Activities of Michal ŠIMEČKA related to 2019/2170(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Albania
Amendments (26)
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the convening of the first intergovernmental conference without further delay, following the adoption of the negotiating framework by the Council; notes that the credibility of the accession process requires that the fulfilment of milestones being reflected in progress towards EU membership;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages political leaders to create a climate of confidence by increasing transparency and overcoming the lack of dialogue and expresses its serious concern about the polarised political climate and lack of sustainable cross-party cooperation that continue to hamper the democratic process;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on public authorities to act transparently and implement good governance practices; stresses the importance of making information available to the public in a timely and orderly manner, in particular when related to issues of high public interest such as the ongoing health emergency;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Notes with concern that corruption allegations continue to undermine the public's trust in government and democratic institutions more generally;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. SNotes that the political situation in the country has become less stable since 2019; stresses that the general elections of 25 April 2021 will be key for the country’s democratic consolidation;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the importance of implementing the electoral reform measures codified in July 2020, which are in line withas well as the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) recommendations; welcomes the commitment to implement the forthcoming Venice Commission opinion regarding the amendments to the Electoral Code adopted in October 2020;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Encourages Albania to complete the relevant steps towards re-establishing the Constitutional Court’s ability to function fully and efficiently, and urges all involved to swiftly conclude the appointment process; stresses the need to ensure the continued functioning of appeal courts as well;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the fact that the High Court has regained its ability to function and that it has been reviewing more than a thousand cases, and encourages it to make further progress in the appointment of additional judges and dramatically reducing its unsustainable backlog of pending cases;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses satisfaction that the National Bureau of Investigation has been established, that its Director is performing her duties and that investigative staff are currently being recruited; underlines the importance of delivering tangible results in the form of independent and impartial investigations leading to successful prosecution of high-profile crime, including corruption;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on Albanian authorities to foster public acceptance of LGBTI persons who continue to experience discrimination and hate speech on a regular basis;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges the authorities to ensure that sufficient resources are provided to the Ombudsman, the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner and the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Data Protection, and that their respective recommendations are implemented systematically; stresses that only individuals whose independence and professionalism is beyond doubt should be appointed to these offices;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Condemns the fatal shooting of a man by police enforcing a COVID-19- related curfew; stresses the importance of investigating and prosecuting disproportionate use of violence by the police;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Encourages the Albanian Government to prioritise measures aimed at mitigating the health and socio- economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while taking further steps to enhance the representativeness of the social dialogue and to tackle the widespread informal economy;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Encourages the diversification of energy production, moving from hydropower towardsincreasing investments in wind and solar sources; urges the authorities to minimise the impact on biodiversity by restricting hydropower development in protected areas; underlines the need to improve both environmental and impact assessments across eco- sensitive sectors and boost the prosecution of environmental crimes;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Encourages the diversification of energy production, moving from hydropower towards wind and solar sources; urges the authorities to minimise the impact on biodiversity by restricting hydropower development in protected areas, in particular the Valbona and Vjosa rivers; underlines the need to improve both environmental and impact assessments and strategic environmental assessment across eco-sensitive sectors and boost the prosecution of environmental crimes; highlights that new renewable energy sources should be supported in a cost- efficient manner while existing contracts should be honoured;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Stresses the importance of improving Albania's strategy with regards to nuclear energy, nuclear safety and radiation protection; notes that Albanian legislation concerning the matter is yet to fully align with the 2013 Council (Euratom) Directive setting out basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Invites Albania to make its power exchange operational and encourages the country to continue its progress of market opening, unbundling of distribution system operators and market coupling in electricity;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Invites the authorities to adopt without delay the draft Climate Change Law and the law and decision on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; requests the accelerated finalization of the draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for review by the Energy Community Secretariat;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Stresses the need to put in place an appropriate carbon price as a means for effective decarbonisation in line with the European Green Deal and the political commitments made in the Sofia Declaration of 2020;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 b (new)
Paragraph 44 b (new)
44b. Welcomes the new 2020-2035 national strategy for integrated waste management; stresses the importance of removing numerous non-compliant landfills and dumpsites throughout Albania; urges Albanian authorities to further promote and support the recycling and reuse of garbage, and to prevent waste generation;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes Albania’s unremitting efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations and regional integration;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Underlines the importance of taking further steps to promote reconciliation with neighbours and regional cooperation;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Calls on political leaders to support international efforts to investigate war crimes committed in the region, promote regional reconciliation and refrain from instrumentalising these topics in internal political struggles;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49a. Calls for the creation of new opportunities for high level political and policy dialogue with the Western Balkans countries, through regular EU-Western Balkans summits and intensified ministerial contacts, in order to strengthen the political nature of the enlargement process, to ensure stronger steering and high-level engagement, as also called for by the revised enlargement methodology;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)
Paragraph 49 b (new)
49b. Underlines the need for the EU and the United States to strengthen their partnership and coordination in the Western Balkans in order to advance key reforms, improve governance and reconciliation;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 c (new)
Paragraph 49 c (new)
49c. Calls for an active engagement and appropriate inclusion of the Western Balkans countries in the Conference on the Future of Europe;