2015/2275(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

— having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, and in particular to Articles 21, 41, 42, and 43 thereof,

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Recognizes that 1.5 billion people live in fragile and conflict affected regions worldwide and fragile states and that ungoverned spaces are spreading, leaving many in poverty, lawlessness, thriving corruption and violence;

Amendment 10 #

Sabine LÖSING, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Peace Support Operations (PSOs) are a form of crisis response, normally in support of an internationally recognised organisation such as the UN or the African Union (AU), with a UN mandate, and designed to pre~~store or maintain~~vent armed conflict, restore, maintain or build peace and tackle the complex emergencies and challenges posed by failing or weak states including humanitarian operations;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Rejects robust peacekeeping missions, as past (robust) missions have not been successful at all in terms of long-term stability and peace; opposes that the responsibility-to-protect-mechanism is used as a pretext for military intervention; highlights that sustainable peace can only be achieved with civilian peace-building measures, not militarily; stresses that poverty and social, political and economic inequalities are root causes of conflict evolvement; recalls to truly implement measures to eradicate poverty, implement DDR-programs, arms control, favouring balanced economic relations and increasing humanitarian and development aid to ensure sustainable socio-economic development;

Amendment 100 #

Mariya GABRIEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Insists that ~~the EU~~neither the EU nor its Member States, in supporting PSOs, should ~~not~~ act in isolation but that they should, rather, take full account of the contributions of other international actors, improve coordination with them and rapidity of response, and focus ~~its~~their efforts on certain priority countries, using the most appropriate and experienced Member States as lead nations; points up the role of the EU's delegations as regards coordination and dialogue with the other international actors;

Amendment 101 #

Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Insists that the EU, in supporting PSOs, should not act in isolation but should, rather, take full account of the contributions of other international actors, improve coordination with them and rapidity of response, and ~~focus its efforts on certain priority countries~~be in a position to mount a balanced response to crises throughout the region, using the most appropriate and experienced Member States as lead nations;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Supports a holistic EU approach, which is the main instrument for mobilising the full potential of EU action in the context of peacekeeping operations and the stabilisation process, as well as for mobilising various ways to support the development of AU countries;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that border management assistance should be a priority for EU engagement in Africa; notes that porous borders are one of the main factors behind the increase in terrorism in Africa;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Supports the objectives of the Joint Communication on capacity-building, and joins the Council in calling for its urgent implementation; points out the EU’s potential particularly through civil means, to help strengthen security in fragile and conflict-affected countries, while reiterating that security is a precondition for development; encourages the EEAS and the Commission to speed up the implementation of CSBD initiative to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of CSDP missions;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Supports the objectives of~~Welcomes the Joint Communication on capacity-building, and joins the Council in calling for its urgent implementation; points out the EU’s potential particularly through ~~civil~~its comprehensive approach covering civilian and military means, to help strengthen security in fragile and conflict-affected countries~~, while reiterating that security is a precondition for development~~ and to address the needs ouf our partners, in particular for military recipients , while reiterating that security is a precondition for development; regrets that neither the European Commission nor the Council shared with the European Parliament their assessment on the legal options in support of capacity building; calls on both institutions to inform the European Parliament on this in due time; calls on the European Commission to suggest a legal base in line with the original European objectives of 2013 outlined in the initiative on 'Enable and Enhance';

Amendment 106 #

Cătălin Sorin IVAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Supports the objectives of the Joint Communication on capacity-building, and joins the Council in calling for its urgent implementation; points out the EU’'s potential particularly through civil means, to help strengthen security in fragile and conflict-affected countries, while reiterating that security is a precondition for development and democracy;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Points out that the Council Legal Service's contribution of 7 December 2015, entitled 'Capacity building in support of security and development - legal questions', gives thought to ways and means of financing matériel for African countries' militaries; calls on the Council to continue this discussion;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Welcomes the positive responses received by France after activation of Article 42(7); very much welcomes the re- engagement of European armed forces in Africa;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recognises that the problem is often not lack of funding but, rather, how funds are spent and what other resources are utilised; questions whether the Court of Auditors’' recommendations have been fully implemented; calls for regular reviews of how funding from national governments through the EU and UN is spent; believes it is vital to utilise funds effectively, given their finite nature and the scale of the problems being faced; believes accountability is an essential part of this process; insists on a more thorough and transparent evaluation of PSOs supported by the EU; stresses the need for the EEAS to develop a much more efficient and strategic approach to the UN agencies in particular regarding programming of the external financial instruments; calls on the HR and relevant EU Delegations in instable regions to ensure stronger visibility of EU aid on the ground;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Peace Support Operations (PSOs) are a form of crisis response, normally inwith the support of an internationally recognised organisation such as the UN or the African Union (AU), with a UN mandate, and designed to restore or maintain peace and tackle the complex emergencies and challenges posed by failing or weak states;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes concern over the possible lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if grievances arise and that crimes like sexual exploitation and abuse should be prosecuted and sentenced; recalls the need to improve current EU funding for PSOs; underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recognises that the problem is often not lack of funding but, rather, how funds are spent and what other resources are utilised; ~~questions whether~~notes that the Court of Auditors’ recommendations have not been fully implemented; calls for regular reviews of how funding from national governments through the EU and UN is spent; believes it is vital to utilise funds effectively, given their finite nature and the scale of the problems being faced; believes accountability is an essential part of this process; insists on a more thorough and transparent evaluation of PSOs supported by the EU;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recognises that the problem is often not lack of funding but, rather, how funds are spent and what other resources are utilised; questions whether the Court of Auditors’ recommendations concerning EU funds have been fully implemented; calls for regular reviews of how funding from national governments through the EU and UN is spent; believes it is vital to utilise funds effectively, given their finite nature and the scale of the problems being faced; believes accountability is an essential part of this process as well as helping to tackle endemic corruption in Africa; insists on a more thorough and transparent evaluation of PSOs supported by the EU;

Amendment 112 #

Javier NART, Jozo RADOŠ, Hilde VAUTMANS, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hilde VAUTMANS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Notes the 15 May 2015 UN Evaluation Report on Enforcement and Remedial Assistance Efforts for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by the United Nations and Related Personnel in Peacekeeping Operations; is deeply shocked by the alarming scope of these crimes, and the failure to hold perpetrators to account; is equally shocked by recent sexual child abuse allegations against French and UN troops in the Central African Republic and calls for strong, transparent and swift responses by the UN and relevant French authorities; urges the UN, EU Member States and the EU's CSDP organs to investigate, prosecute and sentence any UN, national and EU personnel who committed acts of sexual violence without delay and with firmest resolve;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Considers that the EU should make a strong vigilance to the respect of human rights by members of the supported PSOs and , therefore, despite leaving justice in the hands of National Authorities, a real and effective accountability and vigilance of the EU should be established and guaranteed in order to make sure that justice is applied;

Amendment 114 #

Urmas PAET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls for regular reviews to be carried out to determine how far Member States have met their contribution commitments;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Points out that security and development are intrinsically linked; welcomes the fact that since the adoption of the regulation on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, which came into force on 1 January 2013, the Commission has been authorised to set up and manage trust funds under an agreement concluded with other donors; gives strong backing, accordingly, to initiatives such as the Békou trust fund operating in the Central African Republic, which seeks to pool European development-related resources, expertise and capacities in order to overcome the fragmentation and ineffectiveness of international action in the context of reconstruction of a country;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Stresses the urgent need to reform relevant structures in a way to end impunity of UN and EU personnel and by establishing functioning and transparent oversight and accountability mechanisms; finds it unacceptable that currently legal actions regarding alleged abuses remain purely voluntary and depended of the troop-contributing country; is convinced that also via training and education such grave crimes could be reduced and prevented; strongly welcomes the 28th September 2015 declaration of Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping on the matter;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14 c. Welcomes the EU Guidelines on violence against women and girls and the EU guidelines on children and armed conflict; urges the adoption of a code of conduct for EU personnel serving in military and civil missions which makes it clear that sexual exploitation constitutes unjustifiable and criminal behaviour;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)

14 e. Stresses that it is important that the EU and the UN should appoint more female police officers and soldiers to missions and operations; recalls the experience made with the contingent of female police officers within the UN peace-keeping force in Liberia; stresses the need for gender advisors for individual missions and operations and specific actions plans which design how UNSCR 1325 is being implemented at the level of each mission and operation; calls on the relevant EU and UN actors to make sure that also at the HQ level more women are being appointed at senior management level;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls for a concerted effort towards capacity-building by the EU and the UN~~, rather than capacity substitution, in order for the AU eventually to monitor and control Africa’s security independently~~; believes the current funding programme is unsustainable, and that conditions should be attached to the African Peace Facility in order to encourage the AU to increase its own contributions to PSOs;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Peace Support Operations (PSOs) are a form of crisis response, normally in support of an internationally recognised organisation such as the UN or the African Union (AU), with a UN mandate, and designed to restore or maintain peace, enforce peace agreements and tackle the complex emergencies and challenges posed by failing or weak states;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes concern over the possible lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if grievances arise; recalls the need to improve current EU funding for PSOs; ~~underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community~~considers that the EU's existing financing instruments and regional programmes must be use in a coherent manner, with a more systematic joint programming, in order to ensure effectiveness of the EU's external action;

Amendment 120 #

Urmas PAET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Maintains that crimes committed by peacekeepers should be treated as an extremely serious matter and the utmost efforts made to prevent them;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the AU and EU have a shared neighbourhood, history and future and the stability of that neighbourhood would greatly benefit the climate of all member states;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes concern over the possible lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if grievances arise; recalls the need to improve current EU funding for PSOs; underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community; urges the EU and the UN to step up their support for the development of regional conflict management mechanisms, such as the African rapid response force;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the aim of PSOs is to help create stable, secure and more prosperous environments for the longer term; whereas good governance, justice, ~~the rule of law~~greater respect for the rule of law, protection of civilians, respect for human rights and security are the essential preconditions for this, and successful reconciliation, reconstruction and economic development programmes will help deliver self-sustaining peace and prosperity;

Amendment 14 #

Javier NART, Jozo RADOŠ, Hilde VAUTMANS, María Teresa GIMÉNEZ BARBAT, Hilde VAUTMANS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Notes~~Expresses grave concern over the possible lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if grievances arise; recalls the need tohat the improvement of current EU funding for PSOs should not be to the detriment of other funds, in particular the one devoted to the development of these countries; underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community; and with the supervision of the EU Parliament, in respect with the EU funds employed;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the current situation of massive violation of Human Rights and the terrorist threat demands the establishment of Peace- enforcing missions prior to the peacekeeping of the areas in conflict;

Amendment 15 #

Sabine LÖSING, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes concern over the ~~possible~~ lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if grievances arise~~; recalls the need to improve current EU funding for PSO~~, including concerning human rights abuses e.g. sexual-violence, human trafficking, as recent cases have also shown also the involvement of EU- Peacekeepers; underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the security landscape in Africa in particular has changed dramatically in the last decade, with peace ~~enforcement~~keeping and counter-terrorism operations becoming the rule rather than the exception in many areas; whereas the porous borders within the continent help fuel violence and reduce security;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes concern over the ~~possible~~ lack of transparency in EU PSOs; stresses that full investigations should be carried out if ~~grievances arise; recalls the need to improve current EU funding for PSOs; underlines that African security should, in the future, be monitored by the AU~~financial concerns and other grievances arise, especially with regards to the cases of sexual abuse and violence; recalls the need to improve current EU funding structures for PSOs to be used more effectively; underlines that the AU should bear greater responsibility for African security, supported by the international community;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the security landscape in Africa in particular has changed dramatically in the last decade, with peace enforcement and counter-terrorism operations becoming the rule rather than the exception in many areas; whereas the porous borders within the continent help fuel violence and reduce security; whereas the emergence of new centres of terrorist activity in the Sahel- Sahara region and the tensions in Central Africa are forcing the EU to reassess its civilian and military involvement in these parts of the world;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Regrets that the African Peace Facility (APF) is still mainly financed via the EDF, whereas EDF financing was clearly meant to be provisional back in 2003 when the APF was established; calls on the Commission to make a proposal during the review of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework in order to integrate the financing of the APF into the EU budget, possibly through a new instrument for building capacities in the security sector; considers that this way of financing would solve the ongoing problems related to the eligibility of some APF expenditures;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines that African security should primarily be monitored by the AU, supported by the international community; insists on the need for African partners to take greater ownership and responsibility for the stability of the continent; in this regard, welcomes the decision of the AU, on 15 June 2015, to allocate 25% of its resources to the AU's peace support operations budget;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas 1.5 billion people live in fragile and conflict affected regions worldwide and fragile states and ungoverned spaces are spreading leaving many in poverty, lawlessness, thriving corruption and violence;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the EU to lead the discussions on redesigning Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the OECD framework through peacebuilding lenses;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the declaration made at the 28 September 2015 Leader's Summit on Peace-Keeping convened by President Barack Obama of the United States,

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1a. Stresses the need for coordinated external actions that make use of diplomatic, security and development tools to restore confidence and tackle challenges of wars, internal conflicts, insecurity, fragility and transition;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas peace has been recognized as crucial for development in the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace and justice has been introduced;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Stresses the need for the EEAS to develop a much more efficient and strategic approach to the UN agencies in particular regarding programming of the external financial instruments; calls on the HR and relevant EU Delegations in instable regions to ensure stronger visibility of EU aid on the ground;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas appropriately experienced and equipped organisations and nations should provide those military and civilian resources necessary for a successful PSO, in order to help create the conditions for civil organisations to do their work;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce~~Believes that peace and security are necessary preconditions for development; calls on the Commission to create an innovating EU instrument to reinforce the link between peace, security and sustainable development ~~policies~~ in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure ~~long-term~~greater flexibility, as well as long-term results of development efforts; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as good governance, the rule of law and ~~freedom of speech~~the respect for fundamental rights, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas appropriately experienced and equipped organisations and nations should provide those military resources necessary for a successful PSO, in order to help create the ~~condition~~secure environments for civil organisations to do their work;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. CStresses the importance of attacking the root causes of conflicts; calls for a comprehensive and integrated plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as the rule of law and freedom of speech, the establishment of impartial institutions that can take on all government functions, the guarantee that natural resources will be managed responsibly and universal access to basic public services, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive and integrated plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas appropriately experienced and equipped organisations and nations should provide those ~~military~~ resources necessary for a successful PSO, in order to help create the conditions for civil organisations to do their work;

Amendment 23 #

Ádám KÓSA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as the rule of law ~~and~~, freedom of speech, equal treatment of men and women and the prohibition of discrimination on any ground, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas appropriately experienced and equipped organisations and nations, with a clear and realistic UN mandate, should provide those military resources necessary for a successful PSO, in order to help create the conditions for civil organisations to do their work;

Amendment 24 #

Bogdan Brunon WENTA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as the rule of law and freedom of speech, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; notes that civilian conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities cannot be overlooked in favour of military and short-term crisis management aspects of peace and security; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the AU operates under different constraints to the UN ~~and can take sides, intervene without invitation, and intervene where no peace accord has been signed; whereas given the number of intra-state conflicts in Africa this is an important difference~~but according to a legal framework respecting the UN Charter;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in ~~peacekeeping operations in~~ order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as the rule of law and freedom of speech, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the AU operates under different constraints to the UN and can take sides, intervene without invitation, and intervene where no peace accord has been signed; whereas given the number of inter-state and intra-state conflicts in Africa this is an important difference;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as the rule of law and freedom of speech, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; ~~calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;~~

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas the crises in Africa call for a global response which goes well beyond the purely security aspects; whereas all local and international actors have highlighted the need for close coordination between security and development policy as the only realistic way of remedying the instability which affects many African countries; whereas the EU, along with the UN, is the only international organisation which has the economic, financial and security resources needed to support this vital global approach;

Amendment 27 #

Arne LIETZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for a comprehensive plan to reinforce sustainable development policies in peacekeeping operations in order to ensure long-term development; recalls the need to provide tools to achieve clear steps towards democracy and democratic values such as human rights, the rule of law and freedom of speech, along with a sustainable economy and stable society; underlines the need for a comprehensive plan regarding conflict areas and their surroundings with a view to preventing the emergence of new conflicts; calls, in this regard, for an early warning system;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas the UN Liaison Office for Peace and Security and the Permanent Mission of the African Union in Brussels play key roles in developing relationships between their organisations and the EU, NATO and national embassies;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Requests in this context that EU support to civil society organisations (CSOs) should feature more prominently in all partnerships and a more strategic engagement with CSOs that should be mainstreamed in all external instruments and programmes and in all areas of cooperation, in particular in the peace and security agenda; recalls that the Council has recognised the essential role of CSOs here;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the primary mechanism for European cooperation with the AU is the African Peace Facility, originally established in 2004 and providing some €EUR 1.9 billion through the Member State-funded EDF; whereas the 2014-2016 action programme takes account of external evaluation and consultations with Member States and introduces new elements to improve its effectiveness; whereas article 43 TEU refers to the so called Petersberg Plus tasks covering military advice and assistance tasks, conflict prevention and peace-keeping tasks, tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace-making and post-conflict stabilisation;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Reminds that peace has been recognized as crucial for development in the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace and justice has been introduced;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7

— having regard to the documents of 14 June 2012 'Plan of Action to enhance EU CSDP support to UN peacekeeping' and of 23 March 2015 ‘Strengthening the UN- EU Strategic Partnership on Peacekeeping and Crisis Management: Priorities 2015- 2018’4 , _________________ 4 EEAS(2015)458, Council document 7632/15.

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 30 #

Mariya GABRIEL

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the primary mechanism for European cooperation with the AU is the African Peace Facility, originally established in 2004 and providing some €EUR 1.9 billion through the Member State-funded EDF; whereas in 2007 the scope of the Facility was broadened to encompass a wider range of conflict- prevention and post-conflict stabilisation activities; whereas the 2014-2016 action programme takes account of external evaluation and consultations with Member States and introduces new elements to improve its effectiveness; whereas strengthening the institutional capacity of the African Union and the African regional economic communities is vital to the success of PSOs and of post-conflict reconciliation and rehabilitation processes;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Draws attention to the threat posed by the rise of terrorism in Africa and the growing number of terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram; stresses the importance of supporting effective anti-terrorism policies in developing countries and promoting the creation of jobs for young people, given that unemployment makes them easy targets for recruitment by terrorist groups;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas in 2014 more than 90% of the budget of the African Peace Facility was earmarked for peace-support operations; whereas 65% of those funds were set aside to fund expenditure on AMISOM staff; whereas, according to the head of AMISOM, Francisco Caetano José Madeira, the EU has cut its funding for uniformed mission staff by 20%;

Amendment 31 #

Arne LIETZ, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Regrets that quite often "peacekeeping" operations are just devoted to an unstable maintenance of a surface of security; urges a deep rethinking of the concept, structure and even name of these operations; reaffirms and strongly underlines the need to have operations really conceived to deal with the deep root of war, instability and underdevelopment in a given region and with a high level of resiliency;

Amendment 32 #

Philippe JUVIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the EU’s role needs to be seen in the context of the contributions made to PSOs by numerous countries and organisations; whereas, for example, the US is the world’s largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and provides direct support to the AU through its African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership, as well as approximately USD 5 billion in support of UN operations in the Central African Republic, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, South Sudan and Somalia; whereas China has become an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations and the Forum of China-Africa cooperation includes the AU Commission; whereas, after Ethiopia, it is India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that are the largest providers of personnel to UN peacekeeping; whereas these various sources of funding are coordinated by the African Union Partners Group on Peace and Security;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that sexual violence is used as a weapon of war in many conflict areas; stresses that women and girls are especially vulnerable during conflicts; underlines their need for protection, supported by trained armed forces, who are respecting human rights.

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the EU’s role needs to be seen in the context of the contributions made to PSOs by numerous countries ~~and organisations; whereas, for example, the US is the world’s~~; whereas the EU member states are the largest contributors to the budget for UN peacekeeping operations; whereas the EU member states have deployed 959 troops within the nine peacekeeping operations; whereas the US is also a largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and provides direct support to the AU through its African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership, as well as approximately USD 5 billion in support of UN operations in the Central African Republic, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, South Sudan and Somalia; whereas China has become an active participant in UN peacekeeping operations and the Forum of China-Africa cooperation includes the AU Commission; whereas, after Ethiopia, it is India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that are the largest providers of personnel to UN peacekeeping;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses the need of a coherent and comprehensive approach for peace, stability and development; and strongly underlines the need to deal with development issues in a long-term perspective, taking into consideration the root causes of the problem; but strongly condemns the attempt to use funds devoted to development in order to act in different - even if related - field, as security and peace;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas, nevertheless, the EU is a key contributor to PSOs; whereas France trains 25 000 African soldiers each year and deploys 4400 men in operations in the context of MINUSCA and MINUSMA and in support of the armies of the Sahel G5 countries;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Remember the utmost importance of disarmament - with particular attention to non-military fighters and irregular troops - in order to reach stability and development goals;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas only 11 of the 28 EU Member States have made very modest pledges at the 28th September 2015 Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping; whereas at this summit China has pledged a 8000 standby force and Colombia 5000 troops;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the need to see PSOs in terms of a continuum between conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict development; ~~underlines the need for a holistic approach to peacekeeping operations by the UN, the AU and the EU~~considers that EU's external action in fragile and conflict-affected countries should focus on conflict prevention and capacity building in support of security and development, thus tackling root causes of instability;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas in 2014 and 2015 EU financial commitments to the AU totalled €717.9m (of which €595.1m was for PSOs and €51.7m was for the operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture and the Early Response Mechanism) and AU contributions were just €25m;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the need to see PSOs in terms of a continuum between conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict development; reiterates the need to support reforms in the security sector in order to guarantee the protection of peoples and to make investments in developing countries secure; underlines the need for a holistic approach to peacekeeping operations by the UN, the AU and the EU;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

J b. whereas in the 15 May 2015 UN Evaluation Report on Enforcement and Remedial Assistance Efforts for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 480 allegations between 2008 and 2013 were listed;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses the need to see PSOs in terms of a continuum between conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace-building and post-conflict development; underlines the need for a holistic approach to peacekeeping operations by the UN, the AU, the EU and othe EUr actors;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas anti-personnel landmines have been a major obstacle to post-conflict rehabilitation and development, not least in Africa, and the EU has spent some EUR 1.5 billion over the past 20 years ~~on mine action~~processes to support demining and assist mine victims, becoming the largest donor in this field;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Insists on a continuous political dialogue between the EU and the AU on peace and security challenges and on how to consolidate recent APF gains over the longer-term;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas, in addition to the role of individual European countries, the EU has a distinctive contribution to make in PSOs with ~~financial and other resources~~multidimensional actions; whereas the EU is providing technical and financial support to the AU and the sub regional organizations, in particular trough the African Peace Facility, the instrument contribution to peace and stability and the European development fund; whereas the EU is conducting counselling and training actions in the framework of its CSDP missions, contributing to the reinforcement of African capacities in crisis management;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Expresses concern at the growing number of cases in which peacekeeping forces are implicated in human rights violations, such as rape; calls on the EU, the UN and the African Union to ensure that peacekeeping forces are made to comply with international humanitarian law;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the "Oslo" Guidelines on the Use of Foreign Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief of November 2007,

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the aim of clarifying EU engagement boundaries on Peace Support Operations (PSOs) with the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU); recalls that the EU budget cannot be used to directly finance military or defence operations (Article 41(2) TEU) but does not explicitly exclude peacekeeping operations with development objectives; furthermore, recalls that Articles 209 and 212 TFEU do not explicitly exclude the financing of capacity-building in the security sector; underlines the importance of EU support for AU peacekeeping operations approved by the UN;

Amendment 40 #

Arne LIETZ, Enrique GUERRERO SALOM

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas, in addition to the role of individual European countries, the EU has a distinctive contribution to make in PSOs with financial and other resources, in particular via the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace and in full compliance with the Oslo Guidelines;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that emphasis should be on political, humanitarian and development policy efforts ~~should be used initially~~, supported by civilian peacekeeping operations, and ~~should be transformed into~~that they should be complemented by military operations only when necessary; demands that military peacekeeping should be ~~supported by humanitarian and development policy both during operations,~~part of a wider comprehensive approach, considering the security-development nexus to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable; stresses that humanitarian needs should be met by independent, impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance, on the basis of thorough needs assessment.

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas ~~EU missions and operations~~the five civilian EU missions and the four military EU operations ongoing in Africa frequently operate alongside or in sequence with UN, AU or national actions~~, for example in Mali, the Central African Republic or Somalia~~;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that political, humanitarian and development policy efforts should be used initially, supported by civilian peacekeeping operations, and should be ~~transf~~suppormted ~~into~~by military ~~operation~~actors and capabilities only when necessary; demands that military peacekeeping should be supported by humanitarian and development policy both during operations, to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable.

Amendment 42 #

Sabine LÖSING, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

N a. whereas when APF was established in 2003, its financing via EDF funds was meant to be provisional, only for the time necessary to find alternative funding sources; whereas 12 years later EDF remains the main source of funding for APF;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that political, humanitarian and development policy efforts should be used initially, supported by civilian peacekeeping operations, and should be transformed into military operations only when necessary; demands that military peacekeeping should be supported by humanitarian and development policy both during operations, to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable.only civilian peacekeeping operations;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the European Council has requested that the EU and its Member States enhance their support to partner countries and organisations, through the provision of training, advice, equipment and resources, so that they can increasingly prevent or manage crises by themselves; ~~whereas there is a clear need for mutually reinforcing interventions in the areas of security and development in order to achieve this goal;~~

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that political, humanitarian and development policy efforts should be used initially, supported by civilian peacekeeping operations, and should be transformed into military operations only when necessary; ~~dema~~recommends that military peacekeeping should be supported by humanitarian and development policy ~~both~~as appropriate: during operations, to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable.

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

~~P. whereas the EU should not compete with or duplicate the work of others who may be better able to fulfil particular roles;~~deleted

Amendment 44 #

Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that political, humanitarian and development policy efforts should be ~~used~~ initially, supported only by civilian peacekeeping operations, ~~and should be transformed into military operations only when necessary; demands that~~military operations should be considered a last resort; recalls that, in any case, military peacekeeping ~~should~~operations must be supported by humanitarian and development policy both during operations, ~~to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable.~~and that human rights, and the rule law should be always a constitutive part of the troops training;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas the EU should ~~not~~avoid compet~~e with or duplicate the work~~ing and should support the actions of others who may be better able to fulfil particular roles, and should not duplicate their work;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes with the deepest concern and deplores the relevant amount of cases of women sexual exploitation, encouraged prostitution, children prostitution and children trafficking, often spreading during and immediately after peacekeeping operations; calls on all the relevant authorities - in particular when EU is engaged in these operations - to urgently take any efforts to stop these violations, to protect victims, to bring the perpetrators to justice and to put human rights at the core centre of any initiative conducted in the framework of the said operations.

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas the EU should ~~not compete with or duplicate the work of others who may be bet~~support actors already present on the ground, in particular those of its Member Staters a~~ble to fulfil particular role~~lready involved in PSOs;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas Article 41(2) TEU prohibits expenditure from EU budgets on operations having military or defence implications; whereas Articles 209 and 212 TFEU do not explicitly exclude the financing of capacity-building in the security sector; whereas the EU is currently working on the creation of a new CBSD dedicated instrument to equip the trained personnel in the framework of the CSDP missions;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas Article 41(2) TEU prohibits expenditure from EU budgets on operations having military or defence implications while not explicitly excluding EU financing of military tasks before and after operations; whereas Articles 209 and 212 TFEU do not explicitly exclude the financing of capacity-building in the security sector;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas Article 41(2) TEU prohibits expenditure from EU budgets on operations having military or defence implications, but does not explicitly exclude peacekeeping operations with developmental objectives; whereas Articles 209 and 212 TFEU do not explicitly exclude the financing of capacity-building in the security sector;

Amendment 5 #

Neena GILL

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to resolution of the ACP- EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of 9 December 2015 on 'The evaluation of the African Peace Facility after ten years: effectiveness and prospects for the future',

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas Article 41(2) TEU prohibits expenditure from EU budgets on operations having military or defence implications; whereas this expenditure is charged to the Member States under the Athena mechanism; whereas Articles 209 and 212 TFEU do not explicitly exclude the financing of capacity-building in the security sector;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)

Q a. whereas the European Development Fund (EDF) and the African Peace Facility as instruments outside the EU budget are currently particularly relevant in the current efforts to comprehensively address security-development nexus;

Amendment 52 #