Shots: EU to keep visa promise, tax complicates situation

The European Parliament has welcomed the European Commission's report and stressed that it is vital that Kosovars allow visa-free travel”, said the EP resolution, adding that this will improve stability and bring Kosovo closer to the European Union”.

Kosovo respects CEFTA agreement in SAA spirit

In the DW question, if visa nonliberalism had an impact on Kosovo's measures against Serbia's products, Igor Sholtes did not do that assessment, but said these measures have only complicated the situation. “It is important that Kosovo withdraw the measure and respect the CEFTA agreement in the spirit of the SAA”.

The EP rapporteur's report for Kosovo, Igor Sholtes, which is comprised of 14 pages affects many parts of government in Kosovo. Special emphasis has been on Kosovo's Parliament functioning issues and the fight against corruption. As for justice, parliament in the resolution has also mentioned the word “ekstradition” that has not been in the latest reports. Earlier Kosovo institutions had extradited several Turkish citizens to a hasty procedure that has been criticised both at home and abroad. “Parliament expresses its concern over subfinance of the judiciary sector and corruption with elements of the capture of the state... lack of fair judgment, including cases of extradition”, the resolution said.

Dialogue and Border Issue

Regarding the Kosovo dialogue, Serbia resolution holds the previous text that speaks of continuing dialogue. Stressing that the EP is conveying debate on border correction to the resolution, it says: Parliament “underlines the multiethnic nature of Kosovo and Serbia, stressing that ethnically homogenous states should not be objective in the region; it supports the dialogue assisted by the EU, as a framework for reaching a general agreement on normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and considers, that each agreement could be acceptable if it is in accordance with the two sides, taking into account the overall stability of the region and international law”.

It is of interest to note that this paragraph repeats 100 percent in Kosovo and Serbia's report. In the DW question whether this paragraph allows or limits border change, Igor Sholtes did not answer directly, but said: International rule of law must be the guiding principle in this matter and must be considered.

In this direction, Parliament has invited the parties to implement signed agreements, including the one for the Serb Community, the Mitrovica Bridge, Integrated Border Management and Energy. The resolution also invites the EU Foreign Service, in charge of which the Federica Moghrini is to make an assessment of the provisional implementation of the agreements. The EP report on Serbia specifically mentions the energy agreement.

Hydro power plants

The results of the European Parliament, which is the only EU institution that has accepted Kosovo's independence, have parts of it repeated in the annual report made by the rapporteur. Calls continue in this report for Kosovo to respect European rules in terms of energy. It is also praised by former Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Arbena Resitiaj's decision to cancel the licenses of small hydropower plants at the mouth of Rugova and Decani. Parliament “reconcents that the projected hydropower plants should meet European environmental standards”, adding that, in this direction, “the decision of the Environment Minister to reassess and suspend the permits issued for hydropower projects”. A similar call is made for hydrocentrics in Albania that of Vjosa and Valbona. For the energy of Sholtes for DW, it is unfortunate that most recommendations last year have not been met. The report was approved by 393 votes for and 139 against and 71 abstentions.