Activities of Vladimír BILČÍK related to 2022/2202(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2022 Report on Montenegro (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2022 Commission Report on Montenegro
Amendments (34)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Montenegro is exposed to foreign interference and malicious disinformation campaigns originating from Russia;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Commends Montenegro’s long- standing commitment to EU integration, underpinned by a high level of public support; reiterates its support for Montenegro in this regard; stresses that progress in negotiations depends on meeting interim rule of law benchmarks; regrets that no chapters have been closed in the past six yeanotes that all 33 screened chapters have been opened, but regrets that none have been closed since 2017, slowing down Montenegro’s positive track record and status as the most advanced Western Balkans country in its progress towards EU accession; welcomes Montenegro’s acceptance of the revised enlargement methodology; encourages Montenegro to continue specifically focusing on meeting the remaining interim benchmarks in Chapters 23 and 24 and thereafter on closing chapters;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the fact that high political tensions and polarisation, the failure to build consensus on matters of national interest and a lack of cross-party dialogue have stalled progress on EU-related reforms and plunged Montenegro into a deep political and institutional crisis; notes that, as a consequence, Montenegro’s EU accession process was stalled as well; underlines the importance of continued respect for democratic processes, norms and standards;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note of the results of the presidential elections held in March and April 2023 and the early parliamentary elections held in June 2023; expresses a firm belief that Montenegro needs a stable pro-European government and an EU- oriented majority to speed up EU-related reforms, encourages the President, the new parliament and the government to focus on the key reforms needed for the country to make progress in EU integration, and ensure their proper and timely implementation; remains ready to cooperate with all political actors to support the country in maintaining its strategic course;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes Montenegro’s continued full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including all of the sanctions adopted following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; commends its material and humanitarian support to Ukraineencourages the newly formed government to continue Montenegro’s commitment to continued full alignment to CFSP and international support to Ukraine; commends its material and humanitarian support to Ukraine including the Temporary Protection mechanism for persons fleeing Ukraine, granting them the right to stay in the country for one year;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes Montenegro’s active involvement in EU common security and defence policy missions and operations, and in NATO missions, while recognising Montenegro’s strategic alliance with the EU and NATO; condemns any alleged attempts in the government, security and military sector to question its strategic orientation;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Remains seriously concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by foreign actors in Montenegro; notes that religious institutions can be used as a tool for external influence and condemns Serbian interference in this regard; underlines the importance of media freedom and independence, quality of reporting and improving media literacy as key in fighting manipulative disinformation; calls for the strengthening of European cooperation with Montenegro on addressing disinformation, and cyber and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the European perspective of the region; welcomes Montenegro’s interest in cooperating with the EU via the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) in this regard; condemns Russia’s efforts to exploit ethnic tensions in Montenegro in order to inflame conflicts and divide communities; condemns Russia’s role in spreading manipulative disinformation in Montenegro; is concerned about the attempts by the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro to promote Russia’s disinformation;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to improve the EU’s visibility in the country; underlines the importance of pursuing an active and effective communication campaign on Montenegro’s European future and its benefits;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on Montenegro, the EU Member States and the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro to continue pursuing a more active and effective communication policy on the European perspective, aimed at both local and EU citizens, and to continue their coordinated efforts to increase the visibility of EU-funded projects;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages Montenegro to re- engage in parliamentary cooperation through the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee; regrets the cancellation of the EU-Montenegro SAPC meeting in December 2022 due to Montenegro’s failure to follow the opinion of the Venice Commission with respect to the controversial adoption of the Law on amendments to the Law on the President;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the adoption of the controversial Law on amendments to the Law on the President by the Parliament of Montenegro in December 2022; welcomes the Constitutional Court’s launch of the procedure for reviewing the law’s constitutionality and its unanimous decision reached recently to overturn the Law on amendments to the Law on the President; underlines the importance of following the Venice Commission’s recommendations on matters related to legal provisions and the overall rule of law situation in the country;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for strengthening the functioning and coordination between state institutions in order to achieve political stability and continue its substantial progress in key EU-related reforms, in particular electoral and judicial reforms and the fight against organised crime and corruption;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates its call for local-level elections to be held on the same day; welcomes the fact that elections in 14 municipalities were held on the same day in October 2022; calls for a robust legislative framework in this regard; calls to implement the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations with the aim to reform the entire electoral legislation;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections were competitive and well-managed overall, and that candidates were able to campaign freely and enjoyed equal opportunities to reach out to voters; remains concerned about the vulnerability of the media to internal and external influences in terms of campaign coverage; regrets the underrepresentation of women in political life as gender stereotypes in the country persist;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Welcomes the positive efforts made in the area of illicit trade, namely cigarette smuggling; notes the new measures announced by the government in July 2022, prohibiting the storage of tobacco in Bar; reiterates the importance of further measures to tackle cigarette smuggling in the country, especially in the Free Zone of the Port of Bar;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on Montenegro to step up its efforts to combat hate speech, online harassment, politically biased reporting and foreign influence in the Montenegrin media; underlines the importance of operational independence of Montenegro’s media regulators and public service broadcaster; in that respect welcomes the development of the RTCG’s Development Strategy and Digital Transformation Strategy for the period 2023-2027, recognising the vital role of the public broadcaster RTCG as the primary source of information; urges Montenegro to strive for independent and pluralistic quality media;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes some positive steps, such as the introduction of tougher penalties for attacks and threats against journalists, and the establishment of the ad hoc commission for monitoring violence against the media; reiterates, however, the need for the effective implementation of its findings and recommendations; expresses concern over foreign actors, such as Russia and China, spreading disinformation campaigns and hybrid threats, thus, endangering Montenegro on its European path; underlines the importance of media freedom and independence, quality of reporting and improving media literacy as key in fighting manipulative disinformation; calls for the strengthening of European cooperation with Montenegro on addressing disinformation, and cyber and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the European perspective of the region;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Urges Montenegro to conduct the long over-due population and housing census by the end of this year in line with EU and international standards; expects it to be conducted in an open and transparent manner without any political interference, where all recognised national minorities are counted properly without fear of intimidation or prosecution;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on Montenegro to strengthen measures against hate speech, social exclusion and discrimination of the LGBTIQ+ community, and to improve their access to justice, employment, housing and healthcare;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on Montenegro to improve access to justice and to ensure better follow-up and enforcement of rights in proceedings on domestic violence, as well as enhanced protection; Notes that gender-based violence continues to be of serious concern; urges Montenegro to implement the standards of the Istanbul convention, launch public awareness, encourage reporting of domestic violence and ensure proper investigation and prosecution of such crimes; calls on Montenegro to improve access to justice and to ensure better follow-up and enforcement of rights in proceedings on domestic violence, as well as enhanced protection; remains concerned about sexism directed at women in politics and public life; regrets that violence against women contributes to preventing women from becoming involved in political life;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Regrets the ongoing prevalence of discrimination against persons with disabilities; calls for the effective implementation of strategies to address the gaps in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities across sectors and policies; welcomes the fact that the reform of the National Disability Determination System is under way and calls for the effective implementation of strategies to tackle gaps in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities across sectors and policies, including healthcare, the labour market and in administrative and judicial proceedings; stresses the urgent need for a de-institutionalisation strategy;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes with concern the signing of the Fundamental Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church amid criticism by civil society and political disagreements for the lack of inclusive consultation and transparency;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Welcomes the signing of the upgraded agreement on operational cooperation in border management with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) which will enter into force provisionally on 1 July 2023; encourages further cooperation between Montenegro and Frontex in order to strengthen border management, support asylum procedures, fight smuggling and enhance readmission;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes Montenegro’s active participation in regional cooperation; recalls its hesitations about the Open Balkan initiative and notes Montenegro’s participation in the June and September summits as an observer; praises Montenegro for respecting minority rights and taking a positive role in the regional relations;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the recent agreements in the context of the Berlin Process and encourages the new parliament to adopt them;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Reiterates the importance to punish war crimes and its glorifications; urges Montenegro to open up former Yugoslav secret service archives and follow an adequate legal procedures to transfer relevant files to the Montenegrin state archives;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Encourages Montenegro to adjust its economic growth strategy in order to boost productivity, human capital and accelerate its convergence with the EU as advised by the World Bank;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Regrets China's exerting influence in Montenegro via its economic means, namely the $1 billion loan used to build the Bar-Boljare highway; in that respect notes China’s increased interest in investing in the Western Balkans and transportation infrastructure projects in Montenegro as part of its Belt and Road Initiative; welcomes the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans and the EU Global Gateway Initiative as greener, transparent alternatives for financing infrastructure projects; welcomes recent efforts made towards decreasing these fiscal vulnerabilities, including those related to China;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Encourages Montenegro to make the best use of the EU funds available under the IPA III and the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, including the Western Balkans Investment Framework and the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Welcomes the launch of day-ahead electricity market at MEPX, making the market more liquid and transparent, which benefits both consumers and producers and ensures fair prices, more secure and reliable electricity supply and greater integration of renewable energy source, thus, ameliorating the integration into the European energy union;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Underlines the importance of Montenegro’s infrastructure investments to comply with the EU standards on Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and respect the EU public procurement and state aid;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Commends Montenegro for signing a memorandum of understanding with the US while advancing works to install an LNG terminal in the port of Bar; expects Montenegro to commit to this project in order to diversify energy supply and enhance energy security;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs between the EU and the Western Balkans from 1 October 2023 with a view to full removal thereafter; calls on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data exchange;