Activities of Mark DEMESMAEKER related to 2015/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (debate) NL
Amendments (12)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was a notable achievement for European diplomacy in particular, and that Europe and that the international community, led by the P5+1 group, is now responsible for not simply ensuring its strict and full implementation, but for maintaining the spirit of negotiations in a way that benefits the peoples of both Iran and the EUEU Member States; regrets, however, that the deal does not include aspects which address Iran's regional ambitions or longer term solutions to tackle regional instability;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the importance of developing theEncourages the development of a parliamentary dimension of EU-Iran relations as part of the strategy for re- establishing mutual trust; reiterates its support, in this regard, for the proposal discussed between Parliament and the Majlis for an inter-parliamentary dialogue on counter-terrorism; welcomes the renewed political dialogue between the EU and Iran, including on human rights, that should be extended to arms trafficking, as well as wider issues affecting the Middle East; welcomes the renewed political dialogue between the EU and Iran, including on human rights but regrets that despite a pledge by President Rouhani to improve the rights and freedoms of Iranian citizens when he was elected in 2013 the situation appears to have worsened, particularly in areas such as discrimination against women and members of religious and ethnic minorities, freedom of the press, media and bloggers, and those using social media sites, and on freedom of expression and opinion; recognises that while there is suspicion and mistrust on both sides, there is also a long history between many Member States and Iran and that Iran has a strong ambition to have good relations with Europe, which provides the potential for a relationship based on mutual trust and respect; reiterates that the EU does not seek to interfere in internal political choices in this country or in any other, but seeks cooperation based on mutual respect for international standards and principles; believes that the full normalisation of relations can only occur by means of regular and sustained dialogue and that the immediate priority should be to broaden the scope of EU-Iran relations in areas where there is common agreement to do so; believes, however, that the ultimate aim must be one of partnership between Iran and the EU;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Encourages EU Member States and the European External Action Service to initiate an enhanced human rights dialogue with Iran, including by raising individual cases with the Iranian government, in addition to Iran's continued use of the death penalty, execution of juveniles, and the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and LGBTI people; further insists that such dialogue must include measurable, achievable targets in order to improve the human rights situation for all Iranians in line with international conventions;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that differences exist between the EU and Iran on the use of the death penalty; nevertheless believes cooperation on anti-narcotics programmes and on the question of juvenile executions, in line with Iran’s own commitments, could provide a common agenda for addressing this question; encourages the EEAS to ensure strict criteria and monitoring are in place so that any European Union funding for anti- narcotics programmes for Iran does not directly or indirectly result in any person convicted of a drugs offence facing the death penalty for their crime;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran and encourages the Government of Iran to use the recent extension of their mandate to engage with the UN, EU, and other international organisations on human rights issues;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EEAS to explore the possibility of establishing an institutional framework for cooperation with Iran, such as a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) or a Framework Agreement. should Iran fulfil all its commitments under the terms of the JCPOA and make significant progress on economic, political, social and human rights reform;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes with concern that Iran is strongly developing its cyber capabilities, both for monitoring internal dissent and deploying hackers to disrupt or attack foreign targets;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Notes that the Iranian military doctrine of asymmetric warfare poses a substantial threat to Middle East stability;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Believes that there can be no solution to conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region without all players being present at the table; welcomes, in this regard, Iran’s engagement in the Syrian peace talks via its participation in the International Syria Support Group (ISSG); notes, in this context that the Assad regime in Syria has become increasingly dependent on Iran for its own survival and therefore calls on the Iranian authorities to use its leverage to bring the Syrian conflict to a peaceful conclusion; calls for its contribution to further facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to increase protection of the civilian population from attacks and to continuously seek a long- term solution to the conflict;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Notes with concern the worsening struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia for political and religious influence, and warns of its implications for conflict resolution and security in the Middle East and beyond; further believes that a policy of rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is essential in defusing regional tensions, as a path towards conflict resolution in Yemen and elsewhere, and in order to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism which are a threat to the region as well as to the European Union and beyond;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Condemns Iran's continuing support for Hezbollah and reminds the Iranian authorities that the organisation's armed wing is on the European Union's terrorism blacklist; notes that this decision was reached, in part, because of the group's involvement in a bus bombing in Bulgaria in 2013; believes that Iran's continued support for Hezbollah undermines the prospect for peace in the Middle East, acts as a destabilising regional influence, as well as increasing security concerns within EU Member States;
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on Iran to live up fully to its commitments under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by ensuring the enjoyment by its citizens of individual rights without discrimination as to sexgender, sexuality, gender identity, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, or other status, as provided for in these instruments; points out that this includes a basic right to equality before the law, as well as the right of equal access to education, health care and professional opportunities;