18 Amendments of Victor BOŞTINARU related to 2017/2281(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
— having regard to the outcome of the mission of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to Moldova on 3 and 4 MayApril 2018,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the importance of the Association Agreement / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA) in a highly polarised political landscape, and welcomes the progress achieved by Moldova to date despite the continuous challenges posed by the anti-European orientation of the President of Moldova; insists, however, that full implementation of the AA/DCFTA must be a top priority, enabling a further deepening of the country’s relations with the EU, for the benefit of all Moldovan citizens, as well as unlocking additional perspectives in line with the Eastern Partnership Plus (EaP+) policy advocated by Parliament;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Praises the courageous agents for positive changes in Moldova, notably those leadinge stabilisation of the economy and the efforts to reform the banking sector following the 2014 bank fraud; welcomes the July 2018 IMF successful evaluation of the implementation of the IMF-supported programme; calls on Moldovan politicians and the judiciary as a whole to join in with such efforts to reform the country and fight corruption in line with the AA commitments; in particular, calls on all political forces to engage in constructive dialogue in the interest of the country;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses grave concern about backsliding in relation to democratic standards in Moldova, with core values, to which Moldova had subscribed as part of the AA, such as democracy – including fair and transparent elections respecting the will of the citizens – and the rule of law – including the independence of the judiciary – being undermined by the ruling political leaders colluding with business interests and unopposed by much of the political class and the judiciary; reiterates its determination to focus on the fulfilment of commitments to uphold common values rather than unconvincing so-called ‘geopolitical’ arguments, with all the necessary EU support;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses grave concern about backsliding in relation to democratic standards in Moldova, with core values, to which Moldova had subscribed as part of the AA, such as democracy – including fair and transparent elections respecting the will of the citizens – and the rule of law – including the independence of the judiciary – being undermined by the ruling political leaders colluding with business interests and unopposed by much of the political class and the judiciary; reiterates its determination to focus on the fulfilment of commitments to uphold common values rather than unconvincing so-calledartificial ‘geopolitical’ arguments;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets that the non-fulfilment of the political conditions related to democratic standards in Moldova, in particular the recent changes in national electoral legislation as well as the removal of Dorin Chirtoacă from the Chișinău mayor’s office andwith the invalidation of the election of Andrei Năstase, has led leading to the suspension of the disbursement of Macro Financial Assistance (MFA) and of outstanding payments of EU budget support;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its position that any decision on future MFA disbursement should only take place after the planned parliamentary elections and on condition that they are conducted in line with internationally recognised standards and assessed by specialised international bodies, and that the payment of all budget support programmes should remain on hold untilbe conditional to meaningful progress in democratic standards takes place; calls, in the meantime, on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to continue reallocating funds to support civil society in Moldova, in particular to the free and independent media, as well as the private sector and local authorities, and to coordinate efforts with other organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to ensure greater coherence in terms of financial assistance conditionality;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its position that any decision on future MFA disbursement should only take place after the planned parliamentary elections and on condition that they are conducted in line with internationally recognised standards and assessed by specialised international bodies, and that the payment of all budget support programmes should remain on hold until meaningful progress in democratic standards takes place; calls, in the meantime, on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to continue reallocating funds to support concrete development projects and civil society in Moldova, in particular to the free and independent media, as well as the private sector and local authorities, and to coordinate efforts with other organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to ensure greater coherence in terms of financial assistance conditionality;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls the contents of Articles 2 and 455 of the AA, according to which respect for democratic principles constitutes an essential element of the AA, which, if violated, may also lead to the suspension of rights related to this agreement; also recalls the anti-corruption and anti-money laundering benchmarks related to the visa liberalisation policy;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Moldovan authorities to swiftly adopt and fully implementWelcomes the adoption of the new audiovisual code in line with European standards of media freedom and pluralism as recommended by the European Commission and the Venice Commission; emphasises the importance of genuine consultations with civil society and the independent media before the final adoption of the new audiovisual code, and the need to discard all aspects that may undermine media pluralism and calls for its swift and full implementation;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Moldovan authorities to swiftly adopt and fully implement the new audiovisual code in line with European standards of media freedom and pluralism as recommended by the European Commission and the Venice Commission; emphasises the importance of genuine consultations with civil society and the independent media before the final adoption of the new audiovisual code, and the need to discard all aspects that may undermine media pluralism; underlines the need to fight Russian hybrid threats, as well as propaganda and disinformation campaigns, including through technical assistance from the EU and through the activity of the East StratCom Task Force, which should be adequately strengthened;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the good and systematic cooperation on CFSP matters and the symbolic participation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations; takes note of the progress in adopting a new Defence Strategy and Action Plan 2017-2021 following the withdrawal of the National Security Strategy by the President of Moldova;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Commends the Moldovan authorities for the incremental improvement of relations with Tiraspol notably with the opening of the Gura Bîcului-Bîcioc bridge and the signature of an additional six protocols, thus improving the lives of citizens on both sides of the Nistru river; encourages the authorities to further build on this level of engagement; calls on the Moldovan authorities to undertake additional efforts to ensure a swift and final adopfor the implementation of the Law of the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Reiterates its support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and the efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Transnistrian issue;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the authorities to ensure the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary and specialised anti-corruption institutions, including the Superior Council of Prosecutors, the National Integrity Authority and the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency, notably through maintaining the allocation of adequate resources and guaranteeing transparent selection procedures with the participation of independent expert recruiters;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses concern about signs of a further shrinking of space for the country’s civil society, and calls on the authorities to immediately halt undue or disproportionate criminal proceedings against political opponents, their lawyers and/or their families; expresses specific concerns about proceedings that target human rights defenders, independent judges such as Domnica Manole and Gheorghe Balan, journalists and critics of the government or of the President of the Democratic Party of Moldova, journalists and critical voices;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses concern about signs of a further shrinking of space for the country’s civil society, and calls on the authorities to immediately haltfor undue or disproportionate criminal proceedings against political opponents, their lawyers and/or their families to be stopped; expresses specific concerns about proceedings that target human rights defenders, independent judges such as Domnica Manole and Gheorghe Balan, journalists and critics of the government or of the President of the Democratic Party of Moldova;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Highlights the need for a more effective strategic communication of the reforms achieved so far and to be carried out in the framework of the AA/DCFTA, in order to raise awareness among the citizens of the benefits of a closer integration with the European Union;