Activities of Angel DZHAMBAZKI related to 2016/2312(INI)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (16)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas (potential) candidate countries are judged on their own merits, and whereas the speed and quality of the necessary reforms determines the timetable for accession;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that a constructive dialogue, sustainable political cooperation and a willingness to compromise is crucial for the success of the reforms and for the entire EU accession process; welcomes in this regard the adoption of the legislation for the exclusion of criminal offenders from public offices;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Commends the consensual adoption of the constitutional amendments for judicial reform and the adoption of laws on the institutional reorganisation of the judiciary, the prosecution office and the Constitutional Court; welcomes the creation of specialised institutions for the fight against organised crime and anti- corruption; calls for the swift adoption and implementation of all relevant accompanying laws and by-laws, in particular the law on the re-evaluation (vetting) of judges, prosecutors and legal advisors; notes that the application of the vetting law has been suspended by the Constitutional Court, and that the latter has requested the opinion of the Venice Commission on its constitutionality; reiterates that a comprehensive judicial reform is a major demand by Albania’s citizens for re-establishing trust in their political representatives and public institutions, and that the credibility and effectiveness of the overall reform process, including the fight against corruption and organised crime, depend on the success of the vetting process and judicial reform;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the new justice reform strategy 2017-2020 and its action plan, as well as the increased budgetary means for implementation; regrets that political interference in investigations and court cases is regularly reported; calls for any shortcomings in the functioning of the judicial system to be further addressed, including lack of independence from political influence and other branches of power, selective justice, limited accountability, ineffective oversight mechanisms, corporatism and corruption, the overall length of judicial proceedings and enforcements;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Ad-Hoc Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform to finalise its review of the electoral code while addressing all previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations; calls on the competent authorities to ensure implementation in due time before the upcoming parliamentary elections of June 2017 and ensure independence and de-politicisation of the electoral administration; recalls that all political parties are responsible for ensuring that democratic elections are conducted in compliance with international standards; calls on Albania’s political parties to respect the law, in spirit and in letter, on the exclusion of criminal offenders from public office when drawing up their candidate lists;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the efforts towards a more citizen-friendly public administration and steady progress in the implementation of public administration reform and the public financial management reform; calls for further progress in strengthening the application of the Civil Service Law and the Law on Administrative Procedures, in order to safeguard the independence of regulatory bodies, improve recruitment and promotion procedures based on merit and performance, and enhance institutional and human resource capacities, with a view to ensuring efficient conduct of EU accession negotiations; commends the National Council for European Integration on its initiatives to enhance the capacities of public administration and civil society in monitoring the implementation of accession-related reforms;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the positive trend in the track record of investigations, prosecutions and convictions and the adoption of key pieces of anti-corruption legislation, including on the protection of whistle- blowers; is concerned, however, that corruption remains prevalent and that key anti-corruption institutions continue to be subject to political interference and have limited administrative capacities; stresses the need for a more adequate legal framework for conflicts of interest, regulating lobbying and better interinstitutional cooperation and exchange of information, especially between police and prosecution services, with a view to improving their track record as regards investigation, prosecution and conviction, including in high level cases; in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections, calls for effective oversight of political party financing and an accountable audit system;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the continued implementation of the strategy and action plan on the fight against organised crime and intensified international police cooperation; welcomes recent operations against drug plantationis gravely concerned of the allegations of infiltration of the state by organised crime groups; welcomes recent operations against drug plantations; regrets, however, that police and prosecution fail to identify criminal gangs behind drug cultivation and trafficking and efficient judicial follow-up in criminal proceedings is seldom secured; calls for increasing the capacity and the use of financial investigations and improving the track record of freezing and confiscating illegally acquired assets; calls also for organised crime networks to be dismantled and for the number of final convictions in organised crime cases to be increased, by enhancing cooperation between police and prosecution services and by strengthening institutional and operational capacities; underlines the need to step up efforts to prevent human trafficking, in particular as regards unaccompanied children and child victims of trafficking;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the improving EU-related cooperation between state institutions and civil society organisations (CSOs), including their participation in meetings of the National Council on European Integration (NCEI) and calls for more proactive role to be provided to them; stresses the need for even closer coordination at all levels of government, including at local level, with CSOs; welcomes in this regard the establishment of the National Council for Civil Society (NCCS); calls for the effective implementation of the right to information and public consultation at all government levels and for better regulation of the fiscal framework affecting CSOs;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the competent authorities to continue improving the climate of inclusion and tolerance for all minorities in the country, including by enhancing the role of the State Committee on Minoritiadopting a comprehensive law for the protection of minorities and by enhancing the role of the State Committee on Minorities; calls for the adoption of the European Charter for regional and minority languages; as regards Roma and, Egyptians and other ethnic minorities, calls for continued efforts in improving their access to employment, education, health, social housing and legal aid; is concerned that, despite improvements, the inclusion of Roma children in the education system remains the lowest in the region;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls for the recognition of the Bulgarian minority living in the regions of Mala Prespa, Golo Brdo and Gora; believes that granting a minority status to the Bulgarian community will consolidate their rights and freedoms and will give a positive signal that Albania respects the rights and freedoms of all ethnic minorities living in the country in true European spirit;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Commends religious tolerance and good cooperation among religious communities; encourages the competent authorities and religious communities to cooperate in preserving and fostering religious harmony; considers it essential to prevent Islamic radicalisation, including throughis concerned of the existence of numerous unauthorized mosques in Albania allegedly linked to extremists groups that present a risk of spreading radicalisation; considers it essential to prevent Islamic radicalisation through targeted approach by the intelligence, law enforcement authorities and judicial institutions, including as well disengagement and reintegration of returning foreign fighters, to countering violent extremism in cooperation with CSOs and religious communities, and to intensifying regional and international cooperation in this area;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates the critical importance of professional and independent private and public service media; is concerned about political influence in the media and widespread self-censorship among journalists; notes the slow implementation of the law on audiovisual media and the delays in filling vacancies in the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) and granting digital licences to commercial operators; calls for measures to raise the professional and ethical standards of and prevalence of regular work contracts for journalists, to enhance the transparency of government advertising in the media and to ensure the independence of the regulatory authority and the public broadcaster;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for the process of property registration, restitution and compensation to be completed in a transparent and non- discriminatory manner, and for the 2012- 2020 strategy on property rights to be implemented effectively;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes with concern that the number of unfounded asylum applications lodged by Albanians in EU Member States has increased again; urges the government and the number of illegal stayers and illegal border crossings remains the highest among Western Balkan nationals; urges the government to be more proactive in addressing this negative phenomenon and to intensify awareness-raising, socioeconomic support and prevention efforts in this regard;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Commends Albania for remaining a constructive partner in the region and pro-active in regional cooperation; welcomes Albania's continued active participation in the South East Europe Transport Observatory and the Western Balkans 6 process focusing on improving connectivity within the Western Balkans as well as with the EU; regrets, however, delays on the construction of Fier bypass on the North-South corridor and the Tirana-Elbasan on the road corridor VIII; urges the Albanian authorities to accelerate planning and construction of the Albanian sections of the transportation corridors;