2021/2002(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas corruption and organised crime remain a serious concern across the Western Balkan region; whereas organised crime networks are closely interlinked and rooted in EU member states and non-EU member states;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines that money laundering in the Western Balkans countries is used for financing terrorist groups; Stress the need of strengthening the cooperation of Western Balkans countries with CEPOL;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Observes with serious concern the unravelling of the case of the Deputy Head of the North Macedonian mission to OSCE - Mr Mile Milenkovski, who was arrested by the Serbian authorities on 23 August, under international warrant by Armenia for assisting the escape of a culprit, investigated in Yerevan for embezzling a large sum of money; calls for a transparent investigation on all details in regard to this case;

Amendment 102 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the Western Balkan countries’ commitment to combating illicit ~~firearms~~small arms and light weapons (SALW) trafficking, in particular the adoption of a regional roadmap at the EU- Western Balkans Summit in London, which aims to tackle the illicit possession, use, manufacturing and trafficking of ~~firearm~~SALW; Suggests that actions intended to combat the proliferation and illicit use of SALW should be coordinated with the South Eastern and Eastern European Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) in order to mainstream also other elements that can led to a proper reform of the countries’ overall security sectors;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the Western Balkan countries’ commitment to combating illicit firearms trafficking, in particular the adoption of a regional roadmap at the EU- Western Balkans Summit in London, which aims to tackle the illicit possession, use, manufacturing and trafficking of firearms; notes, however, that according to the latest report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as in several Europol reports, the Western Balkans remain one of the main supply regions for illicit arms trafficking to the EU; stresses that this continuing threat endangers the security of EU Member States and further exposes them to a terrorist threat, in particular from Islamists;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the Western Balkan countries’ commitment to combating illicit firearms trafficking, in particular the adoption of a regional roadmap at the EU- Western Balkans Summit in London, which aims to tackle the illicit possession, use, manufacturing and trafficking of firearms; stresses, however, that illicit firearms possession and trafficking remains a serious issue as the majority of weapons that are found and used in organised crime throughout the EU come from the region;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Highlights the important work of the Southeastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons;

Amendment 106 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Expresses concern over reports of recurrent presence of weapons, originating from the Western Balkans, in Western Europe; calling on the six Balkan states to invest in programmes to support disarmaments; cooperation with regional organisations like SEESAC to be increased;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes that the six Western Balkan countries remain a major transit region for the trafficking of drugs; notes that drug production and trafficking are the most commonly convicted crimes in the region; welcomes the increasing number of joint counter- narcotics operations; calls, in this respect, for cooperation to be intensified between EU law-enforcement agencies and their counterparts from the Western Balkans; underlines that law enforcement authorities must develop their capacities to better monitor and combat drug trafficking;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes that the six Western Balkan countries remain a major transit region for the trafficking of drugs; welcomes the increasing number of joint counter- narcotics operations; calls, in this respect, for cooperation to be intensified between EU law-enforcement agencies such as Europol, EU Member States law- enforcement bodies and their counterparts from the Western Balkans;

Amendment 109 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Notes that the corridor between Kukes and Tetovo is still a key axis for the smuggling of cannabis east and heroin to the west; calls on the governments of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia to redouble their efforts in fighting drug trafficking and closing down illicit drug routes;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas, according to the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and several Europol reports, the Western Balkans remain one of the most important supply regions for illicit arms trafficking into the EU; whereas the number of unreported cases of illicit firearms in the Western Balkans is enormous, which means that the threat of Islamist attacks, such as those in Paris in 2015, is still present; whereas the illicit arms trade poses a serious threat to the security of the Member States of the EU;

Amendment 110 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Welcomes the police intervention in Mojkovac as a significant attempt to tackling cigarette trafficking in Montenegro; Reiterates that further measures are needed, specifically in the Bar “free zone” to tackling drug and cigarette smuggling in the country;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Notes the increase in organised cyber-criminal activities; welcomes the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to expand their capacity to fight cybercrime and the increase in prosecutions for cybercrime; ~~calls for~~encourages the EU to ~~promote greater cooperation with the Western Balkan countries on tackling~~assist the Western Balkan countries with the appropriate tools and means on tackling cybercrime and other online threats;

Amendment 112 #

Traian BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Notes the increase in organised cyber-criminal activities; welcomes the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to expand their capacity to fight cybercrime and the increase in prosecutions for cybercrime; calls for the EU to promote ~~greater~~close cooperation with the Western Balkan countries on tackling online threats, including via the newly-established European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Notes the increase in organised cyber-criminal activities; welcomes the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to expand their capacity to fight cybercrime and the increase in prosecutions for cybercrime; calls for the EU to promote greater cooperation with the Western Balkan countries on tackling online threats; in this respect, underlines the importance of fighting manipulative disinformation in close cooperation with European partners;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the EU and Western Balkans countries to collaboratively address the consistent and growing threats to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage and cultural smuggling, especially in conflict zones. Urges the embracing of a strategy that includes: robust public awareness campaigns, universal condemnation of trafficking in unprovenanced antiquities; establishment of a single code of conduct in protection of cultural sites; fostering of greater cooperation among different law- enforcement agencies that includes immediate information-sharing among national intelligence agencies; increase cooperation between law enforcement and the art and archaeological communities

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes with concern that the “public room” case in North Macedonia, where a group of more than 7 000 people used social networks to share explicit pictures and videos of women and girls has not been properly addressed by authorities; reiterates the need to tackle cases of tech facilitated commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) more effectively;

Amendment 116 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes that aside from the topics mentioned above, Western Balkan countries have to increase their efforts to counter other illegal activities carried out by organised crime groups, which include among others labour exploitation, human trafficking, environmental crime like illegal logging and poaching and extortion.

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Notes the expansion of a black market, including through the Deep Web, for fake COVID-19 vaccine certificates that sell across Western Balkan countries; calls on the Western Balkan authorities to closely monitor such criminal acts and to take action against any developments with regards to counterfeit vaccines and vaccination cards;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries in the fight against organised crime and encourages the EU to further support capacity building in the Western Balkans and the facilitation of police and judicial cooperation in countering organised crime; Recommends that existing EU-sponsored structures such as the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) are strengthened and that they can play a consistent role in favouring further cooperation between the EU, its Member States, and the Western Balkans countries;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries in the fight against organised crime and encourages the EU to further support capacity building in the Western Balkans and the facilitation of police and judicial cooperation in countering organised crime; stresses that any cooperation agreement between EU agencies/ structures and third countries must be in full respect for fundamental rights and an adequate level of data protection ensured, as pre-condition for a successful police and judicial cooperation;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas organised crime in the Western Balkans is a structural problem with deeply rooted links to business and state institutions, as one of the symptoms of state capture, which reforms relating to the EU integration process aim to overcome;

Amendment 120 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkan countries in the fight against organised crime and encourages the EU to further support capacity building in the Western Balkans and the facilitation of police and judicial cooperation in countering organised crime; calls on Western Balkan countries for further legislative harmonisation with the EU acquis regarding public procurement, the fight against organised crime and terrorism, money laundering and cybercrime;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that Eurojust has facilitated approximately 200 joint criminal investigations between EU Member States and the Western Balkan countries; Welcomes the conclusion of cooperation agreements between Eurojust and ~~four Western Balkan countries~~Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as the authorisation to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; urges the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations for a similar agreement with Kosovo, as judicial cooperation in criminal matters with all Western Balkan countries is crucial to fighting organised crime;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the conclusion of cooperation agreements between Eurojust and four Western Balkan countries, as well as the authorisation to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; urges the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations for a similar agreement with Kosovo, as judicial cooperation in criminal matters with all Western Balkan countries is crucial to fighting organised crime, especially human trafficking and smuggling of drugs that account for the majority of criminal activities in the region;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the conclusion of cooperation agreements between Eurojust and four Western Balkan countries, as well as the authorisation to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; urges the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations for a similar agreement with Kosovo, as soon as possible, as judicial cooperation in criminal matters with all Western Balkan countries is crucial to fighting organised crime;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Commends the successful cooperation with liaison prosecutors from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia seconded to Eurojust to provide support in cross-border investigations involving their countries; encourages, in this respect, similar cooperation with the remaining Western Balkan countries; welcomes the rising number of cases in judicial cooperation since 2019 despite the challenging circumstances caused by COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 125 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Commends the successful cooperation with liaison prosecutors (LPs) from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia seconded to Eurojust to provide support in cross-border investigations involving their countries and highlights the significant increase in case work after the appointment of LPs; encourages, in this respect, similar cooperation with the remaining Western Balkan countries;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. WUnderlines that the Western Balkans is a region of particular relevance for Europol; welcomes the agreements on operational cooperation between Europol and five Western Balkan countries, as well as the working arrangement with the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo, and commends the successful operations led in the context of this cooperation; welcomes the opening of Europol’s Liaison Office in Albania in 2019 and the decision to open similar Liaison Offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia, encourages similar cooperation with the remaining Western Balkan countries;

Amendment 127 #

David McALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Welcomes the agreements on operational cooperation between Europol and five Western Balkan countries, as well as the working arrangement with the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo, and commends the successful operations led in the context of this cooperation; underlines also the importance to cooperate with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Amendment 128 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Welcomes the agreements on operational cooperation between Europol and five Western Balkan countries, as well as the working arrangement with the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo,; calls for the full implementation of these agreements and commends the successful operations led in the context of this cooperation;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Welcomes the Working Agreements undertaken by CEPOL with the Western Balkan countries which focus on specific activities on specific topics related to combating organised crime, such as money laundering, migration, financial investigation and terrorism; underlines the importance to further strengthen the already established mechanisms between CEPOL and the Western Balkans region;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas organised crime and corruption go hand in hand with money- laundering activities, tax evasion, clientelism as well as impunity;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Takes note of the specialised country reports issued by Council of Europe's Group of European States against Corruption (GRECO); underlines the importance of the EU accession countries to enhance cooperation with GRECO and to thoroughly implement their specific recommendations;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Believes that Interpol membership of all six Western Balkan countries would further improve the effectiveness of measures targeting transnational crime;

Amendment 132 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Underlines that Interpol is an important instrument in the fight against organised crime; regrets that Kosovo is not yet a member of Interpol, despite its multiple attempts to become one; calls for Kosovo’s inclusion in Interpol and on EU Member States to proactively support Kosovo's bid to join this organisation;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the working arrangements which are in place between FRONTEX and the Western Balkan countries, as well as the Status Agreements signed with Albania, Montenegro and Serbia which lead to activities aimed at tackling cross-border crime and illegal immigration and increased technical and operational assistance at the border; welcomes the similar status agreements initiated with North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; underlines the need to further develop the cooperation between FRONTEX and the Western Balkan countries in matters related to combating organized crime;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the conclusion of the agreements on border management cooperation between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and Albania, Montenegro and Serbia; calls for all sides to advance the signing of the already negotiated agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia as soon as possible as well as to work on a similar agreement with Kosovo;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Welcomes the entry into force of status agreements with Albania, Montenegro and Serbia on border cooperation allowing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to execute joint operations in these countries, improving the countries’ border management, fight cross-border crime and control illegal migrations; calls on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia to ratify their respective status agreements without delay;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Notes the conclusion of the agreement on border management cooperation between Serbia and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) which allows Frontex to assist Serbia in border management and carry out joint operations; notes that Serbia has played an active, cooperative and constructive role in EU external border management;

Amendment 137 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

20c. Notes the entry into force of the agreement on border management cooperation between Montenegro and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), which allows Frontex to assist Montenegro in border management, carrying out joint operations and tackling cross-border crime at the country’s sea borders; welcomes Montenegro's constructive and cooperative role in this process;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates the need to increase the focus on prevention activities and education, ~~as well as~~particularly on issues related to the negative impact of organised crime, human, drug and arms trafficking on societies, as well as radicalisation; reiterates the need to increase the focus on a proper understanding of citizenship, and to increase resilience, paying greater attention to socio-economic conditions, especially in suburban and rural areas, and providing support for local initiatives to reduce vulnerability to crime and corruption;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates the need to increase the focus on prevention activities and education, as well as a proper understanding of citizenship, and to increase resilience, paying greater attention to socio-economic conditions, especially in suburban and rural areas, and providing support for local initiatives to reduce vulnerability to crime and corruption, while stressing the need for an intersectional gender sensitive approach;

Amendment 14 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas organised criminal groups collaborate well across borders and ethnic lines, in comparison to the police and judicial authorities of the Western Balkan countries, which ~~lack~~urgently need to improve such coordination;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Underlines the importance of monitoring links between organised crime groups and radicalised individuals and terrorist organisations; reiterates the importance of EU’s role in countering terrorism financing and money laundering; encourages further cooperation in this regard, especially through EU support for training of financial experts in the region, information sharing and exchange of best practices and know-how;

Amendment 141 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Welcomes the acknowledgment by participants of the Western Balkans Summit in Berlin on 5 July 2021 of the need for a multi-agency response, including cooperation with the private sector and civil-society organisations, to increase the effectiveness of joint work to tackle serious and organised crime, illicit finance, corruption and terrorism;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Underlines that regional cooperation is key to fighting organised crime effectively; commends the work of existing regional initiatives aimed at strengthening interinstitutional relations in the fight against corruption and organised crime between the Western Balkan countries, such as The Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) and encourages further regional cooperation in combating more effectively trans-border organised crime;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Commends the role played by regional initiatives involving EU Member States and Western Balkan Countries such as the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII), the Central European Initiative (CEI), and the Berlin Process; Encourages both EU Member States and Western Balkan countries to take part in these initiatives and to exploit their potential fully also rationalising them through merging when overlapping or similarities in the activities and domains covered by the single initiatives are present;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Welcomes the funding under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) to projects encompassing the whole region and aiming to improve the Western Balkan countries capacities in fighting corruption and organised crime; commends in particular the Witness Protection IPA II programme, leading to the creation of the "Balkan Network"; calls for the continuation of this cooperation and taking ownership by the Western Balkan partners to keep the network alive;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Expresses support for the IPA- funded multi-country programme "supporting a more effective administration of justice in organised crime and corruption cases in the Western Balkans through trial monitoring" as a step towards a more effective judicial response by the authorities on corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans; calls on the governments of the Western Balkan countries to implement fully the recommendations formulated as part of the peer reviews by the Member States’ experts;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Underlines the importance of democratic capacity-building in the Western Balkan region, including, inter alia, through specialised programs and pilot projects aimed at strengthening participative democracy and discussing issues linked to fighting organised crime and corruption;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)

22c. Believes that Western Balkan partners should actively engage in the Conference on the Future of Europe and should be included in a broader European debate on tackling organised crime;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)

22c. Calls on international donors to ensure better coordination of the various programmes countering organised crime and corruption in the Western Balkans to avoid duplication and increase effectiveness of international cooperation in these areas;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)

22d. Notes the need to enhance data collection and to share information on organised crime with and among the Western Balkan countries as a crucial step to fighting these crimes; encourages the Western Balkans to work together with international partners towards establishing national statistical systems which record and analyse organised crime;

Amendment 15 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas organized crime groups cooperate with terrorist groups from the Middle East and North Africa in activities such as migrant trafficking, smuggling of artefacts and money laundering;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)

7d. Notes with concern the lack of credible data on organised crime in the region; calls on the Western Balkan countries to increase the understanding of organised crime by enhancing their capacity to collect and process reliable data on organised crime, underlines that the development of strategic and policy documents to guide the national response to organised crime is essential for setting priorities and establishing goals to tackle this phenomena;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)

22d. Underlines the need for more in- depth interdisciplinary research into the topic of organised crime in the region, for a database assembling relevant and reliable data on organised crime and for an intersectional gender sensitive approach to better design evidence-based efficient policies to prevent and tackle organised crime and corruption;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSO) in monitoring the work of governments and assessing track records in fighting organised crime; notes that legal and institutional frameworks for CSO participation are largely in place in the Western Balkan countries but regrets that their potential is not being used to the full extent; calls for strengthening their inclusion in the legislative process, ensuring their meaningful contribution to key pieces of legislation, including free access to information, public procurement, protection of whistleblowers, declaration and confiscation of illegal assets; calls in this context on Western Balkan authorities to urgently develop and adopt improved laws on free access to information through inclusive processes, involving CSOs, journalists and external experts;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSO) in monitoring the work of governments ~~and~~, judicial and law enforcement agencies, assessing track records in fighting organised crime; encourages CSO of further sharing experiences and best practices in view of understanding the nature and causes of organised crime and hereby support the prevention of radicalisation in the region; welcomes the contributions to strategic communication campaigns by stakeholders such as Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and European Strategic Communication Network (ESCN) in; notes that legal and institutional frameworks for CSO participation are largely in place in the Western Balkan countries but regrets that their potential is not being used to the full extent;

Amendment 154 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSO) in monitoring the work of governments and assessing track records in fighting organised crime; notes that legal and institutional frameworks for CSO participation are largely in place in the Western Balkan countries but regrets that their potential is not being used to the full extent; while in some cases the CSOs focusing on corruption and organised crime, in addition to the lack of cooperation, are facing outright hospitality from their governments;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSO), academics and journalists in monitoring the work of governments and assessing track records in fighting organised crime; notes that legal and institutional frameworks for CSO participation are largely in place in the Western Balkan countries but regrets that their potential is not being used to the full extent;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Commends the important role CSOs often play in preventive work, in support of vulnerable groups, in policy formulation and in taking on an oversight role when there is a lack of independent public bodies. Is therefore concerned about smear campaigns, pressure and intimidations efforts, which accelerates the shrinking space for CSOs to operate;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Notes that many CSOs depend on private funding and face difficulties in raising enough funds to sustain their activities. Recognises that grants are often given to short-term projects, which focus on bigger cities and that there is little support for activities against organised crime.

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)

23c. Recognises that short term funding leads to staff being hired only for project-specific purposes, which leads to a lack of stable employment standards and provides little space for staff to develop core skills and therefore long-term strategic planning is suffering.

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)

23d. Encourages CSOs in the Western Balkans to establish stronger networks among civil society actors, to identify local counterparts who work on similar issues, on how to establish a knowledge-sharing process, and to contemplate on how to improve resilience.

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas harmonised legal frameworks, their effective implementation, and independent anti- corruption and counter-crime bodies, as well as a genuine political will are key to the eradication of organised crime;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)

23d. Recalls that the process of the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans is directly dependent on the normalisation of their relations both with each other and with the neighbouring EU Member States.

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the valuable work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; strongly condemns intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society~~; calls on the authorities to ensure their protection~~, in particular when propagated by representatives of governments, ruling parties and government-controlled media; calls on the authorities to ensure their protection and to provide conditions conducive to the effective exercise of freedom of expression, which is one of the EU’s fundamental values; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with ~~and support for~~ civil society, NGOs ~~and independent media on the ground~~, reform-oriented policy makers, academia and independent media on the ground, as well as to increase their support for them; encourages the Commission and the local EU Delegations to work together with local stakeholders to establish procedures for regular trial monitoring of corruption and organised- crime cases;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; notes with concern that in the most prominent cases, hate speech and slandering campaigns are coming from the state officials, MPs and media owned or partially financed by the state. strongly condemns intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society; calls on the authorities to ensure their protection; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with and support for civil society, NGOs and independent media on the ground;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; strongly condemns intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society; calls on the authorities and law enforcement to ensure their protection and conditions for unhindered work; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with and support for civil society, NGOs and independent media on the ground;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; strongly condemns intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society, including targeted killings; calls on the authorities to ensure their protection; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with and support for civil society, NGOs and independent media on the ground;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Commends the work of investigative journalists reporting on high- profile cases and disclosing links between organised criminal groups, politicians and businesses; strongly condemns acts of aggression, intimidation, hate speech and slandering campaigns against investigative journalists and civil society; calls on the authorities to ensure their protection; reiterates its call on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen their cooperation with and support for civil society, NGOs and independent media on the ground;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Expresses deep concern over allegedly unjustified use of the Serbian Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism against over 50 prominent NGOs, media organisations and individuals, which have been intimidated by obtaining their banking information by the government and by limiting their freedoms of expression and association; Notes with regret that many of these entities and individuals were openly advocating for EU values in Serbia; calls on the Serbian authorities to ensure the highest standards of just legal processes;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Deeply regrets the increasing number of SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) cases, which are often used by corporations and governments to threaten and sue journalists and individuals in order to silence them and to prevent them from exposing wrongdoings of those in power, thus making a public debate impossible;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

22b. Calls on Western Balkan authorities to significantly increase their efforts and work towards transparency of media ownership, newsroom independence and safeguarding media freedom from political interference, as key elements of a free democratic society and essential for the success in the fight against organised crime and corruption;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas civil society organisations have established themselves as important stakeholders in the fight against organised crime and corruption across the region, since they play a crucial role in particular in monitoring the situation and evaluating anticorruption policies;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas according to the UNODC report "Measuring Organized Crime in the Western Balkans" prosecutions and convictions tend to focus on low ranks of criminal organisations with group leaders more often enjoying impunity in the Western Balkans;

Amendment 19 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas more research and more reliable data on organised crime is needed to better design effective policy responses to organised crime and corruption in the region;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1788 of 19 November 2018 in support of the South-Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in Western Balkans,

Amendment 20 #

Jérôme RIVIÈRE, Thierry MARIANI, Jaak MADISON, Maximilian KRAH, Harald VILIMSKY

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas education plays a key role in preventing crime and promoting a culture of lawfulness;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the threat posed by criminals originating from the Western Balkans ~~has been used as an argument against EU accession in some countries~~constitutes a serious obstacle to their EU accession;

Amendment 22 #

Nathalie LOISEAU, Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Christophe GRUDLER, Frédérique RIES, Malik AZMANI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas ~~the threat posed by criminals originating from the Western Balkans has been used as an argument against EU accession in some countries~~serious efforts and tangible results in the fight against organized crime are necessary steps for candidate countries to make progress towards EU accession;

Amendment 23 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the threat posed by criminals originating from the Western Balkans has been wrongfully used as an argument against EU accession in some countries;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the threat posed by ~~criminal~~organised crime groups originating from the Western Balkans has been used as an argument against EU accession in some countries;

Amendment 25 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the threat posed by criminals originating from the Western Balkans has been used as an argument against EU accession in some countries; and, therefore, it should be properly addressed in order to favour further steps in the EU accession process of the Western Balkans countries;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas in order to meet the EU membership criteria, the Western Balkan countries need to implement comprehensive reforms in crucial areas such as the rule of law and deliver concrete results in judicial reforms and in the fight against corruption and organised crime;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the strengthening of the rule of law, fighting corruption and organised crime are cornerstones of the EU-Western Balkans strategy of 2018;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas the Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance, IPA II has funded multiple national and multi-country projects supporting a more effective administration of justice in organised crime and corruption cases in the Western Balkans, including through trial monitoring; whereas also IPA III entails specific objectives to develop effective tools to prevent and fight organised crime, trafficking in human beings and of illicit firearms, drug trafficking and money laundering;

Amendment 29 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas around € 64 million were allocated for projects related to the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans under the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA II);

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

— having regard to the study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled "Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition to, from and across the European Union",

Amendment 30 #

Jérôme RIVIÈRE, Thierry MARIANI, Jaak MADISON, Maximilian KRAH, Harald VILIMSKY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that organised crime and corruption first and foremost hurt the citizens of the Western Balkan countries, ~~as they undermine their right to safety and social cohesion as well as their trust~~ but also the populations of the current Member States, not least because the rationale behind the ~~democratic system, create obstacles to democratic reforms and hamper the accession proces~~Schengen system is effectively facilitating the spread of mafia activity from the Western Balkan countries to all EU Member States;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that organised crime and corruption first and foremost hurt the citizens of the Western Balkan countries, as they undermine their right to safety and social cohesion as well as their trust in the democratic system, create obstacles to democratic reforms and hamper the accession process, while also having potential and factual negative impacts on EU Member States security and stability;

Amendment 32 #

Jérôme RIVIÈRE, Thierry MARIANI, Jaak MADISON, Maximilian KRAH, Harald VILIMSKY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process can it be improved;deleted

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving~~encouraging EU accession for countries of the Western Balkans ~~of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process can it be improved~~would have serious implications in terms of mafia activity throughout the Union;

Amendment 34 #

Nathalie LOISEAU, Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Christophe GRUDLER, Frédérique RIES, Malik AZMANI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards~~organized crime originating in the Western Balkans has serious consequences for Member States of the EU; recalls that an absence of serious efforts and tangible results in the fight against organiszed crime~~, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process can it be improved~~ will hamper progress towards accession of Western Balkans candidate countries to the EU ;

Amendment 35 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards~~fighting organised crime, and ~~underlines that only by foster~~advancing ing the EU integration process ~~can it be improved~~are mutually reinforcing processes;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving~~by fostering the EU integration process, the situation aswith regards to fighting organised crime~~, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process can it be~~ in the Western Balkans region can improved;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering~~supporting a European perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans reduces the influence of organised crime. Hence there is a need to accelerate the EU integration process ~~can it be improved;~~.

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that ~~depriving~~the countries of the Western Balkans ~~of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation~~should improve there security systems as regards to organised crime, and underlines that ~~only by fostering the EU integration process can it be improved~~strengthening the cooperation with neighbouring EU Member States is key for the fight against organized crime groups;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening ~~rather than improving~~ the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process can it be improved;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

— having regard to the Berlin Process and the 2018 anti-corruption pledges made by the Western Balkan countries,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines that depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening rather than improving the situation as regards organised crime, and underlines that only by fostering the EU integration process and cooperation with Member States can it be improved;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Expresses its view that linking visa liberalisation for Kosovo with the fight against organised crime is counterproductive as isolation encourages criminal activities; underlines once again that Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalisation and calls on the Council to grant visa liberalisation without further delay;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are the crucial areas in which the Western Balkan countries need to show more progress on their EU path; regrets the fact that Montenegro and Serbia have not shown more progress in these areas, even though they have been officially negotiating their membership since 2012 and 2014 respectively; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy, the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting corruption and organised crime and their implementation;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Note~~Regrets that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are areas in which the authorities in the Western Balkan countries ~~need to show more progres~~have failed to meaningfully progress; urges them to significantly step up their efforts and prove their political will to advance the necessary reforms on their EU path; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy, the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting corruption and organised crime;

Amendment 44 #

Peter van DALEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are areas in which the Western Balkan countries need to show more progress ~~on their EU path; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy,~~with a view to talks regarding their possible EU path; calls for the EU to promote the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting corruption and organised crime;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are areas in which the Western Balkan countries ~~need~~have to show ~~mor~~tangible results in order to make progress on their EU path; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy, the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting rule of law, corruption and organised crime;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are areas in which the Western Balkan countries need to show more progress on their EU path; calls for the EU to promote, as a priority of enlargement policy, the correct transposition of relevant international instruments targeting corruption and organised crime; reaffirms that the EU should support Western Balkan countries’ efforts to put in place relevant actions and initiatives through financial means and other forms of practical cooperation;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Welcomes the EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime 2021-2025 announced on 14 April 2021 and urges the EU to step up international cooperation on combatting organised crime, in particular with the Western Balkan countries, in order to address effectively this transnational threat;

Amendment 48 #

Nathalie LOISEAU, Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Christophe GRUDLER, Frédérique RIES, Malik AZMANI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, and inequality ~~and the slow process of EU accession~~ are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, and inequality ~~and the slow process of EU accession~~ are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges;

Amendment 5 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas organised crime ~~is a global threa~~has become a central issue in international affairs and a threat to peace and development, which necessitates a common and coordinated response byfrom the EU, its Member States and international partners;

Amendment 50 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, and inequality ~~and the slow process of EU accession~~ are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges;

Amendment 51 #

Jérôme RIVIÈRE, Thierry MARIANI, Jaak MADISON, Maximilian KRAH, Harald VILIMSKY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, inequality and the slow process of EU accession are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges; condemns the actions of so-called humanitarian organisations, such as those funded by George Soros, which are actually complicit in criminal trafficking;

Amendment 52 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, disinformation, elements of state capture, inequality, foreign interference from non-democratic regimes such as Russia and China and the slow process of EU accession, are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges as they sow instability, undermine integration, and delay democratic and economic development;

Amendment 53 #

Peter van DALEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, inequality and the slow process of possible EU accession are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, including the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the lack of employment opportunities, corruption, elements of state capture, inequality and the slow process of EU accession are among the factors that make Western Balkans societies vulnerable to organised crime, and urges both the authorities of the Western Balkan countries and their international partners, ~~including~~especially the EU, to intensify their efforts in addressing these challenges;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Regrets the lack of genuine political will of parts of the local political elites to fight organised crime, corruption and eliminating any elements of state capture;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the lack of independence of the judiciary in the Western Balkan countries and urges that a more strategic approach be adopted in addressing challenges posed by organised crime; calls for the EU to provide further assistance in order to stimulate a culture of criminal justice professionalism and performance; notes that although some progress in justice systems reform has been made, substantial efforts are still needed to reach tangible results;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the lack of independence of the judiciary in the Western Balkan countries and urges that a more strategic approach be adopted in addressing challenges posed by organised crime; calls for the EU to provide further assistance in order to stimulate a culture of criminal justice professionalism and performance and to improve the integrity of the judiciary;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the lack of independence and functioning of the judiciary in the Western Balkan countries and urges that a more strategic approach be adopted in addressing challenges posed by organised crime; calls for the EU to provide further assistance in order to stimulate a culture of criminal justice professionalism and performance;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Urges the Western Balkan countries to fully address the shortcomings of their criminal-justice systems, including the length of proceedings, and to adopt a more strategic approach in addressing challenges posed by organised crime; calls on the EU and other international partners to provide further guidelines for law-enforcement agencies and the judiciary to enhance a culture of criminal justice professionalism and performance;

Amendment 6 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas effectively fighting organised crime is part of the EU accession process, notably in the fundamentals cluster and in the negotiating Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the transposition into national laws by the Western Balkan countries of EU and international standards on asset recovery; regrets, however, that implementation remains low; ~~urges the jurisdictions in the region to establish the confiscation of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime as a priority in the fight against corruption and organised crime~~welcomes other efforts that have been undertaken to fight organised crime in the region, such as the development of governmental coordination mechanisms and special courts and law enforcement units; urges the jurisdictions in the region to establish the confiscation of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime as a priority in the fight against corruption and organised crime; calls for EU assistance in supporting law enforcement agencies to obtain required capacities, proper conditions and resources in order for them to be able to fulfil their mandates;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the transposition into national laws by the Western Balkan countries of EU and international standards on asset recovery; regrets, however, that implementation remains low and urges Western Balkan authorities to establish a solid track record in recovering such assets to the benefit of all their citizens; urges the jurisdictions in the region to establish the confiscation of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime as a priority in the fight against corruption and organised crime; calls in this context for sufficient resources, highlighting in particular the need to increase expertise in financial forensics in public prosecutor’s offices;

Amendment 62 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point i (new)

(i) Highlights the need for hate speech to be prosecuted as a criminal offence and urges that all forms of hate speech targeting national or ethnic origins be punished;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to target both criminal organisations ~~rather than individual cases; urges the relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of~~and individual cases; notes that rightly identifying and accurately investigating criminal activity as "organised" is essential to the criminal justice response; urges the relevant authorities to fill in the legislative gaps that expose informants and whistle- blowers and protect them from being fired, harassed, sued or even prosecuted or threatened in order to increase the capacity to dismantle organised criminal groups; and to successfully fight corruption and organised crime;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to target criminal organisations rather than individual cases, while establishing a decent track record in prosecuting and convicting high-profile criminals; underlines the importance of cooperating witnesses turning state’s evidence for defeating organised crime networks; urges the relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of informants and whistleblowers, including their close relatives, to increase the capacity to dismantle organised criminal groups; encourages an exchange of best practices with EU member states, who have been successful in the fight against organised crime; invites countries in the Western Balkans to adopt similar legislation following the example of the Italian “pentito” legislation, which successfully led to the defeat of several organised crime groups; calls on EU Member States to support witness protection schemes, including through relocation;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to focus their efforts on targeting criminal organisations rather than individual ~~case~~s; urges the relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of informants and whistleblowers to increase the capacity to dismantle organised criminal groups;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to target criminal organisations as a whole rather than individual cases; urges the relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of informants and whistleblowers to increase the capacity to dismantle organised criminal groups;

Amendment 67 #

David McALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to target criminal organisations ~~rather than~~in addition to individual cases; urges the relevant authorities to strengthen the protection of informants and whistleblowers to increase the capacity to dismantle organised criminal groups;

Amendment 68 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – indent 1 (new)

- Expresses disquiet at the cases of human rights violations and aggression against national and ethnic minorities;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Western Balkans countries to keep a concrete and sustained track record in tackling organised crime, corruption and money laundering and to develop periodic national reports on this matter;

Amendment 7 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas rampant corruption and organised crime remain a serious concern across the Western Balkan region and pose a serious threat also to the Member States of the EU;

Amendment 70 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Nathalie LOISEAU, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Calls on the Western Balkan countries to strengthen their interinstitutional cooperation, including in intelligence gathering and sharing, in order to better understand and tackle organised crime;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Notes with concern that political discourse in the Western Balkans is filled with unresolved accusations of links between high-level political figures and organised crime groups, while the judicial system is ineffective at addressing these claims; Reiterates the need to eradicate political and administrative links to organised crime through clear anti- corruption safeguards and effective prosecution of high-profile corruption cases; calls for the EU to increase support for the consolidation of merit-based public administrations;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Is highly alerted by reports about high-level government officials and politicians being deeply involved in organised crime structures;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Expresses disappointment at the failure by the Serbian judicial authorities to adopt a stance on the connections revealed between President Aleksandar Vučić and his internal minister Aleksandar Vulin and organised crime groups;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Reminds that the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) foresees a strong conditionality and funding must be modulated or even suspended in the case of significant regression or persistent lack of progress in the area of the so-called “fundamentals”, notably in the field of the rule of law and fundamental rights, including fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as media freedom; stresses that it is in the EU’s own security interests and its responsibility to guarantee that EU funds do not become counterproductive by strengthening clientelistic networks of corrupt politicians and privileged businesses; calls in this context upon the EU and the Western Balkan countries to establish a framework for a fruitful cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Western Balkan countries, in order to ensure that the EPPO can effectively exert its competences in the area of EU funds, in particular in the area of IPA III funds in the Western Balkan countries;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines that in the Western Balkans, the construction sector is among the most vulnerable to organized crime and corruption; is concerned that there is no action taken on the highway case Bar- Boljare in Montenegro in spite of unclear public procurement procedures, lack of proper planning documentation, extraordinary prices and ecological concerns;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Is concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic made conditions for fighting corruption worse as the number of urgent public procurements conducted without transparency rose; calls on the Commission to link budget support to clear anti-corruption objectives; to this end, stresses the need to set up robust mechanisms to monitor implementation;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Notes with great concern that the COVID-19 crisis and its socio-economic consequences have been exploited by criminal organisations, including through misuse of direct public procurement for essential medical equipment and services to healthcare structures, selling falsified COVID certificates and the increased practice of loan-sharking;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Condemns the apparent lack of the Serbian authorities to open the former Yugoslav archives and, in particular, to grant access to the files of the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS), and for the files to be returned to the respective governments if they so request;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing with international partners ~~like the Unites States, the United Kingdom~~ and international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNODC;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas corruption and organised crime remain a serious concern across the Western Balkan region which can also have negative impacts on EU Member States;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing with international partners like the Unites States, Canada, the United Kingdom and international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption, NATO and the UNODC;

Amendment 81 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Urmas PAET, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing both with EU bodies such as Europol and with international partners like the Unites States, the United Kingdom and international organisations such as NATO, the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNODC;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing with the Member States, with international partners like the Unites States, the United Kingdom ands well as with international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNODC;

Amendment 83 #

David McALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing with international partners like the Unites States, the United Kingdom and international organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNODC as well as NATO;

Amendment 84 #

Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Dragoş TUDORACHE, Ilhan KYUCHYUK, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Welcomes the renewed constructive US engagement in the Western Balkans, including their focus on the fight against corruption; highlights in this context the US Executive Order sanctioning persons contributing to the destabilising situation in the Western Balkans, as well as the US action targeting individuals and entities for their significant acts of corruption in Bulgaria and former Albanian Prime Minister Berisha; calls on the EU to thoroughly assess a possible alignment to such actions;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Notes that the Western Balkan countries are both an origin of and a destination for trafficking in human beings which involves mostly women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation; underlines that most detected victims of human trafficking in the Western Balkans come from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; notes that human trafficking is the crime with the highest proportional share of links to organised crime; calls on the relevant authorities to place more focus on prevention and strengthening the resilience of groups that are vulnerable to the risks of trafficking in human beings; welcomes joint actions carried out with international partners, including Interpol and Europol, which have led to the arrests of suspected traffickers and migrant smugglers;

Amendment 86 #

Nathalie LOISEAU, Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Christophe GRUDLER, Frédérique RIES, Malik AZMANI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Notes that the Western Balkan countries are both an origin of and a destination for trafficking in human beings; calls on the relevant authorities to place more focus on prevention and strengthening the resilience of groups that are vulnerable to the risks of trafficking in human beings, while underlining the need for an intersectional gender-sensitive approach; welcomes joint actions carried out with international partners, including Interpol and Europol, which have led to the arrests of suspected traffickers and ~~migrant~~people smugglers;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Notes that the Western Balkan countries are both an origin of and ~~a destination~~transit countries for trafficking in human beings; calls on the relevant authorities to place more focus on prevention and strengthening the resilience of groups that are vulnerable to the risks of trafficking in human beings; welcomes joint actions carried out with international partners, including Interpol and Europol, which have led to the arrests of suspected traffickers and migrant smugglers;

Amendment 88 #

Harald VILIMSKY, Maximilian KRAH, Jaak MADISON, Jérôme RIVIÈRE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for ~~migrants and refugee~~illegal migrants and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region in fighting the smuggling of illegal migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues through~~, inter alia, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route~~; calls, in the light of a new migration wave from Afghanistan to Europe, for efficient EU external border protection, especially at the borders with the Western Balkan states, and for the right of the Member States to secure their own borders;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region in fighting the smuggling of ~~migrant~~people, as well as in protecting fundamental rights of the smuggled persons, in particular of unaccompanied minors; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues through, inter alia, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route, as well as through assistance in establishing dignified reception conditions, including special safeguards for unaccompanied minors, offering safe and orderly pathways, with the view to significantly strengthening capacity for processing asylum claims and improving cooperation with the EU on among others resettlement and access to asylum;

Amendment 9 #

David LEGA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas corruption and organised crime remain a serious concern across the Western Balkan region; notes for instance “In Albania, corruption is the second- largest source of IFFs after narcotics trafficking. The World Bank Enterprise Survey 2019 shows that 36.1% of companies in Albania received at least one bribe request in 2019".2a __________________ 2ahttps://globalinitiative.net/iffs-western- balkans/

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region and bordering Member States in fighting the smuggling of migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, as well as with Member States bordering the region, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues ~~through, inter al~~, such as financial and technical support, concluding informal and status agreements and fostering cooperation via, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region in ~~fight~~addressing the smuggling of migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues through, inter alia, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route;

Amendment 92 #

Nathalie LOISEAU, Urmas PAET, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Christophe GRUDLER, Frédérique RIES, Malik AZMANI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region in fighting the smuggling of migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues through, inter alia, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route while taking into account the specificity and the needs of the Western Balkan Route;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region; calls for enhanced efforts in fighting the smuggling of migrants; calls for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between countries of the Western Balkans, and encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues through, inter alia, the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform – Eastern Mediterranean Route;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Notes with concern that the case named “Mafia” in the Republic of North Macedonia, where employees of the Ministry of Interior are accused of issuing alternative identities to more than 214 high-risk foreign nationals, among which ISIS members, criminals with international arrest warrants for murder, racketeering, extortion and drug trafficking has not been properly addressed by the government; calls for a thorough investigation into the case;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls for a thorough and transparent investigation on the ‘Mafia’ case where the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia has been accused of issuing 215 fake passports to foreign nationals, accused of extremism, drug and human trafficking;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

~~13.~~ Underlines that tackling criminal ~~13.~~ finances is crucial to uncover criminal activities and prevent infiltration into the legal economy; welcomes the efforts of the governments of the Western Balkan countries to address money laundering, including through the adoption of revised anti-money laundering frameworks; ~~reiterates, however, that~~expresses concern, however, that they are not being adequately implement~~ation is still lacking;~~ed

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines that tackling criminal finances is crucial to uncover criminal activities and prevent infiltration into the legal economy; highlights that beneficial ownership transparency has emerged as an important policy tool for combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows, as well as fighting tax evasion; welcomes the efforts of the governments of the Western Balkan countries to address money laundering, including through the adoption of revised anti-money laundering frameworks; reiterates, however, that adequate implementation is still lacking and enforcing due diligence provisions, as well as beneficial ownership transparency need to be significantly improved, including in the banking sector;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Notes with concern the large share of grey economy (estimated at more than 30% of GDP in the region) and massive illicit cash payments flowing across the region; underlines that while cash transactions are not synonymous with illegal behaviour, their traceless nature offers an ideal vehicle for money laundering; calls on governments in the region to implement measures to reduce informality, where possible;

Amendment 99 #