Sittings · Document

Draft report (2025/2017(INI)) 2025-03-25

2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Albania

Committee on Foreign Affairs

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Amendment 1

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– Having regard to 2024 Global Gender Gap Report of World Economic Forum

Or. en

Amendment 2

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– Having regard to World Press Freedom Index 2024 Report of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Or. en

Amendment 3

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– Having regard to the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index

Or. en

Amendment 4

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Citation 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Sofia declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit of 17 May 2018 and the Sofia Priority Agenda, annexed thereto,

Or. en

Amendment 5

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Citation 15 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the EU-Western Balkans summit, held in Zagreb on 6 May 2020 and its declaration,

Or. en

Amendment 6

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Citation 15 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the final report of 26 July 2021 by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Election Observation Mission on the Republic of Albania’s parliamentary elections of 25 April 2021,

Or. en

Amendment 7

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the asylum agreement signed by the Albanian and Italian Governments on November 6, 2023, and ratified by the Albanian parliament on February 22, 2024;

Or. en

Amendment 8

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

– having regard to the Europol 2023 report on decoding the EU’s most threatening criminal networks,

Or. en

Amendment 9

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

A. whereas enlargement is being used as a EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent; whereas enlargement entitles increasing risks and challenges for the functioning of the EU, a reality that needs to be properly assessed by the current Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 10

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

A. whereas enlargement no longer fully considers the criteria of economic rigor or political stability as stipulated by the Copenhagen Criteria; whereas the Copenhagen Criteria are essential for safeguarding the values, stability, and security of the Union and its citizens;

Or. en

Amendment 11

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

A. whereas cooperation, rather than enlargement alone, should be considered the most realistic and effective EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

Or. en

Amendment 12

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

A. whereas enlargement, when implemented sensibly, is one of the most effective EU foreign policy instruments and a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;

Or. fi

Amendment 13

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A a. whereas the EU remains the main political and economic partner of the Western Balkan countries; whereas the EU continues to be by far Albania’s biggest trade and investment partner and its largest provider of financial assistance;

Or. en

Amendment 14

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; whereas Albania’s EU accession depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; whereas the quality of a country’s necessary reforms determine the timetable for accession;

Or. en

Amendment 15

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and economic preparedness. Candidate countries must demonstrate stable democratic institutions and respect for core values, as well as possess a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressures within the EU internal market.

Or. en

Amendment 16

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights and foreign interference poses a direct challenge to the functioning of democratic institutions, thus hampering the prospect for EU accession;

Or. en

Amendment 17

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process based on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;

B. whereas enlargement is a merit-based process founded on democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights; whereas the countries of the Western Balkans are still far from meeting these criteria;

Or. en

Amendment 18

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

B a. whereas on November 20, 2024, Albanian MPs set off smoke bombs and fires in the middle of the chamber in the Parliament of Albania in an attempt to halt the vote on the 2024 budget; whereas this event demonstrates the clear political instability of the country, which raises serious concerns regarding Albania’s progress in the EU accession process and its ability to meet the necessary political and institutional criteria;

Or. en

Amendment 19

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas Albania has been an EU candidate country since 2014, recent political developments have raised concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of Prime Minster Rama, repression of opposition leaders and activists, and the politicisation of judicial processes turning it into a political weapon, undermining the democratic process and Constitutional parliamentary system based on principle of checks and balances;

Or. en

Amendment 20

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C a. whereas according to the Europol 2023 report on the EU's most threatening criminal networks1a, Albania is identified as a significant player in some of the most threatening criminal networks in the European Union; whereas this report specifically points to Albanian criminal groups being highly active in drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and the illicit firearms trade;

_________________

1a https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Europol%20report%20on%20Decoding%20the%20EU-s%20most%20threatening%20criminal%20networks.pdf

Or. en

Amendment 21

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Recital Γ a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Ca. having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

Or. el

Amendment 22

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital C b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C b. whereas Albanian criminal networks are heavily involved in trafficking weapons, including firearms and explosives, through the Balkan Route to the EU1a; whereas Albania's historical role in weapon smuggling, especially following the looting of state arsenals in the 1990s, continues to impact the European arms trade; whereas Europol reports that the Western Balkan remains a critical transit point for illicit weapons entering Western Europe1b; whereas these trafficking activities exacerbate security concerns for the EU;

_________________

1a https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Europol%20report%20on%20Decoding%20the%20EU-s%20most%20threatening%20criminal%20networks.pdf

1b https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/EU-SOCTA-2025.pdf

Or. en

Amendment 23

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital C c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

C c. whereas Albania is a significant producer of cannabis in Europe, with estimates suggesting that a large portion of cannabis consumed in Europe is cultivated in Albania; whereas the Balkan Route is a primary trafficking pathway for heroin originating from Afghanistan, passing through Albania to Western Europe; whereas Albanian criminal networks are heavily involved in smuggling heroin, with Albania being a critical entry point for heroin entering the European Union; whereas Albanians are one of most represented nationalities in canabis and cocaine trafficking networks in Europe1a;

_________________

1a https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/Europol%20report%20on%20Decoding%20the%20EU-s%20most%20threatening%20criminal%20networks.pdf

Or. en

Amendment 24

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

D. whereas Albania opened negotiations on ‘Cluster 1: Fundamentals’ on 15 October 2024 and on ‘Cluster 6: External Relations’ on 17 December 2024;

D. whereas Albania opened negotiations on ‘Cluster 1: Fundamentals’ on 15 October 2024 and on ‘Cluster 6: External Relations’ on 17 December 2024 and it must address critical vulnerabilities relating to foreign malign influence, election integrity, and hybrid threats to progress towards EU accession;

Or. en

Amendment 25

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner and is fully aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy;

E. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner and is fully aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy; whereas foreign policy alignment with the EU is not the sole accession requirement outlined;

Or. en

Amendment 26

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Recital Ε

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner and is fully aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy;

E. whereas it is Europe’s wish that Albania should become a reliable partner in the EU’s common foreign and security policy;

Or. el

Amendment 27

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas Albania has been a target of Russian disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and election meddling, as well as questionable investments from non-EU actors such as China; whereas in 2023 and 2024, independent investigations revealed significant disinformation activity targeting Albania, with over 780 cases of fake news from Russian sources republished in Albanian-language media; whereas Russian and Iranian cyber operations against Albania in 2022 and 2023 disrupted critical government functions, illustrating the hybrid threat environment Albania faces as it progresses toward EU integration;

Or. en

Amendment 28

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas enlargement in the Balkans is contrary to the interests of Member states; whereas the study carried out in 2019 by the European Council on Foreign Relations (C.E.F.R.)1a, confirms that the majority of citizens of the Member States do not desire a Balkan integration into the EU;

_________________

1a https://eupinions.eu/de/blog/eu-citizens-remain-against-further-enlargement

Or. en

Amendment 29

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin, Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas electoral shortcomings persist in Albania; whereas the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to further improve the conduct of elections in Albania and bring them fully in line with the OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards have not yet been fully addressed;

Or. en

Amendment 30

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas the Albanian parliament ratified on February 22, 2024 an asylum agreement signed by the Albanian and Italian Governments on November 6, 2023, to host two migrant centres in Albania in order to manage migration flows into Italy;

Or. en

Amendment 31

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas the protection and inclusion of people belonging to national and ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups is crucial for aspiring EU Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 32

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E a. whereas Albania participates in EU CSDP missions and operations, including in EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Or. en

Amendment 33

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E b. whereas the OSCE-ODIHR has identified serious vulnerabilities in Albania’s electoral system, particularly regarding foreign funding, media ownership transparency, and online political advertisements, which remain key risks for democratic resilience; whereas these vulnerabilities must be addressed by Albanian authorities;

Or. en

Amendment 34

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E b. whereas the fight against corruption in Albania, the harmful influence of clan-based interference in both local and central administrations, money laundering, organized crime, and the trafficking of irregular migrants to the European Union's territory all constitute critical European security concerns;

Or. en

Amendment 35

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E b. whereas protection of minorities is crucial for aspiring EU member states; whereas the implementing legislation on free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages remains to be adopted in Albania;

Or. en

Amendment 36

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E b. whereas the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine highlights the critical importance of EU enlargement for ensuring security and stability on our continent;

Or. en

Amendment 37

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Recital E c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E c. whereas IPA III, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for the period 2021-2027, provides EUR 14.2 billion to support reforms and socio-economic development in the Western Balkans and Turkey;

Or. en

Amendment 38

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Recital E c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

E c. whereas malign direct and proxy foreign interference and disinformation aim to sow discord, provoke tensions and violence, and destabilise the whole region;

Or. en

Amendment 39

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Notes Albania’s theoretical commitment to EU integration;

Or. el

Amendment 40

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Albania’s unwavering commitment to EU integration, reflecting consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens, and commends its consistent full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and promotion of the rules-based international order, ncluding its categorical response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, by adopting the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus;

Or. en

Amendment 41

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Firmly opposes further EU enlargement, as the candidate countries are still far from meeting the political, economic, and social stability criteria outlined in the Copenhagen Criteria, particularly in the case of Albania, whose ongoing political instability, widespread corruption, and persistent organized crime pose significant risks that could jeopardize the safety and security of European citizens;

Or. en

Amendment 42

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Albania’s unwavering commitment to EU integration, reflecting consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens, and commends its consistent full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and promotion of the rules-based international order, including the active role it plays in the region and initiatives therein;

Or. it

Amendment 43

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Welcomes Albania’s unwavering commitment to EU integration, reflecting consensus among political parties, both ruling and opposition and overwhelming support among citizens, and commends its consistent full alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and promotion of the rules-based international order;

Or. en

Amendment 44

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin, Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Welcomes Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027 and the swift progress made in recent years, notably the opening of two clusters of negotiating chapters in 2024;

2. Welcomes Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027 and the swift progress made in recent years, notably the opening of two clusters of negotiating chapters in 2024; recalls that candidate countries undergo in-depth transformations to fulfil membership criteria during accession negotiations, which last as long as needed to implement the necessary reforms; stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension; cautions against any actions that could undermine the system of checks and balances;

Or. en

Amendment 45

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

2. Welcomes Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027 and the swift progress made in recent years, notably the opening of two clusters of negotiating chapters in 2024;

2. Takes note of Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027 and the swift progress made in recent years, notably the opening of two clusters of negotiating chapters in 2024;

Or. en

Amendment 46

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Notes that the pace of EU accession is determined by the candidate country’s progress on aligning with the EU acquis, its track record on implementing it and the due functioning of all the country’s institutions, and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; urges Albania to accelerate reforms to strengthen the rule of law, counter corruption and organised crime, and ensure the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression;

3. Notes that the pace of EU accession is determined by the candidate country’s progress on aligning with the EU acquis, its track record on implementing it and the due functioning of all the country’s institutions, and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; stresses that the candidate must possess a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressures within the EU internal market; urges Albania to accelerate reforms to strengthen the rule of law, counter corruption and organised crime, and ensure the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression;

Or. en

Amendment 47

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Notes that the pace of EU accession is determined by the candidate country’s progress on aligning with the EU acquis, its track record on implementing it and the due functioning of all the country’s institutions, and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; emphasizes that Albania remains significantly behind in implementing the necessary reforms to strengthen the rule of law, tackle corruption and organized crime, and safeguard fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and as such, its prospects for accession should be reexamined;

Or. en

Amendment 48

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3. Notes that the pace of EU accession is determined by the candidate country’s progress on aligning with the EU acquis, its track record on implementing it and the due functioning of all the country’s institutions, and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; urges Albania to accelerate reforms to strengthen the rule of law and economic growth, counter corruption and organised crime, step up border control to prevent human trafficking and illegal immigration, and ensure the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression;

Or. fi

Amendment 49

Ilaria Salis, Pernando Barrena Arza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 50

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. it

Amendment 51

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3a. Notes the progress made by Albania in undertaking reforms to public administration, notably the establishment of a Ministry for Public Administration and the adoption of a new public finance management strategy for 2023-2030; stresses the importance of continuing to carry out reforms to make governance more efficient, administration more transparent and public sector recruitment more meritocratic;

Or. it

Amendment 52

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3 a. Expresses grave concern over increasing signs of political persecution targeting opposition leaders, including ongoing legal actions and arrests of key political figures such as Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, Ilir Meta, Fatmir Mediu, Ervin Salianji, and Fredi Beleri; stresses the need for Albania to uphold political pluralism and ensure a fair, competitive democratic environment ahead of the 2025 elections;

Or. en

Amendment 53

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3a. Expresses its regret regarding the complete lack of pressure for reparations with regard to the numerous instances of persecution and terrorisation suffered by the Greek National Minority of Northern Epirus, a large proportion of whom have been driven from their ancestral homes.

Or. el

Amendment 54

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3b. Condemns the complete lack of initiatives to achieve justice for the murder of Konstantinos Katsifas from Northern Epirus.

Or. el

Amendment 55

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

3c. Notes that Albania is the heartland of the Albanian mafia’s organised crime, which afflicts a number of states in the EU and internationally; highlights the importance of effective actions by Eurojust to tackle Albanian drug trafficking, human organ trafficking and forced prostitution rings.

Or. el

Amendment 56

Matthieu Valet, Jordan Bardella

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Welcomes the EU’s new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which will provide EUR 922 million in grants and loans to Albania when it meets the conditions set out in its ambitious Reform Agenda;

4. Raises concerns about the EU’s new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which will provide EUR 922 million in grants and loans to Albania when it meets the conditions outlined in its ambitious Reform Agenda, amid ongoing political and economic tensions within the EU; further questions the appropriateness of the European Union financing third countries while grappling with an economic and geopolitical crisis within its own borders;

Or. en

Amendment 57

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Stresses that Albania’s fulfilment of the conditions set out in its ambitious Reform Agenda should not lead to the disbursement of EUR 922 million under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans; underlines that these funds should instead be redirected immediately to benefit the current Member States.

Or. en

Amendment 58

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Notes the EU’s new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, which will provide EUR 922 million in grants and loans to Albania when it meets the conditions set out in its ambitious Reform Agenda;

Or. en

Amendment 59

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. el

Amendment 60

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5. Takes note of Albania’s adoption of the National Plan for European Integration 2024-2026; calls for greater efforts to increase transparency and engage in public communication on EU integration;

5. Commends Albania’s adoption of the National Plan for European Integration 2024-2026; welcomes the fact that Albania's bodies in charge of the integration process are in place;calls for greater efforts to increase transparency and engage in public communication on EU integration;

Or. en

Amendment 61

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5a. Recognises the closer cooperation between Albania and the EU in managing migration flows and border control processes, in particular through the new national strategy on migration for 2024‑2026 and cooperation with Frontex; encourages Albania to continue with this course of action, ensuring effective border management and better coordination with the Member States to address migration challenges;

Or. it

Amendment 62

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

5 a. Welcomes that the Constitutional Court of Albania has improved its efficiency by reducing its backlog and continues to uphold institutional checks and balances;

Or. en

Amendment 63

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Insists on the importance of constructive political debate and orderly parliamentary conduct as key aspects of democratic governance; reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive and inclusive political dialogue and overcome ongoing political polarisation in the country; emphasises the need for more effective parliamentary oversight, improved functioning of institutions and meaningful participation of civil society;

6. Is concerned that tensions and polarisation between the ruling party and the opposition disrupt and weaken parliamentary activity; Insists on the importance of constructive political debate and orderly parliamentary conduct as key aspects of democratic governance; reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive and inclusive political dialogue and overcome ongoing political polarisation in the country; calls on Albania to implement the recommendations outlined in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) electoral observation report regarding transparency in political party financing and fair electoral competition; underlines the necessity of fostering a political culture based on mutual respect and adherence to democratic norms, ensuring that political competition does not undermine institutional stability; stresses that importance of depoliticizing key state institutions to enhance public trust in governance; emphasises the need for more effective parliamentary oversight, improved functioning of institutions and meaningful participation of civil society;

Or. en

Amendment 64

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Insists on the importance of constructive political debate and orderly parliamentary conduct as key aspects of democratic governance; reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive and inclusive political dialogue and overcome ongoing high political polarisation in the country and the clashes between the ruling majority and the opposition; regrets the amendment of the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure and Ethics, defying the democratic functioning of the Parliament; emphasises the need for more effective parliamentary oversight, improved functioning of institutions and meaningful participation of civil society;

Or. en

Amendment 65

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 66

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 67

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6. Insists on the importance of constructive political debate and orderly parliamentary conduct as key aspects of democratic governance; reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive and inclusive political dialogue and overcome ongoing political polarisation in the country, particularly in view of the parliamentary elections; emphasises the need for more effective parliamentary oversight, improved functioning of institutions and meaningful participation of civil society;

Or. it

Amendment 68

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Urges all political actors to refrain from using state mechanisms as political tools to attack opponents, and to demonstrate full respect for the role of the opposition, by putting an end to political attacks, intimidation and efforts to undermine their legitimacy; calls for genuine dialogue to promote political stability and progress, emphasising the need for cross-party consensus on the EU integration agenda and the meaningful involvement of civil society;

Or. en

Amendment 69

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6a. Encourages Albania to implement regulations ensuring the full implementation of the 2017 framework for the protection of National Minorities and the related rights to free self-determination, the use of minority languages and the right to education in minority languages.

Or. el

Amendment 70

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 a. Recognises the growing threat of foreign malign influence and hybrid interference in Albania’s democratic institutions, which directly impacts its EU accession process; calls on Albania to enhance institutional resilience against covert political funding, media manipulation, and cyber threats;

Or. en

Amendment 71

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin, Reinhold Lopatka

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 b. Regrets the Parliament’s repeated failure to comply with some rulings of the Constitutional Court; emphasises Parliament's duty to uphold the rulings of the Constitutional Court in order to preserve the balance and separation of powers, as these are essential for safeguarding democratic governance;

Or. en

Amendment 72

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 b. Regrets that civil society organisations in Albania receive limited public funding; insists on the implementation of necessary conditions for the effective VAT exemption for civil society organisations;

Or. en

Amendment 73

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 c. Stresses the fundamental and irreplaceable role of Parliament in safeguarding checks and balances, especially through inquiry committees; notes with concern the unilateral passage of the new Law on Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry without securing consensus; calls on Albania to ensure genuine democratic accountability and reinforce strong, transparent governance, including by introducing inquiry committees, interpellations, and motions with debate, in full adherence to legal provisions;

Or. en

Amendment 74

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

6 d. Stresses that any initiative claiming to strengthen governance, rule of law, and anticorruption efforts must be built on inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration, rather than political manoeuvring; expresses concern over any decisions taken unilaterally without broader political consensus;

Or. en

Amendment 75

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Takes note of the July 2024 amendments to Albania’s electoral code, which enable out-of-country voting by the Albanian diaspora and introduce partially open candidate lists; insists on the need to urgently address and implement the outstanding recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, including on the electoral and party financing framework; calls on the authorities to guarantee the freedom of association, including in political parties, and the freedom to stand for election, including for all minorities and all sections of the opposition; calls on the Albanian authorities to prevent vote-buying and the misuse of administrative resources for electoral gain;

Or. en

Amendment 76

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Takes note of the July 2024 amendments to Albania’s electoral code, which enable out-of-country voting by the Albanian diaspora and introduce partially open candidate lists; expresses concerns that these changes might fail to address fundamental issues such as vote secrecy, electoral corruption, and the lack of independent media oversight; regrets that the tense political environment and continuous divisions hampered the work of the parliamentary ad-hoc committee and the successful implementation of the electoral reforms; insists on the need to address and implement the outstanding recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission;

Or. en

Amendment 77

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Takes note of the July 2024 amendments to Albania’s electoral code, which enable out-of-country voting by the Albanian diaspora and introduce partially open candidate lists; highlights the need to implement the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission in a complete and timely manner, ensuring that electoral processes are transparent and democratic institutions function properly; calls for the legislative framework to be strengthened further in order to prevent voters from being put under pressure and to improve equal access to the media during election campaigns;

Or. it

Amendment 78

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7. Takes note of the July 2024 amendments to Albania’s electoral code, which enable out-of-country voting by the Albanian diaspora and introduce partially open candidate lists; insists on the need to address and implement the outstanding recommendations from the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission; particularly on electoral transparency, including prohibiting anonymous online political advertising, increasing financial disclosure requirements for foreign-linked entities, and tightening laws against campaign finance violations;

Or. en

Amendment 79

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Regrets that despite OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, repeated electoral violations remain unaddressed; notes that 2020 unilateral constitutional amendments by the ruling party have weakened institutional checks and electoral competitiveness; calls for ensuring level-playing field and full respect of international standards for free and fair 2025 elections;

Or. en

Amendment 80

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Strongly condemns Russian interference in Albania’s democratic processes, particularly the covert financial support given to Albanian political actors in the 2017 elections, where Russian-linked shell companies funneled €600,000 in undisclosed campaign financing to influence electoral outcomes;

Or. en

Amendment 81

Andrey Kovatchev, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 a. Cautions against any action that could potentially undermine fair competition and the integrity of the electoral process shortly before the elections;

Or. en

Amendment 82

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7a. Welcomes any possible initiative by the Albanian Government for the repatriation of the diaspora.

Or. el

Amendment 83

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

7 b. Expresses deep concern over systemic violations of the electoral code by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the misuse of state resources for electoral gain, including the distribution of one-time payments to pensioners two months before elections, electoral hiring practices, expedited procurement processes, and the issuance of licenses and cannabis-related incentives in exchange for votes, in violation of legal prohibitions; underlines that these acts undermine the integrity and fairness of the electoral process and constitute abuse of public office for political advantage;

Or. en

Amendment 84

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Notes with concern that media independence and pluralism in Albania continue to be affected by high market concentration, the overlap of business and political interests, lack of transparency of funding and ownership, intimidation and precarious working conditions for journalists; notes that, according to the 2024 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Albania ranks 99th, reflecting ongoing issues related to media ownership concentration, political interference, and threats against journalists; highlights that the lack of transparency in media financing and ownership structures increases the risk of editorial bias and undermines public trust in journalism; calls on the Albanian authorities to ensure media ownership transparency and enforce zero tolerance for the intimidation of journalist;

Or. en

Amendment 85

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Notes with concern that media independence and pluralism continue to be affected by high market concentration, the overlap of business and political interests, lack of transparency of funding and ownership, intimidation and precarious working conditions for journalists; highlights that Russia has systematically spread disinformation in Albania, with 41 major fake news items identified in 2023 - reaching Albanian, Kosovar, and North Macedonian audiences through over 780 republished articles; highlights that Kremlin-aligned narratives have sought to erode public confidence in democratic institutions and promote anti-Western sentiment;

Or. en

Amendment 86

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Notes with concern that media independence and pluralism continue to be affected by high market concentration, the overlap of business and political interests, lack of transparency of funding and ownership, intimidation and precarious working conditions for journalists; calls on the authorities to address persisting major challenges hampering media independence, including the lack of transparency regarding media ownership and financing sources;

Or. en

Amendment 87

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 88

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Regrets that during the past years the environment for free media and independent journalists has been declining; notes with concern that media independence and pluralism continue to be affected by high market concentration, the overlap of business and political interests, lack of transparency of funding and ownership, intimidation and precarious working conditions for journalists;

Or. en

Amendment 89

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner; notes that there has been no progress in aligning the legislative framework with the EU acquis and EU standards, including the European Media Freedom Act4 ; recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy in order to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news;

9. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner in consultation with media organisations, with the aim of improving media freedom and self-regulation; notes that there has been no progress in aligning the legislative framework with the EU acquis and EU standards, including the European Media Freedom Act[1]; recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy in order to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news; expresses concern over enduring inflammatory rhetoric, including by high-level politicians, public officials and other public figures, which fuels the culture of intimidation, smear campaigns, violence and rioting, and calls for the final convictions of those who attack journalists to be ensured;

_________________

4 Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (European Media Freedom Act) (OJ L, 2024/1083, 17.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1083/oj).

Or. en

Amendment 90

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner; welcomes the platform launched by EU/CoE and School of Journalisms; calls on government to engage actively ; notes that there has been no progress in aligning the legislative framework with the EU acquis and EU standards, including the European Media Freedom Act4 ; recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy in order to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news;

_________________

Or. en

Amendment 91

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

_________________

Or. en

Amendment 92

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner; regrets that there has been no progress in aligning the legislative framework with the EU acquis and EU standards, including the European Media Freedom Act4 ; recalls the need to strengthen investigative journalism, fact-checking and media literacy and to tackle hate speech, disinformation and fake news;

_________________

Or. en

Amendment 93

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 a. Is highly alerted by the increase in lawsuits against journalists and calls on the authorities to adopt a legal framework that efficiently protects journalists, human rights defenders, environmental activists and other stakeholders from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs);

Or. en

Amendment 94

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

9 b. Strongly condemns the increasing hostility against independent journalists and media professionals in Albania, including verbal attacks and anti-media rhetoric by high-ranking officials, smear campaigns, and misogynistic online harassment targeting women journalists, often targeting journalists reporting on the rule of law, corruption and justice; calls on the authorities to stop conducting such campaigns and attacks on journalists, to clearly condemn those who do this, to respect the role of independent journalism as a crucial check on power and to engage with the media in a manner that upholds democratic principles;

Or. en

Amendment 95

Ilaria Salis, Pernando Barrena Arza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Recalls the responsibility of national and local authorities to improve transparency, accountability and inclusiveness by conducting meaningful and regular public stakeholder consultations; notes with concern that the Albanian Parliament’s implementation of the legal framework for public consultations remains predominantly formal; stresses the need for greater transparency regarding public data and key legislative projects, such as the last census, whose publication has been delayed for years, and the Italy-Albania asylum deal, whose negotiations have been conducted with limited public communication and insufficient consultation of civil society stakeholders;

Or. en

Amendment 96

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Recalls the responsibility of national and local authorities to improve transparency, accountability and inclusiveness by conducting meaningful and regular public stakeholder consultations; notes with concern that the Albanian Parliament’s implementation of the legal framework for public consultations remains predominantly formal; calls on Albania to step up its efforts against foreign interference in electoral processes, ensuring that foreign-backed entities do not distort democratic competition;

Or. en

Amendment 97

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10. Recalls the responsibility of national and local authorities to improve transparency, accountability and inclusiveness by conducting meaningful and regular public stakeholder consultations; insists on improving the financial resources, administrative capacity and fiscal autonomy of local authority units; notes with concern that the Albanian Parliament’s implementation of the legal framework for public consultations remains predominantly formal;

Or. en

Amendment 98

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Welcomes Albania’s vibrant and constructive civil society which plays a crucial and positive role in the reform process; encourages the government to enhance its cooperation with civil society, in particular also with women’s rights organisations, on decision-making and to build collaborative relationships, genuinely implicating civil society in a transparent legislative process from an early stage onwards; underlines that civil society is vital in fostering democracy and pluralism and promoting good governance and social progress;

Or. en

Amendment 99

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10a. Stresses the importance of ensuring that free and fair elections are held in accordance with international standards; welcomes the improvements to electoral observation practices and the increasing involvement of civil society in monitoring the democratic process; calls on the Albanian authorities to make campaign financing more transparent and to ensure that all political parties have equal access to the media;

Or. it

Amendment 100

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Welcomes the establishment of the new position of Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption; remains concerned, however, that there has been limited progress in public administration reform; insists that the Albanian authorities effectively implement provisions on merit-based recruitment and review the effectiveness of the current monitoring structures for the new public administration and anti-corruption reforms;

Or. en

Amendment 101

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Underlines the need to foster the culture of accountability, non-partisan access to public information and scrutiny of public institutions; including with regard to the implementation of the Reform Agenda; notes that public entities need to improve their compliance with transparency requirements and responsiveness to information requests;

Or. en

Amendment 102

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Urges the Albanian government to enforce media ownership transparency laws, given that over 30% of Albanian media outlets operate with undisclosed funding sources, creating a significant risk of foreign-aligned editorial bias and propaganda penetration;

Or. en

Amendment 103

Vangelis Meimarakis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 a. Calls on Albania to protect and promote the rights of persons belonging to minorities, in line with its international obligations and European and international standards, amongst others by ensuring effective implementation of the legislative framework;

Or. en

Amendment 104

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Notes that civil society organisations (CSOs) in Albania are operating in a challenging environment, including in relation to registration requirements and limited public funding for CSO; regrets the considerable delay in drafting the 2024-2027 Roadmap for the Government Policy towards a More Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development; urges the authorities to speed-up this process while ensuring a broad and transparent involvement of all relevant stakeholders, with a view to significantly improving its implementation, since the previous roadmap saw only minimal implementation; regrets that the financial sustainability of the non-profit sector remains a major challenge due to Albania’s failure to effectively implement VAT exemption on foreign funding, in violation of Albania’s commitments under the EU-Albania Cooperation Agreement for IPA III;

Or. en

Amendment 105

Vangelis Meimarakis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Welcomes the adoption of the pending implementing legislation on the rights of persons belonging to minorities, specifically on self-identification and the use of minority languages, and underscores that these by-laws have to be fully and effectively implemented in order to render the exercising of minority and education rights applicable in practice;

Or. en

Amendment 106

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Regrets that limited progress has been made in aligning the legal framework for procurement with the EU acquis; expresses concerns over the newly introduced temporary exemptions in public procurement law; calls on the Albanian authorities to improve competitive procurement procedures in line with the EU acquis;

Or. en

Amendment 107

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Welcomes Albania’s blocking of 155 Russian disinformation domains but stresses the need for a coordinated EU-Albania disinformation response mechanism, modeled on the EU vs. Disinfo platform, to rapidly debunk and counteract Kremlin narratives;

Or. en

Amendment 108

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 b. Welcomes the establishment of the new antenna office in Tirana, which will serve as a key contact point between the European Parliament national parliaments, civil society, and local partners in the region of the Western Balkans ;

Or. en

Amendment 109

Vangelis Meimarakis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 c. Recalls that Albania should safeguard the right to property, in particular, by making decisive progress on first registration and compensation, improving the transparency of the state cadastre and the quality of the property register cadastral data, and ensuring that the right to a fair trial and the right to effective remedy are respected in cases of expropriation and removal of properties;

Or. en

Amendment 110

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 c. Warns of the increasing footprint of Chinese state-backed media in Albania, with Xinhua News and China Radio International providing free editorial content to Albanian outlets, shaping narratives aligned with Beijing’s geopolitical interests;

Or. en

Amendment 111

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 c. Is concerned about the lack of progress in company law legislation in Albania; calls on the Albanian authorities to complete the alignment of company law legislation with the EU acquis;

Or. en

Amendment 112

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

10 d. Welcomes the progress made by Albania in improving data transmission to Eurostat;

Or. en

Amendment 113

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Notes that Albania’s legal framework for gender-based violence is not yet fully aligned with the Istanbul Convention; expresses serious concern that violence against women remains a pressing issue, with the number of femicides remaining high; urges the enhancement of support services for victims, particularly healthcare, shelter funding, free legal aid, and victim reintegration and rehabilitation; urges the enhancement of support services for victims, particularly in healthcare, shelter funding, free legal aid, and reintegration and rehabilitation programmes; stresses the need for increased financial and institutional support for prevention programs, public awareness campaigns, and specialized training for law enforcement and judicial authorities to ensure a victim-centred approach.

Or. en

Amendment 114

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 115

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11. Expresses serious concern that violence against women remains a pressing issue, with the number of femicides remaining high; worries, in this regard, about the spread of Islamism in a Muslim-majority country, with its poor record on women's rights; urges the enhancement of support services for victims, particularly healthcare, shelter funding, free legal aid, and victim reintegration and rehabilitation;

Or. en

Amendment 116

Yannis Maniatis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Express its concern for the irregularities noted by the party representing the Greek minority in Albania during the repeat municipal election in Himara last August; recalls that the respect of the rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities, including the right of representation is part of Albania`s international obligations and important factor in the accession negotiations;

Or. en

Amendment 117

Emmanouil Kefalogiannis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Calls on Albania to protect and promote the rights of persons belonging to minorities, in line with its international obligations and European and international standards, amongst others by ensuring effective implementation of the legislative framework.

Or. en

Amendment 118

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 a. Calls on the Albanian government to fully respect and protect human rights, including the rights of minorities, and to ensure that all allegations of human rights abuses, including hate speech are promptly and thoroughly investigated;

Or. en

Amendment 119

Yannis Maniatis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. expresses its concern for the lack of effective protection of the right to property; calls Albanian government to advance the first registration and compensation, improving the transparency of the state cadastre and the quality of the property register cadastral data; underlines the importance of the right to a fair trial and the right to effective remedy in cases of expropriation and removal of properties;

Or. en

Amendment 120

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. Reiterates its call on the government to adopt remaining implementing legislation on the rights of persons belonging to minorities, specifically on self-identification and the use of minority languages under the 2017 Framework Law on the Protection of National Minorities in line with European standards; calls on the authorities to increase the capacity of the State Committee on National Minorities;

Or. en

Amendment 121

Emmanouil Kefalogiannis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 b. Welcomes the adoption of the pending implementing legislation on the rights of persons belonging to minorities, specifically on self-identification and the use of minority languages, and underscores that these by-laws have to be fully and effectively implemented in order to render the exercising of minority and education rights applicable in practice.

Or. en

Amendment 122

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 c. Urges the Albanian authorities to respect and uphold the property rights of minority communities, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background, enjoy equal protection under the law; calls on the Albanian authorities to take meaningful action in addressing historical injustices related to property claims, strengthening trust among minorities, and aligning national policies with the EU's core values of non-discrimination and equitable treatment;

Or. en

Amendment 123

Emmanouil Kefalogiannis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 c. Recalls that Albania should safeguard the right to property, in particular, by making decisive progress on first registration and compensation, improving the transparency of the state cadastre and the quality of the property register cadastral data, and ensuring that the right to a fair trial and the right to effective remedy are respected in cases of expropriation and removal of properties;

Or. en

Amendment 124

Yannis Maniatis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 c. welcomes the adoption of the pending implementing legislation and expects to be fully applied protecting in practice the rights of persons in minorities especially the right of self-determination, education and use of minority languages;

Or. en

Amendment 125

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

11 d. Commends the successful 2024 census held in an atmosphere of trust and transparency and its results; underlines that Albania should serve as a positive model for conducting a population census in the region;

Or. en

Amendment 126

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality;

12. Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality; recognizes the need for Albania to fully align its legal framework on gender-based violence with the Istanbul Convention; notes that, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, Albania has fallen six places to rank 23rd globally, indicating a widening gender gap; expresses serious concern that violence against women remains a pressing issue, with the number of femicides remaining high; calls for the full and effective implementation of existing legislation, including stricter enforcement of protective measures and enhanced judicial responsiveness to gender-based violence cases, as highlighted in the European Commission’s Albania 2024 Report;

Or. en

Amendment 127

Stanislav Stoyanov

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality;

12. Emphasises the importance of continuously strengthening the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In this regard, notes the adoption of the last remaining bylaws under the 2017 Framework Law on the Protection of National Minorities and encourages their implementation in accordance with the highest European standards; Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality;

Or. en

Amendment 128

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12. Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality;

12. Expresses concern about persistent shortcomings, such as non-alignment or partial alignment with the EU acquis, regarding persons with disabilities and gender equality; notes that women living in rural and remote areas, Roma and Egyptian women and LGBTIQ individuals continue to face limited access to primary healthcare; talk about discriminatory and hateful language towards LGBTIQ community

Or. en

Amendment 129

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 a. Expresses concern over persistent issues of discrimination and social exclusion affecting minority groups in Albania, particularly in access to education, employment, and public services; highlights the requirement for full alignment with the EU acquis on anti-discrimination policies and minority rights, ensuring equal opportunities and protection from marginalisation; calls for the rapid adoption and effective implementation of legal frameworks that guarantee cultural, linguistic, and religious rights while promoting social and economic inclusion; urges the Albanian authorities to enhance institutional mechanisms to prevent discrimination and ensure meaningful political participation of all communities, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission’s 2024 Albania Report.

Or. en

Amendment 130

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 a. Recalls the importance of measures ensuring the protection of national minorities and their active role in the society; calls on Albania to ensure that minority groups have equal opportunities, adequate representation in political and cultural life, public media and administration, as well as the judiciary; calls on Albania to protect and promote cultural heritage, languages and traditions of its national minorities; calls on Albania to review the methods for selecting the members of the Committee on National Minorities, in accordance with the recommendation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of national minorities;

Or. en

Amendment 131

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 a. Welcomes the adoption of a new and better-budgeted national action plan for LGBTI+ persons; regrets, however, that there has been no progress in initiating the necessary legislation in this field and calls on the authorities to adopt the necessary legislation on the recognition of gender identity and sex characteristics, as well as on same-sex partnerships/marriages; deplores that LGBTI+ persons continue to face threats and derogatory media campaigns, with public institutions failing to provide adequate protection; urges public institutions to demonstrate strong commitment to protecting LGBT+ rights;

Or. en

Amendment 132

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 b. Recalls the crucial role of education for national minorities and therefore calls on Albania to provide equal and non-discriminatory education in minority languages as well as to ensure adequate access to state lower and high education to all of its citizens;

Or. en

Amendment 133

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

12 c. Remains concerned about the low quality of education and high rate of early school leavers as well as the low rate of digital skills; calls on increased investment in the modernisation of the education system, ensuring its quality and inclusiveness; calls on Albania to implement measures to foster opportunities in employment and education for persons with disabilities;

Or. en

Amendment 134

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Welcomes the adoption of the law on personal data protection, aimed at full alignment with the EU acquis; commends Albanian authorities for the adoption of the implementing legislation on the procedure and fair compensation for the use of orphan works and the database of copyright works; expresses, however, serious concern about the handling of personal data and weaknesses in IT systems; calls on the Albanian authorities to strengthen safeguards against data breaches; calls on Albania to further collaborate with the European Union Intellectual Property Office;

Or. en

Amendment 135

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Welcomes the adoption of the law on personal data protection, aimed at full alignment with the EU acquis, but expresses serious concern about the handling of personal data and weaknesses in IT systems; calls on the Albanian authorities to strengthen safeguards against data breaches, enhance prevention and public awareness, and improve institutional capacity in order to effectively implement the new Law on Personal Data Protection ; calls on the Albanian authorities to strengthen safeguards against data breaches;

Or. en

Amendment 136

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13. Welcomes the adoption of the law on personal data protection, aimed at full alignment with the EU acquis, but expresses serious concern about the handling of personal data and weaknesses in IT systems; calls on the Albanian authorities to strengthen safeguards against data breaches; expresses concerns regarding the threats posed by malign foreign interference in the country;

Or. en

Amendment 137

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Is deeply concerned about the Italy-Albania Memorandum of Understanding , which raises serious concerns about human rights violations, including undermining the right to asylum, shifting responsibility for asylum seekers through "externalization", risking refoulement, unequal treatment and non-compliance with EU law, particularly Article 18 of the EU Charter; recalls that Italian courts have rejected transfers to the Albanian centre on multiple occasions and the centre is currently not in use; urges the Commission to share its legal analysis of the MoU with Parliament without further delay;

Or. en

Amendment 138

Ilaria Salis, Pernando Barrena Arza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 a. Expresses concern at the repeated practices of'pushback suspected1a following a diversion of Article 102 of the Albanian Law on Aliens; calls, therefore, on the Albanian authorities to fully implement their national law, as well as the guarantees of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, regarding the asylum application procedure.

_________________

1a Frontex SIR 10910/2023, 11153/2023.

Or. en

Amendment 139

Ilaria Salis, Pernando Barrena Arza

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 b. notes that the Italy-Albania deal has faced repeated legal challenges and highlights the necessity for Member States to fully adhere to EU law and the rulings of the European Court of Justice; rejects any proposals to externalise asylum procedures to third countries, which undermine the fundamental right to seek asylum within EU territory and violate both EU and international law; emphasises that external processing mechanisms, including 'return hubs', violate the rights of individuals fleeing persecution, conflict, or economic hardship;

Or. en

Amendment 140

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

13 b. Is further concerned about the broader trend by the EU and individual Member States pressuring accession countries to cooperate with them on the implementation of their migration policy agenda, given the unequal relationship that they have vis-a-vis accession countries and urges to cease this practice;

Or. en

Amendment 141

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Welcomes the progress Albania has achieved in the implementation of the justice reforms, including on the vetting process, completed at first instance; expresses concern, however, about continued political interference and pressure on the judicial system; calls on the European Commission to closely monitor Albania’s exposure to foreign malign influence; stresses the importance of strengthening the resilience of independent journalism and combating biased reporting; urges the Albanian authorities to enhance transparency standards regarding foreign funding; calls on the government to support independent fact-checking platforms as a means to ensure public access to accurate information and to uphold the integrity of the information space;

Or. en

Amendment 142

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Welcomes the progress Albania has achieved in the implementation of the justice reforms, including on the vetting process, completed at first instance; welcomes the new major reform process on “good governance, rule of law and anti-corruption for Albania 2030” launched by the Albanian Parliament; expresses concern, however, about continued political interference and pressure on the judicial system and shortcomings in the merit-based appointments of non-magistrate members of the High Judicial Council (HJC) and the High Prosecutorial Council (HPC);

Or. en

Amendment 143

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Commends the progress Albania has achieved in the implementation of the justice reforms, aiming at strengthening the independence, transparency, and accountability of the judiciary, including on the vetting process, completed at first instance; expresses concern, however, about continued political interference and pressure on the judicial system; expresses concerns regarding the shortcomings in the merit-based appointments of non-magistrate members of the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecution Council and their integrity;

Or. en

Amendment 144

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14. Notes that despite the adoption of legislation in Albania regarding the implementation of justice reforms, this is a system completely controlled by the Government, without real judicial officers;

Or. el

Amendment 145

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Is deeply concerned by evidence suggesting the politicization of Albania’s judiciary, as exemplified by the European Court of Human Rights’ intervention in the arrest of opposition leader Sali Berisha, and the Venice Commission’s warnings of judicial reforms being controlled by the ruling party; calls for urgent steps to ensure judicial independence and institutional integrity;

Or. en

Amendment 146

Andrey Kovatchev, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Expresses concerns over political persecutions, arbitrary imprisonment, and targeted threats to opposition leaders, Members of Parliament, and local officials, which undermines the principles of democratic governance and political pluralism; calls for the cessation of such actions;

Or. en

Amendment 147

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

14 a. Stresses the need to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as Albania remains both a destination and a transit country;

Or. en

Amendment 148

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Underscores the key work of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) in building up a track record of investigating, prosecuting and convicting in high-level corruption cases; welcomes high-level corruption investigations and proceedings, including the arrest of the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj for corruption, money laundering, and related crimes; stresses that increasing the number of final convictions of high-level officials remains an important priority to tackle the existing culture of impunity; cautions against undermining the work of independent institutions such as SPAK; regrets intimidating environment and instances of undue pressure exerted by public officials and high-ranking politicians on the judiciary, which pose a serious threat to judicial independence; expresses concern that the lack of institutional support for magistrates facing threats, weakens public trust and seriously jeopardizes the rule of law and Albania’s EU integration process;

Or. en

Amendment 149

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Highlights that Albania ranked 80th in the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, indicating the need for substantial progress in combating high level corruption and ensuring judicial independence; underscores the key work of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) in building up a track record of investigating, prosecuting and convicting in high-level corruption cases as well as cases involving the protection of EU financial interests; welcomes the fact that the SPAK’s capacity in financial investigations has increased and the systematic use of financial investigations and asset confiscations has improved; cautions against undermining the work of independent institutions such as SPAK;

Or. en

Amendment 150

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Underscores the key work of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) in building up a track record of investigating, prosecuting and convicting in high-level corruption cases; cautions against undermining the work of independent institutions such as SPAK; stresses the importance of ensuring that anti‑corruption institutions are fully independent and calls for their operational and investigative capacities to be strengthened;

Or. it

Amendment 151

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

15. Underscores the key work of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK) in building up a track record of investigating, prosecuting and convicting in high-level corruption cases; urges all actors to stop and refrain from any actions undermining the work of independent institutions such as SPAK;

Or. en

Amendment 152

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

16. Notes the challenges concerning the quality and efficiency of the justice system, including the high number of judicial vacancies, insufficient court staff, the quality of initial and continuous judicial training, the consistency of case-law and the lack of a modern integrated case management system; notes that budget allocations are insufficient, particularly for the court component;

Or. en

Amendment 153

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

17 a. Underlines the importance of combating organized crime and drug trafficking; calls on Albanian authorities to conduct anti-crime measures impartially; expresses alarm over reported links between government officials and organized crime groups, including money laundering operations exposed by Belgian authorities and demands resolute steps and consolidated track record in severing links of organized crime to politicians, state institutions and public funds;

Or. en

Amendment 154

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18. Calls on Albania to continue aligning its legal framework with the EU acquis on the fight against organised crime; notes the appointment of additional prosecutors to the Special Prosecution Office as well as the establishment of a financial investigation unit; commends Albania’s participation in joint operations and cooperation under the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT) and with INTERPOL in fighting organised crime;

18. Calls on Albania to continue aligning its legal framework with the EU acquis on the fight against organised crime, including human trafficking and the trade of drugs and firearms, as well as combatting cybercrime, extremism and terrorist threats; notes the appointment of additional prosecutors to the Special Prosecution Office as well as the establishment of a financial investigation unit; commends Albania’s participation in joint operations and cooperation under the European multidisciplinary platform against criminal threats (EMPACT) and with EUROPOL, EUROJUST, FRONTEX and INTERPOL in fighting organised crime and dismantling transnational crime networks;

Or. en

Amendment 155

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 156

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 157

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18a. Commends Albania for its increasing commitment to strengthening border security and managing migration flows, including by enhancing control infrastructure and improving the operational capacities of its border police; stresses the importance of continuous training for migration control personnel in order to ensure that EU regulations are implemented effectively and to combat human trafficking networks more decisively;

Or. it

Amendment 158

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Ondřej Kolář, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Encourages the EU European External Action Service and Commission to further help boost Albania’s resilience against hybrid threats, in the area of cyber security, information manipulation and protection of critical infrastructures; stresses the need to improve coordination and address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to people in the Western Balkans;

Or. en

Amendment 159

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Notes the importance of cooperating with the EU in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration through the ‘Balkan route’; calls for further alignment of the Criminal Code with the EU acquis in the area of human trafficking; calls for further strengthening of the capacities of law enforcement in remote and mountainous areas to allow for more proactive investigations in the area of human trafficking;

Or. en

Amendment 160

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Calls for the EU and the Western Balkan countries to establish a framework for effective cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the accession countries with a view to facilitating close cooperation and the prosecution of misuse of EU funds; welcomes that Albania has concluded a bilateral working arrangement with the EPPO;

Or. en

Amendment 161

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

18 a. Calls on Albania to assess the risks associated with FDI, particularly in strategic sectors such as energy, mining, and telecommunications in order to avoid economic dependencies and debt traps;

Or. en

Amendment 162

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19. Welcomes Albania’s engagement in implementing the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, encompassing EU single market integration, regional economic integration, fundamental reforms and increased financial support;

19. Welcomes Albania’s engagement in implementing the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, encompassing EU single market integration, regional economic integration, fundamental reforms;

Or. fi

Amendment 163

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. Reiterates the importance of improving the public infrastructure within the Western Balkans countries and with the EU Member States; recalls the potential of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans to enhance regional connectivity through Rail and Highway; in that respect urges the authorities in all countries to complete Corridor VIII connecting Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria; recalls the importance of developing air connections within the Western Balkans countries and with the EU Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 164

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19a. Emphasises the value of cooperation between Albania and Frontex in strengthening border security and combating cross-border crime; highlights the importance of further enhancing the operational capacities of the Albanian border police by improving coordination with the Member State authorities and adopting advanced technological tools to monitor and manage migration flows;

Or. it

Amendment 165

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 a. welcomes Albania’s Reform Agenda addressing business environment, human capital, digitalisation, energy and green transition, fundamental rights and rule of law; furthermore welcomes Albania's participation in the EU’s Digital Europe Programme;

Or. en

Amendment 166

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

19 b. Welcomes the fact that Albania has been ranked as a regional leader in public administration and digital public procurement by OECD’s SIGMA program;

Or. en

Amendment 167

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by improving access to social and healthcare services, especially for disadvantaged populations; welcomes the implementation of Albania’s National Social Protection Strategy 2024-2030 and National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030; calls the Albanian authorities to effectively implement the National Agenda on Child Rights by providing assistance to children facing exclusion and poverty;

Or. en

Amendment 168

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by further improving access to education, housing, social and healthcare services, in particular for people from the Roma, Egyptian and LGBTQI+ communities, as well as other minorities and vulnerable groups; calls for the implementation of Albania’s National Social Protection Strategy 2024-2030 and National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030;

Or. en

Amendment 169

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20. Encourages the Albanian authorities to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion by improving access to social and healthcare services, especially for disadvantaged populations and minority groups; calls for the implementation of Albania’s National Social Protection Strategy 2024-2030 and National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023-2030;

Or. en

Amendment 170

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Calls for additional efforts and resources to accelerate the inclusion of Roma and Egyptians, tackle anti-gypsyism, discrimination and educational and physical segregation, to promote participation of Roma and Egyptians, and to reduce the gaps with the rest of the population;

Or. en

Amendment 171

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Regrets that the inefficiency in public administration, an excessive regulatory framework and corruption pose further challenges to the business environment; regrets that the large informal economy impedes the business environment and competition;

Or. en

Amendment 172

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Welcomes the progress made by Albania in concluding social security bilateral agreements with EU Member States and further advancing preparations to enable the connecting of its employment services system to EURES;

Or. en

Amendment 173

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 a. Calls on Albania to adopt further measures to fight against youth unemployment, which rate amounted to 22% in 2023 for young people aged 15 to 29 years old.

Or. en

Amendment 174

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 b. Commends the Albanian authorities for the adoption of legislative acts to reform higher education and for the implementation of the National Strategy for Education 2021-2026;

Or. en

Amendment 175

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 b. Regrets the postponement of the Law on Strategic Investment and Protected Areas and underlines that this law needs to be amended in line to EU standards;

Or. en

Amendment 176

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

20 c. Calls for the implementation of a comprehensive Screening FDI Process as a strategic initiative for protecting national interests, enhancing security, and ensuring consistency with EU standards;

Or. en

Amendment 177

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Welcomes the fact that Albania joined the Single Euro Payments Area in November 2024, which reduces costs for citizens and businesses and will contribute to Albania’s further integration into the single market; acknowledges Albania’s efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of its economy and calls on the Albanian Government to press ahead with structural reforms to foster a more attractive business environment that meets EU standards;

Or. it

Amendment 178

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21. Welcomes the fact that Albania joined the Single Euro Payments Area in November 2024, which reduces costs for citizens and businesses and will contribute to Albania’s further integration into the single market; commends the Albanian authorities on the alignment with the EU acquis on payments (Payment Account Directive) and on actions that resulted in Albania removal from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF);

Or. en

Amendment 179

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Commends the improvement of Albania's fiscal performance; calls on the Albanian authorities to further enhance fiscal risk analysis by strengthening the relevant Ministry of Finance department; calls for greater transparency and accountability of state-owned enterprises through annual financial reports; calls on Albania to strengthen its public internal financial control (PFIC) and to ensure that recommendations of the Supreme Audit Institution (ALSAI) are implemented;

Or. en

Amendment 180

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 a. Welcomes Albania’s participation in NATO cybersecurity initiatives; calls for the adoption of an EU-compatible national cybersecurity framework that strengthens resilience against foreign-backed cyber operations; encourages Albania to establish a national hybrid threat response center, working in close collaboration with the EU Hybrid Fusion Cell and European Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA), to monitor and counter disinformation, espionage, and cyber threats;

Or. en

Amendment 181

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21a. Acknowledges the proactive role played by Albania in advancing economic integration in the region, not least its accession to the Single Euro Payments Area and cooperation with the Energy Community; stresses the importance of implementing regional trade and infrastructure agreements in full, as they have the potential to facilitate links with European markets and expedite the EU accession process;

Or. it

Amendment 182

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 b. Notes with concern that foreign intelligence services have engaged in espionage against Albania hampering the prospects of EU accession, as demonstrated by the 2022 Gramsh military facility breach by Russian-linked operatives; stresses on the need for enhanced counterintelligence cooperation with EU and NATO partners;

Or. en

Amendment 183

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 b. Welcomes the further alignment of legislation with the EU acquis on private pensions fund, bank recovery and the resolution framework; calls on Albania to complete its alignment with the EU acquis on insurance, capital markets, securities markets, investment funds and financial market infrastructures;

Or. en

Amendment 184

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

21 c. Reiterates the need to develop comprehensive and integrated media literacy programs across all levels of education rather than isolated interventions; urges Albania to expand media literacy as a core subject in school curricula while ensuring that teachers receive dedicated training and modern resources to deliver high-quality programs; encourages collaboration with EU educational initiatives and regional networks such as the Western Balkans Media Literacy Observatory to implement best practices in critical thinking and digital literacy education;

Or. en

Amendment 185

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 5

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Environment, energy and transport, sustainable tourism

Environment, biodiversity, energy and transport, sustainable tourism

Or. en

Amendment 186

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22. Stresses that more efforts are needed for Albania to align with the EU acquis on the environment; calls for its alignment with the EU’s Environmental Impact Assessment5 and Strategic Environmental Assessment6 directives;

_________________

5 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/92/oj).

6 Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p. 30, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/42/oj).

Or. en

Amendment 187

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

22 a. Highlights the necessity for transparent and inclusive public consultations in line with the Aarhus Convention, ensuring the active involvement of local communities, NGOs, and scientific institutions in environmental decision-making processes, especially on projects with large environmental and socioeconomic repercussions; warns that the lack of proper stakeholder engagement undermines governance standards and Albania's compliance with EU acquis obligations; expresses concern with the economic and environmental impact of non-competitive foreign-funded development projects;

Or. en

Amendment 188

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Recalls that substantial efforts are needed for Albania to achieve the goals relating to climate protection, energy efficiency, diversification and greening of energy supply and transport, air and water quality and waste management; urges the Albanian government to prioritize the implementation of climate adaptation strategies, the development of renewable energy sources, and the modernization of the waste management system to meet EU standards and support sustainable economic growth.

Or. en

Amendment 189

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Recalls that substantial efforts are needed for Albania to achieve the goals relating to climate protection, energy efficiency, diversification and greening of energy supply and transport; notes that air and water quality, and waste management, remain particularly challenging issues for the country; urges the central government and local authorities to step up their efforts in order to improve air quality and reduce the potentially lethal pollution

Or. en

Amendment 190

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Recalls that substantial efforts are needed for Albania to achieve the goals relating to climate protection, energy efficiency, diversification and greening of energy supply and transport, air and water quality and waste management; encourages the Albanian authorities to strengthen measures and investments to expand the public transport system and the railway system;

Or. en

Amendment 191

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23. Recalls that substantial efforts are needed for Albania to achieve the goals relating to climate protection, energy efficiency, diversification of energy supply and transport and making them sustainable, air and water quality and waste management;

Or. fi

Amendment 192

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23a. Notes that the rivers that cross Albania are particularly polluted. Many of them record grossly excessive rates of ammonia and phosphates.

Or. el

Amendment 193

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

23b. Expresses its regret regarding the sweeping land clearances in the south and along the coast for the purposes of promoting tourist investments, which alter the character of the areas where the Greek National Minority of Northern Epirus resides.

Or. el

Amendment 194

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Firmly believes that environmental protection and sustainable tourism development must go hand in hand; welcomes the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park and calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to its protection; calls upon the authorities to fully respect its ecological integrity and to reconsider infrastructure projects in line with international biodiversity conservation standards and best practices, notably the water abstraction from the Shushica River, to ensure that the park’s biodiversity, habitats, and ecological functions remain intact;

Or. en

Amendment 195

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Firmly believes that environmental protection and sustainable tourism development must go hand in hand; calls on the EU and the Albanian government to provide additional financial and technical assistance to support sustainable rural development and reduce the urban-rural divide in line with EU cohesion policies; welcomes the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park and calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to its protection; calls on the Albanian authorities to adopt the implementing legislation for the Law on cultural heritage and museums;

Or. en

Amendment 196

Ilaria Salis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Firmly believes that environmental protection and sustainable tourism development must go hand in hand; welcomes the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park and calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to its protection; on the contrary, expresses deep concern about the continuation of the construction works of the international airport of Vlora inside the protected area of Pishë Poro-Nartë, disregarding the warnings of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Bern Convention1a.

_________________

1a Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Recommendation No. 219 (2023) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 5th September 2023 and revised on 1st December 2023, on the possible impacts of infrastructure and urbanisation developments particularly Vlora International Airport, on the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area (Albania).

Or. en

Amendment 197

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24. Firmly believes that environmental protection and sustainable tourism development must go hand in hand; welcomes the establishment of the first wild river national park in Europe - Vjosa Wild River National Park and calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to its protection; calls on the authorities to take into account the concerns raised by civil society on the delineation of the network’s boundaries for protected areas;

Or. en

Amendment 198

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. 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 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices between the Western Balkans and the EU by 2027; welcomes the entering into force of the first phase of implementation of the roadmap for roaming between the Western Balkans and the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 199

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Expresses serious concern regarding recent amendments to Albania’s Law on Protected Areas that allow large infrastructure and tourism projects in ecologically sensitive zones; calls for reversing these legislative amendments with a view to ensuring the full and strict compliance with national and international legal frameworks and conservation standards;

Or. en

Amendment 200

Ilaria Salis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Calls upon Albanian authorities to designate and effectively manage key protected areas for the survival of critically endangered species, in particular the Balkan lynx, including comprehensive biodiversity monitoring programmes, and to implement and strictly enforce anti-poaching legislation;

Or. en

Amendment 201

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Reiterates its concern over the construction of the Vlora airport in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area in violation of national and international biodiversity protection norms;

Or. en

Amendment 202

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 a. Expresses its concern about marine waste pollution in Albania, which is affecting neighbouring countries, and calls for urgent action to address this issue

Or. en

Amendment 203

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 b. Calls on the government to urgently halt the ongoing illegal construction of the Vlorë International Airport inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area, in line with the request of the Bern Convention Standing Committee; stresses that the construction of this airport contravenes domestic and international law, including the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, and threatens one of the most biodiverse areas in the country; urges Albania to ensure that rigorous Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), fully compliant with national law and international standards, precede any infrastructure developments;

Or. en

Amendment 204

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 c. Recommends to the European Commission to closely monitor Albania’s compliance with environmental protection legislation, notably regarding a construction stop for the Vlora International Airport, proper application of Environmental Impact Assessments, and restoration of altered protected areas; urges that progress on these points should be considered critical benchmarks within Albania’s Chapter 27 negotiations on environment and climate change;

Or. en

Amendment 205

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 d (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

24 d. Calls on the Albanian authorities to further diversify the energy production and to minimise the impact on biodiversity by stopping hydropower developments in protected areas; urges Albania to abandon in particular the plans for the Skavica hydropower plant (HPP) on the Black Drin River, given its severe ecological, social, and cultural impacts, including the displacement of local communities, loss of priority habitats including those of the Balkan lynx, the brown bear and the grey wolf; calls upon the Albanian Government to fully respect the recent ruling of the Albanian Constitutional Court and actively implement effective public consultation processes and transparent decision-making on the Skavica hydropower project, fully complying with national constitutional provisions and Albania’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention;

Or. en

Amendment 206

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Welcomes the Security and Defence Partnership between the EU and Albania, adopted on 19 November 2024, which establishes a platform for enhanced dialogue and cooperation on security and defence issues and represents a significant step forward; stresses the importance of ensuring that this partnership translates into concrete actions, including joint training initiatives,shared intelligence capabilities, and enhanced border security measures to address regional and global security challenges; underlines the need for deeper security cooperation within the Western Balkans, fostering closer coordination among regional partners to combat organised crime, cyber threats, and hybrid challenges; calls for strengthened EU support for regional security initiatives that enhance stability and resilience across the Western Balkans

Or. en

Amendment 207

Ioan-Rareş Bogdan

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25. Welcomes the Security and Defence Partnership between the EU and Albania, adopted on 19 November 2024, which establishes a platform for enhanced dialogue and cooperation on security and defence issues; ackowledges that this partnership represents a significant step forward in strenghtening Albania's role as a reliable security partner of the EU; further emphasizes that the partnership will facilitate, among others, joint initiatives and capacity-building efforts, thereby contributing to a more resilient and integrated security architecture in the Western Balkans;

Or. en

Amendment 208

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 209

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. it

Amendment 210

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

Or. en

Amendment 211

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25a. Highlights Albania’s contribution to regional security through cooperation with police and security forces in neighbouring countries; welcomes Albania’s participation in regional initiatives to combat organised crime and human trafficking, including its cooperation with Europol and Interpol; calls on Albania to continue to develop intelligence sharing capacities and to strengthen joint operations with the EU Member States and other countries in the region;

Or. it

Amendment 212

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25a. Considers that Türkiye’s presence in the Balkans, and in Albania in particular, is often in conflict with the interests of the EU; calls on the European External Action Service to monitor in particular the presence of these anti-European activities.

Or. el

Amendment 213

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Commends Albania for its significant contribution to fostering stability and collaboration throughout the Western Balkans, particularly through its involvement in missions and operations led by the EU and NATO.

Or. en

Amendment 214

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Welcomes the adoption of the new Law on cybersecurity that aligns with the EU Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the European Union (NIS2)

Or. en

Amendment 215

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 a. Welcomes the adoption by Albania of a new National Security Strategy in 2024 to further fight against hybrid threats;

Or. en

Amendment 216

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

25 b. Welcomes the trilateral defencee agreement with Kosovo and Croatia; notes that this initiative can have a stabilising role in the region and serve as a tool to foster cooperation in the field of security and defence as well as in defence capacity building;

Or. en

Amendment 217

Yannis Maniatis

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations;

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations; reminds in this respect the importance of concluding a new agreement with Greece on the delimitation of Maritime Zones including Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, following the annulment of the previous one by the Albanian Constitutional Court in 2010;

Or. en

Amendment 218

Andrey Kovatchev, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, Matej Tonin

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations;

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations; cautions against any actions, such the Open Balkans initiative that could undermine the Common Regional Market or deviate from the Berlin Process, as such steps create obstacles to EU integration and cohesion, potentially jeopardizing Albania's progress toward deeper regional and European integration;

Or. en

Amendment 219

Ioan-Rareş Bogdan

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations;

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations; further encourages the sustained and constructive engagement in regional cooperation initiatives, in line with EU values and enlargement objectives, as it contributes to peace, security, and stability in the Western Balkans."

Or. en

Amendment 220

Hermann Tertsch, Roberto Vannacci, Silvia Sardone, Susanna Ceccardi

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations;

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations; commends, in this respect, the asylum agreement signed with Italy on November 6, 2023 and ratified by the Albanian parliament on February 22, 2024, as a valuable tool to help manage migration flows into the EU;

Or. en

Amendment 221

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26. Welcomes the Albanian Government’s continued efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations;

26. Notes the Albanian Government’s stated desire for good neighbourly relations;

Or. el

Amendment 222

Alexander Sell

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. welcomes the bilateral agreement signed between Italy and Albania on 6 November 2023, allowing the transfer of irregular migrants rescued at sea to two processing centres in Albania, where their asylum requests will be assessed in accordance with international standards; acknowledges that this agreement represents a concrete and pragmatic example of regional cooperation in addressing irregular migration and combating human smuggling networks; encourages the Commission to replicate similar models of partnership and external cooperation;

Or. en

Amendment 223

Eszter Lakos

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Advocates for increased regional cooperation among Western Balkan countries to share best practices and develop joint strategies in combating disinformation and foreign interference; emphasizes the role of the European Union in facilitating such collaborative efforts; calls for the continuation and further reinforcement of the IPA regional cybersecurity programme;

Or. en

Amendment 224

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26a. Commends Albania’s commitment to fostering good neighbourly relations and promoting regional cooperation in the Western Balkans; welcomes Albania’s active contribution to the Berlin Process and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which serve to promote economic and political integration in the region;

Or. it

Amendment 225

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Reiterates that the rule of law, independent institutions, separation and balancing of powers and political pluralism are essential criteria for EU accession; calls for immediate steps to safeguard opposition rights, ensure including in the parliament judicial independence, and prevent the misuse of state institutions for political gain;

Or. en

Amendment 226

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Encourages Albania to strengthen its intelligence-sharing mechanisms with EU agencies such as Europol and Frontex to enhance regional stability and border security; calls for sustained efforts to align Albania’s security policies with EU strategies, fostering a more integrated and resilient regional security framework.

Or. en

Amendment 227

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Welcomes Albania’s position as the most active third country in EMPACT on drug trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime; further acknowledges the intensified information exchange through Interpol, Europol, and the CARIN Network;

Or. en

Amendment 228

Emmanouil Fragkos, Galato Alexandraki

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26a. Underscores the legal soundness of the Greece-Albania agreement on the Exclusive Economic Zone (2009), which was annulled by the Albanian ‘Constitutional Court’, following anti-institutional intervention by Edi Rama's party.

Or. el

Amendment 229

Željana Zovko

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Welcomes the ratification by Albania of bilateral agreements on the coordination of social security systems with Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria;

Or. en

Amendment 230

Tineke Strik

on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 a. Warmly welcomes the decision to open the European Parliament’s antenna office for the Western Balkans in Tirana;

Or. en

Amendment 231

Rihards Kols

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 b. Condemns the violation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and Albania’s constitutional and legal provisions on local autonomy following the arrest of Mayor Erion Veliaj; notes with concern that Prime Minister Rama unlawfully assumed control over the Municipality of Tirana and appointed a successor, thereby centralizing power and misusing municipal resources for electoral purposes; stresses that this undermines democratic governance and electoral fairness;

Or. en

Amendment 232

Alberico Gambino

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26b. Underscores Albania’s constructive role in promoting stability and cooperation in the Western Balkans, particularly by virtue of its bilateral dialogue with neighbouring countries and involvement in regional organisations; calls on Albania to keep striving to resolve any pending disputes with neighbouring countries by pursuing an approach rooted in compliance with international law and the promotion of peace and security in the region;

Or. it

Amendment 233

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 b. Commends Albania’s full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including its support for EU sanctions against third countries; stresses the importance of enhancing Albania’s participation in EU-led crisis management operations and Common Security and Defence Policy(CSDP) missions.

Or. en

Amendment 234

Andreas Schieder, Marco Tarquinio, Marta Temido, Marko Vešligaj

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 b (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 b. Welcomes the involvement of the 18 Albanian participants in the Enlargement Candidate Members (ECMs) initiative created by the EESC, which aims to foster closer ties with candidate countries and facilitate their gradual integration into the European Union;

Or. en

Amendment 235

Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Marjan Šarec, Dan Barna, Lucia Yar

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 c (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

26 c. Recognizes the strategic importance of the Adriatic- Ionian region for European security and economic stability; calls on Albania to enhance its maritime security capabilities in coordination with the EU and NATO, including strengthening naval infrustructure, improving surveillance systems, and intensifying efforts to combat illicit activities such as smuggling and human trafficking in the Adriatic and Ioanian seas; encourages deeper cooperation within EU coastal states to ensure the protection of critical maritime routes and environmental sustainability in the region.

Or. en

Amendment 236

Ivaylo Valchev

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27 a. Welcomes the establishment of the European Parliament Western Balkans office in Tirana; notes that the office will serve as a key contact point between the European Parliament and national parliaments, civil society, and local partners from across the Western Balkans region;

Or. en