54 Amendments of Tonino PICULA related to 2021/2244(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28
Citation 28
— having regard to its resolution of …9 March 2022 on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the EU remains fully committed to supporting Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration, based on good neighbourly relations, and continues being by far the biggest trade and investment partner and the largest provider of financial assistance to the country;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas Albania remains a trustworthy foreign policy partner with its full CFSP alignment;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas Albania joined the EU efforts in supporting Ukraine by sanctioning Russia, aligning with the votes in the UNGA and working in its capacity as a member of the UNSC;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Ed. whereas malign foreign direct and proxy interference and disinformation aim to sow discord and to destabilise the region;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Albania has fulfilled all the conditions for the scheduling of the first Intergovernmental Conference, as already affirmed in the report of the European Parliament on the 2019-2020 Commission report on Albania, and is advancing in its accession process;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its clear support for Albania’s democratic transformation, underpinned by its strategic orientation and unwavering commitment to European integration, along with good neighbourly relations and inclusive regional cooperation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls the need to uphold the pace and credibility of European integration by promptly opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, as continuously recommended by the Commission, given that both countries have fulfilled the conditions set by the European Council and deliver sustained results across fundamental areas;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises the transformative nature of the accession negotiations to be conducted under the revised enlargement methodology within a broader strategic context and malicious activities seeking to undermine further integration and the political stability of the Western Balkan countries;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls the need to keep addressing the remaining electoral shortcomings by further improving the accessibility and integrity of elections, including through digitalisation, data protection, equitable access to media and revised legislation and rules on political party financing and functioning;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expresses concern over the enduring inflammatory rhetoric, which fuels the culture of intimidation, smear campaigns, violence and riotingincluding by high-level politicians, public officials and other public figures, which fuels the culture of intimidation, smear campaigns, violence and rioting; urges political actors to lead by example in advancing societal dialogue; invites Albania’s political parties to enhance competitive intra-party democracy and integrity as a stepping- stone for pluralism and democratic transformation;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underscores the need to step up the Albanian Parliament’s involvement in the EU integration process, further advancing its legislative, oversight and budgetary capacities; urges the Albanian Parliament to advance on electoral and territorial reforms;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages the government to accelerate administrative preparations for the upcoming accession negotiations; stresses the importance of having in place coherent government structures to effectively coordinate EU integration matters ,including by involving civil society and relevant stakeholders and ensuring transparency towards the general public; underlines the need to improve intra-service coordination, evaluation and monitoring of EU-related reforms, to advance decentralisation, country-wide modernisation and depoliticisation of the civil service and to enable conditions to conduct the upcoming population census;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the responsibility of national and local authorities to improve transparency, accountability and inclusiveness by conducting anticipatory, meaningful and regular public stakeholder consultations; urges the authorities to ensure adequate funding, an effective and impartial functioning and consistent implementation of the decisions and recommendations of independent bodies and agencies; underlines the need to enhance participatory democracy, including by adopting a balanced referendum law;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the establishment of proper public consultations and dialogue with the society, including on environmental issues and reconstruction and urbanization projects;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates the need to foster the culture of accountability, non-partisan access to public information and scrutiny of public institutions, in particular through an enabling fiscal and security environment and cooperation with the media and the civil society; calls for further tangible progress in improving legal and financial sustainability and self-regulation of the non-governmental and media sectors;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; urges political figures to stop verbal attacks, smear campaigns and acts of intimidation against journalists, such as lawsuits targeting them; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reporters; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reporters; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising; recalls the importance of publicly disclosing the media organizations sources of financing;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner, with the aim of improving media freedom and self-regulation and reducing media concentration, misuse, outside interference and self-censorship;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy as means to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news; stresses the need to ensure an impartial regulatory functioning of the Audiovisual Media Authority; calls for a reform of the public service broadcaster to enhance its editorial and financial independence, impartiality and professionalism;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy as means to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news; encourages the support for self-regulatory mechanism of media and stresses the need to ensure an impartial regulatory functioning of the Audiovisual Media Authority;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that the newly established Media and Information Agency should increase transparency and decentralisation and in no way inhibit journalists’ equal access to information from government sources; calls on the government to improve access to the reporting and scrutinising of government’s work via official and formal channels, such as press conferences and interviews;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges the relevant bodies to systematically and proactively prevent and prosecute all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation and recalls the need to swiftly and thoroughly investigate all verbal and physical attacks, including against journalists, human rights defenders and people belonging to vulnerable groups, ensuring their safety and security; encourages the office of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination to be more proactive in combatting discriminatory hate speech, in particular against LGBTI persons, and to develop disaggregated data collection on the matter;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes advances in ensuring equal opportunities and calls for further improvements in the enforcement of gender equality, property rights, data protection, rights of people with disabilities and minority rights in the field of education, languages, self-identification and protection of cultural heritage; calls on authorities to ensure equal treatment for LGBTI+ and Roma minorities and tackle the multiple discrimination that these groups face, through a systemic and effective institutional approach;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Commends the adoption of the new LGBTI National Action Plan 2021- 2027 and encourages full implementation and proper budgeting via a coordination and monitoring body;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Considers that reported doubling numbers of HIV infections since last year are highly concerning; recalls that the National Strategy for People Living with HIV expired in 2020 and has not been renewed; calls on the government to take appropriate measures, in liaison with civil society, to address the rising numbers of HIV infections and ensure access to healthcare of those most vulnerable;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls the need to ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and notes the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and disproportionate use of force; expresses support to the independent vetting of high-ranking officers and suggests introducing regular integrity-checks of police officers; urges to advance the penitentiary reform to further improve prison conditions and treatment of prisoners;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls the need to effectively ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly without arbitrary or discriminatory case-by-case treatment and notes the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and investigating and prosecuting the disproportionate use of force;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Recalls the need to address communist-era crimes, investigate enforced disappearances, prosecute those responsible and provide reparations to the survivors and their families;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes Albania’s long-standing proven commitment to hosting refugees; recalls the authorities’ obligation to ensure due asylum process and to address the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; calls on the EU to boost its support for humanitarian assistance in the region, to be conducted in full respect of the fundamental rights; notes the continued reduction of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals and the fulfilment of visa liberalisation benchmarks;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes Albania’s long-standing proven commitment to hosting refugees; recalls the authorities’ obligation to ensure due asylum process and to address the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; welcomes Albania decision of sheltering Afghan citizens seeking refuge after leaving their country;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Underlines that the rule of law and judicial reforms are the backbone of a democratic transformation, ensuring legal certainty, transparency, access to justice and non-discrimination;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Commends the steady progress in implementing a comprehensive justice reform, underpinned by the unprecedented vetting process, follow; expresses concern for some of its side-effects, such as the length of proceedings, low clearance rate and high backlog especially in the High Court and Administrative Court of Appeal; calls on the state authorities to ensure specific measures to reduce the backlog , to improve the citizens access to justice and to speed up judicial proceedings, facilitated by a restored functionality of relevant courts;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Urges all sides to ensure the completion of the vetting process; welcomes the progress in improving the professionalism, impartiality and accountability of the judiciary, aimed at ensuring its independence from undue influence and resolving the mounting backlog of cases; reminds of the obligation to guarantee an effective operation of judicial self-governing bodies;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Urges all sides to ensureNotes with satisfaction the agreement reached to extend the mandate for the completion of the vetting process;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Underlines the importance of taking decisive action against money laundering by ensuring a consistent track record of proactive investigation, prosecution and final convictions for high-level corruption and confiscation of criminal assets; also notes the importance of implementing the FATF Action Plan and the “Moneyval recommendations” and fully implementing the recently amended legislation aligning with the EU’s rules on anti-money laundering/countering terrorism financing;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Recalls an immense potential of digitalisation for serving justice, eradicating criminal activities and conflicts of interest through asset and interest disclosure and verification;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the ongoing efforts that should lead to systemic improvements in tackling the trafficking of humans, firearms and goods, along with cybercrime, violent crime, extremism and terrorist threats; commends the ongoing bilateral and international cooperation on dismantling transnational crime networks, including with the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, covering the intensified action against the production and trafficking of drugs, illegal weapons and people smugglers;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Underlines that simplification and modernisation of the tax system and improved tax collection would facilitate the management of public spending and the deficit in the face of rising energy and food prices;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Stresses that improved governance, transparency, legal certainty, inclusion and social dialogue are essential for stimulating foreign direct investment and the retention of skilled workers;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30c. Welcomes EU support to reconstruction, including the rebuilding of schools and kindergartens and cultural heritage sites in the aftermath of the Together4Albania Donors’ Conference following the devastating earthquake of November 2019;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by improving access to social, education and healthcare services, especially for disadvantaged populations such as Roma minority and Egyptian communities, people with disabilities and the poor;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by improving access to social and healthcare services, especially for disadvantaged populations; urges the setting of a minimum standard of living, as a means to reduce the risk of poverty;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Strongly urges authorities to step up measures on biodiversity, water, air, climate protection and regional waste management, including through comprehensive environmental and strategic impact assessments, proper public consultations and rigorous prosecution of environmental crime;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Urges the Albanian authorities to advance on implementing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which mirrors European Green Deal priorities and the Brdo Declaration, which was adopted at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brdo pri Kranju on 6 October 2021;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Expresses concerns over the changing map of Protected Areas, which should not contribute to environmental degradation in Albania’s threatened coastal and wetland areas;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Calls on authorities to prioritize the monitoring and annual reporting of Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas, Noise Pollution in Urban Areas and Surface Water Quality; notes the necessity to regularly inform the population regarding the ambient pollution status;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Recalls that substantial efforts are needed to enforce the goals relating to efficiency, security, diversification and greening of the energy supply and transport; recalls the necessity to increase environmental sustainability of hydro- power;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Recalls the importance of the diversification of energy sources, of the implementation of the Climate Law, of developing carbon pricing instruments and addressing energy poverty;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Reaffirms the role of the future Tirana-Podgorica rail link, Elbasan- Bitola electricity interconnector and Fier- Vlora gas pipeline in enhancing the regional and trans-European connectivity;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35c. Welcomes the launch of 3.2 billion Euros investment package, as part of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans and highlights the transformative role of these investments; notes with satisfaction that one of the financed projects will be the first floating solar power plant in Albania in Vau i Dejës reservoir;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 d (new)
Paragraph 35 d (new)
35d. Welcomes the start of works on the interconnector of power transmission systems of North Macedonia and Albania;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Welcomes Albania’s strong reaction against the Russian aggression in Ukraine and continued complete alignment with EU decisions and sanctions;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Welcomes steps aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and integration through the Common Regional Market under an inclusive approach;