2022/0252M(NLE) EU-Thailand Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
Lead committee dossier:
Progress: Procedure completed
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET |
KOVATCHEV Andrey ( EPP)
|
PICULA Tonino ( S&D),
PAET Urmas ( Renew),
SOLÉ Jordi ( Verts/ALE),
FOTYGA Anna ( ECR)
|
| Committee Opinion | FEMM | ||
| Committee Opinion | DEVE | ||
| Committee Opinion | CULT | ||
| Committee Opinion | PECH | ||
| Committee Opinion | AGRI |
LINS Norbert ( EPP)
|
|
| Committee Opinion | TRAN | ||
| Committee Opinion | EMPL | ||
| Committee Opinion | ITRE | ||
| Committee Opinion | JURI | ||
| Committee Opinion | ECON | ||
| Committee Opinion | LIBE | ||
| Committee Opinion | INTA | ||
| Committee Opinion | ENVI |
Lead committee dossier:
Events
2023/06/14
EP - Decision by Parliament
Documents
2023/06/14
EP - Decision by Parliament
Details
The European Parliament adopted by 552 votes to 36, with 24 abstentions, a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part.
EU engagement in the Indo-Pacific region
Members highlighted the fact that Thailand is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, which has become one of the EU’s geopolitical priorities. The EU’s new Indo-Pacific strategy needs to be implemented swiftly to give the EU’s partners in the region the opportunity to address common challenges together, to defend the rules-based international order and to stand up for shared EU-ASEAN values and principles.
Parliament reiterated the political significance of strong bilateral relations, based on shared values and principles, between ASEAN and the EU in general, and between Thailand and the EU in particular. It recalled its call for the swift implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in coordination with the Indo-Pacific strategy and welcomed the announcement of a EUR 10 billion financial package to accelerate infrastructure investments in ASEAN countries with the aim of building a new, economically sustainable partnership, in particular with regard to the green transition and sustainable connectivity.
EU-Thailand PCA
Parliament welcomed the conclusion of the PCA, a comprehensive and modern agreement which will make it possible to move towards new models of sustainable growth and development and better respond to current challenges in a wide number of policy areas, including the environment, energy, climate change, transport, science and technology, trade, employment and social affairs, human rights, education, agriculture, migration, culture, nuclear non-proliferation, counterterrorism, and the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Members called for visa-free travel to Thailand for all EU citizens and supported working towards a visa-free regime for travel to the EU for Thai citizens.
Given that Thailand is the ninth country in the world most affected by climate change, Parliament stressed the parties’ common objective of strengthening the global response to climate change and its impact and enhancing cooperation on policies to help mitigate climate change in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
The resolution highlighted that Thailand faces increasing environmental degradation in many regions, including the loss of biodiversity and declining wildlife populations, deforestation, desertification, water scarcity, and air and water pollution. Cooperation is needed to address these challenges.
Moreover, Parliament considered that the EU should maintain its commitment to sustainable fishing in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen its cooperation with Thailand on combating overfishing, overcapacity and IUU fishing in the Indo-Pacific. The Commission is urged to include canned fish and seafood as ‘sensitive products’ for the purposes of possible trade negotiations with Thailand.
The Thai authorities are urged to:
- step up their implementation efforts, as well as efforts to combat gender-based violence and empower women and girls, particularly migrant women, women from rural areas and women belonging to minorities;
- respect the role of civil society organisations, human rights defenders, democracy defenders, civil society activists, journalists and others, to ensure freedom of expression and assembly;
- abide by its international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and swiftly ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance;
- immediately put a halt to the deportations of ethnic Rohingya and Uyghurs and other asylum seekers, which are in blatant violation of fundamental international obligations that are binding on Thailand, particularly the principle of non-refoulement;
- ratify ILO Conventions Nos 87, 98 and 155, to effectively guarantee workers’ rights to organise and strike and to recognise the same rights for all workers, regardless of their country of origin;
- take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty.
Documents
2023/05/25
EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG) containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part.
EU engagement in the Indo-Pacific region
The Indo-Pacific region is home to increasingly important political, trade and security partners for the EU, including Thailand. A free, connected and stable Indo-Pacific region based on rules and respect for international law, in line with European principles and standards, is highly desirable for the EU’s security and interests.
The renewed negotiations on the PCA concluded on 11 June 2022 with the aim of establishing a modern, broad and mutually beneficial partnership, based on shared interests and principles.
Negotiations between the EU and Thailand on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) commenced in 2013, but the EU put the negotiations on hold in 2014. The EU and Thailand relaunched the negotiations on 15 March 2023.
The report reiterated the political significance of strong bilateral relations, based on shared values and principles, between ASEAN and the EU in general, and between Thailand and the EU in particular. It recalled its call for the swift implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in coordination with the Indo-Pacific strategy and welcomed the announcement of a EUR 10 billion financial package to accelerate infrastructure investments in ASEAN countries with the aim of building a new, economically sustainable partnership, in particular with regard to the green transition and sustainable connectivity.
EU-Thailand PCA
Members welcomed the conclusion of the PCA, which will provide a legal framework for enhancing longstanding, bilateral political and economic relations and collaboration on issues of global concern and represents an important step towards strengthening the EU’s role in the Indo-Pacific region. They expressed hope that the conclusion of the PCA will provide a strong impetus for greater cooperation between the EU and Thailand for the benefit of all EU and Thai citizens, residents, businesses and other stakeholders. The report called for visa-free travel to Thailand for all EU citizens and supported working towards a visa-free regime for travel to the EU for Thai citizens.
Members stressed the parties’ common objective of strengthening the global response to climate change and its impact and enhancing cooperation on policies to help mitigate climate change in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
The report highlighted that Thailand faces increasing environmental degradation in many regions, including the loss of biodiversity and declining wildlife populations, deforestation, desertification, water scarcity, and air and water pollution. Cooperation is needed to address these challenges.
Moreover, Members considered that the EU should maintain its commitment to sustainable fishing in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen its cooperation with Thailand on combating overfishing, overcapacity and IUU fishing in the Indo-Pacific. The Commission is urged to include canned fish and seafood as ‘sensitive products’ for the purposes of possible trade negotiations with Thailand.
The Thai authorities are urged to:
- respect the role of civil society organisations, human rights defenders , democracy defenders, civil society activists, journalists and others, to ensure freedom of expression and assembly;
- immediately put a halt to the deportations of ethnic Rohingya and Uyghurs and other asylum seekers, which are in blatant violation of fundamental international obligations that are binding on Thailand, particularly the principle of non-refoulement;
- take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty .
Documents
2023/05/24
EP - Vote in committee
2023/03/08
EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2023/02/09
EP - Specific opinion
Documents
2023/02/03
EP - LINS Norbert (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI
2023/02/02
EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2023/01/19
EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2022/09/08
EP - KOVATCHEV Andrey (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in AFET
Documents
- Decision by Parliament: T9-0231/2023
- Decision by Parliament: T9-0232/2023
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A9-0193/2023
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE745.258
- Specific opinion: PE742.393
- Committee draft report: PE742.304
- Committee draft report: PE742.304
- Specific opinion: PE742.393
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE745.258
Votes
Accord de partenariat et de coopération UE-Thaïlande (résolution) - A9-0193/2023 - Andrey Kovatchev - Proposition de résolution #
2023/06/14 Outcome: +: 546, -: 42, 0: 26
PPE
NI
The Left
ID| Amendments | Dossier |
| 86 |
2022/0252M(NLE)
2023/03/08
AFET
86 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 4 a (new) — having regard to the Communication from the Commission of 22 June 2022 on the power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 h (new) — having regard to the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 13 a (new) — having regard to the letter from the Committee on Fisheries,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the Indo-Pacific region is home to increasingly important political, trade and security partners for the EU, including Thailand; whereas a free, connected and stable Indo-Pacific region based on rules and respect for international law, in line with our principles and standards, is highly desirable for the security and interests of the Union;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas the EU and Thailand completed negotiations on a PCA in March 2013, but the military coup in Thailand in 2014 halted the process; whereas elections for a civilian government were constantly delayed by the military junta until 2019; whereas the current 2017 constitution was approved in a military-dominated referendum and moved the country away from an elective legislative;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G G. whereas following the March 2019 elections in Thailand, the Council stated in
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas throughout 2020-2021, following flawed elections in 2019 and the dissolution of major political parties, Thailand saw mass street protests, in particular of young people and students, demanding a new democratic institution, a reform of the monarchy and the resignation of the former army chief and current Prime Minister, who has been ruling the country since the 2014 coup; whereas these mostly youth-led protests were met with violent force by the police and protesters, including children, were prosecuted for political reasons; whereas recent constitutional court rulings added further conditions and procedural roadblocks to amend the constitution;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K K. whereas Thailand was among the first countries to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but its overall human rights record remains highly problematic;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K a (new) Ka. whereas the government has recently restricted fundamental rights, particularly free expression and assembly, arbitrarily arrested democracy activists and critics of the monarchy, and enforced a nationwide state of emergency using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext; whereas the authorities suppressed youth-led democracy protests, sometimes violently, and in 2022 introduced a draft law to tightly control all civil society organisations; whereas criminal defamation laws are particularly used to target, harass, and attempt to silence human rights defenders; whereas in April 2022 opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been indicted on charges of royal defamation for questioning the government’s vaccine management and the subsidies granted to a pharmaceutical company owned privately by the monarch;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K b (new) Kb. whereas Thailand has not yet ratified a number of ILO conventions, notably with regard to freedom of association and right to organise; whereas the workers’ rights to organise, collective bargain and strike is recognised by national legislation but still strictly regulated; whereas in practice, union leaders and workers often face criminal charges or are dismissed for their union activity; whereas 2 million migrant workers are discriminated and do not enjoy the same labour rights recognised to local workers, including the right to organise;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital K c (new) Kc. whereas Thailand ranked 79th in the 2021 Gender Inequality Index (GII) and Thai women continue to be strongly underrepresented in employment and in politics, although the country has seen a reverse gender gap in higher education with Thailand being ranked first in the world for superior numbers of women and girls in higher education;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 9 a (new) — having regard to its resolution of 6 October 2016 on Thailand, notably the situation of Andy Hall,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital L a (new) L a. whereas Thailand's draconian lèse-majesté laws, including the outrageously disproportionate punishments, continue to be used to stifle dissent and persecute human rights defenders, democracy defenders, civil society activists, journalists and others;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital M M. whereas the death penalty continues to be applied in Thailand, even though the country’s fourth National Human Rights Plan (2019-2023) contains a commitment to moving towards the abolition of capital punishment; whereas Thailand is not a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, and lacks a domestic legal framework to specifically recognize and provide protections to refugees, notably from Myanmar, which are either confined to camps or face arbitrary arrest, detention, and forced return or refoulement;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention; whereas there are well-documented reports of people fleeing Myanmar being forcibly deported back to Myanmar, in an apparent violation of the right to asylum and the principle of non-refoulement;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N N. whereas Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 protocol; whereas asylum seekers are treated by authorities as illegal migrants and subject to arrest, detention, and deportations;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. whereas more than half of the world’s fishing vessels operate in the South China Sea which alone accounts for around 12% of the world’s fishing; whereas, within the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Union is an active member of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) of which Thailand is also a member, such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, or of which Thailand is a non-member cooperating partner such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission; whereas the Union is engaged in dialogue and has set up a working group on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing with Thailand;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. whereas despite government- instituted reforms in the fishing industry, many migrant workers continue facing forced labour, remain in debt bondage to recruiters, cannot change employers, and receive sub-minimum wages that are paid months late; whereas the government has failed to adequately provide migrant workers with internationally recognized worker rights and protections, such as the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as migrant workers are barred by law from organising and establishing labour unions, or serving as a government recognized labour union leader;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital N a (new) Na. whereas Thailand has not yet ratified fundamental ILO conventions, notably the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital P P. whereas negotiations between the EU and Thailand on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) commenced in 2013, but the EU has put the negotiations on hold; whereas resumption of negotiations should be subject to the achievement of clearly defined objectives aiming at the highest standards in terms of environmental protection, labour rights and human rights and to a sustainability impact assessment, including a thorough human rights impact assessment, to make sure that the agreement is forward- looking and fair to consumers, workers, the environment, business and future generations;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital P a (new) Pa. whereas Thailand is the world’s leading producer of canned tuna and the EU’s chief competitor in this sector; whereas a free trade agreement with Thailand could pose a serious threat to the EU canned fish and seafood industry, which is of crucial importance to a number of coastal regions because of its leading role in generating wealth and employment and in providing labour- intensive jobs for women;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 a (new) — having regard to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital P a (new) Pa. whereas the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement aims to establish a modern, broad-based and mutually beneficial partnership, based on shared interests and principles such as equality, mutual respect, the rule of law and human rights;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that the EU is not designed to be a fully-fledged geopolitical actor, including in the Indo-Pacific region; condemns the EU’s desire to organise naval exercises in the region, as stated in the Strategic Compass; denounces the growing desire to expand the CSDP, in particular by strengthening the ties with South Korea and Japan, which would serve only to promote a bloc- based approach and increase tensions in the region;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Underlines that the EU is committed to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region; reiterates that the EU’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy needs to be implemented swiftly, as it offers our partners in the region an opportunity to address the common challenges together, to defend the rules-based international order and to stand up for the values and principles we share; advocates for stronger cooperation with countries in the region, including in particular with ASEAN countries;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Reiterates the political value of strong trade and investment relations based on sustainability, due diligence and fair competition in full respect for high labour and environmental standards between ASEAN and the EU in general, and between Thailand and the EU in particular; welcomes the recent EU-
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Reiterates the political value of
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates its call for a swift implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in coordination with the Indo- Pacific strategy
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Reiterates its call for a swift implementation of the EU Global Gateway strategy in coordination with the Indo- Pacific strategy; welcomes the announcement of a EUR 10 billion package to accelerate infrastructure investments in ASEAN countries, in particular with regard to the green transition and sustainable connectivity, with the aim of building a new economically sustainable partnership, in accordance with the current environmental issues and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the support of partners in the Indo-Pacific region has been and remains very valuable with regard to voting in the UN General Assembly relating to Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and illegal war on Ukraine; welcomes the fact that Thailand voted to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and appreciates the humanitarian aid provided by Thailand to Ukraine; encourages Thailand to follow up on this commitment also within the framework of ASEAN, promoting the respect for international law, support for Ukraine and taking a clear stance against the Russian war of aggression;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the support of partners in the Indo-Pacific region has been and remains very valuable with regard to voting in the UN General Assembly relating to Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and illegal war on Ukraine; welcomes the fact that Thailand voted to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and appreciates the humanitarian aid provided by Thailand to Ukraine; welcomes also Thailand’s vote in favour of the latest resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 23 February, the anniversary of the start of Russia's war against Ukraine;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Notes that the support of partners in the Indo-Pacific region has been and remains very valuable with regard to
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Parties to commit to support the implementation and enforcement of domestic legislation on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability and to agree on more specific obligations in the light of sustainable impact assessments; calls also on the Parties to exchange information on the number of investigations, checks and enforcement actions respectively taken for the implementation and enforcement of their domestic legislation on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability; encourages the Parties to provide trainings or technical assistance companies in order to increase their awareness on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Expresses hope that the conclusion of the PCA will provide a strong impetus for greater cooperation between the EU and Thailand for the benefit of all EU and Thai citizens, residents, businesses and other stakeholders;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls on the Thai Government to unlock the full potential of women and promote, through an effective legislation and adequate resources, women’s empowerment, economic contribution, political participation and leadership;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls for visa free travel to Thailand to be provided to all EU citizens;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses the parties’ common objective of strengthening the global response to climate change and its impact and enhancing cooperation on policies to help mitigate climate change in accordance with the Paris Agreement; highlights the commitments under Article 38 that each Party shall effectively implement the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Emphasises the parties’ endeavour to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, including on access to affordable and sustainable energy services, developing sustainable and renewable forms of energy and promoting low-carbon power generation that contributes to a clean energy transition; encourages both parties to step up efforts to tackle the effects of climate change by adopting and implementing more effective climate policies towards energy transition and decarbonisation;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Highlights that Thailand faces increasing environmental degradation in many regions, including the loss of biodiversity and declining wildlife populations, deforestation, desertification, water scarcity, and air and water pollution; urges both partners to focus in their cooperation on the fight against these problems, fully in line with Article 43 of the agreement; highlights against this background, that it is crucial to significantly strengthen current procedures for comprehensive impact assessments in the context of large development projects, including public consultations with the concerned local communities and independent experts; acknowledges and commends the crucial role played by environmental rights defenders in protecting the environment and fighting abuses;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Calls in this context on the Thai authorities and the EU to involve civil society, trade unions and human rights defenders in transparent discussions on the FTA in a meaningful way from an early stage onwards;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 c (new) — having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966 to which Thailand is a state party,
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls on the Thai Government to respect the role of civil society organisations and ensure freedom of expression and assembly, to review the lèse-majesté law, the computer crime law and the criminal defamation law;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Calls for the strengthening of gender equality and women empowerment and promoting the inclusion of young people in Thailand;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 b (new) 13b. Urges the Thai authorities to repeal its lèse-majesté provisions under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, which are among the strictest in the world and are not in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that Thailand has signed and ratified; urges Thailand to promptly release those individuals who have been politically arrested for criticising the Thai monarchy; is strongly concerned with the unprecedented targeting of children under this lèse-majesté provision and calls on Thailand to abide by its international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by Thailand;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 c (new) 13c. Encourages the Thai argument to engage in a meaningful dialogue with representatives of the protesters, opposition parties and civil society organisations in order to foster cohesion in the country; regrets the chilling effect and the dangerous precedent to the right to freedom of expression that the 10 November 2021 Constitutional Court’s ruling creates by restricting opinions that are critical of the monarchy;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 d (new) 13d. Regrets the Thai government's proposal for a Draft Act on the Operation of Not-for-Profit Organisations of 2021; is concerned about the broad restrictions that this law would impose on NGOs, particularly on those that receive foreign funding, as well as the criminal charges that the representatives of NGOs may face in case of non-compliance with the law; calls on the Thai government to withdraw this law;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 e (new) 13e. Regrets that the 2017 National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) Act stripped this body of its independence; calls on the Thai authorities to amend this law in line with the UN Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions (Paris Principles), notably regarding the composition, competence and independence of the NHRCT, with a view to enabling this body to fulfil its duty to serve as an independent bulwark against human rights violations in Thailand;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes Thailand’s enactment in 2022 of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act as a critical milestone in combating torture, ill treatment and enforced disappearances in Thailand and calls for its effective implementation; regrets that on 14 February 2023, the Thai government approved a decree to postpone the enforcement of Articles 22 to 25 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance from February to October 2023; underlines the need to improve the existing legal framework as well as for other measures and actions to be taken in order to move away from the culture of impunity and prevent human rights abuses;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reiterates its calls urging Thailand to take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 d (new) Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reiterates its calls urging Thailand to take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty and to sign and ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reiterates its calls urging Thailand to take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty and to sign and ratify the
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Calls on Thailand to ratify ILO conventions n. 87, 98 and 155, to effectively guarantee workers’ rights to organise and to strike, and to recognise to all workers the same rights regardless of the country of origin;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Is concerned with the armed conflict between insurgent groups from the south of Thailand and the Thai armed forces, which has caused more than 7.000 deaths since 2004; calls on both sides to engage in peace talks; in this context, encourages the EU to support the mediation of the conflict; urges the Thai authorities to investigate possible war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the belligerents and hold the perpetrators accountable;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Reiterates its call on Thailand's authorities to improve the efficiency of migrant workers management and combatting unacceptable forms of work, including by amending the Labour Protection Act for its protections to cover all workers in agriculture, including migrant workers, developing regular migration channels; welcomes the ongoing cooperation with the EU and the ILO in this regard;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Welcomes the EU humanitarian aid programmes providing protection services and health care assistance to Rohingya refugees living in detention centres in the country; calls for Thailand to sign and ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 b (new) 15b. Encourages Thailand to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in line with Article 5 of the PCA and the joint declaration regarding this article;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 c (new) 15c. Reiterates its call on Thailand to sign and ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 d (new) 15d. Underlines that cooperation on migration and any actions in this area need to be implemented in full respect of international law, including international human rights and refugee law; calls on the EU to promote, respect and protect international human rights standards and in particular the principle of non- refoulement and the principle of voluntary return in their cooperation on migration with Thailand;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 e (new) 15e. Against this background, condemns pushbacks by neighbouring countries to Myanmar, which are in contravention of the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement; calls on all neighbouring countries, including Thailand, to ensure access to asylum/ protection to people fleeing Myanmar; calls on these governments to ensure that aid organisations and local civil society organisations are permitted, able and supported to access areas hosting internally displaced people along their borders with Myanmar;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 e (new) — having regard to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 f (new) 15f. Regrets the increasing use of informal readmission agreements which circumvent the role foreseen in the Treaties for the Parliament to effectively scrutinise readmission agreements; calls on the Commission and Council to pursue a formal readmission agreement with Thailand in full respect of Parliament's role;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 g (new) 15g. Welcomes Thailand’s legislation towards the advancement of women’s rights including the adoption of the 2015 Gender Equality Act and the inclusion of gender-sensitive budgeting in the 2017 Constitution; calls on the Thai authorities to step up implementation efforts, as well as efforts to combat gender-based violence and to empower women and girls, particularly migrant women, women from rural areas and women belonging to minorities, in line with Article 21 of the PCA;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 h (new) 15h. Encourages the Thai authorities to provide an improved framework for the protection and support of all minority and indigenous groups in the country, with due respect to their fundamental rights, including improving laws governing land rights to protect the economic, social, and cultural rights of indigenous communities;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 i (new) 15i. Notes the increased protection that the 2015 Gender Equality Act provides to the LGBTI community; calls on Thailand to adopt a law on gender recognition and to swiftly recognise same-sex marriages and/or partnerships; regrets the Constitutional Court Ruling No. 20/2564 of 2021 that rejects same-sex marriage, as well as the anti-LGBTQI+ language of this ruling;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 j (new) 15j. Welcomes the adoption of the Second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2023-2027) and calls for its effective implementation; welcomes that Thailand is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to adopt a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 k (new) 15k. Regrets the increase in Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), especially after the coup d’état in 2014, targeting human rights defenders, environmental activists, journalists and other civil society stakeholders; condemns the SLAPPs lodged by private companies and state authorities targeting the communities affected by the environmental impact of mining activities; is concerned with the fact that the majority of the SLAPP cases in Thailand are of criminal nature and are initiated by the public prosecutors; calls on the Thai authorities to adopt and enforce an anti-SLAPPs legal framework in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Recalls that if either party considers that the other has failed to fulfil any of its obligations under the PCA, notably with regards to its essential elements, it may take appropriate measures, including the suspension of the PCA;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Calls on the Commission to make sure that human rights concerns are duly taken into account
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Recalls that Article 1(2) of the PCA confirms the Parties’ commitment to promoting sustainable development in all its dimensions, to cooperating in addressing challenges of climate change and globalisation, and to contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; expects the Parties to agree to an FTA’s Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter that is fully in line with the new EU’s approach outlined in the Commission Communication “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth”, and which is therefore sanctionable under the main dispute settlement mechanism of the FTA;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 f (new) — having regard to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Urges the Commission once again to bear in mind that a bilateral free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand must be preceded by rigorous sustainability impact studies and a detailed analysis of the potential economic, social and environmental repercussions;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 b (new) 17b. Welcomes the agreement to cooperate and to provide technical assistance with a view to working towards the ratification and implementation of the fundamental ILO Conventions as well as to cooperate on promoting the ratification and implementation of other up-to-date ILO Conventions, including but not limited to the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining; recalls that ratification and effective implementation of relevant ILO conventions is a key feature of the enforceable commitments under EU’s FTA, specifically TSD chapters, and expects the same level of ambition also in view of an FTA with Thailand;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 b (new) 17b. Urges the Commission once again to include canned fish and seafood as ‘sensitive products’ for the purposes of possible trade negotiations with Thailand;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 c (new) 17c. Acknowledges efforts made by the Government to tackle human rights abuses related to trafficking and forced labour; remains, however, concerned about the labour conditions of migrant workers, including of workers in the fishing sector, as well as about the situation of women migrant workers; in this context, calls on the Thai authorities to take the necessary steps to tackle forced labour and other human rights abuses;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 d (new) 17d. Welcomes the inclusion of provisions on Sustainable Food System underpinning cooperation in such an area, thereby providing a basis for the inclusion of a dedicated chapter in the FTA, and in line with the relevant EU flagship policies, such as the Farm to Fork Strategy; stresses that the agriculture sector has important sensitivities for both Thailand and the EU which should allow for a mutual understanding on a limited liberalisation that is anchored on sustainability principles;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 e (new) 17e. Notes the relevant PCA provisions on investment aimed at enhancing understanding and cooperation on investment issues; takes the view that future investment-related provisions in the FTA should only aim at ensuring non- discrimination of respective investors and provide support to Thailand to continue improving administrative procedures and the general business environment;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 f (new) 17f. Notes that Thailand is expected to hold its next elections on 7 May 2023; highlights that holding democratic, fair and free elections and the formation of a stable democratic government that respects, protects and fulfils human rights are important preconditions for successful future EU-Thailand FTA negotiations;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 g (new) — having regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
source: 745.258
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History
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