Activities of Stanimir ILCHEV related to 2011/2191(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the application of Croatia to become a Member of the European Union
Amendments (22)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that the process of enlargement and of deepening EU integration have always gone hand in hand and that, far from adversely affecting the Union’s ability to act, enlargement constituted a catalyst for indispensable institutional changes; underlines, however, that although inspired by and related to the enlargement process all institutional changes have their own reasons and follow their own logic;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that implementation of the internal reforms that Croatia has committed to as part of the accession process must continue once the accession is completed; stresses the importance of increasing public awareness of the goals and mutual advantages of the enlargement, in particular with a view to the constitutionally required referendum, which is to be held in Croatia within 30 days of the date on which the ratification of the Treaty is passed by the Croatian Parliament; notes that precisely because of its importance and the desire for long term positive results the explanatory campaign must not be one- sided and misleading in any way but to clearly point out the benefits and the obligations of the future membership;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the temporary provisions of the Accession Treaty introduce a derogation from the maximum number of seats in the European Parliament as set in the Treaties until the end of the 2009-2014 parliamentary term; is resolved to present its proposal for the decision determining a new composition of the European Parliament in good time before the 2014 elections, in accordance with Article 14(2) TEU; reminds that al relevant institutional aspects of the accession must be taken into consideration in their entirety;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas twenty years after the declaration of its independence and some eight years following the application for EU membership, Croatia marked a historic milestone in the process of its reEU integration into Europeprocess by successfully closing accession negotiations with the EU; whereas Croatia’s achievements deserve unqualified recognition;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Invites the Member States to proceed with the ratification of the Accession Treaty with the Republic of Croatia without linking it to any other ratification procedures so aand urges them to take the necessary measures to avoid any undue delay in the date of accession.
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the accession process has significantly contributed to Croatia’s transformation into a solid and mature democracy based on European values; whereas the prospect of accession acts as a powerful catalyst for reform by mobilising the various actors in political, economic, social and cultural life; whereas reform efforts also need to be sustained beyond the completion of the negotiations and accession in order for the country and its citizens to fully benefit fromenjoy their rights and fulfil their obligations in the scope of Croatia’s EU membership;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Croatian membership will make the EU stronger, enrich its European culture and heritage and make an important contribution to maintaining the credibility of the enlargement process, while, at the same time, being a good example of how the conscientious implementation of all commitments taken can lead to the achievement of all predefined goals;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas a true reconciliation between the different peoples and the establishment of good-neighbourly relations can substantially contribute to a genuine European integration process; whereas prosecutions for war crimes and the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons are fundamental elements of the reconciliation process;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Croatia’s successful accession would have wider regional implications and give positive impetus to the process of European integration in the Western Balkan region; whereas the prospect of EU membership is a powerful incentive for candidate and potential candidate countries in the region on the path to European integration to pursue the necessary political, economic and legislative reforms and the strengthening of peace, stability and reconciliation based on good- neighbourly relations; whereas the EU should reinforce the European perspective for Croatia’s neighbouring countries and constantly encourage these countries to fulfil their obligations on their own route towards full EU membership;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the conclusion of the accession negotiations with Croatia, bringing to an end almost six years of negotiations and several years of preparations that have significantly altered the country’s socio-political, economic and cultural landscape; stresses the need to keep up the reform momentum and considers that this process is not complete but should continue with the same vigour and hard work after the conclusion of negotiations and beyond accession; expresses its strong confidence in the positive results of this process which will strengthen the support and trust of Croatia’s citizens in EU membership;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Strongly believes that the conclusion of the accession negotiations is proof of the credibility of the EU’s enlargement process; underlines that the progress on the road to membership reflects the fact that accession prospects continue to promote political and economic reforms and that European integration serves as a means of reconciling countries even beyond EU borders;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to closely monitor further preparations for accession with rigour and objectivity and to help the Croatian authorities fulfil their commitments and obligations entered into in the negotiations; is of the view that the pre-accession monitoring mechanism is a way to provide Croatia with additional support in its continued reform efforts;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to focus in particular on commitments undertaken in the area of the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom and security, including the protection of freedom of the media as one of the crucial instruments of democracy, as well as the continued implementation of judicial reform and efficiency, impartial handling of war crimes cases, the fight against corruption, border management, police cooperation, the fight against organised crime, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, as well as on commitments in the area of competition policy with a view to the restructuring of the shipbuilding and steel industries;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to focus in particular on commitments undertaken in the area of the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom and security, including the continued implementation of judicial reform and efficiency, impartial handling of war crimes cases, the fight against corruption, border management, police cooperation, the fight against organised crime, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, as well as on commitments in the area of competition policy with a view to the adequate and efficient restructuring of the shipbuilding and steel industries;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers it one of the highest priorities to combat corruption, particularly high- level corruption, corruption at every level of the judiciary, law-enforcement agencies and the public administration, as well as large-scale corruption, which must be pursued with determination at all levels, by rigorous enforcement of the law and successful prosecutions; calls on the Croatian authorities to further strengthen the administrative capacities of anti- corruption bodies by following EU best practice and foster a culture of political accountability;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers it one of the highest priorities to combat corruption, particularly high- level corruption, corruption at every level of the judiciary, law-enforcement agencies and the public administration, as well as large-scale corruption, which must be pursued with determination at all levels, by rigorous enforcement of the law and successful prosecutions; calls on the Croatian authorities to further strengthen the administrative capacities of anti- corruption bodies and foster a culture of political accountability as a prerequisite for building and strengthening the rule of law;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Urges the Croatian Government to continue actively to encourage and support prosecutions for war crimes and, to continue cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and to continue developing regional judicial cooperation with other countries concerned; urges the Croatian judiciary to seriously address impunity for war crimes, especially where the victims were ethnic Serbs or the alleged perpetrators were members of the Croatian security forces;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Invites the Government to further encourage the return of refugeesand allow in the best possible ways the return of refugees and displaced persons, paying special attention to the situation of ethnic Serbian returnees, by seeking effective and sustainable ways of implementing housing, employment and social measures in a manner coherent with other social and employment programmes;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Croatian authorities to continue their efforts to combat discrimination and to enforce the anti- discrimination legislation as well as to address resolutely cases of hate crimes, hate speech, racial threats and intolerance against sexualethnic and LGBT minorities; further invites Croatia to continue to act in the spirit of tolerance and take appropriate measures to protect those who may still be subject to threats or acts of intimidation;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Croatian authorities to continue their efforts to combat discrimination and to enforce the anti- discrimination legislation as well as to address resolutely cases of hate crimes, racial threats and intolerance against sexual minorities; further invites Croatia to continue to act in the spirit of tolerance and take appropriate measures tofor the protection of those who may still be subject to threats or acts of intimidation;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Invites Croatia to consistently advocate EU enlargement and the promotion of European values of peace, prosperity, freedom, the rule of law, democracy and the social market economy in the region; encourages Croatia to continue to maintainenhance good-neighbourly relations, to remainbe an important and proactive promoter of regional cooperation on all levels and to maintain its commitment to translate reconciliation efforts into practical steps of economic benefit to all citizens of the region;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for progress in the resolution of outstanding bilateral issues with some neighbouring countries, in particular aswith Serbia, mainly regardsing border demarcation, missing persons, property restitution and refugees, and strongly believes that open issues of a bilateral nature must not halt the process of EU accession of candidate and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans;