2022/2199(INI) 2022 Commission Report on Albania
Next event: Indicative plenary sitting date 2023/06/12
Lead committee dossier:
Next event: Indicative plenary sitting date 2023/06/12
Progress: Awaiting Parliament's vote
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET |
SANTOS Isabel ( S&D)
|
LEGA David ( EPP),
KYUCHYUK Ilhan ( Renew),
WAITZ Thomas ( Verts/ALE),
BONFRISCO Anna ( ID),
BERG Lars Patrick ( ECR),
KOULOGLOU Stelios ( GUE/NGL)
|
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Subjects
Events
2023/06/12
Indicative plenary sitting date
2023/05/31
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2023/05/31
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2023/05/24
EP - Vote in committee
2023/04/03
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2023/03/07
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2023/01/19
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2022/11/08
EP - SANTOS Isabel (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
Documents
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A9-0204/2023
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A9-0204/2023
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE739.816
- Committee draft report: PE739.812
- Committee draft report: PE739.812
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE739.816
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A9-0204/2023
Activities
- Dominique BILDE
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Dita CHARANZOVÁ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Fabio Massimo CASTALDO
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Angel DZHAMBAZKI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Manolis KEFALOGIANNIS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Georgios KYRTSOS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Ilhan KYUCHYUK
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Jiří POSPÍŠIL
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Thomas WAITZ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- David LEGA
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Isabel SANTOS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Andreas SCHIEDER
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Mick WALLACE
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Javier ZARZALEJOS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Anna BONFRISCO
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Vlad-Marius BOTOŞ
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Emmanouil FRAGKOS
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Theresa BIELOWSKI
Plenary Speeches (0)
- Nikos PAPANDREOU
Plenary Speeches (0)
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 229 |
2022/2199(INI)
2023/04/03
AFET
229 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 — having regard to the outcomes of the first intergovernmental conference with Albania of 19 July 2022 and to the opening of accession negotiations with Albania,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas EU-enlargement
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Insists on adequate funding for and the effective and impartial functioning of independent bodies and agencies;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Insists on adequate funding for and the effective and impartial functioning of independent bodies and agencies; recognises the contribution of
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime; points out that the seizure and confiscation of assets in corruption cases is an important step on the road to justice and efforts in this regard should be strengthened; calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements and concrete results in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime; calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls on Albania to strengthen the Special Anti-Corruption Structure to step up its efforts to combat corruption, including through strengthening of the legal framework and judicial system.
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Encourages further police reform, ensuring its integrity, professionalism and full compliance with the international human rights standards;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Is concerned with the cases involving high-level officials still remain limited, fostering a culture of impunity within the higher levels of the State;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 b (new) 8b. Calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration, for improved monitoring of official’s assets and to eliminate corruption from all domains of public life; establishing a solid track record of corruption cases and continuing seizure, confiscation and recovery of criminal assets resulting from corruption and organised crime offences, including through a legislation targeting unjustified wealth, digitalisation of transactions and extended confiscation and freezing of illicit assets;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas EU enlargement policy substantially supports the promotion of peace and the spread of the EU’s fundamental values of respect for democracy, human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression; whereas enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and represents a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, s
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Notes that Albania remains both a destination and a transit country for light firearms; expresses concern over the wide prevalence of firearms in Albania; stresses the need to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Underlines that the contribution of Albania to the protection of the European Union’s external border is of crucial importance; stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross- border crime, notably human trafficking, must continue to be a priority;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 b (new) 10b. calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration; points out that greater political will and more structured and consistent efforts, including adequate resources, tools and skills, remain necessary in the fight against corruption;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Expresses its concern with the aspects of the draft law on fiscal amnesty and the proposed citizenship by investment scheme that are incompatible with
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Expresses its concern with the aspects of the draft law on fiscal amnesty and the proposed citizenship by investment scheme that are incompatible with EU norms and its visa policy and would pose risks as regards security, money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing, corruption and infiltration by organised crime ; welcomes Prime Minister Rama’s announcement to suspend the golden passport project;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Expresses its concern with the aspects of the draft law on fiscal amnesty and the proposed citizenship by investment scheme that
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Is concerned that a provision of the Law on Citizenship adopted in July 2020 may still lead to the establishment of an invertors’ citizenship scheme; such schemes pose serious risks with regards to security, money laundering, corruption and tax evasion;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas enlargement is
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Calls on authorities to focus on modernisation of the fiscal system and tax administration, including asset declaration and compliance, strengthen anti money-laundering controls and setting up of an asset recovery office; invites authorities to prosecute possible instances of crimes against the EU budget under the Working Arrangement on the Cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the Prosecutor General's Office of Albania;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Calls for the EU and the Western Balkan countries to establish a framework for effective cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the accession countries; encourages the Western Balkan countries to swiftly conclude bilateral working arrangements with the EPPO in order to facilitate close cooperation and the prosecution of the misuse of EU funds, including through the secondment of national liaison officers to the EPPO;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for continued action to reduce unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, while tackling criminal trafficking networks and increasing cooperation with the EU’s justice and home affairs agencies; welcomes successful international investigations and police operations to combat the trafficking of people, narcotics and firearms, and online fraud; stresses that countering cybercrime, trafficking in human beings and money laundering remain areas in which additional results are needed; calls on the authorities to step up its fight against child sexual abuse online which remains a concern;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for continued action to reduce unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, while tackling criminal trafficking networks and increasing cooperation with the EU’s justice and home affairs agencies; welcomes successful international investigations and police operations to combat the trafficking of people, narcotics and firearms, and online fraud; commends and encourages the cooperation between Albanian and EU authorities in this respect ;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for continued action to
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Calls for continued action to
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses the authorities’ obligation to ensure transparency and competition in public procurement, government contracts, privatisation, State aid and concession procedures; highlights the need to strengthen safeguards, transparency and conditionality under a strategic foreign investment screening process, and to prosecute incidents of fraud, abuse of office and money laundering, while simultaneously countering tax evasion, illegal construction and the circumvention of sanctions;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Stresses the authorities’ obligation to ensure transparency and competition in public procurement, government contracts, privatisation, State aid and concession procedures; highlights the need to strengthen safeguards, transparency and conditionality under a strategic foreign investment screening process, and to prosecute incidents of corruption, fraud, abuse of office and money laundering, while simultaneously countering tax evasion and the circumvention of sanctions;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Is appalled that the government approved the SAA breaching contract on the Durres Port with an UAE company despite earlier warnings by the European Parliament and European Commission;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas enlargement
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls on action against money laundering which seems pervasive and funds many sectors including real estate development considering the lack of progress so far as indicated by Moneyal. The focus should be on s solid track record of the implementation of the existing legislation by respective law enforcement;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Recalls that infrastructure projects, including in and around the port of Durrës, must comply with EU standards on public procurement contained in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure; invites the authorities to prevent data leaks by considerably strengthening cybersecurity; encourages the EU European External Action Service and Commission to further help boost Albania’s resilience against hybrid threats, in the area of cyber security, information manipulation and protection of critical infrastructures; stresses the need to improve coordination and address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to people in the Western Balkans;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure; invites the authorities to prevent data leaks by considerably strengthening cybersecurity, acting in cooperation with the EU, its Member States, and relevant NATO structures; stresses the risks related to mis- and disinformation campaigns organised by third parties aiming at presenting the EU as an unreliable, uninvolved partner for the Western Balkans countries; calls on the European Commission, the EEAS, and Albanian authorities to step up joint efforts in fighting such narratives;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure; invites the authorities to prevent data leaks by considerably strengthening cybersecurity; takes positive note of Albania's announcement to build and operationalize a military cyber defence unit; underlines the need for the EU to further assist Albania in strengthening its cyber defence capabilities, in close cooperation with NATO and building on efforts already undertaken by the Alliance ;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks by Iranian hackers against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure; invites the authorities to prevent data leaks by considerably strengthening cybersecurity and to accelerate efforts to align its legislation with the EU acquis on personal data protection; stresses the need for an effective implementation and enforcement of the National Cyber Security Strategy;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Welcomes the ratification of the Protocol (CETS No. 223) for the modernisation of the Convention "On the protection of individuals from automatic processing of personal data" and of the Convention 205/2009 “On access to official documents”; condemns, however, the irresponsible use of the private data of citizens by the ruling party; calls on the authorities to accelerate efforts to align its legislation with the EU acquis on personal data protection;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the rules and values based enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and represents a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12b. Regrets the submission by the Ministry of Justice of an amendment to the law for the right to information, which would allow public authorities to refuse to respond to requests for information if they consider them abusive; calls on the government to withdraw this amendment;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities; recalls the need to combat gender-based violence, step up child protection, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights, strengthen property rights and conduct a population census; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities; Expresses concern on the pending by-laws on minority rights, in particular on self- identification and the use of minority languages and increase capacities of the State Committee on National Minorities;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities; recalls the need to combat gender-based violence, step up child protection, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights, strengthen property rights and conduct a population census; the census should be carried out in an atmosphere of trust and transparency, so that all national minorities can be counted accurately, without fear of intimidation; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities; recalls the need to combat gender-based violence, step up child protection, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights, in particular the remaining by-laws, still pending to pass, with emphasis on self-identification and the use of the mother language with the local authorities, strengthen property rights and conduct a population census; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities; recalls the need to combat gender-based violence, step up child
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion,
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the enlargement policy’s effectiveness has considerably decreased over the last years due to a failure from the EU side to live up to its promises, including the long-overdue start of accession negotiations with Albania, as well as due to a lack of genuine political will to advance fundamental reforms by some of the political leaders of the enlargement countries;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Notes that there has been an increase in the number of successful discrimination complaints by Roma and Egyptian CSOs before the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination; strongly condemns, however, the failure of the authorities to implement the case- law of the European Court of Human Rights, which condemned Albania for not implementing swift and comprehensive desegregation measures in a school that was attended almost exclusively by Roma and Egyptian children; urges the authorities to immediately eliminate segregated classrooms;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the authorities to engage in dialogue with civil society organisations working on the rights of the LGBTI+ community and ensure the legal framework and the implementation of legislation guarantee the inclusion and protection of members of the community; calls on the authorities to continue cooperating with organisations representing the Roma and Egyptian community to ensure their well-being and integration into society;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Recalls the need to combat gender- based violence, step up child protection and grant equal opportunities of integration for all, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights and conduct a population census; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on Albania to make further progress on measures consolidating property registration, by reforming property registration and land sector framework in order to fully implement the Venice Commission recommendation and advancing a transparent process of registration, including in minority areas;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on Albania to swiftly adopt the remaining pending legislation ensuring the full protection of national minorities, particularly the implementing legislation on free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Reiterates its call on the government to implement the remaining legislation, including in regards to self- identification and use of minority languages, as per the by-law on minority education adopted in December 2020;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Albanian government to fully respect and protect human rights, including the rights of minorities, and to ensure that all allegations of human rights abuses are promptly and thoroughly investigated.
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Stresses the need to strengthen the means to safeguard property rights, complete transitional ownership processes and the registration of property, continue the restitution and compensation for property expropriated;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 16b. Notes that women representation in public offices needs improvement;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine highlights the critical importance of EU enlargement; whereas any hesitancy in moving further in the enlargement process would lead to a growing relevance of third actors that do not share our interests, values, and strategic objective, and that are already active in the region;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Welcomes that Albania submitted its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; reiterates the conclusions of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention, stating the urgency of increasing resources to put legal provisions into practice; stresses that efforts are needed to increase women’s awareness of their rights and available services relating to domestic violence and protection;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Welcomes the adoption of an Action Plan for the LGBTI People in Albania (2021-2027) in 2021 and calls for its implementation; welcomes the success of the 11th Tirana Pride in 2022 and looks forward to its 12th edition; calls on the authorities to adopt the necessary legislation on the recognition of gender identity and sex characteristics, as well as on same-sex partnerships and/or marriages;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Calls on the government to make sure that the restitution of religious properties seized during the communist era is accelerated, that the swift execution of court orders in this regard are not jeopardized by undue influences, and that in case restitution is not possible decent compensation is provided;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Notes that the Republic of Albania has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 c (new) 13c. Expresses serious concern on the discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) personas remains pervasive and dominant in Albanian society, especially regarding to access to health care, education, justice, employment and housing; Is extremely concerned about the cases of physical aggression against members of the LGBTIQ community and the diffusion of hate speech;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 c (new) 13c. Underlines that child sexual abuse online remains a serious concern; notes that the efforts to detecting and retorting child sexual abuse material online needs to increase, and that existing laws prohibiting child pornography and the online sexual exploitation of children need to be properly enforced;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 d (new) 13d. Deplores that no progress was made on the rights of persons with disabilities and that Albania’s legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities remains only partially in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; calls on Albania to address the UNCRPD gaps and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; notes that the 2021-2025 national action plan for people with disabilities did not have enough funding, hence it could not be fully implemented; calls for more robust efforts to address discrimination and violence against persons with disabilities, to improve overall accessibility and to promote employment; expresses deep concern over the reports of limited access to voting for persons with disabilities;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Regrets that no progress was made regarding freedom of expression, and the increase in disinformation including smear campaigns, intimidation and threats, especially in online media and against journalists reporting on rule of law, corruption and justice issues;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Expresses its concern with the lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency, freedom of expression and media freedom and stresses the role of political leaders in creating an enabling environment for the pursuit of these freedoms; condemns attempts to discredit reporters and arbitrarily withhold public information, as well as the failure to ensure
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas each country should be judged on its own merits and the conditionality-based accession process should not be misused to settle bilateral disputes;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Expresses its serious concern with the regress in freedom of expression and media freedom, lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency,
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Expresses its concern with the lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency, freedom of expression and media freedom and stresses the role of political leaders in creating an enabling environment for the pursuit of these freedoms; condemns attempts to discredit reporters and arbitrarily withhold public information, as well as the failure to ensure the safety of journalists; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Expresses its concern with the lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency, freedom of expression and media freedom and stresses the role of political leaders in creating an enabling environment for the pursuit of these freedoms; condemns attempts to discredit reporters and arbitrarily withhold public information, as well as the failure to ensure the safety of journalists; condemns all violence against journalists and media organisations; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters, undermining media independence and media freedom, its ability to cover issues of public interest and the quality of journalism; welcomes the withdrawal of the draft anti-
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Expresses its concern with the lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency, freedom of expression and media freedom and stresses the role of political leaders in creating an enabling environment for the pursuit of these freedoms; condemns attempts to discredit reporters and arbitrarily withhold public information, as well as the failure to ensure the safety of journalists and media outlets; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters; welcomes the withdrawal of the draft anti-
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Underlines the importance of journalists’ equal, direct and transparent access to information from government sources; in this regard, expresses concern over the need for all government public relations to be handled by the newly created Media and Information Agency; encourages the government to improve access to the reporting and scrutinising of its work via official and formal channels, such as press conferences and interviews;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Urges the authorities to counter disinformation and manipulative narratives by promoting media literacy and improving the working conditions of journalists; welcomes the work of the Alliance for Ethical Media of Albania aiming at rigorously implementing the Code of Ethics of Journalists; calls on the Association of Professional Journalists of Albania and its members to adhere to the highest industry standards, in particular by adopting the Journalism Trust Initiative set up by Reporters Without Borders, to maintain trust and fight against disinformation;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Urges the authorities and the civil society to work together in order to counter disinformation and manipulative narratives by promoting media literacy, creating an enabling environment for independent media and improving the working conditions of journalists;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Urges the authorities to counter disinformation and manipulative narratives by promoting media literacy and improving the working conditions of journalists; Recalls the need to strengthen the protection of Albanian journalist's labour and social rights;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Is concerned that according to the Commission report, little progress was reported in the areas of freedom of expression; Notes that there is a need to ensure a policy of zero tolerance for intimidation and attacks against journalists, including in political discourse;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Is highly alerted that Albania and the rest of the EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being hit particularly hard by attacks in the form of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns stemming from Russia and China; calls on the EU to enhance its dialogue with civil society and other relevant stakeholders to coordinate anti- disinformation efforts in Albania and the rest of the region, with an emphasis on research and analysis and the inclusion of regional expertise; calls on the Commission to build up the infrastructure required to produce evidence-based responses to both short-term and long- term disinformation threats in the Western Balkans; calls on the EEAS to take a more proactive stance, focusing on building the EU’s credibility in the region, rather than defending it, in expanding StratCom monitoring to focus on cross- border disinformation threats emanating from Western Balkan countries and their neighbours;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas recent developments, in particular the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, have shown that non- enlargement has a massive strategic cost and can undermine security and stability on our continent;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Recalls the need to effectively ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without applying different standards; notes the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and disproportionate use of force, with a view to bringing its perpetrators to justice;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Strongly condemns threats and attacks against human rights defenders; in this context, urges all political actors to stop and condemn hate speech, smear campaigns and harassment of independent civil society organisations; calls on the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines the importance of an inclusive framework for meaningful civil society engagement in decision-making processes, both at the local and national level; urges the authorities to implement the roadmap for the government policy towards a more enabling environment for civil society development (2019-2023); regrets the failure of multi-stakeholder forums for discussion between CSOs and the government such as the National Council for Civil Society and the Open Government Partnership and calls on the government to improve the effectiveness of these platforms; welcomes the adoption of a Code of Standard for Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) in Albania as a useful self-regulatory mechanism;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines the importance of an inclusive framework for meaningful civil society engagement in decision-making processes; calls on the authorities to build trust and ensure they are given opportunities of involvement, at both national and local governmental level, to actively participate in the EU integration processes through effectively functioning of the mechanisms in place;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines the importance of an inclusive framework for meaningful civil society engagement in decision-making processes; Is concerned with the ability of the National Council for Civil Society to voice priorities of civil society organizations in policy-making processes is still very weak;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Underlines the importance of an inclusive framework for meaningful civil society engagement in decision-making processes, at national and local governmental level;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Deeply regrets the adoption of the 2021 Law on Registration of Non-Profit Organisations, which violates the rights to freedom of expression and association, and calls for its revision; is particularly concerned by the highly disproportionate fines for administrative violations by NPOs and the lack of a procedure for the deregistration of NPOs under this new law;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas the EU is a community of cultural and linguistic diversity, based on solidarity and mutual respect among its peoples;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Calls on the Albanian government to promote the active participation of civil society organizations in decision-making processes, and to ensure that they can operate freely and without undue restrictions.
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Acknowledges the progress achieved in implementing the Istanbul Convention and calls on authorities to step up the prevention of and responses to sexual and gender-based violence and femicide, as well as to enhance support to survivors, to provide sufficient resources, for example for specialised and reintegration services for victims and more legal aid free of charge for victims, support to women’s NGOs working with victims of gender-based violence, and to advance the prosecution of cases of harassment, domestic violence and violence against children, including through increasing the number of well- trained and gender-sensitive law enforcement officers and judges; urges Albania to further increase efforts aimed at gender equality and women’s rights, including by prioritising gender mainstreaming and increased cooperation with civil society, in particular women’s organisations;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Notes that following the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) recommendations, further improvements are needed in the functioning of detention facilities;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 4 Re
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Commends Albania’s constructive engagement in inclusive regional and cross-border cooperation initiatives; welcomes the tangible progress reached in the context of the Berlin Process
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Commends Albania’s constructive engagement in inclusive regional and cross-border cooperation initiatives; welcomes the tangible progress reached in the context of the Berlin Process and the EU–Western Balkans summit in Tirana; stresses on the importance of making full use of all the regional and intergovernmental initiatives that are already existing, notably the Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII), the Central- European Initiative (CEI), the EUSAIR, and the Berlin Process, creating synergies among them;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Welcomes that Albania continued dialogue to ensure neighbourly relations and regional cooperation, which remain essential elements of the enlargement process, as well as of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Commends Albania for playing a key role in promoting stability and cooperation across the Western Balkans, as well as its contributions to NATO deployments;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Recalls the need to complete the process of declassifying communist-era files and making them accessible to researchers and the wider public in order to advance justice and reconciliation and bringing justice to victims, and providing reparations to survivors and their families;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 15 — having regard to the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans summits, held in Sofia on 17 May 2018, Zagreb on 6 May 2020, Brdo pri Kranju on 6 October 2021 and Tirana on 6 December 2022,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges the authorities to continue structural reforms in line with the Economic Reform Program 2023-2025 and that enable sustainable recovery and inclusive growth through improved public finance management and governance, rule of law, digitalisation and accessibility, reduced social exclusion, formalisation of the economy,
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges the authorities to continue structural reforms that enable sustainable recovery and inclusive growth through improved governance, rule of law, digitalisation and accessibility, reduced social exclusion, formalisation of the economy, education, upskilling, improved labour conditions
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Calls on the lawmakers in Albania to take steps to ensure an adequate representation of women in all decision- making positions, and welcomes, against this background, the first majority-women cabinet of the current government; calls on the authorities to further address the lack of implementation of women workers’ rights, as well as gender stereotyping, gender imbalance, and the gender pay gap in the labour force; points to significant gender differences such as the lower participation of women in the labour market, the worse working conditions, the insufficient action on sexual harassment in the workplace, the discrimination in legal provisions related to maternity leave, and the lack of childcare and pre-school capacity;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Underlines the importance of empowering the youth and fostering opportunities for the younger Albanian generations; notes the drafting of an action plan for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 b (new) 19b. Calls on the authorities to reduce the risk of social exclusion and poverty by improving the access to social, education and healthcare services, in particular for people from the Roma, Egyptian and LGBTQI+ communities, as well as other minorities and vulnerable groups; reiterates its call to set a minimum standard of living as a way to reduce the risk of poverty;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the transformative nature of the substantial EU assistance provided under the IPA III and the Western Balkans Investment Framework, including the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans; recalls that
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the transformative nature of the substantial EU assistance provided under the IPA III and the Western Balkans Investment Framework
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20.
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Subheading 6 Energy, the environment, biodiversity, sustainable development and connectivity
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Welcomes steps in accelerating the energy transition and energy diversification towards wind and solar power; applauds, in this regard, the speedy deployment of the EU energy support package for the Western Balkans and calls on the authorities to make the best use of this assistance in order to build a resilient and environmentally friendly energy market
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Welcomes steps in accelerating the energy transition and energy diversification towards wind and solar power;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Welcomes steps in accelerating the energy transition and energy diversification towards wind and solar power; applauds, in this regard, the EU energy support package for the Western Balkans and calls on the authorities to make the best use of this assistance in order to build a resilient and environmentally friendly energy market; notes that no new energy efficiency funding mechanisms have been put in place;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Reiterates the importance of improving the public infrastructure within the Western Balkans countries and with the EU Member States; recalls the potential of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans to enhance regional connectivity through Rail and Highway; in that respect urges the authorities in all countries to complete Corridor VIII connecting Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria; recalls the importance of developing air connections within the Western Balkans countries and with the EU Member States;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for thoroughly planned measures on biodiversity, water, air, climate, regional waste management and industrial pollution; stresses the need to strengthen the country’s resilience to the impacts of climate change;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for thoroughly planned measures on biodiversity, water, air, climate, regional waste management and industrial pollution; stresses the need to increase efforts and strengthen the country’s resilience against
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Calls for thoroughly planned measures on biodiversity, water, air, climate, regional waste management and industrial pollution; stresses the need to strengthen the country’s resilience to the impacts of climate change;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Warmly welcomes the decision of the Albanian government to declare the Vjosa river and its free-flowing tributaries a National Park, making it the first wild river national park in Europe; considers this decision a positive step to achieve the target agreed upon at the COP 15 to protect 30% of nature of the planet by 2030; commends the extraordinary work of environmental NGOs that campaigned for decades to achieve this objective and calls on the authorities to take into serious consideration the concerns raised by civil society during the process of revision and delineation of boundaries of the network on protected areas in Albania;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Calls on the Albanian government to strengthen its efforts to protect its marine environment and biodiversity, including by designating and effectively managing marine protected areas;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 b (new) 22b. Calls on the government to urgently halt the ongoing illegal construction of the Vlorë International Airport inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, in line with the request of the Bern Convention Standing Committee; stresses that the construction of this airport contravenes domestic and international law, including the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, and threatens one of the most biodiverse areas in the country;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 b (new) 22b. Expresses concern over the issue of garbage coming by sea to Croatia from Albania, and calls on the Albanian government to take urgent action to improve its waste management infrastructure, including by investing in recycling facilities, reducing waste generation, and preventing marine litter
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner, including through its engagement in the UN Security Council, while maintaining its focus on the EU reform agenda;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Calls for improved transparency, conduct, enforcement and monitoring of environmental and strategic environmental impact assessments, especially on projects with large environmental and socioeconomic repercussions, such as the planned hydropower plant Skavica along the Black Drin river; expresses concern with the economic and environmental impact of non-competitive foreign-funded development projects; calls on the authorities to take urgent action to fight environmental crime; urges the government to step up efforts to improve air quality and reduce air pollution, in particular in urban areas; notes with huge concern that in 2019, around 10% of all deaths in Albania (2.527 people) were caused by air pollution, according to the World Bank Report 2022;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Calls for improved transparency, conduct, enforcement and monitoring of environmental and strategic environmental impact assessments, especially on projects with large environmental and socioeconomic repercussions such as the Skavica hydropower plant project; expresses concern with the economic and environmental impact of non-competitive foreign-funded development projects;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Calls for enhancing measures for the protection of the environment, especially regarding the national parks and the environmentally protected areas, paying particular attention on the construction of numerous Hydroelectric Power Plants within national parks, without previous proper environmental studies
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Calls on the Albanian authorities to step up their efforts to protect biodiversity, including the protection of critically endangered species, such as the Balkan lynx; calls on the government to enforce the logging moratorium and work on a sustainable wildlife management legislation;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 b (new) 23b. Is deeply concerned with the status of Lake Ohrid, which is dangerously threatened by thousands of tons of mining waste; calls on the authorities to urgently implement the UNESCO recommendations on preserving the heritage status of the Ohrid region; in this context, urges the authorities to remove the exploitation permits to the private companies that are still carrying out mining activities on the shores; urges the local and national authorities to step up their efforts to protect the biodiversity of the Ohrid region, in close cooperation with the Macedonian authorities;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 c (new) 23c. Calls for further efforts in the field of agriculture and rural development; is of the view that it is important to establish a solid system for consultations between policymakers and various interest groups in rural areas; stresses the need to develop a modern, ecological, climate-friendly small- and medium-scale agriculture that ensures the livelihood of farmers and protection of Albania’s natural resources, as well as the biodiversity of the country;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Welcomes Albania’s full adherence to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Calls for the swift adoption of the national transport strategy, including its action plan for 2021-2025; reiterates that significant efforts are needed for a structural transformation of digital, energy and transport connectivity;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs; in this respect calls on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data on 1 October 2023 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Commends the removal of roaming charges between the Western Balkan states; welcomes the Roaming Declaration enabling the reduction of the roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans as of 1 October 2023;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner, including through
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner, including through its engagement in the UN Security Council and NATO;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas malign foreign direct and proxy interference and disinformation aim to sow discord, violence, inter-ethnic tensions and to destabilise the whole region;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the new enlargement momentum sparked by the changed geopolitical reality after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the applications for EU membership by some Eastern Partnership countries has prompted the EU to accelerate the long-overdue deliveries to the Western Balkans by starting accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, and granting the candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas enlargement in the Balkans is contrary to the interests of Member states; whereas the study carried out in 2019 by the European Council on Foreign Relations (C.E.F.R.)1a, confirms that the majority of citizens of the Member States do not desire a Balkan integration into the EU; __________________ 1a https://eupinions.eu/de/blog/eu-citizens- remain-against-further-enlargement
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the EU remains fully committed to support Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration; whereas European integration represents the aspirations of Albanian citizens towards democracy and prosperity;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine highlights the critical importance of EU enlargement and exposes the need to increase resilience to malign foreign interference into democratic processes, aiming to destabilise the region by sowing discord and provoking tensions and violence;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 20 a (new) — having regard to the final report of 26 July 2021 by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) Election Observation Mission on the Republic of Albania’s parliamentary elections of 25 April 2021,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas it is essential to increase resilience to malign foreign interference aiming to destabilise the region, boost cyber security and cyber defence capabilities and counter espionage and disinformation;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas the prospect of Albania’s merit-based membership is in the Union’s own political, security and economic interests; whereas Albania’s EU accession depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; whereas the quality of a country’s necessary reforms determine the timetable for accession;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas democratic transformation, the rule of law and reconciliation play a central role in the EU accession process and each accession country should demonstrate robust irreversible results in democratic resilience and socio-economic transformation;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas democratic transformation, the rule of law, a
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas democratic transformation, the rule of law and reconciliation is claimed to play a central role in the EU Commission´s policy regarding the EU- accession process;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas democratic transformation,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the rule of law and human rights are a key benchmark for assessing the progress towards the EU accession;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas protection of minorities is crucial for aspiring EU member states; whereas the implementing legislation on free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages remains to be adopted in Albania;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fight against
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 a (new) — having regard to the Commission communication of 14 April 2021 on the EU strategy to tackle organised crime 2021-2025 (COM(2021)0170),
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the fight against high-level corruption, malicious foreign interference, money laundering and organised crime is a
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas electoral shortcomings persist in Albania; whereas the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to further improve the conduct of elections in Albania and bring them fully in line with the OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards have not yet been fully addressed;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Da. whereas past OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to further improve the conduct of elections in the Republic of Albania and bring them fully in line with the OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards have not yet been fully addressed
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas accession negotiations are a clear recognition of the progress achieved and mark a new phase in EU- Albania relations and demand a united commitment in order to prepare for EU membership;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the long-overdue start of accession negotiations marks a new phase in EU-Albania relations and demands a united commitment in order
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia have once more failed on the 18th of March 2023; whereas it is incoherent that the EU requires from Serbia to de facto recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo by recognizing official documents produced by Pristina even though five member states still do not recognize the independence of Kosovo;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas the EU remains fully committed to support Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration; whereas Albania remains an important geopolitical ally and a trustworthy foreign policy partner, thanks to its efforts to advance regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU remains the main political and economic partner of the Western Balkan countries; whereas mis- and disinformation campaigns organised by third parties aim at presenting the EU as an unreliable, uninvolved partner for the Western Balkans countries;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 27 b (new) — having regard to the Commission communication of 24 July 2020 entitled ‘2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking’ (COM(2020)0608),
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU remains the main political and economic partner of the Western Balkan countries
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU remains the main political and economic partner of the Western Balkan countries; whereas the EU continues to be by far Albania’s biggest trade and investment partner and its largest provider of financial assistance;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas the future of the Western Balkan countries lies in the European Union; whereas accession to the EU remains a strategic priority for Albania and its people; whereas structural and repeated postponements in the accession process risk to undermine the commitment of the Western Balkan countries and their citizens towards EU accession;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas Albanian citizens have enjoyed visa-free travel to the Schengen area since December 2010 and have been able to participate in student, academic and youth exchanges under the Erasmus+ programme since 2015;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Fa. whereas the role of the European Union in the region largely depends on consistency in fulfilling obligations towards partner states and meeting jointly set goals;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas Albania has been heavily targeted by Russian disinformation and other hybrid attacks, and should strengthen protection of its critical infrastructure, cyber-security, counter- disinformation and energy transition measures;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes Albania’s steadfast and unwavering commitment to EU integration, reflecting the consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens; commends its solidarity and consistent, full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy and promotion of the rules-based international order, including its clear-cut response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; commends its supportive commitment to multilateralism under its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes Albania’s steadfast commitment to EU integration, reflecting the consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens; commends its solidarity, good neighbourly relations, regional cooperation and consistent, full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, including its clear-cut response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 30 — having regard to
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes Albania’s steadfast commitment to EU integration, reflecting the consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens; commends its solidarity and consistent, full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, including its clear-cut response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and by joining EU restrictive measures on Russia;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes Albania’s steadfast strategic commitment to EU integration, reflecting the consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens; commends its solidarity and consistent, full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy, including its clear-cut response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes the support measure for the Balkan Medical Task Force amounting to EUR 6 million under the European Peace Facility, which procures the necessary equipment and materiel for the medical units of the Armed Forces of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes the start of negotiations with Albania; in that respects reiterates that during the accession process each country should be assessed and stimulated based on its own progress and merit, without this being interlinked with developments in any other country;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the pace of EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision- makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030; expresses concern about the unjustified delays in the accession process; stresses that structural and repeated postponements in the accession process risk to undermine the commitment of the Western Balkan countries and their citizens towards EU accession; stresses the need to strengthen the
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, while ensuring a coherent alignment with the EU’s policies; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030; stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process by the government, including its parliamentary dimension;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 a (new) — having regard to the Transparency International 2022 Corruption Perception Index ranking Albania 101st among 180 countries,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady and visible progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030; stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension, by ensuring inclusive participation and trust of citizens and integrating civil society and media in democratic governance and policy dialogue; underlines the importance of their effective involvement on the EU integration process and other consultative mechanisms, as legitimate partners in the process;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Welcomes that the government maintained a focus on reforms related to the country’s EU path and reinforced its coordination structure for EU integration; stresses that the government, in cooperation with the opposition and all segments of society, needs to further advance the EU reform agenda;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Encourages the Commission to speed up cross-cutting integration with enlargement countries in the fields of economy and single market, energy and transport, social policy, education, digitalisation, research and innovation, agriculture and rural development, justice and home affairs, civil protection, foreign affairs, security and defence, including cybersecurity;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Encourages the Commission to speed up cross-cutting integration with enlargement countries in the fields of economy and single market, energy and transport, social policy, education, digitalisation, research and innovation, agriculture and rural development, justice and home affairs, civil protection, foreign affairs, security and defence, including cybersecurity;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Underscores that the pace of EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; urges Albania to sustain and intensify efforts to reinforce the functioning of the judiciary, strengthen the rule of law, empower civil society, counter corruption and organised crime, and ensure media freedom, guarantee the rights of minorities and address the worrying persecution of the LGBTQI community
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Calls on the Albanian government to redouble its efforts to implement the necessary reforms, including in the areas of rule of law, justice, and fundamental rights, and to strengthen its cooperation with the EU institutions;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recalls that the rule of law and institutional integrity are the backbone of democratic transformation, societal resilience and socioeconomic cohesion; encourages the government and judiciary of Albania to continue their efforts to tackle the interconnectedness between government and judicial officials and organized crime; calls on the government to reinforce the operational capacity of the judiciary, including the High Court, the High Justice Inspector and the School of Magistrates, in order to deal with the significant backlog of cases and to meet the demand for qualified judges;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recalls that the rule of law and institutional integrity are the backbone of democratic transformation, societal resilience and socioeconomic cohesion and any society that aspires to the Western style of societal organization must distance themselves completely from the clan-based societal model;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 31 b (new) — having regard to the Reporters without Borders 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index, ranking Albania 103rd among 180 countries,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Commends Albania’s commitment to completing its comprehensive justice reform and the good progress achieved, in particular through continued implementation and consolidation of the comprehensive justice reform; encourages the country to intensify steps aimed at finalising the vetting process and ensuring universal justice through cross-cutting measures; calls on the authorities to further increase efforts to mitigate the side effects of the vetting process; notes the approval by the Council of Ministers of a new judicial map, while highlighting that such reforms and their implementation need to take into consideration the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable groups, as well as increase citizens’ access to justice and reduce costs while fully respecting the right to due legal process;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Commends Albania’s commitment to completing its comprehensive justice reform
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Commends Albania’s commitment to completing its comprehensive justice
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Commends Albania’s commitment to completing its comprehensive justice reform and looks forward to its implementation; encourages the country to intensify steps aimed at finalising the vetting process and ensuring universal justice through cross-cutting measures;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the Albanian Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, and fight against corruption and organized crime, in line with EU standards and requirements;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recalls that further advances are needed in the process of re-evaluating judges and prosecutors;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Deplores political confrontation and disruptive actions, breaches of the parliamentary rules of procedure expresses concerns on the reduction of space for the parliamentary oversight role of the opposition including the rejection of parliamentary inquiry committees and underlines a joint political and social responsibility for reforms; invites political actors to step up
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Deplores political confrontation and disruptive actions and underlines a joint political and social responsibility for reforms; invites political actors to step up their commitment to dialogue and to strengthen democratic institutions and procedures through constructive
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Deplores political confrontation and disruptive actions and underlines a joint political and social responsibility for reforms; invites political actors to step up their commitment to dialogue and to strengthen democratic institutions and procedures through constructive engagement, the active participation of civil society, inclusive consultations and transparent decision-making; recalls the need to strengthen parliamentary oversight and underlines that the political opposition needs to be able to monitor and scrutinize the government;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Deplores the enduring political confrontation
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Recalls the importance of reaching a consensus between all political actors and the importance of building a constructive parliamentary tradition and culture;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Albanian authorities to address the outstanding electoral and party financing recommendations well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections, in line with the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations, by further improving the accessibility and integrity of elections and preventing vote-buying and the misuse of administrative resources, including through digitalisation, transparency, data protection and equitable access to media;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Deplores that the impending electoral reform was not concluded before the local elections in 2023; Calls on the Albanian authorities to fully address the
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Albanian authorities to address the outstanding priority electoral and party financing recommendations priority well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections, the freedom of association, including in political parties, as well as the freedom to stand in an election without state or other undue interference should be guaranteed;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Albanian authorities to address the outstanding electoral and party financing recommendations well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections in order to ensure a fair, open, and transparent electoral process;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the Albanian authorities to urgently address the outstanding electoral and party financing recommendations well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Insists on adequate funding for and the effective and impartial functioning of independent bodies and agencies; recognises the contribution of independent civil society and the media in the fight against corruption and stresses the importance of their effective involvement on EU integration and other consultative mechanisms, as legitimate partners in the process;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Insists on adequate funding for and the effective and impartial functioning of independent bodies and agencies;
source: 739.816
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
2023-06-08Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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Rules of Procedure EP 159
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2023-04-19Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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2023-03-29Show (1) Changes | Timetravel
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