Activities of Tanja FAJON related to 2019/2174(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on North Macedonia
Amendments (36)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the country is maintaining a steady pace on the rule of lawin advancing EU reforms, in particular in key areas such as the rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime, intelligent services, public administration and functioning of democratic institutions and procedures;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D h (new)
Recital D h (new)
Dh. whereas European Council has so far failed to approve the European Union’s membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes North Macedonia’s clear strategic orientation and commitment to EuropeanU integration, as manifested by continued implementation of accession- related reforms;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) Deplores the failure of the European Council to approve the European Union’s membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the authorities to sustain consensual efforts to strengthen democratic consolidationcy and the transformation process, the continued fight against corruption, and restoreto strengthen the rule of law, while improving the climate for media and civil society;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Commends the steady steps in following up onprogress achieved in addressing the ‘Urgent Reform Priorities’ and following up on the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the Senior Experts’ Group on systemic Rule of Law issues;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the coimplementation of measures to ensure judicial and prosecutorial professionalism, independence, integrity and accountability, including through an efficient implementation of codes of ethics and of the landmark law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, ensuring sustainable solutions for cases related tothe case of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, and accountability for crimes stemming from the large-scale illegal wiretapping case;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages the conclusion of institutional reforms and the restructuring ofimplementation of the ongoing reforms in the security and intelligence sectors;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the positive engagement of the country’s main political forces, enabling adoption of key legislation and a smooth electoral process; takes note of the conclusions of the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR special election assessment mission that the 15 July 2020 parliamentary elections were well administered amid necessary COVID-19 related adjustments but persistent shortcomings and instability in the legal framework underlined the need for comprehensive reform in advance of future elections;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines the need to complete a timely, inclusive and comprehensive review of the Eelectoral Code; legislation, by addressing the remaining recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Notes with concern the widespread hate speech on social media, particularly towards Roma, LGBTI+ persons and other marginalised groups;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Notes that more effort must be made in building up prosecution capacities for protection from hate crimes, hate speech and gender-based violence;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the renewed adoption of anti-discrimination legislation, and urges the authorities to follow up with an inclusive and transparent process establishing an independent Anti- Discrimination Commission, ensuring protection and inclusion of all marginalised groups; encourages the Sobranie to adopt legislation which will enable a simplified, transparent and accessible procedure based on self-determination for legal gender recognition, and prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on lawmakers in Northern Macedonia to take steps to ensure an adequate representation of women in all decision-making positions, and to further address the gender imbalance and gender pay gap in the labour force; calls on all political parties to improve and ensure equal representation of women in appointed offices;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the country’s efforts in improving cooperation on managing migration and addressing the basic needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; calls for further strengthening of international protection of those in need, recalls the need to establish a viable mechanism for managing irregular migratory flows, ensuring international protection and combating people smuggling networks; encourages the country to move forward with the adoption of a strategy on the integration of migrants, including re-integration of returnees;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Acknowledges that the generally favourable environment for freedom of expression and media independence must be enhanced through improved legal framework, self- regulation, transparency of ownership and advertising market, while increasing financial sustainability and impartiality of public and private media outlets;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages systemic media reforms that would reinvigorate competition, the independence of the public service broadcaster, and qualitymedia regulator and support investigative journalism;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Commends stepsNotes the steps taken to enhancinge media self-regulation and professional standards;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for effective investigations into physical threats and verbal attacks against media professionals and for the further improvement of the national legal framework to create institutional measures for increasing the safety of journalists;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes the significance of ensuring quality journalism and media literacy for tackling widespread disinformation and fake news; is concerned about the disinformation campaigns in the media and calls on to investigate the sources of those campaigns;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Welcomes the Governments efforts in establishing a Law on Minimum Wages, which would provide a steady rise in the minimum wage and the private consumption;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Welcomes the steps taken in 2019 to establish a direct personal taxation system based on progressive rates. Notes the return to a flat-tax model. Encourages the Government to modernise the tax code with a higher focus on progressive rates on income, taxation of property and environmental factors, to produces sufficient value to implement social reforms and combat inequality;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Notes that despite the efforts made to amend the healthcare law, which enabled an increase in salaries, the public health care sector still faces losses of medical staff, particularly specialists who are leaving the country to work abroad; therefore encourages the government to create attractive working conditions in the public health care sector;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Commends the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Law and encourages North Macedonia to pursue the development and adoption of all essential related secondary legislation and strengthen institutional capacities for implementation;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Welcomes continuous steps tothe progress achieved in ensureing compliance with the obligations of the Third Energy Package, and createing an integrated regional energy market;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Welcomes the adoption of the Economic and Investment Plan and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans to support Green and digital transition of the region; Recalls the potential of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans to enhance regional connectivity through Rail Corridor VIII to Bulgaria, and gas interconnectors to Greece, Kosovo and Serbia;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Commends North Macedonia on being the first of the Western Balkan countries to develop its draft Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which provides a solid basis for the development of an ambitious final plan;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reiterates its calls to address an alarming level of urban air pollution via a transition to sustainable energy, heating and transport, to ensure compliance with the emission ceiling levels for large combustion plants; recommends the development of a national strategy for coal phase out;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Reiterates its full support to the enhanced regional cooperation in the region, and appeals to all parties to ensure the full andneed for the continuous implementation of the Prespa agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria; in good faith by all parties;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38b. Calls on Bulgaria to withdraw its veto against North Macedonia in order not to further delay the accession progress, and not let the enlargement process be impeded by unilateral interests;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 c(new)
Paragraph 38 c(new)
38c. Notes that in order to acknowledge country’s efforts in the EU accession process, Bulgaria should approve the opening of the intergovernmental conference (IGC) with North Macedonia as soon as possible, also in order to prevent that further delays harm the reconciliation gains in the region;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 d(new)
Paragraph 38 d(new)
38d. Welcomes the efforts made by the German Presidency to facilitate discussions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, with the goal of reaching an agreement in the Council on the negotiating framework;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Regrets that Bulgaria and North Macedonia have yet to find a compromise on issues related to history and languagepending bilateral issues, trusts that they will soon be settled in order not to jeopardise the integration momentum, and looks forward to the adoption of the negotiating framework, with the aim of holding of the first intergovernmental conference, kick-starting the accession talks without a further delay;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39b. Calls for the implementation of an institutionalized and sufficiently public- financed youth dialogue between North Macedonia and Greece, and North Macedonia and Bulgaria based on the model of the Franco-German Youth Office (FGYO);
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 c (new)
Paragraph 42 c (new)
42c. Reiterates its full support of the promise of Thessaloniki, made by the European Council in 2003, namely the future of the Western Balkan countries lies in the EU;