32 Amendments of Urmas PAET related to 2019/2210(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to the Final Agreement for the Settlement of the Differences as described in the UN Security Council resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995 and the establishment of a Strategic Partnership on 17 June 2018 between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic ofNorth Macedonia, also known as the Prespa Agreement,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that the EU’s enlargement policy is a two-way street on which both sides must uphold their commitments; stresses that the pace of negotiations should reflect the merits and readiness of each country and their progress with regards to internal reforms;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes with concernHighlights that a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Republic of Serbia has entered into force, which riskss negotiated by the Western Balkan countries should not undermininge the aims of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and Serbia’s 2009the application for membership of the EU;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Demands strong integration effortsCalls for an increase to the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and other funds to support reforms and assistance for remaining countries in the Western Balkans; In this regard, calls for strong integration efforts and projects, for instance from funds such as the Western Balkans Fund, in order to support Western Balkan countries in promoting improvement ofstrengthening the rule of law, democracy and, human rights, and their administrative and judicial capacity so as to enhance economic competitiveness, budgetary balance and structural reform and to achieve stable conditions for business to operate and invest in the region;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reminds the Western Balkan countries of the importance of regional economic cooperation and good neighbourly relations; Highlights the importance of stability and prosperity in the region as well for the EU; Supports initiatives that promote regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations while moving countries closer to EU membership, for instance through a border free "mini Schengen" area within the region;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the EU is the largest foreign investor in the region and emphasises the need to give the region high priority under the EU’s Connectivity Strategy; Highlights the importance of improving transport infrastructure in the region, and in particular the role this plays in facilitating trade; Supports the swift construction of European railway and highway corridors throughout the Western Balkan countries;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Recalls the importance of WTO membership to open up trade opportunities and to bring candidate countries closer to EU membership; Recalls that Bosnia and Herzegovina applied from WTO membership in 1999, and Serbia in 2005; Calls on the EU to continue supporting Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with their WTO accession processes;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Western Balkan countries to stick to projects in the energy sector which help to meetbear in mind climate objectives and are aligned with EU environmental legislation when selecting projects in the energy sector;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. Whereas the Thessaloniki Agenda and the Sofia Declaration highlighted that special emphasis will be placed on creating further opportunities for youth, while ensuring that this contributes to the socio-economic development of the Western Balkans;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas European prosperity and security is closely linked to the integration process and the advancement of peace, democracy, respect for human rights and rule of law in the Western Balkans region and their future in a strong and reformed EU;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas following the accession of Croatia in July 2013, the enlargement process has been beset by challenges, the progress of reforms remain slow and uneven, sometimes experiencing significant reversals; the EU enlargement policy faces chronical problems, such as the challenges to the rule of law, corruption and weak democratic institutions;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas there is an urgent need to enhance the effectiveness of the accession process and to seriously tackle the challenges posed by the bigger picture of democratic backsliding across the region as well divided public opinions on the process within the EU;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas the reform of the EU can and should go hand in hand with the enlargement process;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)
Recital D e (new)
De. whereas the EU also need to strengthen the rule of law mechanisms inside the EU and establish an ambitious agenda for the Future of Europe conference;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) to ensure that citizens and societies from candidate countries are more closely associated with and benefit from the accession process; in this framework, pro- European and pro-democratic parts of society, views and opinions should be particularly supported and encouraged by the EU;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b b (new)
(bb) the EU Commission must make sure that each step taken include a substantial and comprehensive dialogue with civil society organizations, academia and youth from the early stage of decision making to the implementation and evaluation phase with special care not to support or finance existing local anti- European power structures or local structures of dubious democratic reputation, thereby fostering the development of EU values, rule of law, fight against corruption and building strong and efficient democratic institutions as a foundation for successful accession into the EU;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) to provide clear and consistent accession benchmarks as well as continued support throughout the process, and to improve the measuring of progress, ensuring that each accession country is assessed on the basis of its own merits; to accelerate the accession process of the countries committed, both politically and administratively, through the implementation of the EU related reforms;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to ensure that the opening and closing of chapters are based on clear benchmarks and conditions while keeping the rule of law and fundamental rights as a priority throughout the process, as accession to the European Union requires a strong commitment to shared values; all steps of the accession process should be made reversible, in case of commitments unfulfilled or major political shifts in candidate countries; underlines that a focus on respecting international court rulings must be set;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) to encourage gradual participation in EU sectoral policies and programmes prior to accession, including through targeted financial support, in order to bring tangible benefits for citizens, particularly for children and young people and enhance the EU’s assistance and presence in these countries; the involvement of the candidate countries in sectorial policies at an early stage requires that the Council as well as the European Parliament have a regular say in the accession process, bringing more democratic support to the process;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) to engage the representatives of accession countries in the Conference on the Future of Europe with a special focus on youth participation;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x
Paragraph 1 – point x
(x) to increase EU engagement in solving outstanding bilateral issues and to urge the Western Balkan countries to commit to reconciliation and peaceful solutions to longstanding disputes; to stress the importance of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(xa) to nominate a double-hatted EU Special Envoy for the Western Balkans to work under the authority of the High Representative and Commissioner in charge of Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy and focus on solving the lingering conflicts throughout the region;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z
Paragraph 1 – point z
(z) to promote and actively support the implementation of anti-discrimination policies and to insist on the prosecution of hate crimes; to encourage swifter progress towards gender equality, and in tackling discrimination and ensuring social inclusion of ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, Roma and LGBTQI+ people, with special attention to children, by establishing inclusive policies to protect the fundamental rights of citizens;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a d
Paragraph 1 – point a d
(ad) to tackle the brain drain with concrete measures such as promoting quality and inclusive educational reforms and, so that the education sector better matches requirements in the labour market and contributes to the creation of job opportunities for young people;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a g
Paragraph 1 – point a g
(ag) to include the accession countries in the European Green Deal and Just Transition Fund processes; IPA III funding for the region must be in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a j
Paragraph 1 – point a j
(aj) to establish a regional roaming-free zone and further decrease tariffs for communications with the EU; this must be based on increased regional cooperation and connectivity, both physical and digital, must be a key focus;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a k
Paragraph 1 – point a k
(ak) to acknowledge the difficulties Western Balkan countries face in managing migration and refugee flowxed movements and the substantial efforts the region has made to provide shelter and humanitarian supplies, primarily with the support of the EU; to implement the agreements between Western Balkan countries and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex); to underline the need to strengthen the capacity of the asylum system in the region in cooperation with EASO and UNHCR;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ak a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ak a (new)
(aka) to acknowledge the possible difficulties rising with regard to the migration and refugee flows taking into account Turkey's recent decision to encourage the flow of refugees from Turkey towards Europe; considers it necessary to continue helping the Western Balkan countries in this regard as necessary;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point al a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point al a (new)
(ala) to considers it important to continue working together with Western Balkan countries on countering terrorism and organised crime;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point al b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point al b (new)
(alb) to commend the cooperation of Western Balkan countries in CSDP missions with the EU;
Amendment 354 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point an a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point an a (new)
(ana) to improve the cooperation with other IFIs, above all the World Bank, in order to streamline efforts and avoid double funding;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a p
Paragraph 1 – point a p
(ap) to strengthen strategic communication of the values of the Union and the overall visibility of EU support in the region, as well as in the Member States to develop an understanding for the benefits of the accession process and the unification of the continent;