Strasbourg, 16/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 16 January, MEPs hailed the organisation and good conduct of the municipal elections in Kosovo in November and December, which they described as “a huge step forward for democracy”. In the report by Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA, Austria), adopted by 485 votes to 94, with 40 abstentions, the European Parliament strongly condemns, however, the continuing acts of violence and intimidation in the municipalities in North Mitrovica and Zvecan. “Such incidents jeopardise stability and security in the broader region”, Parliament states, urging the authorities to do their best to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice more often. Parliament also calls for the adoption of a new electoral law as quickly as possible. MEPs strongly condemn the murder of a municipal councillor from North Mitrovica during the night of 15-16 January, and call for an immediate inquiry.
MEPs call on Pristina to make progress in reforms. Concerned by the “lack of any significant progress” in the fight against corruption and organised crime, Parliament states that Kosovo “needs to provide concrete results”. MEPs call on the authorities to improve the effectiveness, transparency, accountability and impartiality of the judicial system and to respect its independence. They underline the implementation of the “necessary” reform of public administration. Parliament also calls for the effective implementation of legislation on human rights and calls on the authorities to apply the constitutional principle of non-discrimination. It is also important to continue to cooperate with EULEX, Parliament states.
MEPs also ask the Council to adopt the necessary decisions as soon as possible in order to enable Kosovo to participate in EU programmes. (CG/transl.fl)