Annexes to COM(2018)543 - Update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo, as outlined in the fourth report on progress of 4 May 2016 - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2018)543 - Update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo, as outlined in the ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2018)543  |
| date | July 18, 2018 |
CORRIGENDUM
This document corrects document COM(2018) 543 final of 18.7.2018. Concerns the English language version of the annexes. Correction of a clerical error. The title of the cover page is added entirely on page 1.
The text shall read as follows:
ANNEXES
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
THE COUNCIL
Update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo*, as outlined in the fourth report on progress of 4 May 2016
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
to the
ANNEXES
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
THE COUNCIL
Update on the implementation of the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap by Kosovo*, as outlined in the fourth report on progress of 4 May 2016
Annex 1 Background on the laws on asylum, foreigners, state border control & surveillance
The Law amending and supplementing the Law no. 04/L-219 on Foreigners:
Overview in brief: this law is crucial for the proper governance of migration in Kosovo. The amendments aim at alignment with the latest EU directives on the conditions of entry, residence and employment of third country nationals, as well as alignment with the Visa Information System Regulation (VIS Regulation) on exchange of data on short-stay visas. The new law on Foreigners ensures further alignment with the EU acquis.
The Law amending and supplementing the Law No. 04/L-073 on Asylum
Overview in brief: this law is crucial for migration governance and in particular to guarantee effective asylum procedure in line with the EU acquis. The amendments aims to further align the law on asylum with the acquis on asylum procedures and reception conditions. The new draft Law on Asylum transposes partially the following EU acts: Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection, and Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection and was also checked against the EU Directive 2011/95 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted (13 December 2011). The law also incorporates lessons from past experience, such as 72 hour process short term transitory.
The Assembly also adopted amendments to the Law on State Border Control and Surveillance to further align the legal framework with the EU acquis, in particular Regulation 2016/399 and the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399). The National Centre for Border Management has a joint intelligence risk and threat analysis unit in charge of collecting data
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the
to the
and information from the Integrated Border Management (IBM) agencies (police, customs and the food and veterinary agency). The IBM 2013-2018 strategy and action plan are aligned with the 2006 EU concept on IBM. In July 2017, a revised and re-evaluated IBM action plan was approved.
Annex 2 Bilateral agreements for readmission of persons signed by the government of Kosovo
with other countries
Kosovo has signed readmission agreements with the following countries:
1. Albania – signed on 03.10.2009;
2. France – signed on 02.12.2009;
3. Switzerland – signed on 03.02.2010;
4. Germany – signed on 14.04.2010;
5. Denmark – signed on 08.06.2010;
6. Austria – signed on 30.09.2010;
7. Norway – signed on 15.10.2010;
8. Slovenia – signed on 10.05.2011;
9. Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) – signed on 12.05.2011;
10. Czech Republic – signed on 24.06.2011;
11. Montenegro – signed on 30.06.2011;
12. Sweden – signed on 04.10.2011;
13. Finland – signed on 29.11.2011;
14. Hungary – signed on 15.05.2012;
15. Bulgaria – signed on 19.06.2012;
16. Malta – signed on 21.11.2012;
17. Estonia – signed on 17.05.2013;
18. Liechtenstein – signed on 17.06.2013;
19. Croatia – signed on 23.07.2013;
20. Italy – signed on 15.04.2014;
21. Turkey – signed on 15.12.2015;
22. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – signed on 04.12.2017.
Annex 3 Police cooperation agreements
79 Cooperation Agreements; 18 Countries (see below)
From which:
30 agreements are in the field of Police Cooperation (9 of these agreements refer to the field of witness protection too);
• 9 agreements are in Operation agreements;
• 10 agreem ents with EULEX; and
• 30 agreements in the field of border cooperation.
Finalised agreements pending signature:
1. Turkey
2. Estonia.
Initiated or re-initiated agreements:
1. Denmark
2. Italy
3. Belgium
Cooperation agreements
signed with
| 1 | Austria |
| 2 | Bulgaria |
| 3 | United Kingdom |
| 4 | France |
| 5 | Finland |
| 6 | Germany |
| 7 | Hungary |
| 8 | Croatia |
| 9 | Lithuania |
| 10 | The former Y |
| Macedonia |
| 11 | Montenegro |
| 12 | Sweden |
| 13 | Serbia |
| 14 | Slovenia |
| 15 | Albania |
| 16 | USA |
| 17 | Turkey |
| 18 | Switzerland |
Yugoslav Republic
of
Agreements with International Organizations
1. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX )
2. Multilateral Agreement establishing a group of experts to fight illicit trafficking of firearms in south-eastern Europe and regulation on the manner of mutual cooperation
3. OLAF
4. Terrorist Screening Center
5. CEPOL
Annex 4 Recent developments in the fight against terrorism
In May 2016 Zekerija Qazimi, an imam from Ferizaj, suspected of recruiting many young Kosovars for ISIS and inciting hatred, was found guilty and jailed for 10 years by the Basic Court.
In September 2016, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo filed an indictment against 4 Imams and Fuad Ramiqi, the leader of the first Islamic political party in Kosovo, on terror, hate speech and call for resistance charges
In November 2016 Kosovo Police arrested 18 persons suspected of terrorism, allegedly planning to conduct coordinated terrorist attacks in Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania, including an attack against the Israeli football team during an Albania-Israel match. The accused, are believed to belong to a wider Balkan terrorist network, and in addition to Kosovo citizens, persons from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania were also part of this group.
In May 2017 Kosovo Police carried out a police operation in five different locations, including the Pristina, Gjilan and Ferizaj regions and arrested four persons, suspected of preparing terrorist acts or offenses against the constitutional order and security of Kosovo;
In May 2017 the Secretariat of National Security Council issued the decision on the establishment of a Committee for reviewing Literature considered to contain radical/extremist content.
In response to Women and Children returnees from Syria, at the beginning of 2018, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with KP's Anti-Terrorism Directorate, and Kosovo Intelligence Agency have drafted a multi-stakeholder contingency plan for the in processing and management of these women and children returnees from Syria;
At the beginning of 2018, the law on
critical infrastructure was approved.
In February 2018, the Strategic Plan for Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons was adopted by Ministry of Justice. The strategy envisages establishment of a unit for the management of extremists in prison (staff trained), the establishment of the Unit for Assessment and Classification of Prisoners (staff trained) and the establishment of the Intelligence Unit in Prisons.
During March and April 2018, Secretariat of National Security Council met with 15 Mayors throughout Kosovo in the context of implementation of activities at local level of the Strategy on CVE.
In May 2018 the Basic court in Pristina sentenced 8 defendants to a total of 35 years and six months to prison in the Israeli case;
In May 2018, the Ministry of Justice, Kosovo Correctional Service and Kosovo Islamic
who are either charged or convicted of terrorism. Twenty imams proposed by the Islamic Community of Kosovo and cleared by the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) are expected to help radicalised Muslims who have been arrested or convicted for terrorism during their de-radicalisation process.