30.6.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 251/91 Wednesday 15 December 2021
13.
Reiterates the need to eradicate political and administrative links to organised crime through clear anti-corruption safeguards and the effective prosecution of high-profile corruption cases; calls for the EU to increase support for the consolidation of merit-based public administrations; is highly alerted by reports and accusations of links between high-level political figures and organised crime groups, while the judicial system is ineffective at addressing these claims; underlines that the construction sector in the Western Balkans is among the most vulnerable to organised crime and corruption;
14.
Is concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic has been exploited by criminal organisations, including through the misuse of direct public procurement for essential medical equipment and services to healthcare structures, the selling of falsified COVID-19 certificates and the increasing practice of loansharking; calls on the Western Balkan authorities to take action against counterfeit vaccines and vaccination cards; calls on the Commission to link budget support to clear anti-corruption objectives; stresses the need to set up robust mechanisms to monitor implementation to this end;
15.
Recalls that IPA III provides for strong conditionality and that funding must be modulated or even suspended in the case of a significant regression or persistent lack of progress in the area of the so-called ‘fundamentals’, notably in the field of the rule of law and fundamental rights, including the fight against corruption and organised crime; stresses that it is in the EU’s own security interests and its responsibility to guarantee that EU funds do not become counterproductive by strengthening clientelist networks of corrupt politicians and privileged businesses;
16.
Notes that links between organised crime, politics and businesses existed before the break-up of Yugoslavia and have continued since the 1990s; condemns the apparent lack of will of the responsible authorities to open the former Yugoslav archives; reiterates its call, therefore, for the former Yugoslav archives to be opened and, in particular, for access to be granted to the files of the former Yugoslav Secret Service (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS), and for the files to be returned to the respective governments if they so request;
17.
Underlines the importance of cooperation and intelligence sharing with the Member States, with international partners like the Unites States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and with international organisations such as NATO, GRECO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UNODC;
18.
Welcomes the renewed constructive US engagement in the Western Balkans, including their focus on the fight against corruption; highlights, in this context, the US executive order sanctioning persons contributing to the destabilising situation in the Western Balkans, as well as the US action targeting individuals and entities for significant acts of corruption; calls on the EU to thoroughly assess a possible alignment with such actions;
Specific types of organised crime
19.
Notes that the Western Balkan countries are countries of origin, destination and transit for trafficking in human beings, which involves mostly women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation; notes that human trafficking is the crime with the highest proportional share of links to organised crime; calls on the relevant authorities to place more focus on prevention and strengthening the resilience of groups that are vulnerable to the risks of trafficking in human beings, while underlining the need for an intersectional gender-sensitive approach; welcomes joint actions carried out with international partners, including Interpol and Europol, which have led to the arrests of suspected traffickers and people smugglers;
20.
Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region and Member States; calls for enhanced efforts in addressing the smuggling of migrants and in protecting the fundamental rights of smuggled persons, in particular unaccompanied minors, and for greater exchange of information and enhanced coordination between the countries of the Western Balkans and with the Member States; encourages the EU and its Member States to provide more assistance in addressing these issues, such as financial and technical support, concluding informal and status agreements and fostering cooperation via the Joint Operational Office and the Operational Platform — Eastern Mediterranean Route, while taking into account the specificities and needs of the Western Balkan Route, as well as through assistance in establishing dignified reception conditions; calls for enhanced EU external border protection in cooperation with the Western Balkan states;