It has been more than ten days since the Assembly suspended its work due to coronavirus infection of some of the deputies and staff of the Assembly’s administration. In the absence of testing, the continuation of works within the premises of the Assembly carries a high risk of further spread of the virus. The effects of the virus and the need to take specific measures, whether physical distance or self-isolation, to prevent the spread of the same require the application of new forms of operation to ensure the functioning of the Assembly institution. This should happen as long as the risk of facing this pandemic lasts.

The suspension of the work of the Assembly is making it impossible for this institution to exercise its constitutional powers in relation to the legislative process, supervising the executive power, as well as representing the interests of the citizens. Therefore, it is necessary for the Assembly of Kosovo to take the initiative to change the Rules of Procedure and integrate the possibility of operating this institution in remote and online forms, guaranteeing the protection of public health and the implementation of the constitutional mandate in dealing with economic and political issues of interest to citizens.

All over the world, parliaments have tried to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances created by pandemics in order to fulfill their main functions. The European Parliament has integrated new rules within the Rules of Procedure by which it has provided for the development of remote works of committees and parliamentary sessions. Furthermore, MPs were offered the opportunity to choose the form of participation in the session, either physically or remotely.

The German Bundestag has taken similar initiatives to temporarily change the Rules of Procedure to adapt to the situation created by the pandemic. For the meetings of the parliamentary committees, the participation in distance of the deputies is allowed until the end of September. At the same time, the temporary rule for reducing the quorum to 25% +1 of the deputies in the parliamentary committees and the plenary session has been set.

Also, the parliaments of the countries of the region, including those of Croatia and Albania, have changed their Rules of Procedures, allowing remote work to be adapted to the conditions created by the pandemic. In the case of Croatia, the Presidency of the Assembly has adopted several guidelines that enable work in virtual form, which are envisaged to remain in force until the end of the pandemic. On the other hand, the Albanian Parliament has amended the Rules of Procedure, allowing the development of works and voting through virtual platforms, but ensuring the authenticity of users, respectively MPs.

Facing the same problems, the Assembly of Kosovo, must follow the good parliamentary practices of EU countries and countries in the region. The Assembly must take the initiative to include the necessary changes to the Rules of Procedure, which require 2/3 of the votes of all deputies.