24 Amendments of Jozo RADOŠ related to 2018/2147(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital –A (new)
Recital –A (new)
-A. whereas the EU enlargement continues to represent a strategic investment in peace, democracy, prosperity, security and stability in Europe;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Albania has continued to make steady progress towards meeting the political criteria and the five key priorities for the opening of accession negotiations: public administration reform, reform of the judiciary, fight against corruption, fight against organised crime and protection of human rights, including rights of persons belonging to minorities and property rights;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas challenges still persist and need to be addressed swiftly and efficiently in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas constructive dialogue between political forces on reforms is essential for making further progress in the EU accession processthe government and the opposition on EU-related reforms remains crucial to advance on the reform agenda to the benefit of the citizens and move the country closer to the EU;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Fully supports the Commission’s recommendation that accession negotiations be opened in recognition of the reform efforts made by Albania; calls onwelcomes the Council to open accession talks without delay in order to sustadecision to set out the path towards opening the reform momentumaccession negotiations in June 2019; considers that the opening of negotiations would provide further incentives for the reform process and enhance its scrutiny;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for action addressing the outstanding recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) as regards electoral reform; underlines that inclusive and timely electoral reform is needed with a view to increasing public trust in the electoral process; welcomes the work by the Ad-hoc Committee on Electoral Reform of the Albanian Parliament related to election administration, campaign finance, voter registration, vote buying, the use of new voting technologies and out-of-country voting, and urges it to reach consensus on, and adoption of, the necessary reforms in due time before the 2019 local elections; notes that additional efforts are needed to better involve civil society organisations as part of an inclusive policy dialogue;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the progress made in justice reform aimed at increasing the independence, accountability, professionalism and efficiency of judicial institutions; regrets that the administration of justice continues to be slow and inefficient; notes that the re-evaluation process for all judges and prosecutors has started and is delivering the first tangible results; calls on the Albanian authorities to speed upfurther advance the vetting process, without compromising on quality or fairness, which is crucial for the success of justice reform; takes note of first dismissals and voluntary resignations of candidates prior to their hearings;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages Albania to continue its good cooperation with the International Monitoring Operation and pursue intensively the justice reform;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the continued progress made towards establishing a more citizen- friendly, transparent, professional and de- politicised public administration, including at local level; urges the full implementation of the oversight institutions’ recommendations as well as Ombudsperson’s recommendations; notes as well the progress made with regard to territorial reform and the establishment of the Consultative Council to improve coordination between central and local governments; welcomes the setting up of local EU Desks and EU co-ordinators;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Commends the significant improvements made in the legal and institutional framework with a view to preventing and eradicating corruption in public institutions; calls for additional efforts to reduce the corruption affecting the daily life of Albania’s citizens, starting with revision of shortcomings in the legal framework of Law on the Right to Information;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for increased attention to be given to political and public-private corruption, and stresses that a convincing track record can only be attained through; calls for strengthening the track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and final convictions in corruption cases at all levelsthe fight against corruption and organised crime, including high-level cases;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the progress made in the fight against organised crime, including the substantial progress made in seizures of illicit drugs and the reduction of cannabis cultivation; notes Albania’s intensified international police cooperation – leading to effective operations against criminal networks – including in joint working groups with Member States;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the progress made in the fight against organised crime, including the substantial progress made in seizures of illicit drugs and the reduction of cannabis cultivationand calls to further pursue tangible and sustainable results, including in the specific area of countering cultivation and trafficking of drugs; notes Albania’s intensified international police cooperation – leading to effective operations against criminal networks – including in joint working groups with Member States;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the additional steps takenReiterates the need for effective legislative and policy measures to reinforce the protection of human rights, minority rights and anti- discrimination policies, including the equal treatment of all minorities; insists that measures be taken to further improve the education, employment rates and living conditions for Roma, Egyptians and other ethnic minorities;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the equal representation of women in the new government and increased percentage of women parliamentarians; commends adoption of resolution on the fight against gender- based violence and establishment of parliamentary sub-committee on gender equality; urges further efforts to ensure that all strategies and policies are gender mainstreamed; is concerned about still existing gender-discriminatory provisions in a number of laws, lagging access to justice for women, and proportion of women in the informal labour market, especially the textile and shoe industries, without adequate labour and social protection;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Albanian authorities to enhance cooperation with civil society organisations, ensuring effective public participation and consultation throughout the decision-making process, including at local level; urges the authorities to make significant developments in the legal and regulatory framework of the tax regime for CSOs as well as public funding;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Urges the Albanian authorities to address the largstep up reforms aimed at increasing competitiveness and tackling the informal economy; stresses that corruption, rule-of- law deficiencies and cumbersome regulatory procedures continue to deter investment; calls to further improve the business and investment environment, including ensuring enforcement of property rights, vigorously pursuing fiscal consolidation and strengthening tax administration;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Commends that according to the Institute of Statistic in Albania (INSTAT) the level of unemployment in Albania decreased; stresses the need to improve the quality of the education system, including increasing capacity in order to better equip people with skills and knowledge in line with labour market needs; underlines the need to support long-term growth by developing the capacity for technological absorption, research, development and innovation;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes Albania’s commitment to implement the Connectivity Agenda in the framework of the Berlin Process; supports the proposal to reduce roaming fees in the Western Balkans and the adoption of IPA 2018 package that includes the strategically important infrastructure project the reconstruction of Durrës Port, which is strengthening Albania's connections with Croatia and Italy and providing Albania’s landlocked neighbours, Kosovo and Macedonia access to maritime transport routes; supports the proposal to reduce roaming fees in the Western Balkans; notes that rural areas represent 40% of the population but only 1% out of this is connected to the internet;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes Albania’s commitment to implement the Connectivity Agenda in the framework of the Berlin Process; supports the proposal to reduce roaming fees in the Western Balkans in order to promote a market- and investment- friendly environment towards a digital economy;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Expresses concern over economic activity that has led to environmental damage in protected areas, such as the hydropower plants along the Vjosa river; urges the authorities to step up environmental impact assessments and public consultations on such projects; calls for stronger efforts in energy efficiency, and in this regard encourages Albanian authorities to fully align its Energy Efficiency Law with the acquis; notes that Albania has to remove legal and contractual obstacles for integrating energy markets, and the unbundling of energy companies should be finalized;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Expresses concern that Albania remains the Western Balkan country from which are made the highest number of illegal entries and stays, and unfounded asylum claims, in Member States; calls to increase the measures taken in recent months to address effectively the phenomenon of unfounded asylum applications in the EU as well as unaccompanied minors;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Expresses concern that Albania remains the Western Balkan country from which are made the highest number of illegal entries and stays, and unfounded asylum claims, in Member States; urges Albania to apply the return procedures which are compliant with the Law on Foreigners and to ensure its return mechanism for irregular migrants is in line with the EU acquis;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Commends Albania’s success in stemming the outflow of foreign fighters; welcomes the regional cooperation that has been achieved in countering potential terrorist threats; calls for further measures to disrupt financial flows aimed at financing terrorism and to address online radicalisation, to strengthen the prevention and monitoring mechanisms involving civil society and religious communities, and to address online radicalisation; calls on the government to improve programmes to reintegrate returnees and their families and to prevent radicalisation in prisons;