20 Amendments of Fabio Massimo CASTALDO related to 2018/2146(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
– having regard to the declaration and recommendations adopted at the seventh EU- Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) meeting of 20-21 December 2017 and the sixtheight SAPC meeting of 13-14 SeptemberJune 20178,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the seventh meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at Ministerial level held on 11 December 2017 and to the eight meeting held on 25 June 2018,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas since the opening of negotiations with Serbia twelvefourteen chapters have been opened, two of which have been provisionally closed;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Serbia benefits from pre- accession assistance under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II), with a total indicative allocation of EUR 1.5 billion for 2014-2020; whereas a revised indicative allocation of IPA II for Serbia for the period of 2018-2020 is EUR 722 8 million; whereas Serbia has been granted a mid-term performance reward;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the thorough implementation of reforms and policies remains a key indicator of a successful integration process; calls on Serbia to further improve the planning, coordination and monitoring of the implementation of new legislation and policies; welcomes the adoption of a third revision of the National program for the adoption of EU acquis, for the period 2018-2021, as a comprehensive plan for the harmonization of EU legislation;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the successful completion of the IPA 2018 programming process resulting in the EUR 179.1 million EU contribution to the reforms in environment and climate change, competitiveness and social inclusion sectors; welcomes the signature of the Financing Agreement for IPARD II granting EU contribution of EUR 175million for implementation of agricultural measure, as well as signature of the first Financing Agreement for IPA 2017 programme allowing for EUR 41.2 million EU support to the judiciary reform and further harmonization and enforcement of the acquis;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes note of the presidential elections on 2 April 2017; welcomes the general conduct of the elections; calls on the authorities to fully address and implement the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission; calls on the authorities to properly investigate claims of irregularities, violence and intimidation that arose during the electoral process;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on Serbia to progressively align its foreign and security policy to that of the EU, including its policy on Russia; welcomes Serbia’s important contribution and continued participation in international peacekeeping operations;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Commends Serbia’s constructive approach in managing the effects of the migration and refugee crisis, and the substantial efforts the country has made to provide shelter and humanitarian supplies, primarily with EU support; urges Serbia to progressively align its visa policy with that of the EUfurther improve its capacity to address special reception needs of unaccompanied minors, at particular risk for trafficking in human beings, as well as find durable solutions for refugees and IDPs; calls on Serbia to progressively align its visa policy with that of the EU; welcomes Serbia's adoption of the new Asylum Law, Law on Foreigners and Border Control Law;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges Serbia to step upWelcomes the efforts of the Serbian government in undertaking a Constitutional reform process; urges Serbia to take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission as presented in the Opinion on the Draft amendments to the constitutional provisions on the judiciary adopted by the Venice Commission on the 22-23 June 2018 and to step up, in general, its reform efforts in the area of rule of law, and in particular to ensurimprove the independence and overall efficiency of the judicial system, as well as the autonomy of the prosecutions; stresses that special focus should be put on implementing effective reform in this area; notes that while some progress has been made in reducing the backlog of old enforcement cases, and in putting in place measures to harmonise court practice, judicial independence in Serbia is not fully assured; calls on Serbia to strengthen the accountability, impartiality, professionalism and overall efficiency of the judiciary, and to continue with efforts in order to establish a free legal aid system;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates the importance of intensifying the fight against corruption and urginvites Serbia to show a clear commitment to tackle this issue; welcomes the adoption of the amendments made in the economic crimes section of the country’s criminal code; welcomes the progress on the adoption of the Law on organization and jurisdiction of national authorities in suppression of organized crime, terrorism and corruption; reiterates its call to swiftly adopt a new law on the Anti- Corruption Agency to improve the planning, coordination and monitoring of the implementation of new legislation and policies; stresses that it is critical that the Agency receives and maintains the human and financial resources it needs to carry out its mandate in an independent manner; calls on the authorities to fill all open positions in the Agency; calls on Serbia to further improve its track record on investigations, indictments and final convictions in high-level corruption cases;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges some progress has been made in the fight against organised crime; calls on Serbia to establish a convincing track record of investigations, prosecutions and convictions in organised crime cases, including money laundering, based on proactive investigations; calls on Serbia to focus on thecontinue with the full implementation of the action plan agreed with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF);
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Takes note of Serbia’s progress in tackling the trafficking in weapons as a result of the acts of legalisation and voluntary handover carried out in recent years; welcomes the progress made by Serbia regarding prevention and anti- radicalisation activities, involving local religious leaders, local authorities and civil society; stresses the need for Serbia to further develop the necessary capacity to detect and interrupt financial flows supporting terrorist activities;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the Serbian parliament still does not exercise effective oversight of the executive, and that the transparency, inclusiveness and quality of the legislative process, as well as cross-party dialogue, need to be enhanced; welcomes the declining use of urgent procedures to adopt legislation; stresses, however, that the still- frequent use of urgent procedures undermines parliamentary and public scrutiny; stresses that actions that limit the ability of the Serbian parliament to conduct an effective debate on, and scrutiny of, legislation should be avoided; underlines the need to improve the timing of public consultations on proposals; welcomes the Serbian parliament’s continued efforts to improve transparency through debates on Serbia’s negotiating positiondocuments on EU accession chapters, and through exchanges with the core negotiating team and with the National Convention on the European Union; stresses that the role of independent regulatory bodies, including the country’s Ombudsman, needs to be fully acknowledged and supported;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the presentation of the draft constitutional reform of the country’s judiciary submitted to the Venice Commission for opinion; stresses the importance of fully implementing the recommendations of the Venice Commission; as presented in the Opinion on the Draft amendments to the constitutional provisions on the judiciary adopted by the Venice Commission on the 22-23 June 2018; is concerned by reports of public consultation process on the amendment of the Constitution being marred by an acrimonious environment; encourages the Serbian authorities to promote a constructive and positive environment around public consultations processes and calls for a comprehensive public consultation before the final draft is submitted to the Serbian parliament;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes Serbia’s progress in reforming its public administration, notably through the adoption of several new laws on public service salaries and employment relations, on local government and autonomous province salaries, and on the national training academy; stresses that political influence on senior managerial appointments remains an issue of concern; welcomes the creation of a Ministry for European Integration, incorporating the structures of the former Serbian European Integration Office, which has continued to provide political guidance for European integration;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern that no progress has been made to improve the situation regarding freedom of expression and of the media; welcomes the establishment of the new working group dedicated to development of the Draft Media Strategy, which gathers representatives of all relevant journalist association, as well as OSCE Mission representatives in Serbia; stresses that threats, violence and intimidation against journalists remain an issue of concern; notes, in this regard, that while several cases have been solved and some criminal charges have been filed, convictions are still rare; calls on the authorities to investigate and prosecute any cases of attacks against journalists and media outlets; calls for the full implementation of media laws and the strengthening of the independence of the country’s Regulatory Body for Electronic Media; welcomes the renewed efforts to adopt a media strategy to create a pluralistic media environment, and stresses, in this regard, the importance of a transparent and inclusive consultation with stakeholders; underlines the need for complete transparency in media ownership and funding;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the adoption of the new Roma social inclusion strategy for the period 2016-2025 along with an action plan covering education, health, housing and employment; calls for full implementation of the new strategy for Roma inclusion and the action plan; highlights the importance of formulating policies that will combat discrimination against Roma and Anti-Gypsism;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the adoption of a national strategy for the investigation and prosecution of war crimes; welcomes the appointment in May 2017 of a new war crimes prosecutor; reiterates its call for the implementation of this strategy, in particular by means of bringing forward indictments, and for the adoption of an operational prosecutorial strategy; calls on Serbia to again cooperate fully with the current Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals; urges the Serbian authorities to continue working on the issue of the fate of missing persons, including opening state archives related to the war period; urges Serbia to prepare a reparations scheme for victims and their families as an important precondition for reconciliation; highlights the importance of the work carried out by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and its local branches in promoting reconciliation among the youth;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes Serbia’s continued engagement in the normalisation process with Kosovo, and its commitment to the implementation of the agreements reached in the EU- facilitated dialogue; welcomes that President Vučić has launched an internal dialogue on Kosovo; reiterates its call to move forward with the full implementation, in good faith and in a timely manner, of all the agreements already reached including the ones on energy and to determinedly continue the normalisation process; highlights the importance ofwelcomes the progress made in creating an aAssociation / cCommunity of Serb majority municipalities; stresses that the work on a new phase of the dialogue with a view to a comprehensive normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, to be defined in a legally binding agreement, needs to be accelerated; reiterates its call on the EEAS to carry out an evaluation of the performance of the sides in fulfilling their obligations;