Activities of Andrejs MAMIKINS related to 2015/2220(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Implementation and review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy (A8-0051/2016 - Tamás Meszerics) LV
Implementation and review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy (debate)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU-Central Asia Strategy was adopted in a context of growing importance of the region and increased EU engagement in neighbouring Afghanistan, the extension of the European Neighbourhood Policy to the Caspian region, ongoing EU support for reform and modernisation of post-Soviet societies, and EU energy security interests; whereas it also recognised the security threats and challenges that require cooperation between Central Asia and the EU, especially in the areas of counterterrorism and counteraction to growth of different forms of societal radicalisation, particularly spread of Daesh/Islamic State (IS) influence;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the review is rather ambitious given that the region is not a geopolitical priority for the EU and its Member States, but cConcurs with the Council’s designation of the region as strategically important, with the condition that democratic transformation should lead to improved and stronger political, diplomatic and trade relations; in this context, welcomes the 56 % increase in and more specific focusing of EU development assistance to the region in period 2014-2020 as compared with the previous period;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Shares the view that a differentiated and conditional approach should be applied in order to achieve better results both bilaterally and regionally; believes that regional programmes, such as those for border management, drugs and trafficking, transport and energy, should be tailor-made so as to target interested parties, and could therefore benefit from participation in them being confined to a limited or flexible number of countries of the region, possibly also including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Mongolia and AzerbaijanRussia;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Urges the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice fostering foreign policy coherence and coordination in this region, and to introduce joint programming of aid and projects with Member States in order to achieve a full impact and synergy; welcomes closer involvement and ownershipassistance on the part of Member States in terms of implementing the strategy;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights the added value and further potential of the Rule of Law Platform, coordinated by Germany and France with active support from Finland; encourages other Member States to take a more proactive role in this respect;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the commitment of Latvia, with the help of Poland, to lead the regional programme on education; regards investment in education as the best way to improve the socio-economic situation of the region; calls upon the responsible institutional agencies of the Union and its Member States to actively contribute to the implementation of the respective goals brought forward during the Latvian Presidency in the first half of 2015;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is of the opinion that development aid should be disbursed only in countries with a genuine interest in the alleviation of poverty and equal and sustainable socio- economic progress, and that those countries must demonstrate efficient anti- corruption policies and allow the EU to monitor implementation of the corresponding efforts; questions, in this respect, the rationale for and cost- effectiveness of the aid to Turkmenistan which will graduate from bilateral aid in 2017, and of that to Uzbekistan; requests that the policy be reviewed should improvements occur; encourages the VP/HR to help foster progress in this field;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Notes with concern that in addition to increasing climate change impacts, multiple alarming environmental challenges inherited from the Soviet period persist, such as those relating to cleaning up nuclear testing sites, industrial and mining activities, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, land degradation, air pollution, desertification, and, above all, continued catastrophic water mismanagement, especially in the rapidly diminishing Aral Sea basin and its remaining inflow sources; urges the Commission, in this respect, to step up technical assistance and provide European know-how and best practice as to how to deal with these problems;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recognises that the main threats and challenges identified in the Strategy for Central Asia remain relevant; is, however, acutely aware of the additional external pressures stemming from the current security challenges in Afghanistan, as well as the opaque foreign policy of Russia aimed at reintegration of former Soviet space, triggered by the crisis in Ukrainend the rise of the Daesh/Islamic State (IS);
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Is deeply concerned that the growing numbers of Central Asian citizens, prompted in part by political marginalisation and bleak economic prospects, are travelling to the Middle East to fight or otherwise support the Daesh/IS, Al-Nusra and other terrorist and extremist organisations;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Recognises that should a significant portion of radicalised Central Asian citizens return to their home countries, they risk challenging security and stability throughout Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, China and India;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Considers that international cooperation, including with Russia and China, is essential in addressing the growing threat of Islamist radicalisation in Central Asia; calls on all international parties with influence in the region to encourage Central Asian states to make a concerted effort to better coordinate cooperation between their security services, including with respect to intelligence sharing; stresses that such cooperation should be consistent with their international human rights commitments;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 d (new)
Paragraph 26 d (new)
26d. Calls on the Council, Commission and the EEAS to prioritise in their relations with the Central Asian states the reform of the security sector, including better funding and training, promoting religious freedom in the framework of the secular constitutions and efforts at rehabilitating former jihadists as parts of an overall strategy of dealing with the challenge of radical Islamism;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is concerned that stalled and uneven socio-economic development, poor governance and a weak institutional framework, lack of respect for rule of law; unresolved ethnic issues and lack of prospects for orderly successiontransition of power in the countries of Central Asia are sources of potential instability;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Is of the opinion that, while any considerable progress in the areas disclosed in the present report is yet to be achieved, feels hopeful that the parties involved on the sides of both the Union and its Member States and the five respective Central Asian states shall earnestly activate their efforts in order to reach the aims and goals as set out in the official documents and treaties, which act as the legal basis for the Union's bilateral and multilateral relations with, respectively, the states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan;