Activities of Hannes SWOBODA related to 2007/2268(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2007 progress report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (A6-0059/2008, Erik Meijer) (vote)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Is pleased to record considerable progress achieved since the last Progress Report, published by the Commission in November 2007; welcomes in particular the adoption of the Law on the Public Prosecutors and the Law on the Council of Prosecutors as well as the Law on the Committee for Inter-Community Relations and the decision on the final appointment to the Judicial Council;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. AWelcomes the continued efforts in the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and applauds the fact that the government and parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia isare increasingly emphasising recognition of the multi- ethnic character of their state and that this has led to legislation making it possible for that diversity to work, such as the amendments adopted on 8 February 2007 to the Law on Public Holidays which lays down the various ethnic and religious holiday days, and the agreement reached on the choice of 45 draft laws which can be adopted by Badinter majority only;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the renewed political momentum on the European integration of the Republic of Macedonia results from a strong commitment expressed by all political forces; welcomes the regular and intensive dialogue pursued between the leaders of the four major political parties (VMRO- DPMNE, SDSM, DPA and DUI), which has resulted in the adoption of a number of laws, as well as measures relevant for further EU integration;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Commends the commitment of the leaders of the major political parties represented in the Parliament to continue to work towards achieving progress on the remaining issues on which there are differences, such as the use of languages and the social package for the victims of the 2001 conflict;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Welcomes the progress made in respect of economic reforms; however, urges the government to address the issue of high unemployment;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the 2005 Law on the Use of Community Flags allows communities’ national symbols be placed on and near local government officesa minority community which is in a majority within a municipality to use its flag; notes that disquiet arose following the Constitutional Court judgment of 24 October 2007 on the use of national community symbols by local authorities, which gave the impression that, contrary to the Ohrid Framework Agreement, use of the flag depicting thestate flag of Albanian eagle would no longer be allowed, and welcomes the government’s interpretation that the Constitutional Court judgment on national symbols does not mean that flags at local government offices, including Albanian symbols, must be removed; calls on all parties to discuss this issue in the spirit of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and international standards;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the Institutional Platform and the principles adopted by the government for the negotiation process for accession of the Republic of Macedonia into the European Union; observes that the Platform – chaired by the opposition leader – sets the institutional priorities of the country in the preparatory stage of the negotiation process, by precisely allocating the necessary institutional set-up, human resources and budgetary funding;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the draft Law on Revision of the Electoral Code, which was given a reading on 27 September 2007 and would provide for the parliament to be enlarged by 13 seats in the interests of both representation of small ethnic minorities and representation of nationals living abroad, could help bring about a relative weakening of representation for the Albanian speaking community, and regards the fact that the reading has been suspended as a contribution towards domestic stability; trusts that there will be further consultations in order to achieve a consensus;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the fact that marked progress has been achieved in the fight against organised crime and corruption in 2007, as well as significant progress in the fight against trafficking in persons and narcotics;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Draws attention to the call by Amnesty IntNotes that, on 7 November 2007, a large police operation took place around the village of Brodec, north of Tetovo, with the aim of apprehending a number of alleged criminals, including those who had escaped from the Dubrava prison in Kosovo in July 2007; notes that six members of the so-called "Brodec gang" were killed during the opernational to set up an inquiry into the events on 7 November 2007, north of Tetovo, during which at least six possible intruders from Kosovo di, that a further 13 individuals from the village were detained by the Ministry of Interior and that light and heavy weaponry was found in Brodec that included heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft missiles; acknowledges that, according to the EU Monitoring Mission and the OSCE, the operation was carried out in a professional and effective manner resulting in no police or civilian casualties and that the composition of the police forces involved was ethnically mixed;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the fact that the government has publicly stated that it will rebuild the mosque and other infrastructure damaged in the police operation in Brodec; expresses concern about some reports that detainees may have been subjected to maltreatment on being arrested; calls on the Ombudsman to fully investigate the situation;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that, in the years since independence, close economic relations have developed between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece, that Greece is now the largest investor and trading partner and that Greece can provide significant support for coping successfully with the process of accession to the European Union; Welcomes the increased bilateral cooperation, as well as people-to people contacts between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, regrets, however that since the adoption of its Resolution of 12 July 2007 no progress has been made in the bilateral talks held under the auspices of the United Nations and assisted by Special Envoy Matthew Nimitz to find mutually acceptable solution to the differences that has arisen over the name of the country; calls on both sides to increase efforts to overcome the issue, that in no circumstances should become an obstacle to the membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the international organizations, as provided in the Interim Accord of 1995;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a (new). Welcomes the active participation of the country in the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Council and its constructive position on the Kosovo status process; expresses serious concern over the delay on the technical demarcation of the border with Kosovo; welcomes the good cooperation with Kosovo in trade, customs and police matters maintaining at same time good neighbourly relations with Serbia;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b (new). Commends the country for its cooperation in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), notably its participation in the EU mission ALTHEA and its willingness to contribute to the development of the ESDP capabilities and future EU-led civilian and military crisis management missions; pays tribute to the soldiers of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia who participated in ALTHEA mission and who lost their lives in a tragic crash of a helicopter outside Skopje in January 2008; expresses deepest condolences to their families;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c (new). Welcomes the entry into force of the visa facilitation and readmission agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; supports the intention of the European Commission to launch a dialogue on visa liberalisation with the objective of establishing a road map with an ultimate aim of a visa free regime; commends the introduction of passports with biometric security features, the establishment of the National visa information system and the Visa Center, the implementation of the Integrated Border Management system;