58 Amendments of Ramona STRUGARIU related to 2022/2204(INI)
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that EU membership continues to be Serbia’s strategic goal; welcomes the appointment of a new Minister for European Integration; underlines the fact that progress on the rule of law and fundamental rights, the normalisation of relations with Kosovo and alignment with the CFSP will determine the dynamics of the accession process;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. RStrongly regrets that Serbia’s continued low level of alignment with the CFSP, in particular in the has still not aligned with EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; stresses that Serbia is one of the very few European countext of the Russian war on Ukraine; underlines the fact that, as a candidate country, Serbia must adhere to the EU’s principles and policies, and alignment with a warmongering autocratic regime is unacceptableries not aligning with EU sanctions against Russia; calls on the relevant authorities to swiftly show unambiguous commitment to EU values, standards and rules and to urgently align with the EU’s decisions and positions in foreign and security policy, including a swift and full alignment with restrictive measures against Russia, including sanctions on individuals, groups and entities;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets Serbia’s continued low level of alignment with the CFSP, in particular in the context of the Russian’s war onf aggression against Ukraine; underlines the fact that, as a candidate country, Serbia must adhere to the EU’s principles and policies, and alignment with a warmongering autocratic regimes is unacceptable and must discontinue;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes Serbia’s alignment with the EU in voting in favour of relevant UN General Assembly resolutions and Russia’s suspension from the Human Rights Council; regrets, however, the fact that Serbia has consistently failed to align with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia; deplores Serbia’s close relationship with Russia, which is an aggressor against Ukraine;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes Serbia’s alignment with EU restrictive measures against Belarus for its role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as measures against the former Ukrainian leadership; regrets, however, that the Government of Serbia chose not to publicly announce its decision to align with these measures;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets the fact that key components of Serbian foreign policy run directly counter to EU positions, including the signature of agreements setting out joint foreign policy priorities between Serbia and Russia for 2023-2024 and meetings with senior officials from Russia who are on the EU sanctions list; is concerned by the appointment of the Director of the Security Intelligence Agency, who is known for his anti-EU and pro-Kremlin rhetoric and in the past has shared with the Russian authorities information about meetings of the Russian opposition in exile; stresses that this appointment poses a threat to democratic practices and human rights and thus further distances Serbia from European security policies;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Expresses concern about allegations of wiretapping of members of the Russian opposition in Belgrade by the Serbian authorities and the alleged subsequent transfer of the material to Russian security services; stresses that any cooperation contributing to authoritarian and anti-democratic practices in either Russia or Serbia would be detrimental to the future of EU-Serbia relations;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Regrets Serbia’s engagement with the authoritarian regime in Iran and hosting its high-level representatives in Belgrade at the same time as the Iranian regime is brutally repressing mass protests of its citizens, killing women, including minor girls, and those who are fighting for their rights;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses concern about the decreasing public support for EU membership in Serbia and anti-EU declarations by country’s politicians;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is concerned that since the publication of the European Commission 2020 Report on Serbia there has been no improvement in the assessment of the overall state of play across 33 negotiating chapters and that, in 2022, the Commission did not detect “good progress” in any chapter;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes the initial steps taken by Serbia to align with the EU’s list of non- EU countries whose nationals require visas for the EU and calls for; recalls that such alignment is of crucial importance for overall EU- Serbia relations, including on migration management and on the sustainability of the visa-free regime; stresses the urgent need for immediate further alignment;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes the initial steps taken by Serbia to align with the EU’s list of non- EU countries whose nationals require visas for the EU and calls for immediate and further alignment;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes the approval of the amendments to the Serbian constitution and stresses that the reform process should continue as a matter of priority; notes with concern that the National Convention on the European Union assessed that the views of civil society may not have been sufficiently taken into account during the public consultation process on the new set of legislation on the judiciary;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Is concerned that multiple civil society organisations have assessed that the proposed draft laws on the judiciary still leave space for undue influence on its work by the executive;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the adoption of measures on improving the electoral conditions and media environment ahead of the April 2022 elections as a resul; regrets that, since the start of the inter-party dialogue facilitated by the European Parliament; welcomes the readiness of the National Assembly to continue this dialogue; in 2019, political will to seriously improve electoral conditions has often been absent, seriously limiting the effectiveness of the measures adopted ahead of both the 2020 and 2022 elections; welcomes, nevertheless, the readiness of the National Assembly to continue this dialogue; regrets that parts of the opposition parties did not participate in the first meeting of the third phase of the inter-party dialogue; stresses that the aim of the dialogue is to improve the work of the National Assembly of Serbia and that all parties are invited to contribute to this goal, regardless of their ideological orientation;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Expresses concern over the violation of the Code of Conduct for members of the National Assembly during the special parliamentary session over Kosovo; reiterates the importance of following Assembly procedures as well as maintaining the reputation of the highest house of representatives; calls on the President of National Assembly to objectively approach parliamentary debates and adhere to Assembly procedures;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the distribution of vice- presidential offices and committee chairmanships in the new Parliament which reflect its composition; regrets, however, the return of unwelcome practices in the work of Parliament, including the absence of government question-time sessions, lack of discussion on reports of independent institutions, and increased use of urgent procedures; stresses that the return of these practices reverses most of the progress achieved by the reform of Parliament in recent years; expresses concern about the frequent heated atmosphere in parliamentary debates, as well as instances of obstruction of the work of some parliamentary committees;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Welcomes the appointment of the new Serbian delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and the Committee’s 14th meeting in November 2022; encourages Serbian MPs and MEPs to continue with constructive cooperation;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes somevery limited progress in the fight against corruption; stresses the factreiterates its call on Serbia to deliver convincing results in cases with high level of public interest, including Krušik, Jovanjica, Telekom Srbija and Savamala; is concerned about the little progress made in these cases since last year’s report; stresses that more effort and political will are needed to achieve tangible results, in particular with regard to serious and organised crime;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Regrets that the new Ombudsperson has not been elected despite the fact that the five-year term in office of the current one has expired; notes furthermore that the Government of Serbia has not filled the vacancies in the Anti-Corruption Council;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Welcomes the holding of regular elections for the national minority councils in November 2022;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Reiterates its concern about limited progress in the fight against corruption and organised crime and about several high-profile corruption scandals pointing to probable links between state officials and organised crime; calls on Serbia to intensify its efforts to effectively address these issues; calls on the authorities to refrain from commenting ongoing investigations and trials, exerting undue pressure on the judiciary;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12 d. Reiterates its call for justice with regard to the unlawful demolition of private property in the Savamala neighbourhood in Belgrade; notes the allegations of the sentenced police officer forced to take sole responsibility for the entire case; reiterates its concern about the possibility that this case may lapse in the next few years and therefore urges the authorities to fully investigate the case and prosecute all persons responsible;
Amendment 216 #
12 e. Urges the authorities to investigate and prosecute all alleged ties to the Belivuk criminal group; expresses concern about recent allegations that Darko Saric was running an international criminal organization while in prison in Serbia;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)
Paragraph 12 f (new)
12 f. Stresses that IPA III provides for the modulation or even suspension of funds in the event of a significant regression or persistent lack of progress on fundamentals, including the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as media freedom; calls in this context on the EU and Western Balkan countries to establish a framework for fruitful cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and Western Balkan counterparts in order to ensure that the EPPO can effectively exercise its competences on IPA III funds in Western Balkan countries;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Notes that the Government of Serbia withdrew the Draft Law on Internal Affairs in December 2022 following a strong negative reaction of civil society; notes that this was the second time that the Government introduced highly controversial provisions, including the legalisation of the use of face-recognition cameras purchased from China; urges the Government to take the opinion of civil society and human rights organisations on these issues into serious consideration;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Serbian National Assembly to ensure that independent regulatory bodies are empowered to exercise their oversight roles effectively by supporting and monitoring the implementation of independent regulatory bodies’ findings and recommendations;
Amendment 233 #
12 h. Regrets the limitations on the freedom and independence of the media and the misuse of the media by the governing majority to gain an unfair political advantage, attack political opponents and spread disinformation; emphasises the negative impact of these restrictions on democratic processes in the country; emphasises that competition in the media sector improves media pluralism;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)
Paragraph 12 i (new)
12 i. Is worried about reports on the abuse of public money to acquire ownership of media outlets and allegedly use them as a tool for media capture in Serbia; reiterates that information on media ownership should be available to the public and calls for greater transparency of media ownership and financing, as well as for the creation of an environment that allows independent and investigative media to access funding and operate safely; calls for increased transparency of public financing of media;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Deplores the stagnation on freedom of expression, the cases of hate speech and smear campaigns, including President Vučić’s targeting of N1 journalists in December 2022, and the increasing number of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in the country; reiterates that pressure and attacks on activists, journalists and media outlets are unacceptable; urges the authorities to investigate and prosecute all such offences, including those against the investigative outlet KRIK and the daily newspaper Danas, and to create an environment in which freedom of expression can genuinely flourish; condemns the extreme imbalance in the presence of government and opposition members in the reporting of national television channels outside the period of the election campaign, which remains a major challenge for media pluralism in Serbia;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Condemns the opening of an RT (formerly Russia Today) office in Belgrade and the launch of its online news service in Serbian; condemns state-owned Telekom Srbije for enabling its transmission; urges the Serbian authorities to counter hybrid threats and align with the Council’s decision on the suspension of the broadcasting activities of Sputnik and RT; calls on Serbia to fight disinformation, including manipulative anti-EU narratives;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Condemns the opening of an RT (formerly Russia Today) office in Belgrade and the launch of its online news service in Serbian; urges the Serbian authorities to counter hybrid threats and fully align with the Council’s decision on the suspension of the broadcasting activities of Sputnik and RT; calls on Serbia to fight disinformation, including manipulative anti-EU narratives;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Is deeply concerned about the spread of disinformation about Russian aggression against Ukraine and calls on the Serbian authorities to take decisive steps to tackle disinformation and to discredit the most widely circulated fake news; calls on Serbia and the European Commission to bolster infrastructure for fighting disinformation, Russian propaganda and other hybrid threats, and to support evidence-based responses to both short-term and long-term disinformation threats in the Western Balkans; stresses that all political leaders have the responsibility to stop the spread of malicious disinformation about Russian aggression against Ukraine; notes that a tolerant attitude towards malign external influences may have serious negative consequences on Serbia’s prospects for EU accession;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Notes that several recent elections of members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), as well as of members of the Radio Television of Serbia governing board in June 2021, have been seen as controversial; is concerned about some public assessments that decision-making within the REM is politically biased; notes the new open call for the allocation of national television frequencies and licences and underlines the importance of a fair and transparent process; remains concerned about issues linked to media concentration in the Telekom Srbija case; underlines the importance of improving the functioning and independence of the REM as per the Inter-Party Dialogue recommendations in order to strengthen media pluralism and implement the media strategy;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets the fact that the REM awarded four national frequencies to channels that have a history of violating journalistic standards; calls for the fifth licence to be awarded through a transparent and impartial process; condemns the unjustified delay in the process; regrets the decision of the REM to suspend its work for two weeks in December 2022;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Condemns the state financing of Telekom Srbija, which gives the company an unfair competitive advantage and contributes to the declining state of independent media in Serbia; urges the European Commission to look into the European Investment Bank's loan to Telekom Srbija in view of the alleged abuse of its dominant market position and use by the state to control the media environment in Serbia and neighbouring countries;
Amendment 275 #
16 a. Regrets the delays in the implementation of the Media Strategy; reiterates its concern about the operations of Telekom Srbija, a majority-government owned telecommunications company, with persistent allegations of the ruling party using it to increase its influence over the media market in Serbia through the acquisition and funding of various media outlets;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Urges Serbia to ensure full financial and operational independence of the regulators, in particular for electronic communication and postal services (RATEL) and for electronic media (REM), to enhance their capacity to work; urges RATEL to ensure the implementation of competitive safeguards and market operators' access to the relevant infrastructure, such as telecommunications ducts, poles and fibre optics;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the significanttronger representation of national minorities in the new parliament;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Calls on the Serbian authorities to step up efforts to ensure the non- discriminatory treatment of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities and other vulnerable groups, and to continue the implementation of a positive agenda on this issue, in full conformity with EU principles and legislation; urges the authorities to actively pursue investigations and convictions for hate- motivated crimes; condemns the ethnic hatred spread by some government officials and politicians;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Reiterates its concern about violence by extremist groups, with recent instances including the demolition of a cafe in Novi Sad and anti-Semitic graffiti in the Sephardic Jewish cemetery in Belgrade; is further concerned about the activities of the Russian Wagner group in Serbia; calls on the authorities to prosecute all illegal activities in connection with these groups;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Regrets the way in which the EuroPride in Belgrade was organized and the unacceptable use of hate speech against the LGBTI+ community in the period right before the EuroPride; denounces the decision to first cancel the EuroPride and thus increase the uncertainty whether the event would take place; expresses its disappointment that the Government did not explicitly support the EuroPride; calls on the Government and Police to ensure the smooth planning and organization, as well as the safety and well-being of participants of all future Pride events in Belgrade; calls for increased measures to combat hate crimes against LGBTI + people;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes Serbia’s engagement in regional cooperation initiatives; encourages it to step up its reconciliation efforts and seek solutions to past disputes; underlines that there is no place for genocide denial or the glorification of war criminals in a candidate country; urges the government to step up its 'dealing with the past' processes and to bring all war criminals to justice;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Welcomes the recent steps taken to improve the relations between Serbia and Croatia and encourages both sides to address all outstanding issues in good faith;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)
Paragraph 12 g (new)
12g. Deplores that certain parts of the former Yugoslav historical archives are still inaccessible; reiterates its call on the authorities to facilitate access to these archives, especially those of the former Yugoslav Secret Services (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS), in order to allow communist-era crimes to be thoroughly investigated and addressed and to facilitate the reconciliation process; calls for these archives to be returned to the respective governments of the successor states if they so request;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Condemns all actions that endanger stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process; is deeply concerned about the tensions in North Kosovo and the unacceptable shooting on Orthodox Christmas Eve; condemns the arbitrary detention of Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajković at the Merdare crossing point in December 2022; recalls the shared responsibility for peace and the rule of law for all people in Kosovo;
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes Serbia’s progress in developing atowards functioning market economy but underlines the fact that the country’s private sector is hampered by weaknesses in the rule of law;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Serbian authorities to take measures to counter depopulation; notes the results of the 2022 population census, which detected a population decrease of 495.975 since 2011;
Amendment 426 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Serbian authorities to take measures to counter depopulation and emigration ;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is deeply concerned about the strategic investments in Serbia by Russia and China and their influence on the political and economic processes in the region;
Amendment 455 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the Commission’s energy support package to help the Western Balkans overcome the energy crisis; calls on the Serbian authorities to prepare a credible plan for reducing the country’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and building environmentally friendly energy systems; welcomes the beginning of construction of the gas interconnector between Serbia and Bulgaria;
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Expresses concern about air pollution; recalls that several places in Serbia, notably Belgrade, Smederevo, Kostolac, Bor and the Kolubara and Tamnava valleys, are often on the list of the most polluted areas in the world in terms of air quality; remains worried about Chinese-financed coal power generation projects and their impact on the environment and air quality; reiterates its calls on the Serbian authorities to urgently accelerate the implementation of air quality plans; including available IPA III, WBIF and other EU funds;
Amendment 480 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Express concern about the lack of a proper legal framework for environmental impact assessment, which creates a situation where projects can obtain development consent, namely the construction permit, prior to environmental assessment; urges the Serbian authorities to fully and properly transpose the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Notes with concern the cargo train accident near the city of Pirot in December 2022 and the resulting environmental hazard caused by an ammonia leak; calls on the authorities to ensure the safe transport of all hazardous substances especially trough urban areas and the Belgrade railway tunnels system;