Activities of Thomas WAITZ related to 2022/2202(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2022 Report on Montenegro (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2022 Commission Report on Montenegro
Amendments (48)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans signed by Montenegro on 10 November 2020,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to the Special Report 01/2022 of the European Court of Auditors: EU support for the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans: despite efforts, fundamental problems persist, of 10 January 2022,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
– having regard to Montenegro’s status as a Contracting Party of the Energy Community Treaty since 1 January 2007,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas enlargement ishas historically been the EU’s most effective foreign policy instrument to incentivise and encourage fundamental reforms, including in the area of rule of law, and a strategic and future-oriented geopolitical investment in peace, stability, democracy and security throughout the continent;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
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, 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 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the political leaders in all Member States, as well as in the enlargement countries, need to prove their genuine commitment to enlargement based on the Copenhagen criteria with concrete steps and progress in order to re- energise the whole process, ensuring its continuity, consistency, credibility and impact;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. 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 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. 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;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU has reiterated its full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of Montenegro and that the future of the country and its citizens lies within the EU; whereas nearly 80 % of Montenegrin citizens support future EU membership;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the fact that high political tensions and polarisation, the failure to build consensus on matters of national interest and a lack of cross-party dialogue have stalled progress on EU-related reforms and plunged Montenegro into a deep political and institutional crisis, thus missing an important momentum to make significant progress on the EU accession path;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note of the results of the presidential elections held in March 2023 and the early parliamentary elections held in June 2023; is concerned about the decreasing number of women among the Members of Parliament; encourages the President, the new parliament and the government to focus on the key reforms needed for the country to make progress in EU integration, and remains ready to cooperate with all political actors to support the country in maintaining its strategic course;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Remains seriously concerned by malign foreign interference, destabilisation efforts, hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns by foreign actors in Montenegro; notes that religious institutions can bare used as a tool for external influence and strongly condemns Serbian interference in this regard;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the EU to enhance its dialogue with civil society and other relevant stakeholders to coordinate anti- disinformation efforts in 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 disinformation threats in the Western Balkans; calls on the EEAS to expand StratCom monitoring to focus on cross- border disinformation threats emanating from Russia and China towards the Western Balkan countries and their neighbours;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the appointment of three new Constitutional Court judges as a step towards resolving the constitutional crisis; regrets the fact that the Constitutional Court was left without a quorum since September 2022; calls on the new parliament to finalise judicial appointments as a matter of utmost priority, notably the Supreme State Prosecutor and three members of the Judicial Council;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Regrets that the election reform is still pending and that many issues still need to be addressed, including but not limited to the transparency of the financing of political parties and their election campaigns, the misuse of state funds, the institutional advantage used by the ruling parties for political gains and the concerns about the accuracy of the voters' registry;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates its call for local-level elections to be held on the same day; welcomes the fact that elections in 14 municipalities were held on the same day in October 2022; calls for a robust legislative framework in this regard, with a particular focus on achieving gender balance among the elected representatives and improving and enforcing existing internal rules in this regard;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. UCalls on the authorities to swiftly adopt a National Strategy for the Fight Against High-Level Corruption and Organised Crime; urges Montenegro to put in place a credible and effective criminal justice response to corruption; notes the improvement in the prevention of corruption and the positive trend in the work of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption; calls on the authorities to criminalise illicit enrichment;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the efforts being made in the fight against organised crime through legislative changes and the arrest of key figures; notes the rising numbers of final convictions, but remains concerned by the lengthy trials and frequent adjournments; calls on Montenegro to improve its track record on corruption, particularly on cases of high-level corruption; calls for further alignment with the EU acquis on asset confiscation;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on Montenegro to step up its efforts to combat hate speech, and online harassment, which disproportionately affect women and human rights defenders, as well as politically biased reporting and foreign influence in the Montenegrin media;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes some positive steps, such as the introduction of tougher penalties for attacks and threats against journalists, and the establishment of the ad hoc commission for monitoring violence against the media and calls to urgently renew its mandate; reiterates, however, the need for the effective implementation of its findings and recommendations; calls for more transparency regarding classified files of attacks against women journalists; emphasises the need to review the investigation of the murder of the journalist Duško Jovanović and to engage with foreign experts to secure a full and effective investigation of the case;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Expresses concerns over the lack of independence of the national broadcast service (National Radio-Television of Montenegro) and the election of its director general in violation of the final court decision;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Urges Montenegro to conduct the population and housing census by the end of this year in line with EU and international standards and urges to avoid any politicisation of the process;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the country’s multi- ethnic identity and calls for the further promotion of and respect for all languages, cultural heritage and traditions of local communities; regrets the fact that societal polarisation and divisions have intensified; emphasises the need to protect the rights of all minorities and urges for strengthened, applied and implemented institutional and legal frameworks in this regard, particularly regarding the Roma community, including a new anti- discrimination law; calls against this background on the authorities to tackle the intersectional discrimination that minorities face through a systemic and effective institutional approach;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Deplores the growing violence and hate speech against the LGBTI+ community; calls against this backdrop on Montenegro to adopt a Law on Legal Gender Recognition based on Self- Determination, a new LGBTI+ Strategy and the necessary amendments for the full implementation of the Law on Same- Sex Partnerships;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on Montenegro to improve access to justice and to ensure better follow-up and enforcement of rights in proceedings on domestic violence, as well as enhanced protection, particularly of women and children; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to comply with their responsibilities and positive obligations under international human rights law by establishing regular monitoring mechanisms to oversee the effectiveness of family justice systems for victims of domestic abuse; calls on Montenegro to introduce monitoring mechanisms to assess the specific impact of policies and procedures relating to family justice on marginalised groups of women; expresses concerns about the lack of progress and the conflicts of interest in the process of drafting amendments to the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes with concern the signing of the Fundamental Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church amid criticism by civil society and political disagreements; condemns Russia’s efforts to exploit ethnic tensions in the Western Balkans in order to inflame conflicts and divide communities, which could lead to the destabilisation of the whole region; is concerned about the attempts by the Orthodox Church in countries such as Serbia and Montenegro to promote Russia as a protector of so-called traditional family values and fortify relations between the state and the church;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines the key role of civil society organisations in functioning democracies and the need to involve them in a meaningful, transparent and effective way in key reforms, including those related to the EU reform agenda; deplores attacks by State officials against civil society organisations that are critical of the government;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on Montenegro to urgently and fully implement the recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) from 2018, the Committee Against Torture (CAT) from 2022 and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 2022 with a view to combatting the climate of impunity in the country; in this context, urges Montenegro to prohibit the statute of limitations for criminal offences of torture and other forms of ill-treatment and to amend the definition of torture in accordance with the UN Convention Against Torture; against this background, calls on the authorities to secure prompt and effective investigations of cases of police violence and torture against detainees and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Reconciliation, regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes Montenegro’s active participation in regional cooperation; recalls its hesitationsemphasises, however, that all regional economic cooperation schemes in the Western Balkans should be inclusive and acceptable to all six countries, establishing cooperation on an equal footing among them, while strengthening further alignment with EU standards and acquis; recalls against this background its scepticism about the Open Balkan initiative and noteregrets Montenegro’s participation in the June and September summits as an observer;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on Montenegro to proactively investigate all war crimes allegations and raise issues of command responsibility, aiding and abetting; in this context, calls for effective regional cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of persons indicted for war crimes; urges Montenegro to review old cases that were not prosecuted in line with international humanitarian law, as well as domestic law, and to ensure that all victims and their family members obtain redress and/or administrative compensation for their suffering;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes the decrease in Montenegro’s public debt, but remains highly concerned by debt-related vulnerabilities, in particular to China and calls on the authorities to reduce this economic dependence on China; calls on Montenegro to take further steps towards the sustainability of public finances and to develop measures to reduce the informal economy;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Regrets against this background Montenegro’s participation in the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and calls on the country to continue making use of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans and the EU Global Gateway Initiative with a view to finding greener and transparent alternatives for financing infrastructure projects;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes Montenegro’s decision to terminate its citizenship by investment programme on 31 December 2022; regrets, however, that between 2019 and 2022, more than 70% of these so-called “golden passports” were granted to Russian citizens and calls on the authorities to review past decisions, especially in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; emphasises, furthermore, the need for further alignment with EU visa policy;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Encourages Montenegro to make the best use of the EU funds available under the IPA III and the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, including the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans and the Erasmus+ programme;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Calls on 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 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Reiterates its call to the Commission to implement the recommendations of the special report 01/2022 of the European Court of Auditors, thus adapting its rule of law- related investments in the Western Balkans, including in Montenegro;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Energy, the environment, biodiversity, sustainable development and connectivity
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Welcomes the Commission’s energy support package for the Western Balkans and underlines the utmost importance of designating emergency support package funds to relieve the effects of the energy crisis and support Montenegro’s transition towards an energy-efficient and renewable energy- based economy, in line with the REpowerEU plan; in this context, urges the national authorities to adopt appropriate measures on energy efficiency and savings, in conjunction with facilitating the deployment of renewable energy with a view to addressing the energy crisis and transitioning away from fossil fuels;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on Montenegro to accelerate its sustainable energy transition, in line with the Paris Agreements and the EU decarbonisation goals; underlines that all new renewable energy projects must comply with the EU acquis on concessions, State aid and the environment; highlights the need to effectively transpose and implement the revised Clean Energy for all Europeans Package;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Expresses deep concerns about the changes introduced to the Law on Industrial Emissions, which sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the Pljevlja coal-fired thermal power plant to continue operating for more than two years, despite the breach of the Large Combustion Plant Directive under the Energy Community Treaty (ECT); calls on Montenegro to remedy this serious breach without delay;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on Montenegro to step up the development and adoption of tha coherent and credible National Energy and Climate Plan in line with the Governance Regulation and the Energy Community timeline; calls on Montenegro to improve waste management practices and to protect water quality;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Encourages Montenegro to adopt the amendments to the Law on Protection against the Negative Impacts of Climate Change in order to accelerate the approximation with the EU and the Energy Community acquis;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Calls on the authorities to speed up the process of the development of the Montenegro General Spatial Plan since the previous plan expired in 2020; recalls that this new plan should be developed based on the public interest in a transparent manner and apply to all new energy projects;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35c. Reiterates its call on Montenegro to take urgent measures to effectively conserve protected areas, and encourages it to continue identifying potential Natura 2000 sites; underlines the need to undertake appropriate assessments and ensure compliance with the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive when undertaking new investments that may affect potential Natura 2000 or Emerald sites, including Lake Skadar, Sinjajevina, Komarnica and others, or may result in a deterioration of the status of water bodies; shares serious concerns expressed by Montenegrin citizens and civic activists that one of the most precious among them, the Komarnica River Canyon, might be irreversibly devastated by the construction of a dam for a hydropower plant in violation of the Bern Convention and calls on the authorities to conduct a detailed cost benefit analysis on its viability, including of existing alternatives based on more cost-effective and less harmful options such as solar and wind power;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 d (new)
Paragraph 35 d (new)
35d. Deeply regrets the damage to the Tara River Basin Biosphere Reserve and the Durmitor National Park UNESCO heritage site linked to the building of the Bar-Boljare highway; reiterates its calls on Montenegro to implement riverbed revitalisation measures and closely monitor the environmental impact of transport infrastructure construction; reiterates its concerns that the cost of the Bar-Boljare highway was largely underestimated and that no action has been taken despite unclear public procurement procedures, the lack of planning documentation and ecological concerns;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 e (new)
Paragraph 35 e (new)
35e. Encourages Montenegro to step up action on institutional and legislative reforms regarding hunting and fishing, with a particular focus on protected areas and protected species;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 f (new)
Paragraph 35 f (new)
35f. Against this backdrop, urges the Montenegrin authorities to enforce effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties for all environmental offences and to root out corruption in this sector;