19 Amendments of Isabella DE MONTE related to 2015/2095(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Expresses its concern that the number of people who risk their lives attempting dangerous sea crossings in the Mediterranean to the EU increases dramatically. Stresses that the Mediterranean is the largest maritime migration route in the world with a dense network of merchant traffic;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the fact that in the period 1 January until 31 May 2015, in which a total of 47 265 migrants were rescued at sea in the Mediterranean Sea, 13 475 were rescued by merchant vessels; takes note that in these five months, 302 merchant vessels were asked to re-route and change course to assist in rescue operations, of which 104 vessels actively rescued and disembarked migrants; points out that more than 1500 people lost their lives in these fatal journeys in the period 1 January until 31 May 2015;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, therefore, that merchant vessels have a significant role inare forced to be on the frontline of rescue operations both in terms of volume and activity; points out the fact that merchant vessels have not been equipped and their staff have not been trained to make them sufficiently prepared to systematically take part in large-scale rescue operations;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that this situation has led merchant vessels to bear additional costs in the process, and even to risk being financially sanctioned by Member States for transporting third countries nationals without the necessary travel documents; takes note that as a result some merchant vessels have started seeking alternative routes, so as to avoid areas frequented by boats with migrants and persons entitled to international protection, and show reluctance to reveal their position at sea;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the possible economic and judiciary consequences for the rescuing ships and their owners discourage some vessels from providing assistance. Calls on the Member States not to sanction mercantile ships which voluntarily assist migrants on humanitarian reasons, by asking the Commission to consider revising Council Directive 2001/51/EC;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Commission to propose a revision of the Council Directive 2001/51/EC so that Member States are not given the possibility to sanction private vessels that would voluntarily assist migrants and persons entitled to international protection on humanitarian grounds;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Underlines that commercial ships should not replace Member States’ international search and rescue obligations at sea and EU’s responsibility for an adequate European response;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned that without vessels and their crew being sufficiently prepared for such large-scale rescue operations, the situation will result in accidents in the Mediterranean Sea that might lead to loss of human lives and also entail environmental risks, to a lesser extent, also entail risks in terms of maritime security, in particular as regards the environment;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned that withoutas vessels and their crew beingcannot sufficiently be prepared for such a scale of rescue operations, the situation will result in accidents in the Mediterranean Sea that might lead to loss of human lives and also entail environmental risks;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission Communication entitled ‘A European agenda on migration’ (COM (2015)0240) and strongly callss well as its two first sets of implementing measures, presented by the Commission respectively on May 27th and September 9th 2015, and strongly calls on all EU Member States to take their responsibilities and to commit for adequate and immediate measures to be taken at both Member Statesnational and EU level so as to prevent further human miseries in the Mediterranean Sea, and to ensure that international and ethical obligations are fulfilled in accordance with the principles of solidarity and shared responsibility;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is deeply concerned about the ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterranean, in particular the humanitarian aspects but also its impact on maritime transport in the Mediterranean Sea by passenger ships, cruise ships and container ships, the safety of the vessels, the cargo and their crew, and general maritime safety;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on EU and Member States to ensure permanent search and rescue operations properly funded, expand the field of action of the current operations also in cooperation with FRONTEX, provide specialised training to the staff and increase the number of ships, assets, equipment and personnel deployed;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States, Council and Commission to immediately increase funding for temporary, sufficientambitious and large-scale rescue operations in the Mediterranean, so that the safety and fundamental rights of both the refugees up to the challenge posed by the humanitarian emergency, so that the safety and fundamental rights of migrants and persons entitled to international protection seeking to enter Europe, on the one hand, and the maritime crews working in the Mediterranean waters, on the other hand, can be guaranteed;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. UWhile awaiting the necessary mid and longer-term measures, urges the Member States, Council and Commission to immediately increase funding for temporary, sufficient rescue operations in the Mediterranean, so that the safety and fundamental rights of both the refugees seeking to enter Europe and the maritime crews working in the Mediterranean waters can be guaranteed;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Is of the opinion that a more long- term approach to search and rescue at sea is also necessary through a genuine and permanent EU Search and Rescue operation, which should be dedicated primarily to saving lives and take on a humanitarian dimension, in full respect of the non-refoulement principle and migrants’ fundamental rights, so that the EU and its Member States stop relying as much as now on merchant vessels to fulfil their international obligations;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on EU and Member States to strengthen cooperation with non-EU Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey, Libya, Lebanon and Jordan in terms of information exchange, border control, surveillance and the establishment of common search and rescue operations;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that Member States and authorities involved need to ensure a fluent disembarkation of rescued refugees and migrants in the appointed sea port from vessels which have been part of a rescue operation; Adequate security and infrastructure facilities need to be available in the main reception ports;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on all parties involved in the situation in the Mediterranean to seek solutions to the refugee crisis, including efforts to improvncrease the level of the EU’s actions against traffickers and smugglers, ensure the safety and human rights of the refugees in their home countries;
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Urges Member States to strengthen their resettlement programmes and develop safe and legal routes for migration to the EU.