Activities of Angel DZHAMBAZKI related to 2023/0397(COD)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) It is in the common interest of the Union and its Western Balkans partners1 to advance the efforts to reform political, legal and economic systems of the latter with a view to their future Union membership. The prospect of Union membership has a powerful transformative effect, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change. Recalls that Union membership is not merely a symbolic act but requires serious commitments to Union values and standards. _________________ 1 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) There is a need to bring forward some of the advantages of Union membership before accession. Economic convergence is at the heart of these benefits. Currently, the convergence of Western Balkans in terms of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards remains low at between 30% and 50% of the Union average and is not progressing fast enough.
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Transport infrastructure is essential to improve connectivity between the Western Balkan partners and with the EU Мember States, especially neighbouring ones with direct border. It should contribute to effectively integrateing the region in the Union in a realistic manner considering regional specificities and geopolitical challenges specific to those countries. In its proposal revising the trans-European transport framework (TEN- T), the Commission included a new Corridor crossing the Western Balkan region (Western-East Mediterranean corridor). The TEN-T network should be the reference for funding transport infrastructure in the region, especially those already in or having started the process of building the necessary infrastructures. Funding for these projects from different Union programs should be avoided. Completing existing projects before starting new ones should be a priority.
Amendment 181 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives- both on country and regional levels, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules and values, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law as enshrined in the Copenhagen criteria, including rule of law and non-discrimination, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption. These objectives shouldare to be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 а) The Facility should encourage and improve cooperation between the Western Balkan countries and their neighbouring Member States, helping to develop projects of strategic importance in the transport, energy, digital and energy transition sectors.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The implementation of this Regulation should be guided by the principles of equality and non- discrimination, as elaborated in the Union of Equality strategies. It should promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and seek to protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights in line with the EU Gender Action Plans and relevant Council conclusions and international conventions. The implementation of the Facility should be in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its protocol, ratified by the EU and its Member States and ensure accessibility in its investments and technical assistance. Measures funded under the Facility should also take into consideration accessibility for persons with disabilities in line with the Union legal framework, in particularly with Directive (EU) 2019/882, such as accessible housing, transportation and public spaces, including public infrastructure both in urban and rural areas.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) This Regulation should promote the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans7 by reinforcing environmental protection, contributing to the mitigation of climate change and increasing resilience to climate change, and accelerating the shift towards a low-carbon economy. , without bringing unnecessary harm to sectors such as agriculture, transport, etc. _________________ 7 SWD(2020)223 final, 6.10.2020.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Reflecting the European Green Deal as Europe’s sustainable growth strategy and the importance of tackling climate and biodiversity objectives in line with the commitments of the Interinstitutional Agreement, the Facility should contribute to the achievement of the overall target of 30% of Union budget expenditure supporting climate objectives and 7.5% in 2024 and 10% in 2026 and 2027 to biodiversity objectives. At least 3725% of the non-repayable financial support channelled through the WBIF should account to climate objectives. The Facility should support activities that fully respect the climate and environmental standards and priorities of the Union and the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/8528 . _________________ 8 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13.
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and the Beneficiaries, should contribute to increased transparency and accountability in the delivery of assistance, including by implementing appropriate internal control systems and anti-fraud policies. The support under the Facility should be made available under the preconditions that each of the Beneficiaries continues to respect and uphold effective democratic mechanisms and institutions, including a multi-party parliamentary system, and the rule of law, and to guarantee respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those in the process of being officially recognized as such. Another pre-condition should be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
Amendment 267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) It is appropriate to provide loans to the Beneficiaries on highly concessional terms with a maximum duration of 4035 years and to not start the repayment of the principal before 2034. It is also appropriate to derogate from Article 220(4), of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046.
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) The Commission should ensure that the financial interests of the Union are effectively protected under the Facility. At the same time, given the long track record of financial assistance provided to the Western Balkans Beneficiaries also under indirect management and taking into account their gradual alignment with the Unions internal control standards and practices, the Commission may rely to a great extent on the operation of the national internal control and fraud prevention systems. In particular, the Commission and OLAF should be informed of all suspected cases of irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflict of interests affecting the implementation of funds under the Facility without delay, including by national Member States authorities in possession of sufficient and reliable data from credible and official sources.
Amendment 338 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the fight against hate crimes, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those in the process of being officially recognised as such;
Amendment 373 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. The Facility shall not support activities or measures which are incompatible with the Beneficiaries’ National Energy and Climate Plans, their Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and ambition to reach climate-neutrality by 2050 or that promote investments in fossil fuels, or that cause significant adverse effects on the environment or the climate.
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Preconditions for the support under the Facility shall be that the Beneficiaries strive to maintain good neighbourly relations and continue to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi- party parliamentary system, and the rule of law, and guarantee respect for all human rights obligations, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those in the process of being officially recognized as such. Another pre-condition shall be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Western Balkan countries should work in line with the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP);
Amendment 399 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall monitor the fulfilment of the preconditions set out in paragraph 1 before funds are released to Beneficiaries under the Facility and throughout the period of the support provided under the Facility taking duly into account the latest Enlargement Package. The Commission may adopt a decision concluding that some of these preconditions are not met, and in particular,such cases, should withhold the release of funds referred to in Article 21, irrespective of the fulfilment of payment conditions referred to in Article 16(3).
Amendment 449 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Reform Agendas shall set out the reforms to be undertaken by the Beneficiary, as well as investment areas, towards the achievement of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3. The Reform Agendas shall comprise measures for the implementation of reforms through a comprehensive and coherent package. In the areas of fundamentals, including the rule of law, the fight against corruption, fundamental rights, including minority groups, both officially and non- recognised, and those in the process of being recognized as such and the freedom of expression, the Reform Agendas shall reflect the assessments in the most recent Enlargement Package and the respective country reports by the European Parliament.
Amendment 458 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Facility shall incentivise the implementation of the Reform Agenda of each Beneficiary by putting clear and specific payment conditions on the release of funds. These payment conditions shall apply to funds under Article 6(2) point (a) and Article 6(3) and shall take the form of qualitative or quantitative steps. Such steps shall reflect progress on specific socio- economic reforms, including on fundamentals of the enlargement process and rule of law, linked to the achievement of the different objectives of the Facility, set out in Article 3, consistent with the latest Enlargement Package and the respective country reports by the European Parliament.
Amendment 487 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall assess the relevance, comprehensiveness and appropriateness of each Beneficiary’s Reform Agenda or, where applicable, any amendment to that Agenda, without undue delay. When carrying out its assessment, the Commission shall act in close cooperation with the Beneficiary concerned, and may make observations or, seek additional information or require the Beneficiary to review and modify that Agenda.
Amendment 520 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall enter into a loan agreement with the Beneficiary. The loan agreement shall lay down the maximum loan amount, the availability period and the detailed terms and conditions of the support under the Facility in the form of loans. The loans shall have maximum duration of 4035 years as of the signature of the loan agreement.
Amendment 522 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall assess without undue delaydevelop in cooperation with the legislators guidelines on assessing whether the Beneficiary has achieved satisfactory fulfilment of the payment conditions set out in the Commission implementing decision referred to in Article 15(1) on the basis of information received by the Beneficiary and if available any relevant data submitted by the authorities of EU Member States, OLAF and the European Court of Auditors. The satisfactory fulfilment of these payment conditions shall presuppose that measures related to the same reforms for which the Beneficiary had achieved satisfactory fulfilment in prior decisions have not been reversed by the Beneficiary. The Commission may be assisted by experts.
Amendment 526 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Article 21 – paragraph 7
7. The Commission may reduce the amount of the non-repayable financial support, including by offsetting in line with Article 102 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, or of the loan, in the event of identified cases of, or serious concerns in relation to, irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests affecting the financial interests of the Union that have not been corrected by the Beneficiary, or a serious breach of an obligation resulting from the Facility Agreements or from the Loan Agreements, including on the basis of information provided by OLAF or by the reports of the European Court of Auditors.