30 Amendments of Andrey KOVATCHEV related to 2022/2204(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 c (new)
Citation 37 c (new)
— having regard to the Zagreb Declaration adopted at the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 6 May 2020
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 b (new)
Citation 37 b (new)
— having regard to the 8th Berlin Process Summit of 5 July 2021,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 a (new)
Citation 37 a (new)
— having regard to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2019 and the Sofia Declaration, annexed thereto,
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Serbia as a candidate country should be judged on its own merits; whereas Serbia's path towards EU membership depends on the normalisation of relations with its neighbor Kosovo;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that EU membership continues to be Serbia’s strategic goal; underlines the fact that progress on the rule of law and fundamental rights, the normalisation of relations with Kosovo and alignment with the CFSP, especially with regards to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, will determine the dynamics of the accession process;
Amendment 77 #
2. Regrets Serbia’s continued low level of alignment with the CFSP, in particular in the context of the Russian war on's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine; underlines the fact that, as a candidate country, Serbia must adhere to the EU’s principles and policies, and alignment with a warmongering autocratic regime is unacceptable; stresses that Serbia is one of the only European countries not aligning with EU sanctions against Russia; expresses great concern over Serbia's behaviour, most notably Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, towards the Russian aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes Serbia’s alignment with the EU in voting in favour of relevant UN General Assembly resolutions and Russia’s suspension from the Human Rights Council; regrets, however, the fact that Serbia has consistently failed to align with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia; deplores Serbia’s close relationship and partnership with Russia;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets the fact that key components of Serbian foreign policy run directly counter to EU positions, including the signature of agreements setting out joint foreign policy priorities between Serbia and Russia for 2023-2024 and meetings with senior officials from Russia who are on the EU sanctions list; is concerned by the appointment of the Director of the Security Intelligence Agency, who is known for his anti-EU and pro-Kremlin rhetoric; calls on Serbia to credibly distance itself from anti- democratic ideologies;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Deplores the fact that Serbia has still not aligned with EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; calls on the authorities to show real commitment to EU values as soon as possible and to align with the EU’s decisions and positions in foreign and security policy, including sanctions against Russia;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses concern about the decreasing public support for EU membership in Serbia, as well as growing support for the Russian regime;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. NCondemns the fact that Serbia has previously used migration as a weapon against EU; notes the initial steps taken by Serbia to align with the EU’s list of non- EU countries whose nationals require visas for the EU and calls for further alignment; calls on Serbia to fully align with EU visa policy and refrain in the future from using migration as a weapon; calls on Serbia to continue to contribute to the management of the mixed migration flows towards the EU by cooperating effectively with its neighbours and EU Member States; regrets in this regard that Serbia continues its attempts to isolate its neighbouring country Kosovo from the international scene by using its visa regime as a campaign against Kosovo's recognition;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Reiterates calls on the Serbian authorities to provide more transparency on the role and activities of the so called Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Niš;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Urges the government to continue to focus on addressing structural shortcomings in the rule of law, fundamental rights, freedom of expression, the fight against corruption and disinformation, and the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Is deeply concerned about the spread of disinformation about Russian aggression against Ukraine; calls on the Serbian authorities to take an active stand against the disinformation and to fight back the most circulated fake news; calls on the Serbian authorities and the Commission to bolster infrastructure to fight disinformation and other hybrid threats;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the significant representation of national minorities in the new parliament, but is concerned with the practice of pro forma representation of national minorities who are under government control, and calls on all newly elected members of parliament to ensure national minority rights are protected and legislation is implemented in practice;
Amendment 304 #
16 a. Calls on the Serbian authorities to step up efforts to ensure the non- discriminatory treatment of national minorities and to actively pursue investigations and convictions for hate- motivated crimes; moreover, regrets the fact that national minorities are protected only on paper; more has to be done to actively implement the anti-discrimination legislation;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Notes with concern that despite the the finalisation of the long-delayed translation of primary school textbooks into Bulgarian, which will enable the Bulgarian national minority to be educated in its mother tongue, not all textbooks for the secondary level education have been translated; encourages the Serbian authorities to ensure the sustainability of the process by providing sufficient number of teachers, textbooks and additional materials (school diaries, student grade books, etc. ) to adequately address the needs of the pupils from the minority;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes Serbia’s engagement in regional cooperation initiatives if they include the region in its entirety; encourages it to step up its reconciliation efforts and seek solutions to past disputes; underlines that there is no place for genocide denial or the glorification of war criminals in a candidate country; underlines that such behaviour is deeply concerning and can be crucial in assessing Serbia to advance on their European path;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Regrets that Serbia continues its attempts to isolate its neighbouring country Kosovo from the international scene by campaigning against its recognition or by excluding the country from international organisations; calls on Serbia to stop its blockade regarding Kosovo's application to become a Member of the Council of Europe, which would otherwise contradict the 2013 Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on the normalisation of relations; notes that Kosovo Serbs would benefit from Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, as it would allow Serb citizens to bring human rights complaints against Kosovo before the European Court of Human Rights;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Calls for historical reconciliation and the overcoming of discrimination and prejudices from the communist past, especially in the educational, media, academic and social spheres, as a prerequisite to eradicate the language of hate against national minorities and neighbouring nations;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Reiterates its call on the authorities to continue their efforts to eliminate the legacy of the former Communist secret services by making its files open to the public, as a step towards the democratisation of Serbia; calls on Serbia to intensify the process of succession and implementation of obligations relating to the division of the common archive of the former Yugoslavia; reiterates, in this connection, that full access to all archival materials, especially those of the former Yugoslav Secret Services (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS) is of vital significance; reiterates its call to the authorities to facilitate access to those archives that concern the former republics of Yugoslavia and to return them to their respective governments if they so request;
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates its full support for the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue; calls on Serbia and Kosovo to engage in this dialogue in good faith and in the spirit of compromise to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of their relations based on mutual recognition in accordance with international law; notes that this achievement is crucial for both countries to advance on their respective European paths; calls for the full implementation of all the relevant agreements in good faith and in a timely manner, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb- Majority Municipalities;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses that the normalisation of relations based on mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo is a priority and a precondition for EU accession of both countries; acknowledges the increased engagement from both sides in having a constructive dialogue; calls for further active and constructive engagement in the EU-facilitated dialogue led by the EU Special Representative seeking a comprehensive and legally binding agreement, in accordance with international law; urges the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to refrain from any action that could undermine trust between the parties and put the constructive continuation of the dialogue at risk;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Condemns all actions that endanger stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process; is deeply concerned about the tensions in Norththe northern municipalities of Kosovo and the unacceptable shooting on Orthodox Christmas Eve; recalls the shared responsibility for peace and the rule of law for all people in Kosovo;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs; in this respect calls on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data on 1 October 2023 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Serbian authorities to take measures to counter depopulation, notes with concern that additional efforts need to be invested in the socio-economic development of the border regions in order to prevent them from depopulation; reminds that to use IPA III Cross-border Co-operation Programmes could be utilised for this purpose;
Amendment 437 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is deeply concerned about the investments in Serbia by Russia and China and their growing influence on the political and economic processes in the region;
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Expresses concern about the environmental impact of new infrastructure constructions in Serbia by Chinese companies; calls on the Serbian authorities to address the legitimate concerns expressed in the environmental protests; urges the Serbian authorities to improve the transparency and environmental impact assessment of Chinese and Russian investments;
Amendment 488 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Reiterates its regret over the lack of action on the pollution of the River Dragovishtitsa by mines operating in the region and the detrimental effect on the health of the local people and the environment;