30.6.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 251/89 Wednesday 15 December 2021
G. whereas organised criminal groups collaborate well across borders and ethnic lines, in comparison to the police and judicial authorities of the Western Balkan countries, which urgently need to improve such coordination; H. whereas organised crime groups cooperate with groups from countries in the wider European neighbourhood in activities such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, the smuggling of artefacts and money laundering; I. whereas harmonised legal frameworks and their effective implementation, independent anti-corruption and counter-crime bodies, and genuine political will are key to the eradication of organised crime; J. whereas according to the UNODC report entitled ‘Measuring Organized Crime in the Western Balkans’, prosecutions and convictions tend to focus on low ranks of criminal organisations with group leaders more often enjoying impunity in the Western Balkans; K. whereas civil society organisations (CSOs) have established themselves as important stakeholders in the fight against organised crime and corruption across the region and play a crucial role, particularly in monitoring and evaluating anti-corruption policies; L. whereas more research and more reliable data on organised crime is needed to better design effective policy responses to organised crime and corruption in the region; M. whereas education plays a key role in preventing crime and promoting a culture of lawfulness; N. whereas the threat posed by organised crime groups originating from the Western Balkans has been wrongfully used as an argument against EU accession in some countries, and should therefore be properly addressed in order to advance further steps in the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries; O. whereas in order to meet the EU membership criteria, the Western Balkan countries need to implement comprehensive reforms in crucial areas and deliver concrete results in judicial reforms and the fight against corruption and organised crime; P. whereas strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption and organised crime are cornerstones of the 2018 EU Western Balkans strategy; Q. whereas around EUR 64 million was allocated for projects related to the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), which has funded multiple national and multi-country projects supporting a more effective administration of justice in organised crime and corruption cases in the Western Balkans, including through trial monitoring; whereas IPA III also entails specific objectives to develop effective tools to prevent and fight organised crime, trafficking in human beings and illicit firearms, drug trafficking and money laundering;
General situation 1.
Stresses that organised crime and corruption first and foremost hurt the citizens of the Western Balkan countries, as they undermine their right to safety and social cohesion as well as their trust in the democratic system, create obstacles to democratic reforms and hamper the accession process, while also having potential and actual negative impacts on the security and stability of EU Member States; 2.
Underlines that depriving countries of the Western Balkans of a European perspective is worsening the situation as regards organised crime, and that it can be improved by fostering the EU integration process and cooperation with the Member States; stresses that fighting organised crime and advancing EU integration are mutually reinforcing processes, hence the need to accelerate the EU integration process; 3.
Expresses its view that linking visa liberalisation for Kosovo with the fight against organised crime is counterproductive as isolation encourages criminal activities; underlines, once again, that Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalisation and calls on the Council to grant visa liberalisation without further delay;