Activities of Daniel FREUND related to 2023/2028(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Situation of fundamental rights in the EU in 2022 and 2023 (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union – annual report 2022 and 2023
Amendments (79)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
– having regard to the Council Recommendation of 12 March 2021 on Roma equality, inclusion and participation (2021/C93/01) of 12 March 2021,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
– having regard to the Commission communication of 13 July 2022 entitled ‘2022 Rule of Law Report – The rule of law situation in the European Union’ (COM(2022)0500), the 27 country chapters and its accompanying recommendations to Member States,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 July 2023 entitled ‘2023 Rule of Law Report – The rule of law situation in the European Union’ (COM(2023)800), the 27 country chapters and its accompanying recommendations to Member States,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20
Citation 20
– having regard to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2022 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic lawsuits against public participation’) (COM(2022)0177) (‘the anti-SLAPP directive’), and its accompanying recommendation,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 September 2022 on establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act) and amending Directive 2010/13/EU (COM(2022)0277) (‘the Media Freedom Act’), and its accompanying recommendation on internal safeguards for editorial independence and ownership transparency in the media sector,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a Council Regulation of 7 December 2022 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and on the creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood (COM(2022) 695),
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
– having regard to the reports of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), in particular its fundamental rights reports for the year 2022, and 2023, including its country specific reports,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25
Citation 25
– having regard to the UN instruments on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the recommendations and reports of the UN Universal Periodic Review, the case-law of the UN treaty bodies and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
– having regard to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 b (new)
Citation 25 b (new)
– having regard to the recommendations and reports of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the High Commissioner on National Minorities and other bodies of the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 c (new)
Citation 25 c (new)
– having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR),
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)
Citation 28 a (new)
– – having regard to the European Social Charter,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 b (new)
Citation 28 b (new)
– having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights, including its third principle on equal opportunities, and to the Commission communication of 4 March 2021 on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)0102)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 c (new)
Citation 28 c (new)
– having regard to the statements, recommendations and reports of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 d (new)
Citation 28 d (new)
– having regard to the recommendations and reports of the Council of Europe, in particular of the Venice Commission, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), GREVIO and GRECO,
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 e (new)
Citation 28 e (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 17 September 2020 entitled ‘The implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies: combating negative attitudes towards people with Romani background in Europe’1aa; _________________ 1aa OJ C 385, 22.9.2021, p. 104.
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 34 a (new)
Citation 34 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 5 May 2022 on ongoing hearings under Article 7(1) TEU regarding Poland and Hungary1a _________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0204_EN.html
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 a (new)
Citation 38 a (new)
– having regard to its decision of 18 October 2022 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 20201b _________________ 1b https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0362_EN.html
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 b (new)
Citation 38 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 10 November 2022 on racial justice, non- discrimination and anti-racism in the EU1c, _________________ 1c https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0389_EN.html
Amendment 44 #
– having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2022 on growing hate crimes against LGBTIQ+ people across Europe in light of the recent homophobic murder in Slovakia1d, _________________ 1d https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0372_EN.html
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 d (new)
Citation 38 d (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2022 towards equal rights for persons with disabilities1e, _________________ 1e https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2022-0435_EN.pdf
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 41 a (new)
Citation 41 a (new)
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 41 b (new)
Citation 41 b (new)
– having regard to its recommendation of 15 June 2023 to the Council and the Commission following the investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware1g, _________________ 1g https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2023-0244_EN.html
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, as set out in Article 2 TEU and the Charterincluding the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as set out in Article 2 TEU and as reflected in the Charter and embedded in international human rights treaties; whereas these values should be shared, protected and promoted by Member States and the EU;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas media freedom, pluralism, independence and the safety of journalists are crucial components of the right of freedom of expression and information and are essential to the democratic functioning of the EU and its Member States; whereas in recent years, journalists and media actors in Europe and abroad have increasingly come under threat; whereas SLAPPs remain a pressing issue across the EU;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas corruption is a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law; whereas there are persistent and serious concerns about the fight against corruption in some Member States; whereas the mechanisms to stop corruption are weak in several Member States and the lack of protection given to whistleblowers continues to be a widespread deficiency; whereas the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation aims to protect the Union budget against breaches of rule of law principles;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the independence of the judiciary - an essential requirement for the democratic principle of separation of powers and central to guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights - is facing serious threats or is even being structurally undermined in somean increasing number of Member States;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in March 2023, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights assessed the situation of human rights defenders in Europe as having deteriorated alarmingly; whereas human rights defenders face numerous obstacles in their work, including: legal and administrative restrictions impeding the registration of NGOs and their access to funding, excessive financial and reporting requirements, judicial harassment, smear campaigns, threats and intimidation, abusive control and surveillance, confiscation and destruction of working materials, unlawful arrest or detention and ill-treatment; whereas in some cases, human rights defenders are kidnapped or even killed; whereas the absence of effective investigations into violations committed by state and non- state actors against human rights defenders targeted because of their human rights work remains a major concern; whereas this results in the impunity of perpetrators and the recurrence of violations; whereas the work of human rights defenders is essential for the advancement of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and it is also instrumental in defending victims of human rights violations and ensuring their access to redress and remedy;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there have been multiple incidents of migrant deaths and human rights violations at European borders due to ineffective management and disproportionate use of force by the authorities; whereas increasing amounts of technology, including artificial intelligence, are being used to monitor migrants at external and internal borders of the EU; whereas the criminalisation of solidarity continues to be used as a tool to disrupt the work of NGOs trying to save lives in the Mediterranean Sea;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas after countless reports from journalists, NGOs, recommendations from the EU Ombudsman and the FSWG, and the investigations launched by OLAF regarding systemic problems in Frontex, internal dysfunctions and allegations of cover ups of fundamental rights violations, including pushbacks, the Parliament decided to reject the granting of the 2020 discharge; whereas the former director of Frontex was forced to resign after the findings of the OLAF report; whereas all EU Agencies must comply with fundamental rights and be accountable where there are instances of fundamental rights violations;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there has been an organised backlash against women’s and girls’ rights in recent years; whereas the prevalence of gender-based violence, including sexual violence and rape remains, high across the European Union; whereas progress on sexual education is being challenged at a fundamental level in some Member States;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas gender-based violence is rooted in gender stereotypes, heteropatriarchal structures, power asymmetries as well as structural and institutional inequalities; whereas, under the Istanbul Convention, gender is defined as ‘the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men’; whereas gender-based violence affects all areas of society;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the prevalence of discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin remains consistently high, both over time and across different population groups in different Member States; whereas antisemitism, islamophobia and racism are persistent forms of hatred and discrimination; whereas far-right extremism poses a particular threat to persons affected by discrimination and to society as a whole; , in particular individuals from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, in different Member States; whereas racial and ethnic minorities face systemic racism, hate- crime and hate-speech, lack of access to justice, and sustained socio-economic inequalities in areas such as housing, healthcare, employment and education, which need to be acknowledged as major barriers to full enjoyment of fundamental rights and key barrier to inclusion and equality; whereas antisemitism, anti- Gypsyism, islamophobia and racism are persistent forms of hatred and discrimination; whereas far-right extremism poses a particular threat to persons affected by discrimination and to society as a whole; whereas according to FRA, systemic racism is widespread in the EU, including within law enforcement1h; whereas intersectional discrimination must be taken into account in policies and measures to combat racism and discrimination; _________________ 1h http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_ uploads/fra-2023-fundamental-rights- report-2023_en_1.pdf
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas a significant part of Romani people in Europe live in extremely precarious conditions in both rural and urban areas, and in very poor socio-economic circumstances; whereas most Romani people are deprived of their fundamental human rights in all areas of life;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the continuous trend of increasing discrimination, hate speech and violence against LGBTIQ+ people and LGBTIQ+ rights defenders across the EU persists; whereas LGBTIQ+ persons still face discrimination and exclusion in several Member States; whereas cases of online and offline harassment, violent assaults, hate campaigns and death threats against LGBTIQ+ people have been reported in several Member States;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas incidents of hate speechracist crimes and hate speech, online and offline, have steadily increased within the EU over the last few years26 , largely due to the increasing numbers of social media users and the fact that hate speech thrives online; whereas the business model of social media platforms, based on micro-targeted advertising, plays a role in spreading and amplifying hate speech inciting discrimination and violence; whereas there is the need to ensure that education systems provide digital education, literacy and skills for everyone which are key to promoting users’ understanding of digital technologies, overcoming inequalities, improving digital inclusion and empowering and protecting individuals and their rights online and offline; whereas the development of digital education, literacy and skills should equip individuals to promote a safe digital space as well as to manage their responsibilities when interacting within it, which is instrumental in order to prevent online hate speech; whereas hate speech can lead to hate crime; _________________ 26 At a glance briefing ‘Combating hate speech and hate crime in the EU’, European Parliamentary Research Service, June 2022.
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the EU is based on the promotion of social, cultural and economic rights; whereas Article 151 TFEU refers to fundamental social rights such as those set out in the European Social Charter; whereas the European Pillar of Social Rights and the implementation of its Action Plan are key instruments to mainstream social priorities across all EU policies and a guide for the actual implementation of its 20 principles;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the situation in Romani settlements is in violation of human and fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Treaties, the European Convention on Human Rights, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Social Charter, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as of the principles recognised in the European Pillar of Social Rights; whereas it is alarming that these rights are not being respected in practice especially with regard to Romani people living in settlements;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas for several years the rule of law has been deteriorating in several Members States, particularly in Hungary and Poland, as a result of systematic actions of their governments; whereas rule of law and fundamental rights concerns are rapidly growing in other Member States; whereas it is crucial to ensure that Member States comply with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, including the Venice Commission;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L c (new)
Recital L c (new)
Lc. whereas the placement of children in segregated schools and the discriminatory practice of placing children of ethnic and racial minorities in schools for children with mental disabilities, continues to persist in some Member States;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Strongly condemns that in 2022 another global record for the number of imprisoned journalists was set; strongly deplores the fact that in 2022 and 2023 at least two investigative journalists were murdered in the European Union; further deplores that there is little or no accountability for the killing of media professionals in Member States; calls for a swift agreement on thean ambitious anti- SLAPP directive, which should offer substantive and broad protection against abusive lawsuits; calls on the Member States to fully implement the Recommendation accompanying the proposal for an anti-SLAPPs Directive; calls on the Commission to explore further legislation to cover all SLAPP cases;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is deeply concerned by the increasing level of corruption in certainseveral Member States and in EU institutions, in particular of cases involving high-level officials and politicians; is concerned about the varying levels of implementation of the EU anti- corruption framework in Member States; requests that zero-tolerance to corruption must be the rule; urges for the establishment of an independent ethics body with the power to investigate all EU institutions, bodies and agencies; considers that strong whistleblower protection is urgently needed across the EU, which should include access to free legal aid and psychological assistance; calls on the Member States to ensure the full implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Directive;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that judicial independence and effective checks and balances, which can vary from one Member State to another, are key components of the rule of law; highlights that serious concerns remain as to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in several EU Member States, including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Spain1i; condemns any attempts by Member State governments, to exert political influence on or control over the independent decision- making of the judiciary; _________________ 1i See EU Commission 2023 Rule of Law Report
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses strong concern about the several pieces of legislation that Hungary adopted in a non-transparent way; is further concerned about the repeated and abusive invocation of the ‘state of danger’, the misuse of whistleblower protections to undermine the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and freedom of expression, and the restriction of teachers’ status as well as the infringement of their social and labour rights, which is threatening academic freedom; reiterates its call on the Commission to make full use of the tools available to it to address the clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the horizontal enabling conditions for the freezing of EU funding to fight corruption and rule of law backsliding in Member States; stresses that funds restricted through different conditionality measures must only be released when key rule of law, corruption and human rights concerns are genuinely and adequately addressed; calls on the European Council to determine whether Hungary has committedtake action against Hungary given the serious and persistent breaches of EU values under Article 7(2) TEU; underlines that any further delaying of such action would amount to a breach of the rule of law principle by the Council itself with long-lasting and potentially damaging consequences; insists that Parliament’s role and competences be respected;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reiterates its call for the imminent need to establish an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (DRF) and urges the Commission and the Council to immediately enter into negotiations with Parliament on this agreement;
Amendment 127 #
4b. Stresses that the measures required for the release of EU funding, as defined by the relevant decisions taken under the Common Provisions Regulation, the RRF Regulation and the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, must be treated as a single, integral package; insists on putting in place appropriate checks in order to prevent the agreed on measures from being circumvented by the authorities; calls on the Commission and the Council to refrain from approving the national plans of Poland and Hungary under the Recovery and Resilience Facility until both countries have fully complied with all European Semester country-specific recommendations in the field of the rule of law and until they have implemented all the relevant judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Court of Human Rights; reiterates its call on the Commission to use all tools at its disposal to ensure that the citizens and residents of Member States such as Poland and Hungary, where the rule of law is violated by their governments, are not deprived of the benefits of EU funds;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Questions how Hungary will be able to credibly fulfil the task of the presidency of the Council in 2024, in view of its non-compliance with EU law and the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU, as well as the principle of sincere cooperation; asks the Council to find a proper solution as soon as possible; recalls that Parliament could take appropriate measures if such a solution is not found;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NotesExpresses deep concern about the increasing threats to press freedom, the freedoms of association, speech and assembly; reiterates that the right to peaceful assembly can be restricted only w and the deteriorating situation of journalists; welcomes then provided for by law and if necessary and proportionate to protect a general interest recognised by the Union or the rights and freedoms of othersposal for an European Media Freedom Act; urges for the adoption of a strong European Media Freedom Act to guarantee the independence, plurality and freedom of media across the EU, ensure the transparency of media ownership and to address problems of media market concentrations where problems persist;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Condemns the attacks, threats and violence against journalists and media workers which have been on the rise in recent years; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the safety and protection of journalists and media workers; further calls on the Commission to ban spyware products such as Pegasus and Predator which have been used to carry out surveillance on journalists, human rights activists, opposition figures and lawyers in and outside the EU; urges the EU institutions and the Member States concerned, in particular Greece, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Cyprus to follow the recommendations included in the PEGA report1j: _________________ 1j https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2023-0244_EN.pdf
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Is concerned about the degradation of civic space throughout the EU with policies hampering CSOs’ operations, their access to sustainable funding and their ability to participate in decision-making; condemns any form of harassment, smearing, stigmatisation, criminalisation and scapegoating of CSOs; stresses how these actions jeopardise active citizenship and the expression of critical voices, thereby undermining public debate and hence the very foundations of democracy;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the crucial role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in promoting active citizenship, fundamental rights and democratic participation in Europe; calls for aurges the Commission strategy and common ruleto present a strategy and establish minimum standards for the protection of civil society organisations in all Member States in order to promote a regulatory and political environment free from chilling effects, threats and attacks;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Warns that the situation of human rights defenders in the EU has deteriorated alarmingly in recent years; urges the Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that human rights defenders are able to work free from hindrance and insecurity; further urges the Commission and the Member States to guarantee their exercise of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association and ensure accountability for any human rights violation against human rights defenders, including by non-state actors;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Condemns the rise in antisemitic, anti-Gypsyist, anti-Islamic and racist incidents in the EU; deplores that incidents of discrimination, racist and xenophobic crimes are often not reported to the authorities, which leads to de facto impunity;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Is concerned with the increasing number of police violence incidents against the Romani population; calls on Member States to rigorously investigate incidents of police abuse to ensure that there is no impunity for introducing and/or implementing repressive, violent measures against Romani individuals or communities, as well as for inducing fear and intimidation, address the inadequate access to justice of Romani people, particularly obstacles to seek legal counsel and redress, lack of free legal aid, but also biased police recordings and reporting, prosecution and court judgements, violence in police custody and ill-treatment by police and the overrepresentation of Romani people in prisons;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Expresses deep concerns about the increased use of technology at borders, which was proved to be extremely intrusive on individuals; calls on the EU and the Member States to ensure that effective oversight mechanisms are put in place to ensure fundamental rights compliance, which should also cover the monitoring of border-surveillance activities; further calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the individuals whose data are stored in the databases of the EU’s large-scale information systems are informed about their rights and have access to available remedies;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly condemns the widespread fundamental rights violations and use of disproportionate violence by national authorities at Union borders; violence by national authorities at Union borders; recalls that the respect for fundamental rights at borders remains one of the top human rights challenges in the EU; deplores that some Member States, including Greece, Spain, Poland, Cyprus, Croatia, Lithuania and Bulgaria1k continued to engage in unlawful pushbacks and violence at their borders; strongly condemns the pushbacks and fundamental rights violations, including police violence, at external borders, as well as of the criminalisation of humanitarian workers and activists and of the use of EU funding, which has disproportionately served to construct closed facilities and strengthen external borders; calls on the Commission and the Member States to investigate all the allegations of pushbacks and fundamental rights violations and increase transparency on the measures taken; further calls for the establishment of effective and independent monitoring mechanisms, along with available complaint mechanisms; _________________ 1k See Human Rights Watch 2023 annual report at https://www.hrw.org/world- report/2023/country-chapters/european- union
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Welcomes the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive following the war on Ukraine, which aims at ensuring access to protection for refugees and asylum seekers of any origin; recalls the importance that access to accommodation, employment, education, healthcare and social welfare services under the TPD takes into account a gender approach; deplores the unequal treatment, racial discrimination and violence faced by non-Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, in particular racialized people such as Roma and Black people, as well as LGBTIQ+ people; deplores the double standards on migrants and refugees in the EU and urges to end this situation;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Deplores that the proposal on the horizontal anti-discrimination directive has remained blocked in the Council for 14 years; recalls the urgent need to extend protection against discrimination beyond employment through a horizontal and intersectional approach; considers that any update of the proposal for a horizontal anti-discrimination Directive by the Commission must build on Parliament’s position, address intersectional discrimination and explicitly prohibit discrimination on any combination of grounds listed in the Charter; regrets that the Council has ignored the requests to unblock the file and the recommendations from Parliament; urges the Council to integrate the recommendations from the Parliament in its mandate and to take all appropriate actions to fight discrimination in the EU;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Urges the EU institutions and the Member States to tackle the root causes of structural discrimination and to ensure that the EU anti-discrimination legislation is fully and correctly implemented; calls on the Commission and the Member States to implement measures to address persisting structural inequalities in key areas such as criminal justice system, education, housing, employment, healthcare, goods and services; calls on the Commission to monitor and ensure proper follow-up of the implementation of National Action Plans Against Racism by Member States and the EU anti-racism action plan; further urges the Commission to mainstream anti-racism and anti- discrimination in all EU policies;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to tackle anti-Gypsyism in all areas of society through effective legislative and policy measures, both in the Member States and in enlargement countries; calls on the Member States to mainstream the fight against racism and anti-Gypsyism in all of the European Pillar of Social Rights principles, as it is a key structural driver of Romani exclusion; considers that the fight against anti-Gypsyism is a horizontal issue and that it should be taken into account in all relevant areas of EU policy;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Is concerned that segregation in education remains a significant issue in Europe; calls on Member States to take urgent and appropriate actions to combat segregation in education including to adopt a clear and comprehensive legal framework and to ensure that segregation is explicitly considered as a form of discrimination;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Recalls the need to pay close attention to digitalisation and the social biases introduced into new technologies; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put in place measures to prevent the risks that new technologies, including AI, have, to prevent that these systems exacerbate discrimination, existing inequalities and poverty; calls on the Commission and the Member states to ensure that AI systems are guided by the principles of transparency, explainability, fairness, and accountability and that independent audit are put in place; further calls on the Commission and the Member States to tackle the gender and diversity gap in ICT and STEM sectors, particularly in the development of new technologies, including AI, and, in particular indecision-making positions;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12e. Calls on the upcoming Council presidencies to seriously consider establishing a Council configuration on gender equality and equality;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that gender-based violence is highly prevalent in all Member States across the Union; strongly condemns the rapid backsliding on women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights in someeveral Member States, particularly the denial of access to safe and legal abortion; including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Italy1m which saw strong political rhetoric against a purported “gender ideology,” and that they amplified in the media and public discourse as well as through efforts to adopt laws specifically targeting LGBT people and women’s rights; strongly condemns as well, the denial of access to safe and legal abortion and recalls that the denial of safe and legal abortion care is also a form of gender-based violence; underlines that the ECtHR has ruled on several occasions that restrictive abortion laws and the lack of implementation violates the human rights of women; calls on the Member States to decriminalize abortion and to guarantee access to safe and legal abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care without discrimination; _________________ 1m See Human Rights Watch annual report 2023 at https://www.hrw.org/world- report/2023/country-chapters/european- union + COM 2023 RoL report
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the Directive on gender- based violence and calls for the swift conclusion of the negotiations; considers however that in order to fully complete the legislative framework to address all forms of gender-based violence it is imperative to extend the areas of crime in accordance with Article 83(1) TFEU to include gender-based violence; urges the Commission to take into account the repeated calls from the Parliament and to present a proposal to include gender- based violence in the list of EU crimes;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation aimed at harmonising at EU level the rules of private international law relating to parenthood; considers it a major step forward for bringing legal security to children of LGBTIQ+ parents in cross- border situations to have their family life protected and recognised across the EU; recalls the urgent need to ensure mutual recognition of parenthood for same-sex couples;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that hate crimes and hate speech motivated by racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance or a person’s disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics are extreme examples of discrimination; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts to combat hate crime and hate speech by addressing their root causes;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Is deeply concerned about the increase of poverty, inequalities and social exclusion in the EU; stresses that the long-term economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the raise in food and energy prices, has severely impacted the rights of people living on low incomes or in poverty, including to an adequate standard of living, to food, to health, to housing, and to social security;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recognises that poverty is another form of discrimination that leads to the violation of fundamental rights; calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to develop policies to reduce poverty, paying particular attention to children; form of structural violence and social injustice, which is grounded in gender inequalities, discrimination and unequal chances to access goods and services, and that it leads to the violation of fundamental rights; calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to develop policies to reduce poverty, taking into account an intersectional approach and paying particular attention to individuals put in vulnerable situations, such as children, women, racialized and ethnic communities, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants and asylum seekers, people with disabilities, and from socioeconomic disadvantaged backgrounds; welcomes the approval of the European Child Guarantee but considers that more efforts are needed, particularly in the area of social protection1n; _________________ 1n https://www.srpoverty.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/06/EN-Report- NTU.pdf
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Reiterates, in accordance with the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the principles of its Action Plan and the introduction of social standards to the European Semester, that macroeconomic policies must be guided not only by economic growth but also by social standards;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that digitalisation is a transversal process that impacts access to all services, particularly healthcare, and the exercise of fundamental rights; underlines that people with disabilities must have full access to society as laid down in Article 9 of the CRPD; calls on the Member States to comply with the obligations under the CRPD;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that housing is not a commodity, but a necessity, and is a precondition for participating fully in society; stresses that sustained socio- economic inequalities in areas such as housing, healthcare, employment and education are major barriers to full enjoyment of fundamental rights and key barrier to inclusion and equality;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the recognition of the universal right to access to a healthy and sustainable environment by the UN Human Rights Council on 8 October 2021; highlights that environmental impairment and the failure of some public authorities to provide information about serious environmental risks to which individuals are exposed, may have severe harmful consequences for individuals; requests that measures towards achieving a high level of environmental protection and the improvement of the quality of the environment which is enshrined in Article 37 of the Charter, are integrated into the policies of the Union; calls on Member States to reduce their levels of emission, to implement human rights consistent policies and to phase out the use and production of fossil fuels through a just transition;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the progress made since the resumption of the negotiations towards EU accession to the ECHR in June 2020 and the provisional agreement on the draft revised accession instruments reached in March 2023; recalls that the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is an obligation under Article 6(2) TEU and urges to speed up the negotiations;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Supports the FRA’s work on analysing data in order to document discrimination and welcomes further developments in this field; welcomes the Commission’s proposals for two directives on standards for equality bodies, aiming to ensure betterthe implementation and enforcement of EU anti-discrimination rules, which should complement FRA’s work in documenting discrimination, including structural discrimination, as well as to provide support and assistance to the victims of discrimination;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls the importance of the relevant CJEU case-law upholding the respect for fundamental rights and further defining the rule of law; calls on the Member States to fully implement and comply with CJEU case-law and on the Commission to ensure adequate follow- up;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Is concerned that plans to create new laws and policies, at national and EU level, are not always shared with the public and sometimes little or no time is left for public consultation; recalls that the right to participate in democratic live and the obligation to ensure that decisions are taken as openly and as close to citizens as possible is protected under the Treaties which all Member States are bound to; calls on the EU Institutions and the Member States to ensure transparency and to publish public documents in a proactive manner;