14 Amendments of Manolis KEFALOGIANNIS related to 2016/2312(INI)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas (potential) candidate countries are judged on their own merits and the quality of the necessary reforms determines the timetable for accession;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas accession negotiations are a powerful incentive for adopting and implementing accession-related reformscandidate status brings greater responsibilities for Albania to deliver on the reform agenda (in line with EU Common Positions for SA Councils); whereas the EU accession process is a powerful incentive for adopting and implementing accession-related reforms; whereas challenges still persist and need to be addressed swiftly and efficiently in order to make further progress on its path to EU accession;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the protection of religious freedom, cultural heritage and the administration of property in accordance with the rule of law are fundamental values of the European Union;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes Albania’s continuous progress on EU-related reforms, in particular the adoption of constitutional amendments paving the way for a comprehensive judicial reform; stresses that not only consistent adoption but also full and timely implementation of reforms on all five key priorities and sustained political commitment are essential in order to further advance the EU accession process; encourages Albania to establish a solid track record with regard to such reforms;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Fully supports Albania’s accession to the EU, and recalls for the accession negotiations to be opened as soon as there is credible progress in the implementation of judicial reform, in order to keep the reform momentumthat a sustained, comprehensive and inclusive implementation of all five key priorities has to be ensured before the opening of accession negotiations; expects Albania to consolidate the progress achieved and to maintainaccelerate the pace of progress on implementation of all key priorities;
Amendment 62 #
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; calls for the swift adoption and credible 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, also depend on the success of the vetting process and judicial reform; recalls that adopting and implementing such a reform is essential to the entrenchment of the rule of law, as well as to enhance the enforcement of fundamental rights in the country, also with a view to increase trust in the judicial system amongst all citizens throughout Albania, including persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 96 #
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; stresses the need for a more efficient, depoliticised, and professional public administration; 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 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 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the adoption of key pieces of anti-corruption legislation, including on the protection of whistle- blowers; is concerned, however, that key anti-corruption institutions continue to be subject to political interference and have limited administrative capacities; continues to be concerned about widespread corruption, in many areas particularly in education, healthcare, the judiciary, public procurement, public private partnership concessions, construction and spatial planning, local government and the public service; stresses the need for a more adequate legal framework for conflicts of interest, regulating lobbying and better interinstitutional cooperation, 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;
Amendment 110 #
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 plantnotes that illicit proceeds of narcotics account for a significant proportion of Albania's GDP; calls on the competent authorities to strengthen their efforts in the fight against the production and trafficking of drugs and narcotics, including by stepping up international and regional cooperations; 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 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. URecalls, among the key priorities, the need to reinforce the protection of human rights, minority rights and anti- discrimination policies and efficient implementation of property rights; in particular, encourages Albania to strengthen the protection of persons belonging to minorities and recalls the importance of measures to guarantee and ensure in practice their equal access to all rights including those enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, throughout Albania; calls on Albania to address legal gaps that have been identified and clarify state policy by adopting comprehensive legislation according to its relevant commitments and in line with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities; recalls that any policy or legislative proposals in the field of protection of persons belonging to minorities should fully respect the principle of free self-identification; 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 Minorities; as regards Roma and Egyptians, 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 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the enforcement of property rights remains to be efficiently ensured; Calls for the process of property registration, restitution and compensation to be completed, and for the 2012-2020 strategy on property rights to be implemented effectively;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Commends Albania on its continued full alignment with relevant EU declarations and Council conclusions, thereby demonstrating its clear commitment to European integration and solidarity; underlines the importance of ensuring good neighbourly relations, which remain essential as an integral part of the Enlargement Process as well as of the Stabilisation and Association Process conditionality; commends both Albania and Serbia on their continued commitment to improving bilateral relations and strengthening regional cooperation at political and societal level, for example through the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) headquartered in Tirana; encourages both countries to continue their good cooperation in order to promote reconciliation in the region;underlines the importance of ensuring good neighbourly relations, which remain essential as an integral part of the Enlargement Process as well as of the Stabilisation and Association Process conditionality;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Commends Albania on its continued full alignment with relevant EU declarations and Council conclusions, thereby demonstrating its clear commitment to European integration and solidarity; underlines the importance of ensuring good neighbourly relations, which remain essential as an integral part of the enlargement process as well as of the Stabilisation and Association Process conditionality; commends both Albania and Serbia on their continued commitment to improving bilateral relations and strengthening regional cooperation at political and societal level, for example through the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) headquartered in Tirana; encourages both countries to continue their good cooperation in order to promote reconciliation in the region; recalls that actions and statements which negatively impact on good neighbourly relations should be avoided;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates its request that the Commission include information about IPA support for Albania and the effectiveness of implemented measures in its reports, in particular the IPA support allocated for implementation of the key priorities and relevant projects bearing in mind the Commission's declaration on the Strategic Dialogue with the European Parliament;