-border cooperation in the electricity sector;

Removed32. Encourages Kosovo to strengthen its institutional and administrative capacity to implement strategic infrastructure projects and continue implementing pending transport and energy connectivity projects;

Added64. Encourages Kosovo to strengthen its institutional and administrative capacity to implement strategic infrastructure projects, including through use of comprehensive environmental impact assessments and sustainability measures in the planning phase, and continue implementing pending transport and energy connectivity projects; calls on the Commission and Kosovo to prioritise strategic connectivity projects linking the Western Balkans to European transport, energy and digital corridors and the Black Sea area, including through energy interconnections, energy efficiency measures, investments in renewables, integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and improved access to finance for SMEs; stresses that these investments enhance socio-economic convergence, geostrategic resilience and European economic security;

Removed33. Urges Kosovo to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to manage protected areas, amend the law on waste management, and implement the law on climate change;

Added65. Urges Kosovo to increase the protected areas in the country and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to manage protected areas and cultural-historical heritage sites with a view to safeguarding biodiversity, including key habitats of the critically endangered Balkan lynx; welcomes Kosovo’s continued cooperation with North Macedonia and Albania regarding the transboundary Shar Mountains National Park; encourages Kosovo to further intensify and speed up collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries to designate transboundary protected areas and establish coherent transboundary management plans; urges Kosovo to amend the law on waste management and implement the law on climate change;

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66. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, Government and National Assembly of Kosovo.