34 Amendments of Fabio Massimo CASTALDO related to 2015/2273(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (JOIN(2015) 50 final) of 18 November 2015
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the European Council Statement on Tunisia of 20 March 2015 on intensifying the cooperation to counter the common terrorist threat, to strengthen Tunisia's promising democracy and to assist its economic and social development, to the Foreign affairs Council conclusions on Tunisia of 20 July 2015 and to the EU - Tunisia Association Council joint statement by High Representative Federica Mogherini and the Tunisian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Khemaies Jhinaoui of 18 April 2016
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2016 on the opening of negotiations for an EU-Tunisia Free Trade Agreement
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights "Prisons in Tunisia, International Standards versus Reality" of March 2014 and to the declarations of officials of the Tunisian Justice Ministry;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas instability in Libya and its spillovers represent a serious threat to the stability of Tunisia and of the whole region; whereas Tunisia currently hosts over a million displaced Libyans, fleeing instability and violence in Libya, thereby putting a strain on the internal situation and infrastructures and leading displaced people to use the premises of former refugees camps such as Choucha, without any basic services being provided;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas with the end of Ben Ali regime and the consolidation of the democratic process, the EU could improve its political dialogue with Tunisia by taking more into consideration the interests and priorities of this important partner as a way to achieve the objective of stability.
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Urges the mobilisation of substantial technical and financial resources forto support Tunisia including through a better coordination of EIB and EBRD activities; underlines that without stability and good governance in the region, any prospect of reform will be put at risk;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on participants of the Deauville Partnership to fulfil pledge commitments; considers that the situation in Tunisia justifies the launch of a real ‘'Marshall Plan’' with appropriate funding to support the consolidation of the democratic transition and foster investment and development in all sectors of the economy, in a comprehensive way; expresses concerns by the current socio-economic and budgetary difficulties inherent to the instability of the transition period and the imperative for Tunisia to implement adequate reforms aiming at boosting employment and developing sustainable and inclusive growth; deems it essential, as a result, that the budget authorities grant a decisive strengthening of the resources of the ENI earmarked for Tunisia;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that the re-launch of the political process of integration in the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union could be particularly opportune to ensure security and strengthen cooperation in the whole region;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the establishment of an EU-Tunisia JPC as a tool for developing a structured political dialogue on democracy, the rule of law and any topic of mutual interest, and calls for the launching of specific initiatives of support to the PRA with other Parliament committees, such as the Committee on Civil Liberties, committees of the EP, such as the civil liberties committee (for support regarding matters of "Justice and Hhome Aaffairs", migration law and measures relating to police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, including terrorism);
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the continuation of technical and capacity-building support for civil society groups, since these have proven to be of fundamental importance for democratic transition and overall development, government accountability, and monitoring of respect for human rights, including the protection of women; welcomes specific EU financed programmes in this domain such as the project supporting civils society (PASC) and its recent call for proposals to encourage CSOs to implement projects related to regional/municipal elections (civil monitoring of the electoral process, youth awareness campaigns, civic education); welcomes the agreement signed between the European Social and Economic Committee and the Tunisian quartet to strengthen ties between Tunisian and European civil societies;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the importance of developing a culture of citizenship and calls for the creation of an enabling environment with the necessary structures for civil-society organisations to be included in the decision-making process;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for support for gender- balanced policies, including in issues related to inheritance and marriage rights and for an increased participation of women in public life and the private sector and for the inclusion of young people in political life, especially regarding the promotion of youth participation in local elections; welcomes the legislative provisions regarding youth representation at local and regional elections;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes the transitional justice law; recalls the high hopes of the Tunisian people for the transitional process; regrets the intense polarization within the Truth and Dignity committee; notes that national reconciliation and growth should not be contradictory priorities;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the Commission and the EEAS to launch a programme in support ofkeep supporting Tunisia in the reform of the judicial sector and the rule of law in respect of the values of the Tunisian Constitution; notes thatwelcomes the EU Pprogramme on Justice Rreform (PARJI) was only endowed with very limited funding and stopped in 2011adopted in 2011 as well as the PARJ2 programme, adopted in 2014 and only funded with 15 million euros;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the Commission and the EEAS to launch a programme in support of the reform of the judicial sector and the rule of law in respect of the values of the Tunisian Constitution, including through technical and financial support for the ongoing establishment of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Constitutional Court; notes that the EU Programme on Justice Reform (PARJI) was only endowed with very limited funding and stopped in 2011;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Expresses concern over the overcrowding in Tunisia prisons, the lack of food and the sanitary conditions and their effects on inmates' basic rights; welcomes the Tunisian-European project for the reform of the Tunisian penal institution which aims to reinforce the system of alternative penalties instead of imprisonment for less serious offenses.
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for a reform of the penal code, and in particular for the repeal of Article 230, which penalises homosexual practicesity with imprisonment for three years, and is contrary to the constitutional principles of non- discrimination and the protection of privacy, as well as; furthermore, calls for amendments to Law No 92-52 on Narcotics, which propose disproportionate sentences for drug offences, to align it to international standards for the consumption of soft drugs;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for a stronger process of decentralisation and the empowerment of the regions by means of further local autonomies; supports partnerships with EU Member States encouraging decentralised approaches (e.g. training, capacity-building in that field) as well as partnerships and exchange of best practices with EU cities and local communities;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages best practice standards in the media sector to truly reflect investigative and differentiated journalism; recognises the enabling effects of uncensored access to the internet and of digital and social media; welcomes Tunisia’s vibrant and open online media landscape but calls on the Tunisian authorities to further invest in basic technological infrastructures and to promote digital connectivity and literacy, especially in the poorest areas of the country; welcomes, in this context, that HAICA and its successor, the Audio- Visual Communication Commission, will benefit from EU support in the context of the ongoing EUR 10 million programme supporting media reform;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the need to address unemployment, especially for young university graduates, and to launch deep reforms to promote growth, quality education and employment (e.g. facilitate currency restrictions, access to microcredit, reform of the labour laws) and the diversification of the Tunisian economy; calls on all parties to maintain the spirit of good cooperation to focus on reforms with a view to the inclusive economic development for all territories of the country;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Welcomes programmes developed by the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean such as Med4jobs to address the employability of young people in the Mediterranean; calls on the Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean to task its Secretariat General to focus on the economic and social development of Tunisia in support of the consolidation of its transition process;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for a stronger fight against corruption (for example by designating an independent authority to oversee the proper functioning of public administration and the regularity of public procurement) particularly in the context of the growing underground economy with a view to achieving a more efficient and transparent decision-making process and to establishing a better environment for investment and business; recognizes the efforts of the National Instance for Fight against Corruption and urges the government to provide it with all necessary competences, financial and logistic support to do its work, including overseeing the proper functioning of the administration and the regularity of the public procurement;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Calls for the promotion of faster and safer transfers of remittances and of the investment potential -especially with regard to local and regional development- of Tunisians and North Africans already residing in the EU;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recommends the use of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) funds to further assist SMEs; recommends that Tunisia jointake the appropriate measures to be able to benefit fully from the EU’'s COSME (Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) programme as soon as possible; encourages private lending to SMEs, including by enhancing the capability of the credit guarantee sector and by reforming the undercapitalised banking sector; welcomes the recent twinning programme for the Tunisian Central Bank aimed at supporting the modernisation of the banking sector;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Is worried about the terrorist attack in the border city of Ben Guerdane right after the bombing in Sabratha, which shows that Tunisian-Libyan border remains highly permeable; expresses concerns over the situation in Libya and calls upon all parties in Libya to engage constructively with the GNA; underlines that the EU stands ready to offer security support upon request by the GNA and that security coordination between Tunisia and Libya need to be re-established; suggests to assess, in partnership with Tunisian authorities, the possibility to establish an EU Border Assistance Mission in Tunisia;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Calls on the Tunisian government to set up a strategy to deal with returning foreign fighters by for example coupling punitive and precautionary measures with de-radicalization and rehabilitation programs in order to give them the possibility re-integrate in the society, reducing future risks; calls for a more comprehensive strategy to prevent radicalization in prisons and detention centres;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Calls for the promotion of a logic of objectives, rather than mere support by policy instruments, within a clear strategic vision focusing on prevention, support for the PRA's drafting of legislation, and the establishment of a CT prosecutor's office;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls for increased cooperation with EU agencies like EUROPOL, while observing that Tunisia was not among the list of third states with which Europol will conclude agreements; calls on the Council to consider the inclusion of Tunisia on this list of third states; welcomes the fact that EUROJUST established a contact point with Tunisia and the invitation expressed by EUROJUST to step up its cooperation and to appoint a second contact point specifically in charge of terrorism; invites the Tunisian government to provide the appropriate follow-up to these propositions as soon as possible;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls therefore for a better social inclusion of young people to prevent the recruitment of new fighters; recommends using the expertise gathered through the initiative of international organisations such as Hedayah to develop local and regional strategies for countering violent extremism; calls for awareness raising about these existing networks or similar initiatives in Tunisia; welcomes initiatives such as of "Tomorrow will be better", a government campaign to counter religious extremism among youth through awareness raising programmes and the promotion of Islam moderate values;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the EU and the Tunisia Mobility Partnership signed in March 2014 and calls for its rapid implementation; calls for the signature of a visa waiver for Tunisia; notes that though mobility partnerships rely on national competences, they are included in the EU proposal within the ENP and recommends that Member States show their solidarity with Tunisia by facilitating visas for entrepreneurs, professors, students, researchers, artists, etc.;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Welcomes the EU-Tunisian partnership in the field of research and innovation, the participation of Tunisia in theto Horizon 2020 Framework programme; emphasizes that a consistent scientific research and technological development policy would be an incentive to R&D investments, the transfer of research and innovation to the private sector and the creation of new businesses; underlines that Tunisia should become a full participant in the Erasmus + programme in order to develop the furfurther ther exchange of university students; calls for a ‘"positive discrimination policy’" to be implemented for young students coming from less developed regions with incentives to allow their participation in such programmes;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Calls on the Commission to encourage the development of partnerships among schools, universities and research centres and to strengthen shared projects of lifelong learning, especially in the fields of language learning, new technologies, woman's education promotion and entrepreneurship;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Recommends the use of Arabic by the EU institutions, and especially the EU Delegation in Tunis, when publishing calls for tenders, for expression of interest and also when communicating with the public; underlines the importance for the Tunisian government of informing its citizens about its actions;