Activities of Harald VILIMSKY related to 2019/2171(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amendments (50)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
- having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2549 (2020) of 5 November 2020 renewing the mandate of operation Altheathat the number of unregistered firearms in civilian illegal possession in the Western Balkans is thought to be around 3.8 million and large quantities of ammunition and military explosive devices such as but not limited to hang grenades, antipersonnel- as well as anti-tank mines,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
- having regard to its resolution of 9 July 2015 on the Srebrenica Commemoration1 , __________________ 1the fact that the hostilities in the Western Balkans are not over and that there is no stabile Peace established, merely a standstill in hostilities, OJ C 265, 11.8.2017, p. 142.
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the reports: Strengthening Resilience in the Western Balkans: Mapping Assistance for SALW Control, Small Arms Survey, September 2018; and UNODC (2020), Global Study on Firearms Trafficking,
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Stabilisation and Association Process and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU membership application representdo not constitute a last resort for the country’'s strategic choice towards European integrationaccession process;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the implementation of meaningful reforms, created in accordance with the country's Constitution, that improve citizens’ lives and facilitate EU accession require the engagement of all BiH political leaders, authorities, institutions and office holders, but most importantly of all from the citizens in both parts of BiH;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas a clear distribution of responsibilities and enhanced cooperation between different levels of both government iss are essential;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the countryboth entities continues to face numerous challengegrave problems related to the rule of law, governance, accountability, immigration management, freedom of expression and media freedom, and a functioning market economy;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas BiH is a migrant transit route, and reception capacities remain insufficient for hosting migrants and asylum seekers prese for mass volumes of predominantly illegal immigrants that has illegally entered BiH and the EU and its Member States cont in the countryue to face the threat of uncontrolled and illegal immigration;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the current migration situation in BiH is a consequence of the mismanagement of the European migration crisis, which has affected Europe for the past decade;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas BiH is a safe country in terms of immigration terminology in international-law;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Member States of the EU is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s biggest trading partner and the largess well as the most significant provider of financial assistance;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas President Erdogan, on a recent visit to Bosnia, stated that Turkey could not afford to observe developments in the region from afar, thus confirming Ankara’s interest in the Balkan area;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic aggravated BiH’s socio-economic situation; whereas the EU-Member States has mobilised EUR 80.5 million, to be administered by EU staff, to assist BiH in tackling COVID-19 and its post-pandemic recovery, and up to EUR 250 million in macro-financial assistance; whereas the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans will facilitate a long- term recovery;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the attraction of working in a EU-Member State or other more developed nation has created a detrimental loss of both highly to medium skilled individuals in BiH, and this is to the general detriment of the development of BiH; whereas currently it is estimated that 11 million immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, or ten percent of their population, currently reside in Western Europe a number that has substantially risen in the last 20 years; whereas according to the World Economic Forum BiH is one of the worse affected nations in terms of the loss of skilled professionals with a score of 1.76 on a scale of 1= all talented people leaving the country to, 7=all talented people staying in the country; whereas this is reinforced with the Gallup survey estimating the potential net gains or losses to a country’s adult population, showing that the total loss of population, due to immigration, from both entities in BiH has the potential to be 32% of the total population;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. RecCalls that the path towards the EU depends on sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation warranting the democratic and multicultural character of BiH; urges the country to expedite effective prosecution of war crimes under the revised National War Crimes Processingon EU Member States to start a new debate on the need and use of EU enlargement, the debate shall also include a consultative element for all citizens of the Member Strategy, and calls for impartial and effective investigations into these crimes; condemns any kind of historical revisionism, secessionist rhetoric and related acts, denial or glorification of war crimes committed during the 1990’s wars to provide their view on EU enlargement;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that over 7 200 BiH citizens from both entities are still missing, and urgerecommends the authorities in both entities to intensify cooperation and data sharing on issues related to missing persons, redress to civilian victims of war, and to ensure the safe return of refugees still residing in EU Member States and internally displaced people;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls onRecommends all regional political leaders to set up the Regional Commission tasked with establishing the facts about all victims of war crimes and other human rights violations committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia (RECOM), building upon the significant work carried out by the Coalition for RECOM;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UrgesCalls on the authorities in both entities to ensure inclusive and non- discriminatory education for all children;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. UrgeRecommends all BiH political leaders and institutions in both entities to significantly accelerate work and co- operation to fully comply with the 14 key priorities and ensure full control of the flow of illegal immigrants; calls on the authorities to maintain the political will for enhanced co- operation demonstrated at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the effective organisation and independent functioning of institutions is an essential feature of a viable democracy and a prerequisite for advancing the EU integration process, including obtaining candidate status; warns that ethno-nationalistic rhetoric and attempts to obstruct the functioning of institutions undermine country-wide co-ordination and decision-making on key policies and reforms, the control of the national borders, the country's constitution and all adopted treaties between the country's cultural groups must be respected;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the urgent need to address shortcomings in the constitutional framework and to make progress on reforms that would transform BiH into a fully functional and inclusive state; stresses that institutionStresses that the country's constitution was adopted under extremely adverse circumstances and preserves the al reforms dependady fragile composition onf the will and commitment of political leadercountry, its authorities and its institutions in the country; urges the international community to facilitate the conditions for constitutional dialogue under the leadership of the EU, in particular Parliament, and in consultation with civil society; warns against amending or even calling into question this fragile structure under pressure from third parties;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the need to considerably strengthen cooperation and data exchange between state, entity and cantonal jurisdictions across all policy areas; notes the urgency of strengthening state-level capacity and expertise in the wide range of issues that need to be addressed to fulfil the obligations related to European integration;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. RegretNotes the lack of progress on reforms in the judiciary; reiteratecommends the urgent need to strengthen the professionalism and accountability of the judiciary and to ensure its independence from undue influence;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls forRecommends immediate steps to tackle corruption and impunity in the public sphere in order to rebuild citizens’ trust in the institutions;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. UnderlineRecommends the need to ensure consistent country-wide professional civil service standards, and calls for the implementation of merit-based standards within the constitutional framework in public appointments and promotions as a priority; welcomes the adoption of the Public Administration Reform Strategic Framework, enabling mobilisation of related EU funds;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concern over the fundamental rights situation, and calls forNotes that certain fundamental rights are not respected and recommends more effective and comprehensive countrywide human rights and anti- discrimination strategies, as well as measures against interfaith and interethnic intolerance; stresses the need to duly prevent and prosecute the proliferation of hate speech, hate crimes and violence, and to promote social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable populations, including the Romanotes as well the fundamental importance of a complete transitional justice process in order to build a strong base for a lasting peace in BiH and the Western Balkans;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. RegretNotes BiH’s continued inabilityavoidance to comply with a number of anti-discrimination rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR); notes as well the continuing shortcomings in the election process, and reiterates the need to address discriminatory ethnicity and residency- based restrictions on the right to stand for election through the required constitutional changes;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls forRecommends thorough investigations into alleged electoral irregularities, including identity theft, barriers to independent electoral observation and political pressure on the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC), during of the 2020 municipal elections;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. RegretsNotes the continued political and financial pressure and instrumentalisation of the media, undermining freedom of expression and media pluralism; expresses its concern atnotes as well the hostile environment for independent media, and urgerecommends the authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute threats and attacks against journalists and media personnel;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes the increased illegal immigratory pressure on the country; calls for effective inter-institutional coordination of BiH and urges both entities to ensure a stop at their borders for all illegal immigrationnts and border management in the face of a mounting humanitarian crisis; calls for equitable burden-sharing and adequate support for local communities hosting temporary reception centres; underlines the need to ensure appropriate recepensure that they are unable to enter and traverse both entities; reminds all authorities in both entities that all development like aid, administered by the EU, to be considered in the future will be on the condition that both entities once and for all fully stop the illegal mass inflow of illegal-immigrants via their territories, towards the EU external border; therefore stresses the importance for effective inter-institutional condiordination of immigrations and to boost capacity for processing incoming migrants and asylum-seekers; urges BiH to conclude an agreement with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO); calls on the EU to step up its support to BiH’s authorities, namely wiborder management in the face of a mounting illegal immigration to the EU and its Member States; stresses, furthermore, that the issue of repatriation of illegal immigrants is crucial and that further establishment of reception camps at the EU's external border must be prevented; notes that the Bosnian population in particular, especially in the regard to operational assistancion around Bihać and Velika Kladuša, is suffering as a result of rampant crime;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. UrgeCalls BiH to step up its efforts against cross-border crime, especially human traffickingthe facilitation of illegal immigration into the EU -area, and to ensure swift conclusion of the status agreement with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) that would facilitate better protection of borders in full respect for fundamental rights, while helping fight cross-border crime;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Underlines that countering migrant smugglers and human traffickers activities on the Western Balkan routes is achievable through a strategic cooperation among the police forces and the intelligence agencies between the EU Member States and the Western Balkans States;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Does not accept the lack of willingness and ability by the entities and their institutions to control the possession of illegal fire arms and military-grade explosive devices and stop the illegal movement of these weapons into the Member States as this undermines and deny the full utilization of human rights for citizens in the Member States; points out the reports "Strengthening Resilience in the Western Balkans: Mapping Assistance for SALW Control, Small Arms Survey, September 2018" and "UNODC (2020), Global Study on Firearms Trafficking " and highlights, that the ongoing threat in the Western Balkans region was confirmed by several studies; stresses that weapons used in terrorist attacks in the EU were, as mentioned in the reports, acquired through local illicit firearm markets and were found to originate from the Western Balkans; underlines that those reports stresses, that the Western Balkans is the main supplier of illicit firearms in Europe and the that links between the Western Balkans and small arms used in EU member states in various types of criminal and terrorist activities are evidently clear; reminds as well that the latest report from the UN on the subject "UNODC Global Firearms Study", which confirms, that the Western Balkans remain a source of illicit firearms, notably assault rifles for Western Europe; urges the institutions in both entities to show credible action to control these weapons and stop their entry into the Member States;
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for a co-ordinated, strategic countryentity-wide response to the ongoing health emergency and post-pandemic recovery measures; recalls COVID-relatedillegal mass immigration emergency; recalls the conditionality for all development-aid administered by the EU support to address the acute s on the ability of all instituation in the country; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Balkan counts of government in BiH to fully control and halt illegal immigration from and via their territories;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Welcomes the contribution of the BiH Armed Forces in dealing with the humanitarian emergency as example of an effective coordination between civilian and military actors in emergencies. Invites the Government of BiH to adopt humanitarian and disaster plans by drawing on the experience of both Member States and Serbia;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls oSuggests to both entities in BiH to step up active labour market measures aimed at reducing long-term and youth unemployment, contribuand especially focus on halting to the most acute brain drain in the regionBiH;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. UrgeRecommends the authorities in both entities to prioritise measures aimed at boosting economic diversification, digitalisation and tackling the informal economy, while developing effective and transparent mechanisms for energy market, transport infrastructure, sustainable tourism and support for SMEs;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Urges BiH’s authorities to ensure alignment with EU standards and policy objectives on climate protection and energy, facilitating the green and digital transition, and calls for the prioritisaSuggests that the entities in BiH’s ensure protection of measures to reducinge ecological degradation and environmental risks to health;
Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30