10 Amendments of Enikő GYŐRI related to 2019/2210(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the Commission’s new methodology and Communication on enhancing the accession process - A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans launched on 5 February 2020 that calls for trust, mutual confidence and clear commitments on both sides, emphasising a merit-based approach. A credible accession perspective is a key incentive and driver of reforms, aiming to transform the Western Balkans into functioning market economies, thus contributing to prosperity, predictability, dynamism and political steer;
Amendment 7 #
2. Recalls that the EU is the main trade partner of the Western Balkan countries and that bilateral trade doubled between 2006 and 2016; notes, howeverfurthermore, that the EU continuously runs an unsustainable steady trade surplus with the Western Balkans, counting for 9 billion euros in 2018;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes that the trade relations between the EU and the Western Balkans have grown at a progressive rate, where 64,6% of Western Balkans import originate from the EU, while 84,8% of exports head to the EU single market, which is a clear sign of deep interdependence between the two regions;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the candidate countries of the Western Balkans to shape their trade policies with third countries in light of their future EU accession, by complying with the obligations assumed under the Stabilisation and Accession Agreements;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Welcomes the WTO membership aspirations of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; calls on the Commission to provide the necessary support and assistance in helping these countries' efforts in accessing the WTO as soon as possible;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Demands strong integration efforts in order to support Western Balkan countries in promoting improvement of the rule of law, democracy and human rights and fighting against corruption so as to enhance economic competitiveness, budgetary balance and structural reform;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the EU is the largest foreign investor in the region by investing 12,7 billion euros in foreign direct investments between 2014-2018 and emphasises the need to give the region high priority under the EU’s Connectivity Strategy;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Encourages the Commission to use existing tools and, if needed, to create new tools to boost a more dynamic trade cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans. Having this in mind, calls on the Commission to explore possibilities of involving the business sector more closely, in order to build trust, create jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities and to improve the business and investment climate. A high-level business summit on the fringes of the May 2020 EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb could serve the purpose by providing a strong voice for businesses;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Reiterates its call on the Commission to monitor the effects of its policies, including trade policy, on SMEs, as they play a vital role in international trade. Due to their size and limited resources, the costs of administrative burden affects the SMEs disproportionally, therefore the EU’s trade policy with the Western Balkans should be SME-friendly, providing user- friendly, up-to-date and practical information;