11 Amendments of Andrzej HALICKI related to 2019/2200(INI)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the continuous deepening of EU-Georgia relations and the firm support that Georgia’s chosen path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration enjoys across the political spectrum and in society; acknowledges the progress achieved by Georgia, which has made it a key partner of the EU in the region, and reiterates the need to continue implementing reforms under the Association Agreement (AA) and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area; reminds that the EU assistance is based on the principle "more for more" and conditional to reform progress in, but not limited to, areas of democracy and rule of law, independence of judiciary and electoral system reform;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and condemns the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation; emphasises that the AA covers the entire territory of Georgia, including its occupied regions, and aims to benefit its whole population; calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its obligations under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, notably to withdraw all its military forces from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia; condemns "borderisation" activities along the Administrative Boundary Line by Russian and de facto South Ossetian security actors; asks the Commission and the EEAS to enhance their efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, including through the EUMM and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the pardoning of Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili by President of Georgia as an important step towards the full implementation of the internationally-mediated Agreement between the Georgian Government and the opposition of 8 March 2020, which included the establishment of the key features of the electoral system to be used for the upcoming parliamentary elections and elimination of political interference into justice system; looks forward to seeing the agreed-upon changes made to the electoral system when the Georgian parliament returns to work in the next weeks, as well as the release from prison of Giorgi Rurua as agreed in the Agreement of 8 March 2020;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Georgian authorities to implement swiftly and fully the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and review relevant legislation to address the identified shortcomings and ensure that concerns enumerated in the OSCE/ODIHR and other legitimate election observation reports, particularly related to impunity of violence, vote- buying as well as the ability of voters, especially civil servants, “to vote free from pressure and fear of retribution” are eliminated;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the importance of media freedom, which should entail equal access for all political parties to the media during the upcoming electoral campaign, pluralistic and non-discriminatory coverage of political views in programmes by public and private broadcasters, clear provisions regulating free and paid advertisements, and improved transparency through strengthened media monitoring; recalls the 2018 OSCE/ODIHR Election observation report which stated that “The national public broadcaster displayed a clear bias against the opposition and did not fulfil its obligations to ensure editorial independence, fairness and impartiality of programs, contrary to international standards” and expresses hope that the coverage of the 2020 campaign will contrast with such assessment; further notes with concern the statements of Reporters Without Borders on pressure on journalists of the public broadcaster of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara of February 5, 2020;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Urges the government of Georgia to ensure effective handling of information environment in the run up to the 2020 elections; urges the Georgian government to work with the civil society and the private sector to limit and prevent information manipulations, including disinformation and propaganda campaigns against any political group or the country by domestic or foreign actors; urges social media platforms to take effective actions to protect information environment and prevent undermining electoral integrity by misuse of social media platforms; expresses hope that the national public broadcaster will fulfil its obligation of editorial independence, fairness and impartiality in the run-up and during the 2020 parliamentary elections and that concerns raised by the OSCE/ODIHR election observation report of 2018 Presidential election specifically in relation to the bias of the Georgian Public Broadcaster will be addressed accordingly;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reaffirms support to the vibrant civil society in Georgia; expresses hope that in the run-up to the 2020 elections environment for independent watchdogs and activists will be free from any intimidation, interference or verbal attacks;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its concern about recent court cases against opposition politicians, which contributed to a climate of increased mistrust and heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, and led to a polarisation of politics and society; calls on Georgia to respect the highest standards of judicial independence and fair trial as committed to under the AA;such practices run counter to the letter and spirit of the Association Agreement. Further expresses concern that violent incidents against opposition leaders and peaceful demonstrators is often unpunished. While any government is entitled to use lawful and proportionate force against violent unrest, violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators and opposition leaders and impunity for such violent acts sets extremely dangerous precedent for the upcoming 2020 electoral campaign.
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly condemns the cyber- attacks against Georgian institutions and media outlets widely attributed to Russian actors; calls on all political actors in Georgia to refrain from using social media to attack people, organisations and institutions and spread deliberate misinformation; takes note with concern that in December 2019 and May 2020 Facebook deleted hundreds of pages and profiles in Georgia for their "inauthentic coordinated behaviour”; According to Facebook's official statement, these pages mostly linked with Georgian Dream and targeted opposition politicians and civil society organisations. Election campaign should be devoid of any such undertakings.
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Recommends to give a special mandate to the European Parliament Delegation in the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee to watch and observe preparations and realization of fair and transparent forthcoming October 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia;