4. Deplores the fact that the SC is not able to implement its mandate fully; refers to its aforementioned resolutions on the Annual Reports 2011 and 2013 on the protection of the EU’s financial interests – Fight against fraud, and asks the Commission to take measures to improve the SC’s ability to supervise OLAF’s independence, its investigative function, the application of procedural guarantees and the duration of investigations, without, however, putting OLAF’s independence at risk;

Since the objective of the action to be taken, namely to address sudden and massive fraud phenomena in the field of VAT which very often have an international dimension, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, as they are not in a position to individually counter the fraud circuits related to new forms of trade which involve several countries at the same time, and can therefore, by reason of ensuring a quicker and, as a result, a more adequate and effective response to these phenomena, be better achieved at Union level, the Union ...[+++]may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union.

Further to the Commission’s 2010 Opinion, Albania needs to meet the following key priorities for the opening of accession negotiations. Albania will need to 1) continue to implement public administration reform with a view to enhancing professionalism and depoliticisation of public administration; 2) take further action to reinforce the independence, efficiency and accountability of judicial institutions; 3) make further determined efforts in the fight against corruption, including towards establishing a solid track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and convictions; 4) make further determined efforts in the fight agains ...[+++]t organised crime, including towards establishing a solid track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and convictions; 5) take effective measures to reinforce the protection of human rights, including of Roma, and anti-discrimination policies, as well as implement property rights.

Strongly condemns the role played by tax havens in encouraging and profiteering from tax avoidance, tax evasion and capital flight; urges the Member States, therefore, to make the fight against tax havens, tax evasion and illicit capital flight a priority; calls on the EU to step up its action and to take immediate concrete measures – such as sanctions – against tax havens, tax evasion and illicit capital flight; calls on the Council to come up with a plan, in the context of the United Nations and other international bodies in which the European Union and its Member States have a seat, for closing tax havens;

In this context, employers and those responsible for vocational training should be encouraged to take measures to combat all forms of discrimination on grounds of sex and, in particular, to take preventive measures against harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace and in access to employment, vocational training and promotion, in accordance with national law and practice.

(9) In this context, employers and those responsible for vocational training should be encouraged to take measures to combat all forms of sexual discrimination and, in particular, to take preventive measures against harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace, in accordance with national legislation and practice.