Activities of Tamás MESZERICS related to 2016/2036(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (Article 36 TEU) (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy PDF (465 KB) DOC (87 KB)
Amendments (31)
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU is now surrounded by an arc of instability, as large parts of the Middle East and North Africa are engulfed in ethno-religious conflicts and proxy wars and terrorist groups such as ISIS and the Jabhat al-Nusra Front proliferate throughout the regionFateh al-Sham, while an aggressive, revisionist Russia continues to violate its neighbours’' sovereignty and openly challenges the European security order;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Russia aggressive action has turned common neighbouring countries into an area of competition with the EU violating neighbours' sovereignty, undermining their independence and openly challenging the current European order;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas these conflicts have direct and serious consequences for the security and well-being of European citizens, as they increasingly spill over into the EU, be it in the form of terrorism, massiveincreased refugee flows, or disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing our societies;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls what many seem to have forgotten, namely that the European Union is one of the greatest achievements in European history and that the transformative power of the EU has brought peace, stability and prosperity to its citizens; emphasises that the EU remains the largest economic power, the most generous donor of humanitarian and development assistance, and a frontrunner in global diplomacy on issues such as climate change, international justice, non- proliferation and human rights;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that in order to make the Common Foreign and Security policy more assertive, effective and value- based the EU should enhance its energy security reducing immediately and freeing it in the medium term from the current dependence on oil and gas supplied by authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Regrets the inability of the EU to communicate and present properly to the European public opinions the actions, merits and achievements of the Common Security and Defence policy with regard, in particular, to its numerous CSDP missions and the assistance provided in many parts of the world; urges the Council, the Commission and the Member States to fill up this gap making the EU external action more accountable and visible;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that an effective implementation of the EU Global Strategy presented by the VP/HR in June 2016 is not possible without strong commitment, ownership, political will and leadership from the Member States; highlights that the appropriate resources need to be allocated to the implementation of this strategy, in particular in the crucial area of conflict prevention, security and defence; reminds that the EU Global Strategy calls for investments in conflict prevention but that in reality far reaching cuts have been proposed by both the Commission and the Council on the 2017 budget for the EU's only instrument for conflict prevention (IcSP); stresses the need to redouble efforts in the field of conflict prevention, mediation, reconciliation given the many security challenges in the European neighbourhood and beyond;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the intention of devising an implementation plan on security and defence; underlines that this implementation plan should be complemented by a White Book process, which would define and specify the level of ambition, taskshe way the Petersberg tasks (Article 43 TEU) are to be implemented, requirements and capability priorities for European defencemilitary CSDP; calls on the VP/HR, in close cooperation with Member States and the Commission, to start working on such a White Book as a matter of priority in order to deliver first results in the first semester of 2017;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Taking responsibility for our security: DefPrevendt, deterDefend, rReact
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that the EU must strengthen its security and defence capabilities, as it can only use its full potential as a global power if it combines its unrivalled soft power with hard power; recalls that stronger civilian and military capacities are key elements for the EU to, fully respond to crises, build the resilience of partners and protect Europe; notes that since power politics is again dominating international relations, defence and deterrencit is even more important to adopt a comprehensive capabilities are critical for our leveproach which ensures strong coherence between the EU's economic weight as superpower in terms of tragde in diplomatic talkswith CFSP and CSDP; in this regard, reiterates that the Common Security and Defence Policy needs to be strengthened via increased efficiency and effectiveness, as the only realistic way to strengthen our defencemilitary capabilities in a time of budgetary constraints is to increase synergies by stepping up defence cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls the UN-EU Strategic Partnership on Peacekeeping and Crisis Management and its priorities for 2015- 2018 as agreed in March 2015; encourages further work by the EU in order to take account of the key role of other organisations and countries and facilitate Member State contributions; deplores that only 11 of 28 EU Member States made pledges at the 28th September 2015 Leader's Summit on Peacekeeping; calls on the EU Member States to significantly increase their military and police contributions to UN peacekeeping missions;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on a more active role of the EU in the field of disarmament and arms control; calls in this respect on the HR/VP and the Member States to urgently develop a legally binding EU Common Position on the use of armed drones and urges the EU Member States to fully comply with the eight criteria of Common Position 944/2008/CFSP on arms exports including with regard to export of unmanned aerial vehicle technology;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Takes the view that it is of crucial importance that the instruments provided by the Treaty of Lisbon be finally implemented, notably Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); welcomnotes the joint paper by the defence ministers of France and Germany on the ‘'renewal of the CSDP’' and the Italian proposal 'for a stronger European defence', and fully supports itstheir aim of taking a positive decision on the establishment of PESCO at the November 2016 Foreign Affairs and Defence Council; calls on the VP/HR to take the lead on this initiative, as well as on other recent proposals for strengthening the CSDP with a view to paving the way for further ambitious decisions on the CSDP to be taken at the November Foreign Affairs and Defence Council and the December European Council, including the following:
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
- creating a permanent civil-military headquarters, which would strengthen strategic and operational planning, enhance civil-military cooperation and improve the EU’'s ability to react speedily to crises;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 3
Paragraph 10 – indent 3
- extending the common financing of CSDP operations, including through a review of the Athena mechanism which could also be used for CBSD in the context of CSDP military training missions;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the ongoing work on the European Defence Action Plan and the Commission’'s efforts to maximise defence cooperation, including through incentives in areas such as researchinternal market, public procurement, transport, space, cyber, energy and industrial policies; notes the proposal by the French President for a European Security and Defence Fund, and supports the development of new and innovative financing and investment concepts, including through the European Investment Bank; supportf based on contributions from Member States defence budgets; notes the proposals for a ‘'European Semester for Defence’' and calls on the VP/HR to present concrete proposals to this effect; commends the European Defence Agency’'s role in fostering and coordinating capability development, and calls for its strengthening, notably by increasing its budget;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises the increasing interdependence between internal and external security, and takes the view that the current security challenges require a profound overhaulcritical analysis of our security policies with a view to creating a consistent and unified policy covering both internal and external dimensions, including aspects such as counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, energy security, hybrid threats, strategic communication, and critical infrastructures; urges Member States’' security services to enhance coordination, and calls on all Member States to comply with their legal obligation to share intelligence with Europol and Eurojust in the fight against terrorism and organised crime; urges the EU to further strengthen its cooperation with third countries in the fight against terrorism while respecting international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. WelcomNotes the Warsaw Summit Declaration, particularly the Joint Declaration on NATO-EU cooperation; fully supports deepened cooperation between NATO and the EU in the areas of cybersecurity, migration, and the response to hybrid threats; invites the VP/HR to present specific proposals for the follow-up to the Warsaw Joint Declaration by the end of 2016; is convinced that NATO is crucial for the collective security of Europe;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Takes the view that it is time to define a new, more realistic strategy for the EU’'s relations with Russia, based on credible deterrence but also on dialogue in areas of common interest; stresses that sanctions have proven to be the most effective means for deterring Russian aggression; recalls that the full implementation of the Minsk agreement is a prerequisite for the suspension of the related sanctions; insists that the EU should consider imposing further sanctions in case Russia continues to violate international law; believes it is in the common interest of the EU and Russia to achieve a better relationship, provided international law is applied;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the EU to step up its cooperation with its Eastern partners in order to strengthen their resilience and independence; takes the view, in this respect, that protracted and frozen conflicts in the Eastern neighbourhood deeply undermine the resilience and the independence of the countries concerned and calls, in this regard, on the High Representative/Vice-President and Council to play a more active and effective role as regards conflict resolution and peace-building;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Welcomes the progress made as regards the Eastern Partnership with regard, in particular, to the signing of the association agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine; stresses the importance for the EU to avoid double standards in dealing with the human rights situation in our Eastern Neighbours; reminds that enhanced mobility is one of the priorities of the ENP review and calls, therefore, on the Council to give the green light to the visa liberalisation agreements with Georgia and Ukraine;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Regrets that the EU enlargement, in practice, has been put on hold until 2019; expresses its concern at the growing frustration of most candidate countries about some contradicting messages coming from Brussels; urges the Council and the EEAS to adopt a coherent approach based on objective and transparent criteria in the negotiations with the accession countries and send a clear message that the doors of the EU are open for membership once all these criteria are met;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that ensuring peace and stability on our continent, in our neighbourhood and in Africa must now be at the heart of Europe’'s action; takes the view that it is necessary to tackle the root causes of instability and forced and irregular migration, namely poverty, the lack of economic opportunities, armed conflict, bad governance, climate change and mistaken trade policies; believes that security, economic and social development and trade are parts of the same comprehensive strateg, in a context of premature reciprocal liberalisation; recalls that the nexus connecting trade, economic development and poverty reduction does not function automatically; believes that security, economic and social development and trade are parts of the same comprehensive strategy and must be consistent with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development as enshrined in Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty; calls for European and international action (UN/G20) against illegal financial transfers out of Africa;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Urges the EU to define its trade policy in full respect of the "special and differential treatment" granted to developing countries; reasserts equally that governments and parliaments must retain the right to regulate investment, both to discriminate in favour of investors that support the country's development and to ensure that there are obligations and duties on all investors, including foreign, so that labour, environmental, human rights and other standards are respected;
Amendment 361 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that the EU must pay particular attention to improving the living conditions in its neighbourhood, using all available policy tools, including trade, development aid and diplomacy, as well as crisis management capabiUnderlines the important role of the EU in reaching the Agenda 2030 objectives; believes that these objectives can best be achieved by strictly respecting the internationally agreed principles of development effectiveness like absence of conditionality of aid, aligning to the priorities of beneficiary countries and ownership; is seriously worried by the increased side-lining of such principles by the EU and its Member States, in particular when it comes to the problematic links between migration and development politcies; welcomes in this regard the EU’s new migration partnerships and the External Investment Plan; underlines the need to develop a new approach towards Africa, providing better opportunities for trade, investment and economic growth and supporting African countries in building democratic, transparent and effective institutions; is convinced that the EU should review its develop as foreseen for example in the migration partnerships; believes that the private sector could play an important role in development if it acts within a legally binding framework defining business responsibilities concerning the respect for human, social and environmental rights; considers the excessive focus on the private sector as proposed by the Commission in the External Investment Pland trade policies to make sure thato be premature given the absence of such a framework; recalls they contribute to these goals;rucial importance of domestic resource mobilisation for developing countries and calls on the EU, and in particular thets Member States, to significantly increase their financial commitments to the region, including through the Africa Trust Fund and the European Development Fundupport developing countries in this endeavour and to fight against illicit financial tax flows and tax dodging by multinational corporations; stresses that development cooperation should be aimed at eradicating poverty and delinked from cooperation on readmission and migration management;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines also the need to intensify the fight against the root causes fuelling Islamist terrorism, which affects ever larger parts of the Middle East and North Africa and has also been creeping intoaffected Europe; urges the EU to undertake concerted diplomatic efforts, together with the US and other international allies, to convince partners in the region, such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, of the need for a common and legally based strategy towards this global challenge; believes that there can be no sustainable solution to this challenge without addressing the root causes fuelling extremism in the region, namely protracted human rights violations and impunity, crony capitalism, pervasive corruption, sectarianism, marginalisation and discrimination against entire groups, including Arab Sunnis, as well as a long history of external manipulation and intervention by regional and Western actors; also, highlights the need to address the ideological roots of Islamist extremism notably Wahhabism, and its sponsors;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the importance of finding a sustainable solution to the conflict in Syria; supports the UN-led efforts to facilitate negotiations between all parties to the Syrian conflict on an inclusive political settlement; calls on the EU to depart from its position of diplomatic marginalization and to use its leverage over key actors such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia to ensure that they take a constructive position; emphasises that the use of sanctions should be considered in case some of the actors involved do not deliver on their commitments; expresses grave concern about the mass and widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by all sides in the Syrian conflict and stresses the importance of ensuring accountability for such abuses; reiterates its support to the neighbours of Syria who are facing monumental challenges in hosting millions of refugees;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recognises Turkey’'s role as an important partner in solving the Syrian conflict and the fight against Da’'esh in both Syria and Iraq; strongly condemns the attempted military coup against the democratically elected government of Turkey; encourages the Turkish government to protect the constitutional order, while underlining the importance of respect for the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in the aftermath of the coup, in cooperation with the Council of Europe;
Amendment 444 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the importance of ensuring coherence of EU policy towards situations of occupation or annexation of territory; recalls that international humanitarian law should guide EU policy towards all such situations, including in cases of protracted occupation such as in Palestine, Western Sahara, Northern Cyprus and the multiple frozen conflicts in the Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Underlines that the lack of progress towards a negotiated two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict only leads to further violence and bloodshed; calls on the EU to take its responsibility and become a genuine actor and facilitator in the diplomatic process; calls on the EU institutions and Member States to take urgent steps to protect the viability of the two-state solution and to create a positive dynamic towards genuine peace negotiations; in this regard, calls on the EU to respond to the expansion of Israeli settlements by applying measures based on international law; calls on the Israeli authorities to immediately halt and revert its settlement policy; stresses that respect for international human rights and humanitarian law by all parties and in all circumstances remains an essential precondition for achieving a just and lasting peace; underlines the particular responsibility under international law of Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Underlines the role of Non State Actors and Civil Society Organisation as actors of diplomacy and key partners of the EU and stresses the importance of EU assistance to and engagement with them;