Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Urges each EU delegation to publicise Parliament’s work relevant to its host country, including in the local language on its website, and to follow up with local authorities and civil society groups; reiterates that this is highly important for citizens and media to deal with fact-checking and recognising disinformation, malign influences and hybrid threats;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/06/06
Committee: CULT

2023/2053(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Welcomes the new mobility action Culture Moves Europe in the frame of the Creative Europe Programme offering mobility grants to artists and cultural professionals, in particular for literary translators;

2023/06/06
Committee: CULT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v e (new)

(v e) propose an institutional upgrade through a new Peace and Prevention Hub that acts as a single-entry point for matters of prevention within the EEAS, enhanced regional co-operation, and increased capacity to engage on topics of conflict, peace, prevention, and diplomacy;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the Russian war of aggression continues to cause unprecedented geopolitical shifts in Europe; whereas Türkiye’s key location allows it to play an instrumental, strategic role in the events; whereas Türkiye remains key partner for the stability in the wider East Mediterranean region;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO

10. Condemns malign foreign interference by third actors in BiH, notably Russia’s destabilisation of the Western Balkans; calls on the EEAS and EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina to intensify efforts in promoting benefits of closer integration and invest in communication campaigns to fight foreign influence;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses that the rule of law, good governance, pluralism and fundamental rights need to be mainstreamed in IPA III funding, which must be based on strict conditionality; recalls that EU funding for projects in the RS entity should remain frozen until the reversal of democratic backsliding by the RS entity and until full alignment with the CFSPCalls on the Commission to enable local and regional administrations to a better absorption of funds; calls to eliminate the lack of equal distribution of IPA III funds at local and regional level in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; calls to provide the necessary technical and financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to facilitate the European integration process, without limiting the support and the reserved budget of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) to the current list of beneficiaries;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Urgently calls on BiH to engage in regular inter-parliamentary cooperation through the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee; welcomes the progress achieved by the agreement on the rules of procedure for the EU - BiH SAPC;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the fact that the general elections held in October 2022 were generally well organised and competitive; notes however that they took place against a backdrop of stagnant reforms, divisive rhetoric and political obstruction; ~~takes note of~~welcomes the changes introduced by the High Representative to the election law and constitution of the Federation of BiH, aimed at addressing a number of functionality and equality issues;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, Milan ZVER, Peter POLLÁK, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the Commission to further broaden the reach of the New European Bauhaus and allow partner countries from the Western Balkans and the rest of Europe to take part in the initiative; reiterates that this will lead to enhanced cooperation and better results in the field; highlights the importance of using pilot projects in this regard, while taking into account geographical balance and all NEB aspects, including the safety component that will ensure protection of citizens in cases of natural and man made disasters;

2022/05/02
Committee: ITRE CULT

3. Commends North Macedonia on its steady progress on the path towards EU membership, its commitment to multiculturalism and inter-ethnic harmony, and its continued positive bilateral engagement; in this regard stresses the importance of current political arrangement reached under the Ohrid Framework Agreement for peace and stability of the country;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

C a. whereas the credibility of the enlargement process is based on unequivocal results in key areas of rule of law and judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organized crime, security, fundamental rights, democratic institutions, public administration reform, as well as economic development and competitiveness;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and EUFOR Althea are integral in preserving peace in accordance with their mandates based in political neutrality and full respect for the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas all ~~BiH~~constituent peoples and all citizens of BiH should enjoy equal individual and collective rights and obligations throughout BiH territory, also according to the Annex 4 of The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement); whereas the country has committed to international and domestic obligations to end ~~systematic ethnicity and residence-based discrimination and ensure citizens’ equality~~discrimination and ensure equal rights and representation of the constituent peoples and all of its citizens before the law;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas all BiH citizens should enjoy equal rights and obligations throughout BiH territory; whereas the country has committed to international obligations to end ~~systematic ethnicity and~~ residence-based discrimination and ensure citizens’ equality before the law; whereas the nature of the state of BiH should reflect that it is shared by three constituent peoples;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas it is crucial to ensure legitimate representation of the constituent peoples;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas glorification of convicted war criminals, ethnic or religious segregation and discrimination go against the very essence of the European project; whereas there is an urgent need to effectively outlaw denial of the Holocaust, genocide, war crimes, political persecutions and crimes against humanity regardless of the perpetrator;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas the Council expressed in the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence its strong support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on the principles of equality and non- discrimination of all citizens and constituent peoples as enshrined in the Bosnia and Herzegovina constitution, as well as the reform process on its European path;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Underscores that the pace of EU accession is determined by the due functioning of democratic institutions, grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights and full implementation of Dayton Peace Agreement;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Urges BiH and its political leaders to advance on the 14 key priorities by restoring the independence of the judiciary, strengthening the rule of law, intensifying the fight against corruption and organised crime, securing media freedom and an enabling environment for civil society, and protecting vulnerable groups; welcomes the progress achieved by the agreement on the rules of procedure for the EU-BiH Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and elections in Mostar held on 20 December 2020;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its clear support for BiH’s democratic transformation through European integration, based on sovereignty, federalism, constitutionality and territorial integrity, grounded in the principles of equality and non- discrimination of all citizens and constituent peoples as enshrined in the constitution;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its clear support for BiH’s democratic transformation through European integration, based on sovereignty and territorial integrity, grounded in the principles of equality and non- discrimination of all citizens and constituent peoples as enshrined in the constitution; recalls that according to Article 4 TEU the European Union shall respect the national identities of Member States, inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and local self- government;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its clear support for BiH’s democratic transformation through European integration, based on sovereignty and territorial integrity, grounded in the principles of equality and non- discrimination of all citizens and constituent peoples, including political representation, as enshrined in the constitution;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that enforcement of the Dayton Peace Agreement includes the obligation to adhere to the constitutional architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina with respect for rights of all constituent peoples and citizens and obligation to implement OHR decisions;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Karlo RESSLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that enforcement of the Dayton Peace Agreement includes the obligation to implement OHR decisions; recalls that the European Parliament strongly advocates the position of individual approach, full fulfilment of the set criteria and consistent and credible conditionality;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the impasse in negotiations on electoral law reform in BiH, that should allow the Croats to elect the Croation representative in the Presidency, and the lack of political will to overcome it; calls on all actors to promptly reach a balanced agreement, to fulfil the constitutional duty of democratic governance and to ensure the transparency and integrity of the electoral process;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the impasse in negotiations on electoral law reform in BiH a~~nd the lack of political will to overcome it; calls on all actors to promptly reach a balanced agreement, to fulfil the constitutional duty of democratic governance~~fter several attempts and facilitating interventions from the European Union and United States and the lack of political will to overcome it; calls on all actors to promptly reach a compromise with a balanced agreement to avoid electoral engineering, to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human rights and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to fulfil the constitutional duty of democratic governance based on legitimate representation of all constituent peoples and citizens and undisputed electoral legitimacy for all legislative and executive bodies regardless of their specific features defined by the Constitution, and to ensure the transparency, legitimacy and integrity of the electoral process; before the next general elections; urges the European Union, United States and the international community to intensify their efforts in facilitation of a political agreement;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the impasse in negotiations on electoral law reform in BiH and the lack of political will to overcome it; calls on all actors to promptly reach a balanced agreement, to fulfil the constitutional duty of democratic governance and to ensure the transparency and integrity of the electoral process; stresses that the reform of the electoral law, which will guarantee the representation of the three constituent peoples, is a step towards establishing a functioning society and institutions;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Regrets the non-implementation of the binding Constitutional Court decision in the case Ljubić, that has resulted in the denial of the right of Croats to elect their own legitimate political representatives in the 2018 general elections, especially regarding the election of Croatian members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; calls on all stakeholders to reach an agreement on the reform of the Election Law to assure that in the 2022 general elections all constituent peoples and citizens have the right to elect their own legitimate political representatives;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Deeply regrets that BiH still remains in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by not implementing the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Sejdić-Finci, Zornić, Pilav and Šlaku cases; deeply regrets that BiH still has not implemented the ruling of Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the case Ljubić;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Strongly denounces the disregard for international and national court decisions, norms and obligations, all hate rhetoric and disruptive action, including withdrawal from institutions, by the leadership of Bosniak and Serb parties in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and particularly by the leadership of the Republika Srpska entity, which destabilises the country, undermines its statehood in violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and systematically hampers decisions on key laws and reforms; rejects all attempts to form parallel parastatal institutions, which undermine state institutions, legal order, judicial independence and sovereignty; calls for a full, non-selective and unconditional return to all state institutions, which should function in full accordance with the Constitution and with full electoral legitimacy and procedural legality, including the Central Electoral Commission;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Strongly denounces the disregard for international and national norms and obligations, all hate rhetoric and disruptive action, including withdrawal from institutions, particularly by the leadership of the Republika Srpska entity, which destabilises the country, undermines its statehood in violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and systematically hampers decisions on key laws and reforms; rejects all attempts to form parallel parastatal institutions, which undermine state institutions, legal order, judicial independence and sovereignty; calls for a full, non-selective and unconditional return to all state institutions; also denounces the unitarian concept of the state promoted by the Bosniak leadership which is not in accordance with the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is composed of three equal constituent peoples and others and with the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European legal acquis;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for the EU and the international community to use all available tools, including targeted sanctions, against destabilising actors in the country, including those hindering collective and individual political rights as per the Constitution;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Karlo RESSLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines that the EU future of BiH depends on sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation, and the political representation of the three constituent peoples, warranting its democratic, inclusive and multi-ethnic character; urges BiH to expedite effective and impartial prosecution of war crimes under the revised national war crimes processing strategy; calls on all regional political leaders to set up the relevant commission (RECOM);

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines that the EU future of BiH depends on sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation, warranting its democratic, inclusive, multi-national and multi-ethnic character according to the Dayton Peace Agreement; urges BiH to expedite effective and impartial prosecution of war crimes regardless of the perpetrator, under the revised national war crimes processing strategy; calls on all regional political leaders to set up the relevant commission (RECOM);

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Notes that genuine reconciliation, cooperation and peaceful coexistence is possible only by mutual recognition and respect of the rights and needs of the all constituent peoples and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the right of legitimate representation in all levels of government; notes that the principles of federalism would suit the functioning of this state as it would establish equality in all spheres between the constituent communities and citizens;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Urges BiH’s political actors to make progress on judicial, electoral, administrative and economic reforms that are needed to bring the country closer to the EU; denounces all attempts to stall these reforms, thus endangering access to EU funding under IPA III, which must be based on strict conditionality and depends on the cooperation of different authorities;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Deplores the damage and loss of live caused by a strong earthquake that hit Bosnia and Herzegovina near Stolac on 22 April 2022; calls on the European Union and all its Member States to show solidarity and provide appropriate financial and material assistance to the country through all possible mechanisms, including the distribution of funds from the IPA III pre-accession fund;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Karlo RESSLER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses the importance of holding elections this year as planned; calls for the necessary implementation of electoral reform in the run-up to the elections, in order to protect the guaranteed rights of the constituent peoples, enshrined in the Dayton Peace Agreement;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses the importance of ~~holding elections this year as planned~~general elections this year as planned, based on fulfilment of necessary formal and legal preconditions in order to ensure unequivocal integrity and legitimacy of the election and election process in line with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and rulings of domestic and international courts;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Supports transparent and inclusive limited constitutional and electoral reforms to ensure equality and non-discrimination of all constituent peoples and citizens, enhance accountability and transform BiH into a fully functional and inclusive pluralistic state by immediately implementing r~~ulings,~~elevant rulings of domestic and international courts, and opinions and recommendations of competent ~~courts and~~ international bodies; supports transatlantic and European facilitation efforts to this end and condemns all obstructions and inactivity of political actors in that regard;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Supports transparent and inclusive constitutional and electoral reforms to ensure equality and non-discrimination of all citizens~~, enhance~~ and constituent peoples; insists on the implementation of the decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on finding mechanisms so that none of the constituent peoples can elect political representatives of other constituent peoples, especially in the House of Peoples; supports enhancing accountability and transforming BiH into a fully functional and inclusive state by immediately implementing rulings, opinions and recommendations of competent courts and international bodies; supports transatlantic facilitation efforts to this end;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Notes that for the last twenty years, the reserved seats for minorities in democratic institutions have not been properly filled with representatives of these minorities; calls on political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to follow the example of the ruling of Supreme Court of Kosovo that acknowledged the decision of Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) to annul the election of representative of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities as she was elected illegitimately in breach of the principle of legitimate representation;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls for the implementation of consistent country-wide merit-based civil service standards, enabling a streamlined, depoliticised and accountable public administration; calls for equal representation of all constituent peoples and citizens in the public service, companies and media outlets;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Underlines the need to enhance internal and regional economic harmonisation and connectivity; calls for country-wide sector strategies, improvements to strategic planning, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and the creation of control and audit structures; welcomes the European investments in road and rail infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely the development of Corridor Vc linking Central Europe to port of Ploče on the Adriatic coast;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Welcomes the efforts of the EU and its Member States, as well as neighbouring countries in the region, in assisting the country in vaccination campaigns and mitigating the consequences of the COVID pandemic;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls the need for improved laws on gas and electricity, renewables, energy efficiency and climate, and ~~to step up environmental and nature protection~~notes that progress in the areas of environmental and climate protection as well as alignment with EU standards has remained low; therefore urges BiH’s authorities to ensure greater alignment with EU standards and policy objectives on climate protection and energy;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Calls on the BiH authorities to reduce transboundary air pollution, especially in case of Bosanski Brod oil refinery that affects the quality of life and health of people living in Slavonski Brod in Republic of Croatia; reminds that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a signatory party of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991) and is bound by its obligations;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls for urgent action to tackle widespread selective justice, state capture, nepotism, cronyism, high-level corruption and criminal infiltration; reiterates the urgent need for judicial reform across BiH to improve the professionalism and integrity of the judiciary and for administrative reform to eradicate corruption;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls for the implementation of rulings of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reminding that the rule of law is integral to the country's progress in Euro-Atlantic integration;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Deplores the continuing failure to safeguard media freedom and pluralism; insists on eliminating political interference and protecting journalists from intimidation with systematic judicial follow-up; expresses its concern over the lack of a variety of traditional media channels, including television broadcasting; draws attention to the inadmissible practices of reducing the presence of certain constituent peoples in those same media and to the problem of biased and negatively toned reporting;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Reiterates the need for equal representation of all constituent peoples in public media outlets and calls for media pluralism to be ensured in media programmes as well as content in the languages of all constituent peoples; stresses the need to ensure public broadcasting outlets in official languages which would protect cultural diversity of all constituent peoples;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls on the Commission to refocus IPA III support to in-country democratic forces, institutions and procedures and to enable local and regional administrations to a better absorption of funds; calls to eliminate the lack of equal distribution of IPA III funds at local and regional level in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Reiterates its call to ~~urgently end segregation and discrimination in~~address the different rulings regarding the individual cases of ‘two schools under one roof’ that allow the right to education, in~~cluding by implementing court rulings to end the discriminatory illegal practice of ‘two schools under one roof’~~ the official language of one's choice, as introduced by the OSCE; stresses that all citizens have the right of access to education in all official languages, as guaranteed by the UNESCO conventions;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Reiterates its call to urgently end segregation and discrimination in education, including by implementing court rulings to end the discriminatory illegal practice of ‘two schools under one roof’; recalls that according to Article 165 (1) TFEU the European Union shall fully respect the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of the education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity; reiterates that according to Article 165 (4) TFEU any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States is excluded from the EU incentive measures in the field of education;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Notes that the adoption of programmes and curriculum should take in account the cultural and language diversity while respecting the constitutional architecture and competences; calls on the improved coordination and standardisation of educational curricula between the different cantons in the Federation, that have the constitutional competence over education;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Deplores the failure of authorities to address the severe migration-related humanitarian crisis; recalls the need for solidarity-based solutions on migration ~~and asylum~~, asylum and border management in coordination and cooperation with affected Member States on the European external border, ensuring adequate humanitarian assistance and appropriate reception capacities across the country; welcomes the opening of the EU-funded centre in Lipa;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Urges BiH to step up its efforts against cross-border crime, especially human and weapons trafficking and illegal border crossing and urges BiH to ensure a swift conclusion of a status agreement with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) that would facilitate better protection of borders in full respect of fundamental rights;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Urges BiH to reverse the trend of regression on alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, particularly with regard to implementing sanctions against Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine; calls on BiH to strengthen good neighbourly relations and to work on resolving ongoing bilateral issues;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Assita KANKO, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Angel DZHAMBAZKI, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Hermann TERTSCH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls for the EU to take concrete steps to integrate the Western Balkans and BiH within a broader strategic and security context, also in view of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and its attempts to disrupt the European path of the Western Balkans, by means of disinformation and malign interference destabilising the country and region;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes ~~EU-funded efforts to~~the mobilization of European Peace Facility funds worth €10 million that will finance 150 metal detectors and 68 special vehicles in order to build capacities, boost demining and the disposal of weapons, ammunition and explosives;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Welcomes the continued presence of EUFOR’s Operation Althea in the country and the extension of its mandate by the United Nations Security Council on 3 November 2021;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the recent re~~inforcement~~serve activation of additional 500 soldiers of EUFOR Althea and the support under the European Peace Facility to strengthen the armed forces of BiH; reminds that the mission still plays an important role in safeguarding the security and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Sunčana GLAVAK, Željana ZOVKO, Tomislav SOKOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the recent reinforcement of EUFOR Althea and the support under the European Peace Facility to strengthen the armed forces of BiH; recognizes the added value that BiH's membership in NATO would have for democratic and institutional progress, as well as peacekeeping;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30 a. Notes that the mandate of EUFOR Althea expires in November 2022; calls on the EU and its Members States to facilitate the extension of the mandate of the mission and to develop a contingency plan in case of non-extension, as the denial of its renewal risks to be detrimental to the peace and security environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and would lead to further destabilization;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)

— having regard to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2018 and the Sofia priority agenda,

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 b (new)

— having regard to the EU-Western Balkans summit, held in Zagreb on 6 May 2020, and its declaration,

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas enlargement is one of the EU’s most effective foreign policy instruments, as it contributes to extending the reach of the Union’s fundamental values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, peace building and respect for human rights;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the EU ~~must~~ provides a clear pathway for countries seeking to join the EU; whereas the Council has set conditions for Albania to fulfil prior to the first intergovernmental conference; whereas the quality of the necessary reforms determines the timetable for accession;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas Albania ~~should~~must continue to press forward with the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, including the protection of persons belonging to minorities;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the EU is Albania's biggest provider of financial assistance; whereas Albania has benefited from the EU assistance under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) in total of €639.5 million since 2014;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the EU is Albania’s biggest trading partner and largest donor and whereas the country has benefited from EUR 1,24 billion in EU pre- accession funding under IPA I and IPA II since 2007;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas the EU remains fully committed to support Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration; whereas Albania remains an important geopolitical ally and a trustworthy foreign policy partner, thanks to its efforts to advance regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas the EU has shown its commitment for the European perspective of Western Balkan countries and mobilized €3.3 billion to address the immediate health crisis and mitigate economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Albania has ~~fulfilled al~~made sustained efforts to fulfil the conditions for the scheduling of the first Intergovernmental Conference and is advancing in its accession process;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas Albanian citizens have enjoyed visa-free travel to the Schengen area since December 2010;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas Albanian citizens have been able to participate in student, academic and youth exchanges under the Erasmus+ programme since 2015;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the need to uphold the pace and credibility of European integration by promptly opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, as continuously recommended by the Commission, given that both countries have fulfilled the conditions and deliver sustained results across fundamental areas; stresses that the opening of the negotiations would give credible impetus to other candidate countries in their reform efforts;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the need to uphold the pace and credibility of European integration by promptly opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, following the complete fulfilment of the conditions set by the European Council, as continuously recommended by the Commission, given that both countries ~~have fulfilled the conditions and~~ deliver sustained results across fundamental areas;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. URecalls that Albania’s EU accession depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; underscores that the pace of EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; urges Albania to sustain and intensify efforts to reinforce the functioning of the judiciary, strengthen the rule of law and the economy, counter corruption and organised crime, and ensure media freedom;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive political dialogue and cooperation, enabling an effective functioning of the country’s democratic institutions by continuing to improve governance, transparency and pluralism and by enabling the active participation of civil society; expresses its serious concern about the polarised political climate and lack of sustainable cross-party cooperation that continue to hamper the democratic process; encourages the use of the Jean Monnet Dialogue (JMD) to build the consensus necessary for generating a democratic parliamentary culture and trust and to develop true inter-party dialogue;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls the need to keep addressing the remaining electoral shortcomings by further improving the accessibility and integrity of elections preventing misuse of public administration/resources and vote- buying, including through digitalisation, data protection, equitable access to media and revised rules on political party financing;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Proposes an EU Election Observation Mission to Albania ahead of the next parliamentary election; calls on the Albanian government to ensure the full implementation of the ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations regarding the electoral shortcomings in due time before the upcoming general elections;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Expresses concern about the pervasive allegations of vote buying, and recalls that initiation of proceedings against those accused of vote buying is among the conditions set by the Council; notes with regret that convictions in cases involving high-level officials remain limited and investigations have so far not resulted in a substantial number of final convictions of high-ranking officials;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reportersat Albania has fallen nine places in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index since 2018; notes the need for progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; calls on Albania to ensure a policy of zero tolerance for intimidation and attacks against journalists, and the media; requests authorities to take decisive action against the violence, intimidation, smear campaigns and indirect political and financial pressure directed at independent media outlets and reporters, which seriously stifle media freedom, induce self-censorship and gravely undermine efforts to uncover crime and corruption; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner; in this regard, reiterates its grave concerns about the previously proposed so-called ‘anti-defamation package’, a legal act suffering from vagueness, that would likely have had a “chilling effect” suppressing free discussion and political speech in Albania, according to the Venice Commission6a; welcomes that the Parliament has initiated a process to review the current laws regarding the anti-defamation framework; _________________ 6a https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/docu ments/?pdf=CDL-AD(2020)013-e

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to improve coordination and to address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to citizens in the Western Balkans;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Underlines that the newly established Media and Information Agency should increase transparency and decentralisation and must in no way inhibit journalists’ equal access to information from government sources;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls for further efforts to ensure and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities; notes that persons with disabilities were among the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; deplores that during the April 2021 elections, persons with disabilities encountered barriers and difficulties to vote; calls for further efforts to address violence against persons with disabilities, improve overall accessibility (including services and information), and to promote employment; points out that the quality of education for disabled children, especially deaf children, remains a cause for concern;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Recalls the importance of measures ensuring the protection of national minorities and their active role in the society; calls on Albania to ensure that minority groups have equal opportunities, adequate representation in political and cultural life, public media and administration, and the judiciary; calls on Albania to protect and promote cultural heritage, languages and traditions of its national minorities;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Reminds about the crucial role of education for national minorities and therefore calls on Albania to provide equal and non-discriminatory education in minority languages as well to ensure adequate access to state lower and high education to all of its citizens;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Calls on Albania to swiftly adopt the remaining pending secondary legislation ensuring the full protection of national minorities;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Acknowledges the progress achieved in implementing the Istanbul Convention and calls on authorities to step up the prevention and responses to gender- based violence and femicide, to enhance support to survivors and to advance the prosecution of cases of harassment, and domestic violence ~~and~~including violence against children; deplores that in Albania, 60% of all sexual abuse cases are committed against children - refugee and migrant children, and children with disabilities are extremely vulnerable to violence, exploitation, stigmatization and abuse;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Stresses that the authorities still need to strengthen the system for monitoring and combating child labour and other forms of exploitation;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Notes that Albania has fallen 27 places on the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2021, since 2016, scoring only 35 points out of a possible 100; worries that the pandemic was used as an excuse to reduce oversight and accountability for public procurement and foreign aid spending, allowing corruption to spread widely;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Commends the steady progress in implementing a comprehensive justice reform, underpinned by the unprecedented vetting process, followed by a restored functionality of relevant courts; welcomes the adoption by the Albanian Parliament to extend the mandates of the vetting institutions until the end of2024;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Commends the steady progress in implementing a comprehensive justice reform, underpinned by the unprecedented vetting process, followed by a ~~restor~~n improved functionality of relevant courts;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Welcomes the Constitutional Court’s full functionality, following the appointment of members equal to the necessary quorum; expresses concern regarding the Constitutional Court’s quorum ahead, as the High Court lacks the necessary quorum to elect judges to the Constitutional Court and the mandates of members of the CC are expiring;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Welcomes the work of the Specialised Structure for Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) and the SPAK Courts in tackling corruption and organised crime; underlines the importance of delivering tangible results in the form of successful prosecution of high-profile crimes, including corruption; deplores that convictions in cases involving high-level officials still remain limited, fostering a culture of impunity within the higher levels of the State; stresses the need to further increase seizure and confiscation of criminal assets stemming from corruption-related offences;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Welcomes the adoption of 10 laws aiming to further strengthen the efficiency of the judicial system and underlines the importance of additional measures such as the implementation of the judicial map, a new integrated case management system and a strengthened legal education system; urges the government to take in consideration the opinion of all stakeholders for the new judiciary map, including the social-economic conditions of vulnerable groups;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Underlines the importance of taking decisive action against money laundering and terrorist financing by ensuring a consistent track record of proactive investigation, prosecution and final convictions for high-level corruption and confiscation of criminal assets; stresses the need of further alignment of its legislation with the EU acquis is this regard:

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Notes with concern the large share of grey economy and massive illicit cash payments in the country; underlines that while cash transactions are not synonymous with illegal behaviour, their traceless nature offers an ideal vehicle for money laundering; calls on the government to implement measures to reduce informality, where possible;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes the ongoing efforts that should lead to systemic improvements in tackling organised crime, including the trafficking of humans, drugs, firearms and goods, along with cybercrime, violent crime, extremism and terrorist threats; commends the ongoing regional, bilateral and international cooperation on dismantling transnational crime networks, including with the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust; highlights that Albania is the only country from the region that has signed cooperation agreements with all justice and home affairs agencies of the EU and that the first fully fledged joint operation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) outside the European Union was deployed at the Greek-Albanian border in May 2019; commends that Albania has allowed air monitoring by EU Member State law enforcement services to detect production of narcotics;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes the ongoing efforts that should lead to systemic improvements in tackling the trafficking of humans, firearms ~~and~~cultural property and other goods, along with cybercrime, violent crime, extremism and terrorist threats; commends the ongoing bilateral and international cooperation on dismantling transnational crime networks, including with the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Commends the ongoing bilateral and international cooperation on dismantling transnational crime networks, including with Eurojust, Europol and Frontex;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Recommends Albania to update the legislation regarding drug precursors;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)

29b. Expresses concern over the large numbers of firearms available in Albania; stresses the need to improve standard procedures and mechanisms to counter the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, and to step up the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)

29c. Underlines that the contribution of Albania to the protection of the European Union’s external border is of crucial importance; Stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross- border crime must continue to be a priority, and must be conducted in full respect for the fundamental rights enshrined in applicable international and regional laws and principles;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 d (new)

29d. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region and EU Member States; notes that Albania continued to experience a growing influx of irregular migrants, mostly leaving Albania after a few days, on the way to other EU countries; notes that the number of irregular migrants apprehended in Albania in 2020 increased by 13% compared with 2019; stresses that the issue of Albanian nationals making unfounded asylum applications to EU Member States still requires substantial efforts from the Albanian authorities; calls for enhanced efforts in addressing the smuggling of migrants, in particular unaccompanied minors;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 e (new)

29e. Stresses the need to ensure adequate financial, technical and human resources, as well as the financial and operational independence of judicial and law enforcement institutions;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Highlights EU funding of sustainable post-earthquake and post- pandemic recovery and supports the ongoing efforts towards Albania’s democratic, green and digital transformation; underlines the need to step up EU assistance and funding for ~~the~~ rule of law, improvements, and encouraging sustainable green growth, biodiversity, innovation, competitiveness, property rights and reversal of the demographic decline;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Underlines the importance of empowering the youth and welcomes the designation of Tirana as the 2022 European Youth Capital; stresses the importance of the program of the European Youth Capital in the Western Balkans as this is an excellent opportunity to foster European integration and good neighbourly relations between youth from all over Europe, while promoting cultural and linguistic diversity;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by improving access to social and healthcare services, especially for disadvantaged populations and minority groups;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32a. Regrets that in 2021 the budget allocation to education was only 2.7% of Albania's GDP; Calls on increased investment in the modernisation of the education system, ensuring its quality and inclusiveness;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Recalls the conditionality of the EU funding under the IPA III and the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans; recognises the importance of IPA III and EIP for supporting reform process, sustainable connectivity, human capital, competitiveness and inclusive growth as well in reinforcing regional and cross- border cooperation;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33a. Stresses the need to improve the visibility of and communication concerning EU aid and Union financing in Albania; recalls, in this regard, the performance reward under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to North Macedonia and Albania and notably the substantial support the EU has provided to the Western Balkans to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to limit the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

David LEGA, David MCALLISTER, Peter van DALEN, Miriam LEXMANN, Željana ZOVKO, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Arba KOKALARI, Vladimír BILČÍK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37a. Recalls that malicious foreign actors tend to exploit ethnic tensions in the Western Balkans, including in Albania, sometimes trying to use these countries as an information manipulation and hybrid warfare laboratory, aimed at undermining the EU; recommends that EU and Albania further exchange best practices and coordinate actions regarding foreign interference and disinformation; underlines the need for the EU and the United States to strengthen their partnership and coordination in the Western Balkans;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Welcomes good progress and good level of preparation of Albania’ by adopting and ratifying additional protocols to the Central European Free Trade Agreement and by certifying first authorised economic operators (AEO);

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the very timely new EU- US dialogue on China and the establishment of EU-US consultations on the Indo-Pacific, and calls for a coordinated approach towards strengthening multilateral institutions and regional organisations, promoting democracy and enhancing democratic resilience and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Highlights the fundamental role that connectivity plays in the geopolitical relations of the EU and its Member States achieving a more proactive European foreign policy, and welcomes the announcement by Commission President von der Leyen to present the EU’s global gateway strategy aiming at sustainable cooperation with like-minded states and using soft powers to promote European values and to secure strong and durable partnerships;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Welcomes the commitment to further expand trade and investment in the region and notes that the EU has completed negotiations for bilateral agreements with Singapore and Vietnam; stresses the importance of concluding ongoing free trade negotiations, including those with ASEAN countries Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand; reminds that region-to-region trade and investment agreement negotiations were suspended and notes that such agreement would greatly benefit both the EU and ASEAN countries;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Underlines the important cooperation by Indo-Pacific partners in the EU’s CSDP missions and operations through framework participation agreements (FPAs) with Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam, and calls for the conclusion of further FPAs with partner countries; supports Indo-Pacific partners' efforts to develop their own peacekeeping capacity;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Calls for the EU to invite like- minded Indo-Pacific partners to participate in selected PESCO projects in order to improve interoperability and coherence, thus strengthening overall security and defence cooperation;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Underlines the importance of information and cybersecurity as an element of the critical infrastructure of the global economy and for protecting democracies from disinformation and malicious attacks; welcomes EU's efforts to further enhance cooperation on cybercrime and cyber-resilience capacity- building for partners in the region and encourages closer cooperation in information sharing and in the fight against hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Highlights that the fight against violent extremism is of shared interest to the EU and Indo-Pacific countries; highlights the need to further promote cooperation between Europol and Aseanapol and between Europol and national law enforcement agencies to facilitate exchanges of good practices and expertise in key areas of interest, such as counter-terrorism, fighting transnational crime, human and illicit weapons trafficking and migrant smuggling;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2232(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Highlights that the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons and the rapid build-up and deployment of new technologically advanced nuclear capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region remain major regional and global security concerns; calls on cooperation with likeminded partner countries on nuclear, safety and non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and supports the implementation and universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty in the Indo-Pacific region;

2021/12/21
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy signed between the EU and Azerbaijan on 18 July 2022,

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to the Commission's Joint Communication "Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations",

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to opinion on Azerbaijan by the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) published on 4 February 2019,

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the EU is committed to promoting a South Caucasus region that is secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous and is ready to play an active role as reliable trade partner and honest broker in mediating a sustainable peace settlement;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the European Union supports peaceful conflict resolution of any unresolved regional conflicts via diplomatic means;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas, following the quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Macron and President Michel on 6 October in Prague, the EU has deployed a temporary monitoring mission along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan with the objective of monitoring, analysing and reporting on the situation in the region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas a sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires that all violence cease and that all the root causes of conflict be addressed, whereas such a goal can only be achieved when the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan can guarantee peaceful coexistence and the respect of minority rights;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the armed conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan have had a catastrophic impact on the cultural, religious and historical heritage of the whole region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Azerbaijan is a reliable ~~and~~, trustworthy and strategic supplier of fossil fuels to the EU and whereas it is becoming increasingly important in this role given the need for the EU to diversify its energy supplies;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the EU is Azerbaijan’s main trading partner and supports Azerbaijan’s WTO accession as well as the diversification, digitalisation and de- carbonisation of Azerbaijani economy;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas negotiations on a new Partnership Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan are ongoing since 2018; whereas the new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan should advance the interests of the EU in the region as well as promote human rights, democratic standards and principles, growth and economic development;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 and to refrain from any steps that could lead to further escalations; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric and to implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexistence, including those enhancing people-to-people contact; is of the opinion that the consequences of these hostilities and the presence of Russian peacekeepers is also impacting the political developments in the region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that the EU’s passive stance during and immediately after the 2020 war gave other regional actors, such as Russia and Turkey, the opportunity to gain influence in the region; reminds that more active European preventive diplomacy could have prevented such outcome; strongly supports, therefore, the initiative taken by the President of the European Council Charles Michel to convene and mediate bilateral meetings of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels and encourages the work of the EU’s special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia; urges the governments of both countries to fully engage in the drafting of a peace treaty and welcomes in this regard the meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of both countries on 30 September in Geneva and on 8 November in Washington D.C.;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Takes note of the initial progress made on the process of border delimitation; welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU missio~~Welcomes the establishment of the Azerbaijan - Armenia border delimitation commission and takes note of the progress made on the process of border delimitation; welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU monitoring mission with up to 40 EU monitoring experts along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan to build trust and contribute to the border commissions;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the humanitarian assistance provided by the EU for the conflict-affected population in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and its leading role in assistance for humanitarian demining in the areas affected by the conflict; calls on the ~~Commission to increase EU assistance to people in need, facilitate the implementation of more ambitious confidence-building measures and enhance people-to-people contacts between citizens~~European Commission to ensure additional funding and assistance on demining efforts, including equipment, training and risk education; calls for additional demining cooperation with experts from EU Member States and non- governmental organisations; calls on the Commission to increase EU assistance to people in need, facilitate the implementation of more ambitious confidence-building measures, promote interreligious and interethnic dialogue, protect minority rights and enhance people-to-people contacts between citizens in order to provide the foundations for a sustainable and peaceful coexistence;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Continues to be concerned about the fate of Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict and still held by Azerbaijan and welcomes the release of some of them; reminds that both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties to the Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which stipulates that prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated and must be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining detainees, including those captured during the recent military confrontations, and for them to be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. SDenounces the destruction of Armenian and Azerbaijani cultural, religious and historical heritage since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; strongly insists that Azerbaijan and Armenia refrain from ~~destroying cu~~further destruction and altuera~~l, religious or historical~~tion of such heritage; calls for the restoration of damaged sites in accordance with UNESCO standards and indications as well as for a greater involvement of the international community in the preservation of cultural, religious and historical heritage in the region; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to quickly allow a UNESCO mission to visit both countries without preconditions;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on Azerbaijan to ensure the safety and respect of the rights of all minorities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as this is an essential prerequisite for the creation of conditions conducive to post-war rehabilitation and genuine reconciliation;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. RAcknowledges the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor between Azerbaijan and Europe and the first dispatch of gas in December 2020; recognises the strategic role played by Azerbaijan as a provider of fossil fuels to the EU and welcomes its willingness to contribute even more to the EU’s objectives in terms of security and diversification of energy supply and climate neutrality;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the new memorandum of understanding between the EU and Azerbaijan signed by President Aliyev and Commission President von der Leyen in Baku on 18 July 2022 that includes a commitment to double the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor to deliver at least 20 billion cubic metres to the EU annually by 2027; welcomes Azerbaijan’s participation in the EU4Energy program and urges the country to make more progress on energy efficiency;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises Azerbaijan’s potential as a producer of renewable energy, in particular in offshore wind and green hydrogen and calls on the Commission and the Member States to enhance EU- Azerbaijan cooperation in that area;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the significant trade flows between the EU and Azerbaijan and the high level of EU investment in Azerbaijan; underscores that the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan could mobilise up to EUR 2 billion in additional investments, which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of Azerbaijan and support the country’s economic diversification, green and digital transition; Calls on the EU to continue supporting regional development in Azerbaijan, including rural development, agriculture and food safety;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recognises Azerbaijan’s strategic geographical position as a potential gateway between Europe and Central Asia and beyond, within the so-called ‘Middle Corridor’; urges the EU to support Azerbaijan and its neighbouring countries in their efforts to establish trans-Caspian and trans-Caucasian connections;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on EU institutions to ensure that any deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan remains conditional on the country making substantial progress on respect for the core values and principles of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, good governance, the rights of minorities, freedom of the media and gender equality;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes the multicultural and multi- religious character of Azerbaijan and therefore calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to step up their efforts and ensure the non-discriminatory treatment of national minorities and to actively pursue investigations and convictions for hate-motivated crimes based on religious, gender related or ethnic grounds; calls on Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that all minority groups receive education in their national languages and to have equal opportunities, adequate representation in political and cultural life, public media and the administration; calls on Azerbaijan to protect and promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage, languages and traditions of its national minorities;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Deeply regrets the current state of press freedom in Azerbaijan; expresses its concern at the new law on media adopted in December 2021; calls for a swift review of that law in accordance with the recommendations included in the opinion of the Venice Commission of 17-18 June 2022; urges Azerbaijan to stop persecuting bloggers and journalists; calls on Azerbaijan to free all journalists and bloggers currently detained on the basis of the opinions they expressed;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Recommends to the European External Action Service, the Commission and the Member States to increase their support for and cooperation with civil society and human rights defenders, in particular in relation to restrictions on their work; calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to establish a regular and in- depth political dialogue with civil society in order to encourage ambitious and widely shared reforms aimed at making institutions more democratic and independent, to promote human rights and media freedom and develop a regulatory environment in which civil society can operate without undue interference;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Strongly insists that Azerbaijan ceases all repression of political opposition activists through intimidation, arrests, detentions and court cases; urges Azerbaijan to releases all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience currently detained; Calls on Azerbaijan to fully implement the decisions of the ECtHR and to clear its backlog of unimplemented cases;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Urges Azerbaijan to reform its electoral legal framework to align it with international standards and obligations, guarantee constitutionally protected rights and freedoms, as well as address pending recommendations by ODIHR and the Venice Commission;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Expresses its concern at the persistent lack of independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the judiciary; urges Azerbaijan to cease to restrict access to the bar for lawyers engaging in human right cases and to stop using disciplinary procedures as a means to put pressure on those lawyers;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Takes good note of the limited progress made by Azerbaijan on the prevention of corruption; calls on Azerbaijan to address the lack of an effective system of asset disclosure for members of parliament, judges and prosecutors; to strengthen the role of the judiciary within the Judicial Legal Council and to eliminate the government’s undue influence over the Prosecutor’s Office;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the EU is committed to promoting a South Caucasus region that is secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous and is ready to play an active role as reliable trade partner and honest broker in mediating a sustainable peace settlement;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the European Union supports peaceful conflict resolution of any unresolved regional conflicts via diplomatic means;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas, following the quadrilateral meeting between President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Macron and President Michel on 6 October 2022 in Prague, the EU has deployed a temporary monitoring mission along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan with the objective of monitoring, analysing and reporting on the situation in the region;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas a sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires that all violence cease and that all the root causes of conflict be addressed; whereas such a goal can only be achieved when the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan can guarantee peaceful coexistence and the respect of minority rights;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the armed conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan have had a catastrophic impact on the cultural, religious and historical heritage of the whole region;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 and to ~~urgently~~refrain from any steps that could lead to further escalations; implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexistence, including those enhancing people-to-people contact; calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric which threatens to undermine the peace process;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that the EU’s passive stance during and immediately after the 2020 war gave other regional actors, such as Russia and Turkey, the opportunity to gain influence in the region; reminds that more active European preventive diplomacy could have prevented such outcome; strongly supports, therefore, the initiative taken by the President of the European Council Charles Michel to convene and mediate bilateral meetings of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels and encourages the work ~~on the ground~~ of the EU’s special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia; urges the governments of both countries to fully engage in the drafting of a peace treaty and welcomes in this regard the meetings of the foreign affairs ministers of both countries on 30 September in Geneva and on 8 November in Washington D.C.;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Takes note of the initial discussions on the process of border delimitation; welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU missio~~Welcomes the establishment of the Azerbaijan - Armenia border delimitation commission and takes note of the progress made on the process of border delimitation; welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU monitoring mission with up to 40 EU monitoring experts along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan to build trust and contribute to the border commissions;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the humanitarian aidssistance provided by the EU for the conflict- affected population in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and its leading role in assistance for humanitarian demining in the areas affected by the conflict; calls on the European Commission to ~~increase EU assistance to the people in need, including in Nagorno- Karabakh~~ensure additional funding and assistance on demining efforts, including equipment, training and risk education; calls for additional demining cooperation with experts from EU Member States and non- governmental organisations; calls on the Commission to increase EU assistance to people in need, facilitate the implementation of more ambitious confidence-building measures, promote interreligious and interethnic dialogue, protect minority rights and enhance people-to-people contacts between citizens oin ~~both sides of the border~~order to provide the foundations for a sustainable and peaceful coexistence;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Continues to be concerned about the fate of Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict and still held by Azerbaijan and welcomes the release of some of them; ~~demands~~reminds that both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties to the Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, which stipulates that prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated and must be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining detainees, including those captured during the recent military confrontations, and ~~that they~~for them to be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Strongly insists that Azerbaijan and Armenia refrain from destroying cultural, religious or historical heritage; calls for the restoration of damaged sites in accordance with UNESCO standards and indicationsDenounces the destruction of Armenian and Azerbaijani cultural, religious and historical heritage since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; strongly insists that Azerbaijan and Armenia refrain from further destruction and neglect of such heritage in the region; calls for the restoration of damaged sites in accordance with UNESCO standards and indications as well as for a greater involvement of the international community in protecting world heritage in the region; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to quickly allow a UNESCO mission to visit both countries without preconditions;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2207(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u

(u) ensure continued and additional financial support to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA to meet the increasing needs on the ground; ensure that EU funding is used for projects that are in line with EU values and that do not incite hatred or violence; ensure that EU sponsored schoolbooks are meeting the UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance coexistence and non-violence;

2023/02/07
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the Horn of Africa is a strategically important region for the EU, with which Europe has longstanding political and economic ties;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas the EU is a major, longstanding and reliable partner for peace, security, sustainable development and humanitarian assistance in the region;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

A c. whereas since 2019, the EU has supported 64 projects in the Horn of Africa via EU Trust Fund, mainly focusing on greater economic and employment opportunities and improved governance and conflict prevention;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) coordinate EU initiatives and support with African counterparts by favouring African ownership of the programmes whenever possible, thus helping to find African solutions to African problems; adopt, in this regard, a conditionality approach, including in developmental assistance and security issues, based on the more for more and less for less principle;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) coordinate efforts in the region with the African Union and its regional components, as well as with the UN, regional organisations and other like- minded partners;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d

(d) adopt a proactive, inclusive and cooperative approach based on selective engagement with countries and actors present in the Horn of Africa, sharing EU best practices and experience in integrating economic, developmental, financial, social, cultural and security-related issues to foster effective cooperation across the region and in the maritime domain, while also acting as a facilitator of dialogue with all parties involved;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) contribute to regional security and stability ~~both through~~with an integrated approach both through capacity building, conflict resolution and mediation activities and by addressing the root causes of conflicts;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

(e a) reinforce the EU’s integrated approach to conflicts and crises, and strengthen the link between humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, and peace along a “triple nexus” in the region;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e b (new)

(e b) support for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations agenda on Women, Peace and Security to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace and security issues, in line with the EU Action Plan, and the agendas on Youth, Peace and Security;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h

(h) acknowledge the positive impacts of Operation Atlanta in guaranteeing maritime security, and take note of the non-extension of its mandate within the UNSC; call on the Member States to show adequate commitment to the EU Training Mission in Somalia both in terms of personnel and means, in order to empower the Somali Armed Forces to ~~guarante~~take ownership of the security in the country;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)

(i a) support and promote mechanisms for further effective prevention, de- escalation and peaceful settlement of disputes and for reconciliation by encouraging dialogue and mediation in post-conflict areas;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l

(l) work in partnership with our African counterparts ~~and~~, civil society, churches and faith-based organizations to identify and address the main ~~human rights~~ challenges and priorities in the region, including human rights and rule of law issues and the mitigation of the COVID-19 health crisis;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)

(o a) support an environment that allows capacity building for local vaccine manufacturing and assist in strengthening local health systems, reinforcing partners’ preparedness and response capacity, and supporting structural reforms of the health sector;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)

(p a) move from an obsolete donor recipient mentality to a partnership of equal footing in order to create conditions for sustainable and peaceful development of the region;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

2021/2206(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)

(q a) find a sustainable solution with partner countries in Horn of Africa to mitigate consequences of migration towards European external borders, as its security is closely interlinked with overall peace and stability in the region;

2022/04/27
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Encourages the European Commission to look into the impact of VOD platforms on the European film and audiovisual market, in particular on the relationships between the different actors in the value chain;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

21 b. Reiterates the need for tailored support, investment and public funding schemes that will help production, boost the circulation of European works in the European Union and beyond, and promote diverse European film across all distribution platforms, including cinemas, DVD, TV and online platforms;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)

21 c. Emphasises the necessity to promote synergies between different EU funding schemes with specific amounts dedicated to the entire news media and audiovisual sectors, such as Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, InvestEU and Digital Europe;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)

21 d. Notes the fact that ensuring a better level playing field that respects copyright and intellectual property rights will boost the economic component of the sectors, save thousands of jobs and safeguard and promote Europe's rich cultural and linguistic diversity;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses the importance of reducing the audiovisual sector’s carbon footprint, especially at the production stage, which accounts for most CO2 emissions; notes that digital solutions such as virtual production techniques can facilitate this reduction; believes that the current MFF provides a unique opportunity for funding greening projects and reaching net zero emissions within this decade; calls on the Commission and Member States to exchange good practices and voluntary standards for the audiovisual sector in order to meet EU's target to become climate neutral by 2050;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Sabine VERHEYEN, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Highlights that film literacy is particularly important for making younger audiences aware of European cultural diversity; notes that European creators, producers, distributors and cinema have a key role to play; considers it necessary to develop a film literacy toolkit;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Calls on the Commission to elaborate more comprehensive strategies for the European news media and audiovisual sectors and establish a regulatory level playing field to sustain investments in both sectors, including online platforms;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2017(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Christian EHLER, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Peter POLLÁK, Alexander BERNHUBER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to further support the recovery and transformation of the entire news media and audiovisual sectors and to strengthen their resilience and market competitiveness in order to tackle future crises as effectively as possible; including financial and structural support for workers and SME's within the entire news media and audiovisual sectors;

2021/06/08
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 25 March 2021 on shaping digital education policy;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 15 September 2020 on effective measures to "green" Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas providing equal and inclusive opportunities for all is, and must continue to be, inherent to the fundamental values of the European Union, and whereas people from all backgrounds and walks of life ~~should~~must be able to benefit from Erasmus+; highlights that Erasmus+ benefits not only its participants but entire communities and societies;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. Underlines the importance of mobility and both digital and in person inclusive learning opportunities for all interested persons regardless of their background or health, economic, social and geographic obstacles; notes that this leads to more democratic, stronger and more cohesive and resilient societies;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 Regulation puts emphasis on promoting social inclusion and on the participation of people with special needs or with fewer opportunities, as defined in the ‘Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy’, encompassing persons with disabilities, health problems, educational difficulties, cultural differences, and facing economical, geographical and social obstacles; underlines that the new Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) is visibly improved, more inclusive and goes hand in hand with green and digital transition;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the experience of mobility offered by Erasmus+ ~~can be~~is a transformative experience for participants, and can positively influence their self- confidence, openness, critical thinking, employability and well-being by providing inclusive learning opportunities that enrich their lives and allow them to experience Europe's rich linguistic and cultural heritage while gaining lifelong knowledge; highlights the importance of these learning opportunities for their personal and professional development and building a more sustainable and stronger future;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the mid-term evaluation of the Erasmus+ programme 2014-2020 published by the Commission in 2018 underlined the necessity of reaching more people with fewer opportunities and smaller organisations; including people with economic and geographic obstacles, notably those living in remote or rural areas, islands or peripheral regions that are less connected with urban areas and cities; encourages national agencies in Member States to develop inclusive methods to enhance the participation of these learners in Erasmus+ and to update and optimise the existing infrastructure to reach more future learners;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights that Erasmus+ should support stakeholders’ and programme participants’ internationalisation plans that remove the physical, psychological, social, socio-economic, linguistic and other types of barriers to learning mobility and that offer clear and detailed information and qualitative support for participants from under-represented groups and those with specific needs; encourages better partnership and engagement with national and local organisations from Member States, the Western Balkans, Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood countries and all participating countries;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Deplores the dire humanitarian situation for the people in Ukraine and calls for increased assistance to Ukrainian students and young people via Erasmus+ to continue their contributions to European integration. Welcomes the measures announced by the Commission to make the projects under Erasmus+ more flexible for Ukrainian students and education staff; calls for additional support to allow Ukrainian higher education institutions and the academic community to sustain;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Underlines the positive impact of EU flagship programme Erasmus+ in third countries as a factor in the European integration process; stresses the need for increased inclusivity of Erasmus+ projects and cooperation in associated countries and other eligible countries, in particular in the Western Balkans, that would lead to strengthened EU visibility;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the crucial need for adapted funding and grants, such as pre- financing and lump sums, as financial barriers continue to be one of the biggest obstacles faced by people with fewer opportunities in Erasmus+; calls on the Commission to further develop Erasmus+ financing tools and establish synergies with other programmes; encourages Member States and their national agencies to facilitate more educational seminars for Erasmus+ staff to carry out projects and explore new ways to reach future beneficiaries of the programme and better address the needs of every individual participant in order to customise their Erasmus+ experience;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. UNotes how the pandemic accelerated the digital transition and highlighted the importance of being digitally skilled; underlines that Erasmus+ can contribute significantly in that regard; urges the Commission to tackle without delay the serious persistent issues related to Erasmus+ IT tools, which hamper not only the participation of smaller organisations and people with fewer opportunities, but also the participation of all kinds of beneficiaries, also older people from the EU and participating countries, including Western Balkans countries and the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood countries;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Milan ZVER, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Acknowledg~~Praises the role of teachers, youth workers and staff as the driving forces behind participating institutions in raising awareness of the programme, in informing and supporting future learners, and identifying people with fewer opportunities deriving from different obstacles they face, and notes that without them, most participants ~~with fewer opportunities~~ would not be able to take part; calls on the Commission, the Member States and national agencies to value and acknowledge their often voluntary work, to support them by facilitating their own mobility and to provide them with adequate funding, while a~~ccompanying participants with fewer opportunities~~ssessing their needs accordingly and offering them specific training a; notes the importance to updapte~~d to their needs~~ various tools that they use in identifying possible participants of the programme;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the need for the Commission, the Member States and national agencies to provide better support for grassroots organisations in all areas, particularly in the outermost regions and rural areas, and to ensure that resources and projects are distributed fairly in each Member State; underlines that it is crucial to provide equal opportunities to all interested participants regardless of their background; highlights it is important to keep extensive records and statistics that should serve as a consultation base for future programmes;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Stress~~Underlines the importance of providing better financial and material support to staff, so that they can engage with participants and their families, in order to give them more confidence, while ensuring that mobility projects run smoothly; notes that national agencies in Member States can provide significant help by identifying the needs of organisations and institutions in this matter and provide the necessary support;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Calls on the Commission to improve guidelines for national policies that will enable better participation of learners with health problems, cultural differences,economic, geographical and social obstacles; proposes to increase the number of inclusion officers in national agencies in Member States and to enhance their collaboration with organisations to assure that all projects and learning opportunities are distributed fairly;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Supports all EU initiatives aimed at facilitating student mobility, such as the Erasmus+ mobile application, ‘paperless Erasmus’ and the European Student Card; calls on the Commission to look closely at the possibility of more closely linking Erasmus+ and other programmes and to foster cross-sectoral cooperation, including Interrail, in order to foster greater ~~equality and~~inclusion and equality that will provide participants with better access to greener means of transport; calls on the Commission to also improve the DiscoverEU initiative and allow even more people to participate and learn about Europe while exploring all its parts;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Calls on the Commission to facilitate international consultation (both digital and in person) between national agencies in Member States and participating countries to exchange good practices, advices and strategies; notes that this will further strengthen their cooperation and allow them to implement new solutions, ideas and lessons learned on the ground that will result in greater numbers of participants in the Erasmus+ programme;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Regrets the lack of reliable data on the participation of people with fewer opportunities in the Erasmus+ programme; underlines the need to gather and monitor a critical mass of reliable data in order to create a management and steering tool for inclusion measures, using methods which respect privacy and do not add undue administrative burdens for organisations and participants; calls on national agencies to develop evaluation schemes to gain clear statistics and appropriately assess further problematic issues in order to prevent it in future Erasmus+ programmes;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Notes that administrative barriers prevent many potential learners to take part in the programme; calls on the Commission to simplify the application procedure and all related processes and mechanisms that will allow more participants to take part in the programme and enjoy mobility opportunities all over Europe; underlines the importance to develop additional tools in this regard;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Loucas FOURLAS, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Requests the Commission and the Member States to ensure that all relevant information regarding Erasmus+ is accessible to peversyon~~s with disabiliti~~e regardless of their possible obstacles, in particular through adapted and barrier-free online tools in all European languages; welcomes the establishment of ‘Erasmus Days’ and stresses the importance of the role of former Erasmus+ participants and alumni networks in promoting the programme widely and serving as a One stop shop for all future learners;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Loucas FOURLAS, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Asks the Member States to adopt targeted policies for all learners ~~with fewer opportunities and special nee~~of all age groups and of all backgrounds in order to increase participation in Erasmus+ and to foster exchanges of good practices in this field; notes that national agencies and voluntary Erasmus+ organisations play a key role in this; proposes the Commission to develop better strategic plans for future Erasmus+ programmes that will increase inclusion and diversity and help overcome the challenges and shortcomings;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to raise better awareness among citizens in all areas on the benefits of Erasmus+ through cooperation with media and social media outlets and by creating targeted campaigns in public learning places, libraries, schools and universities, organise online and physical events and assure good outreach; underlines that these dedicated actions will foster greater participation of learners from all disadvantaged categories, including participants with special needs, health problems, special needs, educational difficulties, cultural differences and geographical, social and economic obstacles;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Loucas FOURLAS, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15 b. Regrets the consequences that Brexit imposed on UK students, disabling them from taking part in Erasmus+; calls on the Commission to further engage in negotiations with the UK and find ways to enable people from all parts of the UK to participate in the programme because education is a priceless investment and Erasmus+ is an opportunity that must be available to everyone regardless of their geographical, health, economic, cultural or social obstacles;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2009(INI)

Željana ZOVKO, Milan ZVER, Loucas FOURLAS, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Theodoros ZAGORAKIS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Sabine VERHEYEN, Asim ADEMOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to use the European Year of Youth and related events to promote the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ programme; notes that the European Year of Youth should especially focus on the impact that the pandemic has had on mental health of young people; proposes the Commission, Member States and national agencies to find additional ways within Erasmus+ to support learners of all age groups to help them recover from the pandemic and continue their growth on all levels, including personal, social, and professional;

2022/04/01
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the paramount importance of ‘intangible assets’ and intellectual property (IP)-intensive industries in the economic recovery and resilience of the EU in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic; underlines the need to protect these by law, allowing creators to benefit from their intellectual property rights (IPRs);

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that collective management of authors’ rights represents is an important source of income for majority of creators and artists in Europe, and is an indispensable element of adequate functioning of EU’s copyright/authors’ rights framework;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Emphasises that collective management of authors rights is a vital element for creators’ continuous remuneration based on their copyright/authors’ rights throughout their artistic career while providing broadest possible access to cultural and creative works for the public; whereas global streaming platforms systematically pressure European creators to give away their copyright/authors’ rights against one-off payments;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Notes that IPR protection is key in encouraging companies to invest in innovative products and processes, especially to produce new content and products, but is convinced that compulsory licensing of patents is important as a last-resort tool meant to allow life-saving interventions in the public interest; calls on the Commission, therefore, to analyse and explore possible options for ensuring effectiveness and better coordination of compulsory licensing in the EU, taking into account cases in which it has been used in the Union, the reasons for its use, the conditions under which it was granted, its economic consequences and whether it achieved the desired effect;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to support the full and timely transposition of the two copyright framework directives; notes that the ~~Commission is putting special emphasis on the~~ implementation of Article 17 of the Copyright Directive2 should be carried out by Member States without delay, encourages Member States to proceed with the faithful implementation of Article 17 which best reflects the agreement achieved by the co-legislators, and strongly supports its plans for issuing implementation guidelines for Member States; urges Member States to quickly and completely transpose the directives into their national legislation by reflecting the agreement achieved at EU level; _________________ 2Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC, OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 92.

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Underlines the importance of recently adopted Directives (EU) 2019/790 and (EU) 2019/789, for a sound copyright/authors´ rights regime in the EU, invites the Member States to swiftly and faithfully transpose the requirements of those directives into national laws, and urges the Commission to remain a true guarantor of the EU law during the implementation process without deviating from the word and spirit of these crucial legislation for European creators and creative industries.

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Emphasises that territorial and exclusive licensing of rights are essential for the audiovisual sector in order to guarantee its creativity,financing and sustainability, but also to ensure that European consumers have access to culturally diverse content and a pluralistic media, recalls the European Commission’s own research, which shows that 83% of users never even tried to access content not intended for them, only 9% of consumers tried to access audiovisual content and only about only half of those were blocked (ie. only 4.5% of users affected), the main reason for not trying to cross-border access were lack of interest or the belief that the choice of content is sufficient in their own country;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the ongoing problems faced by creators, artists, producers and cultural sector workers with regard to copyright and related rights~~; notes with great concern that they~~, especially in light of rampant online piracy; notes with great concern a 2019 study by the EU IPO 1a shows losses caused by piracy of illegal streaming of content might lead to lost jobs in the creative industries and significant loss of public revenues, notes that some creators, artists, producers and cultural sector workers continue to be pressured into unfavourable contracts, sometimes giving up the rights to their intellectual property without receiving just remuneration for their creative work; stresses that Member States must ensure that sufficient protection is put in place to prevent loss of IPRs by authors, creators, producers and cultural sector workers across the EU.; urges the European Commission to acknowledge the need of regulatory intervention to ensure that rightholders are able to protect their property rights online and enforce them effectively, including by measures having cross border effect, in line with Article 17 CFR and ensuring that “what is illegal offline, is illegal online” becomes a reality; _________________ 1ahttps://euipo.europa.eu/tunnel- web/secure/webdav/guest/document_libra ry/observatory/docs/2019_Status_Report_ on_IPR_infringement/2019_Status_Repor t_on_IPR_infringement_en.pdf

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Notes with great concern that so- called buy-out and work for hire contracts are imposed on European creators through application of non-EU laws to such contracts, despite the provisions of national and EU laws discouraging them; Asks the European Commission to throughoutly investigate such practices of global streaming platforms and their impact on the remuneration of creators based on copyright/authors’ rights;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Invites the European Commission to look into the impact of non-EU based VOD platforms on the European creation, in particular on their relationships with the European creators of musical and audio-visual works; notes with concern that creators are totally deprived of their copyright/authors’ rights when they are imposed to accept buy-out contracts;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Recognises that online piracy leads to considerable economic losses to the European creative sector, which ultimately results in less investment in creative and journalistic content and sports to the detriment of cultural diversity and ultimately the European consumer, encourages the European Commission to act by introducing robust legislative instruments within the framework of the DSA or through a separate dedicated instrument acquiring content creators with the necessary tools to fight online piracy by providing the possibility of issuing dynamic injunctions (catalogue or repertoire-wide) , a strong Know Your Business Costumer principle applicable to all hosting services, immediate and efficient takedown upon the notice of receipt of a trusted flagger, and proper enforcement of stay down obligations for illegal content;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2007(INI)

Sabine VERHEYEN, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Asim ADEMOV, Peter POLLÁK, Željana ZOVKO, Christian EHLER, Isabel BENJUMEA BENJUMEA, François-Xavier BELLAMY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5 d. Recognises in light with the Council conclusions "Recovery and transformation of Europe’s media and with the Council conclusions on safeguarding a free and pluralistic media system" that territorial exclusivity is crucial for a significant part of the creative sector in order to guarantee its creativity, financing and sustainability as well as development of existing and new business models, and emphasised that legal and business certainty and regulatory consistency are absolutely essential to safeguard the rich cultural diversity of the Union and to ensure that content creators which rely on territorial exclusivity are able to thrive and continue reinvesting in quality content;

2021/06/25
Committee: CULT

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the EU Member States to use GAP III as a basis to enhance gender equality and gender mainstreaming in their external action, to support the full enjoyment of human rights by all girls and women, to strengthen their empowerment across the globe, and to put its gender-transformative, rights-based, intersectional approach into practice~~, and to adopt a feminist foreign policy~~;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses the need for a strong policy dialogue and technical assistance to bring gender equality into the enlargement and neighbourhood policies; welcomes for the inclusion of the principle of gender equality among the objectives of the Global Europe Instrument - NDICI and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance III;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to counter any forms of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, class, religion, wage, disability or age, as part of EU external action;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Notes the widespread occurrence of gender-based hate speech and online and offline harassment of women and girls within the EU and in third countries, calls on the Commission, the Member States, EEAS and the EU delegations to publicly condemn these acts and take measures against them;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Regrets the lack of inclusion in the GAP III of the particular discrimination and sexual violence that women engaged in the sex industry suffer, including in prostitution, due to poverty, being victims of human trafficking or other types of distress; calls for an EU-wide action plan to prevent and combat all forms of violence, including rape, domestic violence, verbal and physical aggression, online harassment and all other types of GBV;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the need to ~~tackle the shrinking~~enhance the space for civil society and to closely consult with organisations ~~fighting, in particular, for the rights of women, girls and marginalised group~~engaged in the fighting for the rights of all girls and women, including women’s rights activists, human rights defenders, young people, and religious and faith-based organizations;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the integration of the Women, Peace and Security framework in GAP III; insists on the inclusion of ~~women and marginalised groups in conflict resolution and peace negotiations, across all track~~girls and women in conflict resolution and peace negotiations; welcomes the emphasis on gender inequality as a root cause and driver of conflict and fragility; regrets the lack of consideration of women in mediation processes; calls for reinforcement of CSDP missions design and planning, which should take into account the recommendations made by local women’s organisations;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to develop specific internal strategies to further increase women’s leadership and full participation in all matters of foreign and security policies, conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping operations, post-conflict reconstruction, and long-term peace building;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Welcomes the inclusion of mandatory training on gender perspectives for all staff at HQ, EU delegations, CSDP missions and operations; recalls that training should comprise comprehensive programmes for the identification of victims of conflict- related sexual and/or gender-based violence, as well as prevention programmes, and medical, psycho-social and legal training to all EU staff, including military and police staff;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6 c. Highlights the importance of providing support to women political candidates in partner countries, and establishing dialogue with national and local authorities of third countries - such as through parliamentary diplomacy- in order to promote women in official representation and leadership positions; recalls that women serve as Heads of State or Government in only 22countries, and 119 countries have never had a woman leader; calls on the Commission and EEAS to prioritize the implementation of gender equality policies in the highest positions of power as part of the EU foreign policy;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the introduction of EU strategic engagement at multilateral, regional and country- levels i~~mplementation plan~~n close cooperation with partner governments, civil society, including women’s rights activists, human rights defenders, young people, religious and faith-based organizations, the private sector and other key stakeholders; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to take full ownership of ~~gender-sensitive country~~country implementation plans and reporting ~~and~~on gender ~~mainstreaming~~equality;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Recalls that education strategies should be oriented both to girls’ as well as women, as education should comprise primary, secondary and post-secondary education; stresses that access to all levels of education is the basis to achieving gender equality and economic empowerment; recalls that access to education is limited by various factors on a case-by-case basis, thus, not only linked with unsafe learning environments and by the lack of appropriate sanitation facilities, but also due to a non-exhaustive range of factors established by UNESCO, such as child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, discriminatory gender norms in society, child labour or the lack of easy and safe access to schools near where they live;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Regrets the lack of consideration heritage in the GAP III of feminine cultural heritage across countries and women’s role in the protection and development of culture; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to develop programmes aiming at protecting and recognizing the cultural heritage and traditions developed by women, which frequently go unnoticed, especially throughout the whole conflict cycle;

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2003(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Expects ~~specific and~~the development of indicators and analysis adapted to the nature of each external action policy with measurable baselines and targets to be added to the joint staff working document ~~on the objectives and indicators~~ to frame the implementation of the GAP III ~~(SWD(2020)0284)~~, as well as specific road maps and timelines for all objectives, and sanctions in case of non-fulfilment; notes that in particular the use of gender analysis in the formulation of EU external actions is increasing and almost all EU Delegations have carried out a detailed gender analysis.

2021/06/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the strengthening of the rule of law, fighting corruption and organised crime are cornerstones of the EU-Western Balkans strategy of 2018;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas the Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance, IPA II has funded multiple national and multi-country projects supporting a more effective administration of justice in organised crime and corruption cases in the Western Balkans, including through trial monitoring; whereas also IPA III entails specific objectives to develop effective tools to prevent and fight organised crime, trafficking in human beings and of illicit firearms, drug trafficking and money laundering;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process and cooperation with Member States can it be improved;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are areas in which the Western Balkan countries ~~need~~have to show ~~mor~~tangible results in order to make progress on their EU path; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy, the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting rule of law, corruption and organised crime;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the lack of independence of the judiciary in the Western Balkan countries and urges that a more strategic approach be adopted in addressing challenges posed by organised crime; calls for the EU to provide further assistance in order to stimulate a culture of criminal justice professionalism and performance; notes that although some progress in justice systems reform has been made, substantial efforts are still needed to reach tangible results;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Notes with great concern that the COVID-19 crisis and its socio-economic consequences have been exploited by criminal organisations, including through misuse of direct public procurement for essential medical equipment and services to healthcare structures, selling falsified COVID certificates and the increased practice of loan-sharking;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region and bordering Member States in fighting the smuggling of migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, as well as with Member States bordering the region, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues ~~through, inter al~~, such as financial and technical support, concluding informal and status agreements and fostering cooperation via, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the Western Balkan countries’ commitment to combating illicit firearms trafficking, in particular the adoption of a regional roadmap at the EU- Western Balkans Summit in London, which aims to tackle the illicit possession, use, manufacturing and trafficking of firearms; stresses, however, that illicit firearms possession and trafficking remains a serious issue as the majority of weapons that are found and used in organised crime throughout the EU come from the region;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries in the fight against organised crime and encourages the EU to further support capacity building in the Western Balkans and the facilitation of police and judicial cooperation in countering organised crime; calls on Western Balkan countries for further legislative harmonisation with the EU acquis regarding public procurement, the fight against organised crime and terrorism, money laundering and cybercrime;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the conclusion of cooperation agreements between Eurojust and four Western Balkan countries, as well as the authorisation to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; urges the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations for a similar agreement with Kosovo, as judicial cooperation in criminal matters with all Western Balkan countries is crucial to fighting organised crime, especially human trafficking and smuggling of drugs that account for the majority of criminal activities in the region;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Commends the successful cooperation with liaison prosecutors from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia seconded to Eurojust to provide support in cross-border investigations involving their countries; encourages, in this respect, similar cooperation with the remaining Western Balkan countries; welcomes the rising number of cases in judicial cooperation since 2019 despite the challenging circumstances caused by COVID-19 pandemic;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Welcomes the agreements on operational cooperation between Europol and five Western Balkan countries, as well as the working arrangement with the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo,; calls for the full implementation of these agreements and commends the successful operations led in the context of this cooperation;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the entry into force of status agreements with Albania, Montenegro and Serbia on border cooperation allowing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to execute joint operations in these countries, improving the countries’ border management, fight cross-border crime and control illegal migrations; calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia to ratify their respective status agreements without delay;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSO) in monitoring the work of governments ~~and~~, judicial and law enforcement agencies, assessing track records in fighting organised crime; encourages CSO of further sharing experiences and best practices in view of understanding the nature and causes of organised crime and hereby support the prevention of radicalisation in the region; welcomes the contributions to strategic communication campaigns by stakeholders such as Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and European Strategic Communication Network (ESCN) in; notes that legal and institutional frameworks for CSO participation are largely in place in the Western Balkan countries but regrets that their potential is not being used to the full extent;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/2002(INI)

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; strongly condemns intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society; calls on the authorities and law enforcement to ensure their protection and conditions for unhindered work; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with and support for civil society, NGOs and independent media on the ground;

2021/09/08
Committee: AFET

2021/0420(COD)

Valter FLEGO, Biljana BORZAN, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Tonino PICULA, Romana JERKOVIĆ, Karlo RESSLER, Tomislav SOKOL, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ, Mislav KOLAKUŠIĆ, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 18/23

Add the following to the extended core network: - Zagreb (HR) - Maribor (SI) - Graz (AT) railfreight / passenger (conventional/new construction

2023/01/25
Committee: TRAN

2021/0420(COD)

Andrey NOVAKOV, Karlo RESSLER, Sunčana GLAVAK, Tomislav SOKOL, Željana ZOVKO

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 - Part 18/23 and Part 19/23

Add the following to the extended core network: - Zagreb (HR) - Maribor (SI) - Graz (AT) rail freight/passenger line (conventional/new construction)

2023/01/25
Committee: TRAN

2021/0420(COD)

Valter FLEGO, Biljana BORZAN, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Tonino PICULA, Romana JERKOVIĆ, Karlo RESSLER, Tomislav SOKOL, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ, Mislav KOLAKUŠIĆ, Ladislav ILČIĆ, Irena JOVEVA, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nicola DANTI, Giuseppe FERRANDINO

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 18/23

Add the following to the comprehensive network: - Pula - Buzet (HR) - Divača (SI) - Trieste (IT) rail freight/passenger line Lupoglav – Buzet - state border (SI) - Prešnica (SI)

2023/01/25
Committee: TRAN

2021/0420(COD)

Valter FLEGO, Biljana BORZAN, Predrag Fred MATIĆ, Tonino PICULA, Romana JERKOVIĆ, Karlo RESSLER, Tomislav SOKOL, Željana ZOVKO, Sunčana GLAVAK, Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ, Mislav KOLAKUŠIĆ, Ladislav ILČIĆ

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 18/23

Add the following to the comprehensive network: - Čakovec - Varaždin - Lepoglava - Zabok Zagreb rail freight/passenger line

2023/01/25
Committee: TRAN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Encourages Member States to set- up specialised Master programmes, modules and short-term training courses in advanced digital technologies to develop digital skills in key professions handling data, including sensitive data;

2020/11/11
Committee: CULT

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and civil society in their efforts to promote democratisation; positively notes, in this context, the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the Western Balkans and in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of the EU to promote European integration, democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms; recalls that the experience gained and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies could make a positive contribution to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the first meeting of the EU-BiH Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) held on 5-6 November 2015, the third meeting of the EU-BiH Stabilisation and Association Council held on 13July 2018 and the third meeting of the EU- BiH Stabilisation and Association Committee held on 27 March 2018,

2018/10/18
Committee: AFET

Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

e) to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on regional and global challenges, such as organised crime, migration, terrorism and climate change; to support cooperation between the EU and Chile on the matter of prevention and better control of illegal immigration and to establish readmission mechanisms for stateless persons and nationals from third countries;

2018/03/07
Committee: AFET

Plenary speeches (14)

Institutional motions (33)

Amendments (2185)