Activities of Georgios EPITIDEIOS related to 2016/2312(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2016 Report on Albania (debate) EL
Amendments (8)
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Α
Recital Α
A. whereas Albania has made steady progress, on a number of points, in its EU accession process; whereas further implementation of, inter alia, the judicial reform package, electoral reform and the so-called decriminalisation law is important in strengthening citizens’ trust in their public institutions and political representatives;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Fully supportsSupports in principle Albania’s accession to the EU, andbut calls for the accession negotiations to be opened as soon as there is credible progress above all in the implementation of judicial reform, in order to keep the reform momentum; expects Albania to consolidate the progress achieved and to maintain the pace of progress on implementation of all key priorities;
Amendment 80 #
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; 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; deplores the pattern of violence and rigging that has characterised each and every election to date, in particular as regards the participation of candidates from minority communities. stresses that all citizens belonging to any minority are entitled to freely exercise their right to vote without restrictions and calls on the EU to guarantee that right;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes improvedithin the framework of the transparency and inclusivity of parliamentary activities, but calls for parliamentary capacities to be enhanced in order to monitor the implementation of reforms and their compliance with EU standards and to make better use of the various oversight mechanisms and institutions in order to hold the government to account; calls for the parliamentary code of ethics to be approved and for the rules of procedure to reflect the law on the role of parliament in the EU integration process; offers to explore ways for closer cooperation with the Parliament of Albania within the framework of the European Parliament support programme for parliaments of the enlargement countries in order to enhance its capacity to produce quality legislation in line with the EU acquis and to exercise its oversight role in the implementation of reforms;
Amendment 143 #
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 Minorities so as to ensure respect for their human rights; 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 167 #
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 by avoiding extreme actions that offend religious sentiment, such as the demolition of places of worship; considers it essential to prevent Islamic radicalisation, including through disengagement and reintegration of returning foreign fighters, to counter violent extremism in cooperation with CSOs and religious communities, and to intensify regional and international cooperation in this area;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for the process of property registration, restitution and compensation to be completed, measures that will help prevent private property from devolving to the State on the pretext either of ambiguity in the existing legislation, or the absence of a law safeguarding it, and for the 2012-2020 strategy on property rights to be implemented effectively;
Amendment 218 #
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; 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; furthermore, calls on Albania to control extreme political groups that voice expansionist designs on neighbouring countries and undermine the country's efforts to establish good neighbourly conditions with them;