8 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2018/0356M(NLE)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that in 2014 Parliament requested the Commission to conduct a human rights impact assessment of the envisaged Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam, a call that was echoed by the European Ombudsman in 2015, and notes that such an assessment is yet to take place; reiterates the call for the Commission to conduct such an assessment, prior to the agreement entering into force;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the strategic importance of Viet Nam as a crucial partner of the EU in South East Asia and among the ASEAN countries, specifically but not exclusively in relation to climate change negotiations, good governance, sustainable development, economic and social progress and the fight against terrorism and the advancement of human rights and democratic reform;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Remains very concerned about various and ongoing human rights violations in Vietnam, including a crackdown on human rights defenders and civil society organisations, the curtailing of press freedom, freedom of expression and association as well as the application of the death penalty in Viet Nam; calls on Viet Nnam to introduce a moratorium and move towards abolitionon the death penalty and to move towards abolition; also calls on Vietnam to repeal its cyber security law, to release all political prisoners and to introduce a swift timeline for the ratification and implementation of outstanding ILO conventions; highlights that human rights constitute a cornerstone of the trade and sustainable development chapter of the FTA; calls for periodic evaluation of progress in the field of human rights and social development as well as the impact of the agreement;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Remains concerned about human rights violations, including the application of the death penalty in Viet Nam; calls on Viet Nam to introduce a moratorium and move towards abolition of the death penalty; highlights that human rights constitute a cornerstone of the trade and sustainable development chapter of the FTA; calls for periodicclose and continuous evaluation of the human rights impact of the agreement through an independent monitoring and complaint mechanism;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes, and subsequently regrets, that the text of the sustainability chapter does not include any reference to human rights, which are a fundamental aspect of good and sustainable governance, and a part of the founding principles of the European Union; human rights ought therefore to be an integral part of any agreement between the EU and a third state;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights that the FTA creates an institutional and legally binding link to the PCA; points out that Article 1 of the PCA contains a standard human rights clause which can trigger appropriate measures, including, as a last resort, the suspension of the PCA, or parts thereof, without delay; notes however that there is no precedent for the EU suspending bilateral trade agreements and believes that for such conditions to be credible, consequences must follow from breaches of agreements;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Points out that civil society in Viet Nam is not allowed to operate freely and unrestricted from state interference, as restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association in Viet Nam continue to persist; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to ensure that civil society groups, especially those which will be part of the Domestic Advisory Groups, will be allowed to operate independently, impartially, thoroughly, and safely from any repercussions;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Strongly believe that improvement of the rule of law, good governance, sustainable development and the respect of human rights in Viet Nam are necessary; calls therefore on Parliament to give its consent to the agreement only when they deem that these recommendations, in particular the release of all political prisoners, the revision of the penal code, freedom of speech, association, assembly, movement and freedom of information are legally and effectively protected;