Activities of Tineke STRIK related to 2019/2171(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Amendments (47)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Energy Community Treaty of 2006 which creates an internal market in electricity and natural gas bringing together the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
- having regard to the Transport Community Treaty of 2017 which aims to create a Transport Community in the field of road, rail, inland waterway and maritime transport as well as the development of the transport network between the European Union and the South East European Parties,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)
Citation 3 c (new)
- having regard to the agreement on the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and Common Regional Market 2021-2024 action plan,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the Expert Report on Rule of Law issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina of 5 December 2019,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
- having regard to the Opinion on the Constitutional Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Powers of the High Representative adopted by the Venice Commission at its 62nd plenary session (Venice, 11-12 March 2005), and subsequent recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding constitutional matters in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 c (new)
Citation 10 c (new)
- having regard to the European Charter of Local Self-Government which commits Bosnia and Herzegovina to guarantee the political, administrative and financial independence of local authorities, including that local authorities are to be elected in universal suffrage without discrimination of citizens on any grounds,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the Resolution on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 12 June 2019,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
- having regard to the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of 12 November 2020 establishing the enlarged partial agreement on the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe and the EU’s continued engagement with the Council of Europe in promoting other tools and initiatives that foster education for democratic citizenship and human rights education, inter alia in the context of the Council of Europe partial agreement aiming to establish the Observatory on history teaching in Europe, encouraging Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the agreement,
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
- having regard to the Council Conclusions on EU priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe 2020-2022 confirming the EU continued cooperation with the Council of Europe to support countries in carrying out essential reforms and training, regarding justice, the fight against corruption, the promotion of human rights, and the role of free and independent media and civil society,
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the decision of the UNSC on the creation of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”), which performs a number of essential functions previously carried out by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (“ICTY”), its reports, achievements and recommendations,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas efforts to move to the second stage of the SAA shall be enhanced on all sides;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas a clear distribution of responsibilities and enhanced cooperation in good faith between different levels of government is essential;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the country's first pride event was held on 9 September 2019 in the capital Sarajevo;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas BiH is a migrant transit route, and reception capacities remain insufficient for hosting, since the beginning of 2018, close to 70,000 refugees and migrants arrived to Bosnia and Herzegovina via the Western Balkans migration route; whereas, according to the UN, around 8,000 refugees and migrants are currently present in the country; whereas nearly 2,000 persons are currently sleeping outside in freezing temperatures; whereas reception conditions and capacities remain insufficient for a dignified reception of migrants and asylum seekers present in the country; whereas existing camps, such as the Lipa Emergency Tent Camp, which housed about 1,400 migrants and hasylum seekers present in the country; been destroyed by a fire on 24 December 2020, do not provide adequate and dignified shelter and reception especially during the cold months;, whereas, the authorities refuse to open the fully equipped EU-funded Bira Reception Centre, located at 20km from Lipa; acknowledging that one of the causes of the current situation is the practice of illegal pushbacks by EU Member States; stresses that migrants at the destroyed camp are forced to resort to makeshift efforts, such as lighting fires inside the remaining tents to keep warm, raising the risk of another catastrophe;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the path towards the EU depends on sustainable peace and genuine reconciliation warranting the democratic and multicultural character of BiH; urges the country to expedite effective prosecution of war crimes under the revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy, and calls for impartial and effective investigations into these crimes; condemns any kind of historical revisionism, or opposition to ICTY judgments, secessionist rhetoric and related acts, denial or glorification of war crimes committed during the 1990’s war;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that over 7 200 BiH citizepersons are still missing from the war 1992-1995, and urges the authorities of the parties to the General Framework Agreement for Peace to intensify cooperation and data sharing on issues related to missing persons, redress to civilian victims of war, and to ensure the safe return of refugees and internally displaced people;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Condemns the recent statements of the Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina elected in Republika Srpska with the aim to undermine text and spirit of the constitutional values of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular of the European Convention of Human Rights, which including its protocol ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina constitutes directly applicable law in the country, in particular with regard to protocol 1 and protocol 12 of the ECHR, as well as relevant rulings of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Court of Human Rights as well as findings of the OSCE/ODHIR with regard to elections;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on all regional political leadergovernments and parliaments to set up the Regional Commission tasked with establishing the facts about all victims of war crimes and other human rights violations committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia (RECOM), building upon the significant work carried out by the Coalition for RECOM;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes with concern that parties of the General Framework Agreement for Peace are seeking to undermine the agreement;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that while peace implementation has progressed, 25 years after the coming into force of the GFAP, it is overdue to legislate the protection of the rights of victims as well as for safeguarding achievements of the ICTY and other courts that have been establishing the facts about the conflict, including the fact that genocide has taken place during the war 1992-1995 on the territory of BiH; stresses furthermore that such legislation should take account of the ruling of the case BiH vs Serbia by the International Court of Justice of 2007and maybe enacted in line with the Annex X of the GFAP and the practice developed by the High Representative;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Regrets that the Federal Republic of Germany has proposed a candidate for the position of the High Representatives on 20 January 2021 without honouring the commitment under title V of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the authorities to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory education for all children in line with resolution of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities by Bosnia and Herzegovina of 2019 and the recommendations of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI);
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need to urgently put an end to the concept of two schools under one roof which institutionalises ethnic divide, promotes segregation and discrimination for future generations;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the adoption of a court- established curriculum in history textbooks of war related facts;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Regrets the decision of the Presidency to not take part in the next round of OECD’s PISA study; calls on the Presidency to reconsider its decision in light of overall pandemic-related postponement of the next PISA study cycle from 2021 to 2022; calls on all authorities in charge for education to react to proposals stemming from results of the 2018 PISA study, prepared by experts from all parts of BiH in cooperation with the State Agency for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Education in 2019;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Urges the authorities to abide by their obligations with regard to the municipal elections scheduled for 2022, in particular by ensuring the proper functioning of the Central Election Commission, and calls upon all state organs and elected officials to protect and improve the electoral framework for the municipal elections in line with the recommendations of inter alia the OSCE/ODIHR and monitoring of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe (CLRAE);
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Recalls that article X.1. of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribes that this ‘Constitution may be amended by a decision of the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two- thirds majority of those present and voting in the House of Representatives’ and that the Constitution was successfully amended in 2009;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the urgent needRecalls that upon joining the Council of Europe in 2002, BiH undertook the obligation to address shortcomings in the constitutional framework and to make progress on reforms that would transform BiH into a fully functional and inclusive state; stresses that institutional reforms depend on the will and commitment of political leaders and institutions in the country; urges the international community to facilitate the conditions for constitutional dialoguchange under the leadership of the EU, in particular Parliament, and in consultation with civil society;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for a coordinated involvement of EU actors and institutions in BiH and a reinforced transatlantic approach within PIC and other established fora such as NATO-EU Council (Berlin Plus Arrangements), with the aim of ‘overcoming Dayton’ and paving the way, also as regards necessary constitutional changes, of entering the countries path and transition towards an EU Member State;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the lack of progress on reforms in the judiciary; reiterates the urgent need to strengthen the professionalism and accountability of the judiciary and to ensure its independence from undue influence; refers in this context to the Priebe Report; calls on relevant authorities to implement its recommendations;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a matter of urgency, to unblock the process of appointment of judges at the Federation Constitutional Court, which is going on since October 2019 when, without any explanation, the process was blocked; reminds that with five out of nine positions being filled, the Court has been able to decide only in limited capacity;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for immediate steps to tackle corruption and impunity in the public sphere in order to rebuild citizens’ trust in the institutions; recalls the recommendations of GRECO and the findings of the compliance reports of GRECO;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concern over the fundamental rights situation, specifically the persisting discrimination and hate speech faced by the LGBTI community, migrants and asylum seekers, as well as ethnic and religious minorities, and calls for more effective and comprehensive countrywide human rights and anti- discrimination strategies, as well as measures against interfaith and interethnic intolerance; stresses the need to duly prevent and prosecute the proliferation of hate speech, hate crimes and violence, and to promote social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable populations, including the Roma;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concern over the fundamental rights situation, and calls for more effective and comprehensive countrywide human rights and anti- discrimination strategies, as well as measures against interfaith and interethnic intolerance; stresses the need to duly prevent and prosecute the proliferation of hate speech, hate crimes and violence, specifically faced by the LGBTI+ community, migrants, asylum seekers, and ethnic and religious minorities, and to promote social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable populations, including the Roma;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the situation of LGBTI persons can be significantly improved by new legal measures and modifications such as legalising same-sex partnerships, the explicit protection of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics against hate speech and violence in the Criminal Code, quick, transparent and accessible procedures for legal gender recognition based on self- determination,1a and ensuring legal guarantees for the bodily integrity, autonomy, self-determination and informed consent of intersex persons, in line with its position on the matter;1b __________________ 1a In line with Council of Europe guidelines: Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers Recommendation to Member States on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, available, CM/Rec(2010)5, available on http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref- XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=21736. 1b Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0128.
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Regrets BiH’s continued inability to comply with anti-discrimination rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and calls for implementing the rulings without further delay; notes the continuing shortcomings in the election process, and reiterates the need to address discriminatory ethnicity and residency- based restrictions on the right to stand for election through the required constitutional changes;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Insists that the EU must enhance its communication strategy in order to effectively counter disinformation campaigns aimed at diminishing the EU’s credibility in the region; urges the EEAS to address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the European perspective of the region by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to citizens in the region; stresses the need to improve coordination in order to fight regional disinformation campaigns; calls on the Commission to foster the creation of a Balkan-focused Centre of Excellence on disinformation;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes with concern the problematic role of certain foreign actors in BiH, actively promoting disunity and disruption in the country, therewith endangering the peaceful future and European integration of BiH;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes the increased migratory pressure on the countrynumbers of migrants and asylum seekers present or transiting the country in recent years; reminds that BiH is geographically surrounded by EU Member States and strongly denounces that migrants attempting to enter Croatia, including to seek international protection in the European Union have been violently pushed back by Croatia, in flagrant breach of EU human rights, and refugee law and exacerbating the inhuman and degrading conditions of migrants in BiH; urgently calls on the Commission to hold the Croatian government accountable and to start infringement proceedings for the continued patterns of violent pushbacks at the EU border with BiH; calls for effective inter-institutional coordination of migration and border management in the face of a mounting humanitarian crisis; calls for equitable burdenresponsibility-sharing and adequate support for local communities hosting temporarywhere reception centres are located; underlines the need to ensure appropriatedignified reception conditions and to boost capacity for processing incoming migrants and asylum-seekers; urges BiH to conclude an agreement with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO); calls on the EU to step up its support to BiH’s authorities, namely with regard to operational assistance; the asylum applications of asylum-seekers; recalls that the European Union is providing emergency assistance to BiH, with €28,5 million of EU funding allocated to BiH in December 2020 and January 2021 for the purpose of managing migration and providing humanitarian assistance; highlights that, while emergency funding is needed and crucial to face the current humanitarian crisis in the country in order to ensure dignified reception conditions and access to asylum, the Commission should also seek meaningful long-term solutions to the situation faced by migrants and asylum seekers in BiH; stresses that the provision of emergency funding and humanitarian aid should not be made conditional on cooperation on migration and border management; calls on the EU to step up its support to BiH’s authorities, namely with regard to operational assistance and offering safe and orderly legal pathways, including resettlement for those stranded in BiH; calls upon the EU Member States to ensure access to asylum for migrants arriving at their borders, in line with the EU asylum acquis, in order to prevent refugees from getting stuck in transit countries without sufficient access to protection; calls upon the BiH authorities to ensure decent reception conditions and access to an effective asylum procedure;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for a co-ordinated, strategic countrywide and transparent response to the ongoing health emergency and post- pandemic recovery measures, ensuring an inclusive approach for all individuals; recalls COVID-related EU support to address the acute situation in the country; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to include the Western Balkan countries in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution schemes without further delay;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for a co-ordinated, strategic countrywide response to the ongoing health emergency and post-pandemic recovery measures in full respect of the principle of non discrimination; recalls COVID-related EU support to address the acute situation in the country; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Balkan countries;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Expresses its concern over the authorities’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, hereby observing and regretting the adoption of several selective restrictive measures towards migrants and refugees, blatant violations of privacy, increasing allegations of corruption, including in the purchase of medical supplies from foreign actors; regrets the increasing pressure, hostilities and (online) threats towards journalists during the pandemic;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses the need for the Bosnian authorities to find a better balance between fundamental rights and freedoms and necessary restrictions due to the pandemic; regrets the selective enforcement of the ban on assemblies, which resulted in the ban of the route of the 2020 Sarajevo Pride march;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. RWelcomes the Commission’s efforts to invest more strategically in the Western Balkans through a dedicated Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) and Bosnia’s inclusion in the EIP, in particular in terms of regional and cross- border cooperation; stresses that any investment must be in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and EU decarbonisation targets; calls upon the European Commission to put forward ex ante environmental impact assessments for each individual EIP project, with the obligation to terminate projects which are not in line with the European Green Deal and climate targets; calls on the Commission to focus IPAIII funds on the ongoing democratic transition of BiH, more so than infrastructure projects, especially in light of persistent problems with the investment climate, absorption capacity, and environmental standards in BiH; recommends focusing on growth- enhancing public investment and infrastructure projects, making full use of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Urges BiH’s authorities to ensure alignment with EU standards and policy objectives on climate protection and energy, facilitating the green and digital transition, and calls for the prioritisation of measures reducing ecological degradation and environmental risks to health with a strong focus on improving air quality;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Urges the authorities to develop a national energy strategy which guarantees full alignment and implementation of the Paris Accords on Climate, relevant EU climate objectives and legislation, in particular as regards biodiversity and the EU’s decarbonisation target; stresses the need to put in place an appropriate carbon price as a means for effective decarbonization in line with the European Green Deal and the political commitments made in the Sofia Declaration of 2020;