34 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2014/2230(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the conclusions of past International Afghanistan Conferences, including the London Conference of 3-4 December 2014, and the Afghan government´s reform programme "Realizing Self-Reliance: Commitments to Reforms and Renewed Partnership",
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Security Council resolution (S/RES/1325) on women and peace and security of 31 October 2000,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Acknowledges that since 2001 Afghanistan has made progress in the fields of security, elections and socio- economic development areas such as health, education and transport and after past 14 years of the international community´s assistance and support, it has now entered into a transformation decade (2015-2024) which is the country´s transition period towards self-reliance;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the EU to support the Afghan Government in its pursuit of a comprehensive and inclusive,Stresses the importance of Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, actively including the whole range of civil society and all conflict parties, including – following a ceasefire – combatant, insurgent and militia groups, as no lasting solution to the conflict can otherwise be achieved; calls on the EU actively to support an Afghan- led disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration into society (DDR) of former insurgents;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Notes that in light of persisting grave security challenges, the EU has reiterated its long-term commitment based on its comprehensive strategy adopted in June 2014; whereby the EU sets itself to work in close cooperation with international partners in order to establish a realistic framework to safeguard the progress achieved by accelerating and facilitating a gradual and sustainable governments reform process, in order to build a stable, secure and economically sustainable state which entails ensuring respect for human rights, improving economic performance, fighting corruption, stepping up the counter-narcotic strategy and tackling insurgency;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Emphasises the need to closely cooperate and coordinate EU assistance with Afghanistan´s government, the wider international community, regional actors and among EU Member States in a common strategy;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses that a sustained security environment is a crucial prerequisite for economic and political development and for the international community to be able to assist the long term reform process in the country; therefore, stresses the importance of improving Afghanistan´s National Security Forces (ANSF) capacity, recognises the essential future role played by UNAMA and the role of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission; calls for linking of the assistance to ANSF to benchmarked improvements in their accountability mechanisms;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Takes note of the EU´s commitment to extend its policing mission EUPOL till the end of 2016 which shall support the Afghanistan government in the institutional reform of the Ministry of the Interior and the professionalisation of an effective and accountable Afghan National Police (ANP) in accordance with international standards; emphasises, however, that EUPOL should become more proactive and better equipped; recognises the improved interaction between police and prosecutors in criminal investigations and calls for ensuring that police reform is linked to justice reform as well as the need to improve institutional local training capacity; highlights the importance of ensuring that anti-corruption, human rights and gender issues are mainstreamed in all the mission activities and that accountability and transparency mechanisms are enhanced;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls foron the transformation of EUPOL Afghanistan into a support mission for an Afghan-led EU to support an Afghan- led disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration into society (DDR) process of former insurgents , i.a. with the goals of demobilising the various militias and reducing the total number of ANSF personnel as far and as fast as possible; calls on the EU and on NATO to support and adequately fund efforts for demining Afghanistan;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that women’s rights are part of the security solution and that it is impossible to achieve stability in Afghanistan unless women enjoy their full rights in political, social and economic life; is deeply concerned that Afghan women continue to be victims of pervasive discrimination and wide-spread violence including child and forced marriage, sexual abuse and rape; stresses, therefore, the need for more female employees in all public offices; requests the government and donors to prioritise funding and provide services for women and girls including education, healthcare, legal assistance, and emergency shelters; points out that progress in peace talks may not be made at the cost of any of the rights acquired by women in recent years; emphasises the need to ensure that women and civil society actors play a prominent role at all stages of any peace and reconciliation process;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Is deeply concerned that the ongoing insurgency is threatening security of humanitarian agencies on the ground and journalists reporting on the situation;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -9 (new)
Paragraph -9 (new)
-9. Stresses that good governance, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights is essential for the stability and prosperity of Afghanistan;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the presidential elections 2014; regrets that every presidential and parliamentary election in Afghanistan since 2005 has been marred by fraud and violence; welcomes the formation of a government of national unitycongratulates Afghanistan with the first democratic transition of power in its history and welcomes the formation of a government of national unity; stresses the need to develop resilient, transparent and accountable institutions and accelerate reform process;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Takes note of the Afghan government´s commitment to strengthen local authorities and emphasises the role of civil society organisations which are essential to ensure Afghan citizens involvement in the reform process;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Holds the view that the criminalisation of a state is a detrimental threat to a country´s stability and, therefore, encourages the Afghan government to implement urgent justice sector reforms and stop the widespread impunity by conducting thorough and impartial investigations and prosecution of all instances of killings and other serious abuses by government agents and security officials;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Welcomes the President´s new action plan on the elimination of torture however calls for an end to the continuing lack of progress in instituting effective measures to prevent torture and bring perpetrators to justice; also calls on President Ghani to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the lack of substantial progress on human and fundamental rights since 2002at some progress in the field of gender equality and fundamental rights during the last decade has been achieved; however, emphasises that the situation is still very poor, in particular with regard to women and girls in Afghanistan; calls on the new government to dedicate more political capital to this issue and, in particular, to implement the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan and the law on the elimination of violence against women (EVAW), to take steps to facilitate political participation by women as both candidates and voters, as well as to comply with all other international treaties concerning human rights; calls on the Afghan authorities to promote the effective participation of women in all key bodies, nationally and internationally, and at all levels;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -13 a (new)
Paragraph -13 a (new)
-13a. Reiterates the EU commitment to continue providing aid to Afghanistan which amounts to approximately 1.4 billion euros over the next 7 years in order to enable economic recovery, facilitate effective development assistance with the main focus on such areas as rural development, governance and the rule of law, health and social protection;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -13 b (new)
Paragraph -13 b (new)
-13b. Expresses grave concern that the lack of sufficient coordination, transparency and accountability mechanisms undermines the inefficiency of EU international aid; regrets the fact that large amounts of foreign aid are being lost in the distribution chain as a result of waste, corruption or excessive intermediary security costs;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -13 c (new)
Paragraph -13 c (new)
-13c. Points out that only independent and impartial humanitarian bodies should be in charge of the distribution of aid in the country;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the EU to accelerate the finalisation of negotiations of the Cooperation Agreement for Partnership and Development which would provide a legal framework for the EU´s enhanced cooperation and assistance to Afghanistan;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises the potential of Afghanistan’s resources, which are estimated to have a value of USD 900 billion which include rich mineral reserves such as gas and oil; encourages the EU to assist the government to realise this potential in a way that in the first instance benefits the Afghan people rather than safeguards the profits of multinational enterprand spur economic development after the security situation is stabilisesd;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Draws attention to the immense challenge of employing the approximately 400 000 young Afghans that enter the workforce each year and thus the need to attract foreign investment by creating an investment friendly environment and in turn creating jobs ; notes that if this challenge is not tackled urgently and systematically, it can contribute to further poverty and radicalisation and rising emigration levels; asks the EU to focus its aid programmes on efforts to ensure employment opportunities and a meaningful life for Afghan youth;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Emphasises the role of regional trade and calls on the EU to assist Afghanistan in developing regional trade flows with its neighbours and recognises the development potential of the eastern corridor with Pakistan;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the importance of efforts to phase out opium cultivation in Afghanistan, but notes that they have had little success so far; calls, in this regard, for viable alternative livelihoods and for measures to help improve living conditions for populations in rural areas in general; urges the EU to consider, together with its international partners, a fundamental review of the counter-narcotics policies they are currently pursuing in Afghanistan, ensuring that they fit into a wider development strategyis of the opinion that the main focus of action to counter narcotics should be on supporting income alternatives for farmers to help improve living conditions for populations in rural areas in general; proposes that measures be taken to fight money- laundering and that the creation of massive subsidy programmes for crops be considered;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out that opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan reached record levels in 2014; recognises the fact that Afghanistan suffers one of the world’s highest prevalence rates for opiate use, and that 100 000 people around the world are killed by Afghan opium each year; urges the Afghan authorities, and all other parties concerned, to combat transnational organised crime and drug trafficking; is concerned that income from drug trafficking is used to finance insurgency;