18 Amendments of Vladimír BILČÍK related to 2023/0397(COD)
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 (new)
Recital -1 (new)
-1 The enlargement process is built on established Copenhagen criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality. Each beneficiary is assessed on its own merits. For the prospect of enlargement to become a reality, a firm commitment to ‘fundamentals first’ remains essential. The ‘fundamentals first’ approach links the rule of law and fundamental rights with the two other crucial areas of the accession process: economic governance – strengthened focus on economic development and improved competitiveness – and the strengthening of democratic institutions and public administration reform. Progress towards accession depends on each applicant’s respect for the Union’s values and its capacity to undertake and implement the necessary reforms to align its political, institutional, legal, administrative and economic systems with the rules, standards, policies and practices of the Union, while promoting good neighbourly relations.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 (new)
Recital -1 (new)
-1 The enlargement process is built on established Copenhagen criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality. Each beneficiary is assessed on its own merits. For the prospect of enlargement to become a reality, a firm commitment to ‘fundamentals first’ remains essential. The ‘fundamentals first’ approach links the rule of law and fundamental rights with the two other crucial areas of the accession process: economic governance – strengthened focus on economic development and improved competitiveness – and the strengthening of democratic institutions and public administration reform. Progress towards accession depends on each applicant’s respect for the Union’s values and its capacity to undertake and implement the necessary reforms to align its political, institutional, legal, administrative and economic systems with the rules, standards, policies and practices of the Union, while promoting good neighbourly relations.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) There is a need to bring forward some of the advantages of Union membership before accession. EAlongside democratic transition and respect for fundamental rights and values, including rule of law, economic convergence is at the heart of these benefits. Currently, the convergence of Western Balkans in terms of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards remains low at between 30% and 50% of the Union average and is not progressing fast enough.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) There is a need to bring forward some of the advantages of Union membership before accession. EAlongside democratic transition and respect for fundamental rights and values, including rule of law, economic convergence is at the heart of these benefits. Currently, the convergence of Western Balkans in terms of GDP per capita expressed in purchasing power standards remains low at between 30% and 50% of the Union average and is not progressing fast enough.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To achieve these goals, special emphasis with respect to investment areas should be placed on sectors and human capital that are likely to function as key multiplidrivers for social and economic development: SMEs, connectivity, including transport, energy, green and digital transitions, research and innovation, education and skills development.
Amendment 165 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) To achieve these goals, special emphasis with respect to investment areas should be placed on sectors and human capital that are likely to function as key multiplidrivers for social and economic development: SMEs, connectivity, including transport, energy, green and digital transitions, research and innovation, education and skills development.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law, democratic transition, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as fight against disinformation. These objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law, democratic transition, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as fight against disinformation. These objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and the Beneficiaries, should contribute to increased transparency and accountability in the delivery of assistance, including by implementing appropriate internal control systems and anti-fraud policies. The support under the Facility should be made available under the preconditions that each of the Beneficiaries continues to respects and upholds effective democratic mechanisms and institutions, including a functioning multi- party parliamentary system, media freedom and media independence, and the rule of law, and to guarantees respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Another pre-condition should be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and the Beneficiaries, should contribute to increased transparency and accountability in the delivery of assistance, including by implementing appropriate internal control systems and anti-fraud policies. The support under the Facility should be made available under the preconditions that each of the Beneficiaries continues to respects and upholds effective democratic mechanisms and institutions, including a functioning multi- party parliamentary system, media freedom and media independence, and the rule of law, and to guarantees respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. Another pre-condition should be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud, spread of disinformation and subversive foreign interference; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud, spread of disinformation and subversive foreign interference; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall monitor the fulfilment of the preconditions set out in paragraph 1 before funds, including pre- financing, are released to Beneficiaries under the Facility and throughout the period of the support provided under the Facility taking duly into account the latest Enlargement PackageRule of Law Report, Enlargement Package and relevant resolutions of the European Parliament. The Commission may adopt a decision concluding that some of these preconditions are not met, and in particular, withhold the release of funds referred to in Article 21, irrespective of the fulfilment of payment conditions referred to in Article 16(3). The Commission shall withhold the release of funds in cases of a persistent lack of progress, serious deficiencies and regression on rule of law and fundamental reforms. The Commission’s assessment shall be transmitted simultaneously to the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission shall develop and apply clear guidelines on the application of conditionality for the release of funding.
Amendment 393 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall monitor the fulfilment of the preconditions set out in paragraph 1 before funds, including pre- financing, are released to Beneficiaries under the Facility and throughout the period of the support provided under the Facility taking duly into account the latest Enlargement PackageRule of Law Report, Enlargement Package and relevant resolutions of the European Parliament. The Commission may adopt a decision concluding that some of these preconditions are not met, and in particular, withhold the release of funds referred to in Article 21, irrespective of the fulfilment of payment conditions referred to in Article 16(3). The Commission shall withhold the release of funds in cases of a persistent lack of progress, serious deficiencies and regression on rule of law and fundamental reforms. The Commission’s assessment shall be transmitted simultaneously to the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission shall develop and apply clear guidelines on the application of conditionality for the release of funding.
Amendment 405 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6
Article 6 – paragraph 6
6. The resources referred to in paragraph 2 point (b) may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility, such as impact assessments, preparatory actions, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the Facility and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, trainings, consultations with the Beneficiary authorities, conferences, consultation of stakeholders, including local and regional authorities and civil society organisations, information and communication actions, including inclusive outreach actions, and corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as they are strictly related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, corporate information technology tools, as well as all other expenditure at headquarters and Union delegations for the administrative and coordination support needed for the Facility. Finally, expenses may also cover the costs of other supportingrelevant transparency activities such as quality control and monitoring of projects or programmes on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of reforms and investments. In case of using resources for auditing purposes, conflict of interests between the entity performing the audit and other activities of that entity in the framework of the Facility, such as consulting or administrative and coordination support, quality control and monitoring of projects, shall be disclosed and prevented.
Amendment 405 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6
Article 6 – paragraph 6
6. The resources referred to in paragraph 2 point (b) may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Facility, such as impact assessments, preparatory actions, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the Facility and the achievement of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings of experts, trainings, consultations with the Beneficiary authorities, conferences, consultation of stakeholders, including local and regional authorities and civil society organisations, information and communication actions, including inclusive outreach actions, and corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as they are strictly related to the objectives of this Regulation, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, corporate information technology tools, as well as all other expenditure at headquarters and Union delegations for the administrative and coordination support needed for the Facility. Finally, expenses may also cover the costs of other supportingrelevant transparency activities such as quality control and monitoring of projects or programmes on the ground and the costs of peer counselling and experts for the assessment and implementation of reforms and investments. In case of using resources for auditing purposes, conflict of interests between the entity performing the audit and other activities of that entity in the framework of the Facility, such as consulting or administrative and coordination support, quality control and monitoring of projects, shall be disclosed and prevented.
Amendment 447 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Reform Agendas shall set out the reforms to be undertaken by the Beneficiary, as well as investment areas, towards the achievement of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3provide an overarching framework to achieve the general and specific objectives laid out in Article 3, setting out the reforms to be undertaken by the Beneficiary, as well as investment areas. The Reform Agendas shall comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and investments through a comprehensive and coherent package. In the areas of fundamentals, including the rule of law, the fight against corruption, fundamental rights and the freedom of expression, the Reform Agendas shall reflect the assessments in the most recent Enlargement Package and the Rule of law report. The Reform Agendas shall include an estimation of the financial amounts needed for the implementation of the reforms and investments under the Facility in line with the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3.
Amendment 447 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Reform Agendas shall set out the reforms to be undertaken by the Beneficiary, as well as investment areas, towards the achievement of the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3provide an overarching framework to achieve the general and specific objectives laid out in Article 3, setting out the reforms to be undertaken by the Beneficiary, as well as investment areas. The Reform Agendas shall comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and investments through a comprehensive and coherent package. In the areas of fundamentals, including the rule of law, the fight against corruption, fundamental rights and the freedom of expression, the Reform Agendas shall reflect the assessments in the most recent Enlargement Package and the Rule of law report. The Reform Agendas shall include an estimation of the financial amounts needed for the implementation of the reforms and investments under the Facility in line with the general and specific objectives set out in Article 3.