34 Amendments of Michael GAHLER related to 2019/2170(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 a (new)
Citation -1 a (new)
- having regard to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Agreement,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19-20 June 2003 and the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 c (new)
Citation 12 c (new)
- having regard to its recommendation of 19 June 2020 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Western Balkans, following the 2020 summit (2019/2210(INI)),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas enlargement is one of the EU’s most effective foreign policy instruments contributing to extending the reach of the Union’s fundamental values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, fostering peace and respect for human rights;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Albania has continued making sustained efforts on its path towards the EU, partly meeting the conditions for holding the first intergovernmental conference;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the merit-based prospect of full EU membership is in the Union's own political, security and economic interests, the quality and dedication to the necessary reforms determine the timetable for accession; whereas consistent efforts on the key reforms require the joint engagement of all stakeholders;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the importance of the integration process as a catalyst for reforms, and welcomes the support which this process enjoys among the Albanian people;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses the need to improve the visibility and communication concerning EU aid and Union financing in Albania; in this regard, reminds of the performance reward under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to North Macedonia and Albania and notably the substantial support the EU has provided to the Western Balkans to fight the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the convening of the first intergovernmental conference without further delay once all conditions set by the Council are fulfilled and, following the adoption of the negotiating framework by the Council;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that progress in accession under the revised enlargement methodology depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, in particularstarting with the rule of law and, the fight agaunctioning of democratic institutions and public administ corruptionration as well as the economy of the candidate country;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the general elections of 25 April 2021 will be key for the country’s democratic consolidation; reminds that free and fair elections are a fundamental prerequisite for EU integration;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the importance of implementing the electoral reform measures codified in July 2020, which are in line with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) ) and Council of Europe recommendations; welcomstresses the commitmentimportance to implement the forthcoming Venice Commission opinion regarding the amendments to the Electoral Code adopted in October 2020; deplores the breach of the 5 June 2020 agreement, and that the Albanian Parliament passed the disputed legislation, despite repeated calls by the international community to await the opinion of the Venice Commission;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for the most pressing recommendations of the Venice Commission to be adopted and implemented in due time before the upcoming general elections;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recalls that the prosecution of vote riggers was a condition set by the Council that Albania need to fulfil prior to opening accession negotiations; is concerned about impunity, as alleged cases have not reached court and no arrests have yet been made;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. EncouraUrges Albania to swiftly complete the relevant steps towards re-establishing the Constitutional Court’s ability to function fully and efficiently, and urges all involved to swiftly conclude the appointment process;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the fact that the High Court has partly regained its ability to function and that it has been reviewing more than a thousand cases, and encourages it to make further progress in the appointment of additional judges; underlines the need to support the effective functioning of these institutions by means of adequate human resources and funding;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the creation of anti- corruption bodies and the fact that sustained investigations are being carried out by the newlysuch as the established Special Anti- Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK), and indictments are being handed down by the Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Courts, and; now calls for the courts to be operational and to effectively and proactively address high-level corruption; therefore stresses the need of adequate resources and cooperation between these new structures and with other prosecution and judicial entities; underlines the need to maintain their independence and effectiveness in fighting impunity;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Deplores that the overall resources of law enforcement authorities are insufficient;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Is concerned about the current practice that the State Police may receive private donations and sponsorship; calls for adequate evaluation and strict regulations to limit the risks of corruption or conflicts of interest;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls for concrete integrity plans to be swiftly adopted and implemented within all ministries, as foreseen in the Inter-Sectorial Strategy against corruption and the Action Plan for its implementation;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the increase in proactive investigations, prosecutions and final convictions targeting illicit wealth and money laundering, leading to the systematic freezing and seizure of criminal assets, and calls for furtheir further intensificationprosecution and final court convictions of these cases; underlines the extensive money laundering problems notably in the construction and real estate sector;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the efforts to dismantle local and international criminal networks, and to eliminate drug production and trafficking, to be intensified further, building on the significant efforts of recent years; welcomes the increased cooperation with Europol and the law enforcement institutions of EU Member States, and encourages the Albanian authorities to swiftly finalise the posting of an Albanian liaison prosecutor to the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust); recommends Albania to adopt a new strategy and action plan on drugs, including to fill-in the legislative gap on drug precursors;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses the need for sufficient human, technical and financial resources to relevant actors, such as the Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD), and their work on human rights promotion and protection;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for the creation of an effective mechanism for the prevention of gender- based and domestic violence including violence against children, and for protection and support to be given to its victims, combined with the effective and efficient prosecution of its perpetrators;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reminds Albania of its calls for further improvements to be made in the education and health, and the employment rates and living and health conditions of Roma and other ethnicpeople with disabilities and other ethnic minorities, notably the Roma minority - as one of the most marginalized minorities;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes Albania’s efforts in promoting tolerance, inter-religious harmony and addressing prejudice and discrimination, including antisemitism; especially commends the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, being the first Muslim-majority country to accept the formulation;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross-border crime, including in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), must be a priority and conducted in full respect for fundamental rights;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the ongoing measures and calls for further progress to be made in considerably reducing irregular migration and the number of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, including the arrivals of unaccompanied minors, in the EU Member States;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls the importance of ensuring quality journalism and media literacy for the functioning of democracy and in tackling disinformation; is very concerned about the nefarious allegations that disinformation is a common bludgeon deployed against investigative journalists, civil society activists and others seeking to hold powerful interests to account;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Expresses grave concern about the proposed measures under the draft media law and welcomes the commitment to adopt amendments only if they are assessed as being fully in line with the Venice Commission’s recommendations; regrets, however, that the Venice Commission recommendations are not yet adopted;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses the need to substantiallyEncourages the Albanian authorities to strengthen social care coverage and improve access to social and healthcare services especially for vulnerable communities;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Encourages the diversification of energy production, moving fromensuring environmentally sound investments in hydropower towards, wind and solar sources; urges the authorities to minimise the impact on biodiversity by restricting hydropower development in protected areas; underlines the need to improve both environmental and impact assessments across eco- sensitive sectors and boost the prosecution of environmental crimes;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes Albania’s unremittongoing efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations and regional integration;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Welcomes Albania’s ongoing full alignment with the common foreign and security policy decisions and declarations since 2012 and its active contribution to the EU crisis management missions and operations; commends Albania’s active participation in military crisis management missions under the common security and defence policy, as well as its active contribution to NATO missions of strategic importance to the EU;