Activities of Goffredo Maria BETTINI
Plenary speeches (18)
Myanmar, notably the case of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo IT
EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (consent) - EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (accession of Croatia) - EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (resolution) (debate) IT
2015 Report on Montenegro (debate) IT
20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace agreement (debate) IT
EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (consent) - EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (resolution) - EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (protocol to take account of the accession of Croatia) (debate) IT
Elections in Myanmar (debate) IT
Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings: see Minutes IT
Negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) (debate) IT
The plight of Rohingya refugees, including mass graves in Thailand IT
Suspension of exceptional trade measures with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate) IT
Suspension of exceptional trade measures with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate) IT
Humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria, in particular in the IS context (debate) IT
Kyrgyzstan: homosexual propaganda bill IT
Situation in Ukraine (debate) (debate) IT
Human rights in Uzbekistan IT
Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa IT
Situation in Libya (debate) IT
Freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt IT
Reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process and suspending its application with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina PDF (413 KB) DOC (305 KB)
Shadow reports (4)
INTERIM REPORT on the draft Council and Commission decision on the conclusion by the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a Partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Turkmenistan, of the other part PDF (181 KB) DOC (61 KB)
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of the Philippines, of the other part PDF (342 KB) DOC (69 KB)
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of the Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of the Philippines, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union PDF (340 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of the Philippines, of the other part PDF (365 KB) DOC (87 KB)
Institutional motions (135)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe PDF (289 KB) DOC (80 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Philippines PDF (289 KB) DOC (84 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Somalia PDF (295 KB) DOC (91 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on China’s market economy status PDF (273 KB) DOC (73 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Djibouti PDF (176 KB) DOC (93 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on The Gambia PDF (163 KB) DOC (88 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Crimean Tatars PDF (158 KB) DOC (83 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Djibouti PDF (313 KB) DOC (82 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION On the Gambia PDF (296 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Crimean Tatars PDF (333 KB) DOC (76 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the follow-up to and review of the 2030 Agenda PDF (285 KB) DOC (83 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nigeria PDF (167 KB) DOC (91 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Honduras: situation of human rights defenders PDF (162 KB) DOC (85 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore PDF (159 KB) DOC (85 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Nigeria PDF (372 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Honduras: situation of Human rights defenders PDF (335 KB) DOC (84 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore PDF (276 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Bahrain: the case of Mohammed Ramadan PDF (271 KB) DOC (70 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of the missing book publishers in Hong Kong PDF (275 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION in Crimea, in particular of the Crimean Tatars PDF (223 KB) DOC (69 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya PDF (288 KB) DOC (78 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the systematic mass murder of religious minorities by ISIS PDF (275 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian situation in Yemen PDF (283 KB) DOC (75 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Estonian and UK seamen under detention in India PDF (148 KB) DOC (72 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on North Korea PDF (159 KB) DOC (83 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ethiopia PDF (166 KB) DOC (91 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine PDF (166 KB) DOC (94 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the EU’s priorities for the UNHRC sessions in 2016 PDF (186 KB) DOC (124 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the mutual defence clause (Article 42(7) TEU) PDF (150 KB) DOC (76 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Malaysia PDF (157 KB) DOC (79 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Maldives PDF (285 KB) DOC (84 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Ibrahim Halawa, potentially facing the death penalty PDF (287 KB) DOC (83 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement PDF (271 KB) DOC (71 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Burundi PDF (303 KB) DOC (93 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Maldives PDF (281 KB) DOC (76 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement PDF (272 KB) DOC (66 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the political situation in Cambodia PDF (281 KB) DOC (78 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Afghanistan, in particular the killings in the province of Zabul PDF (286 KB) DOC (79 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on freedom of expression in Bangladesh PDF (292 KB) DOC (85 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the mass displacement of children in Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram attacks PDF (158 KB) DOC (85 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Central African Republic PDF (170 KB) DOC (97 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Mr. Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, Saudi Arabia PDF (145 KB) DOC (69 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the mass displacement of children in Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram attacks PDF (161 KB) DOC (84 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Central African Republic PDF (149 KB) DOC (77 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the death penalty PDF (279 KB) DOC (77 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Azerbaijan PDF (147 KB) DOC (73 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Angola PDF (157 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Russia in particular the case of Eston Kohver, Oleg Sentzov, and Alexander Kolchenko PDF (145 KB) DOC (73 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the EU’s role in the Middle East peace process PDF (296 KB) DOC (90 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Srebrenica Commemoration PDF (174 KB) DOC (79 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan PDF (146 KB) DOC (76 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Bahrain, in particular the case of Nabeel Rajab PDF (155 KB) DOC (80 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in particular the case of the two detained human rights activists Yves Makwambala and Fred Bauma PDF (159 KB) DOC (89 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Cambodia’s draft laws on NGOs and trade unions PDF (153 KB) DOC (79 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Yemen PDF (155 KB) DOC (83 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Burundi PDF (162 KB) DOC (86 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Srebrenica commemoration PDF (262 KB) DOC (67 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Situation of two Christian pastors in Sudan PDF (146 KB) DOC (70 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Bahrain, in particular the case of Nabeel Rajab PDF (148 KB) DOC (75 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in particular the case of two detained human rights activists Yves Makwambala and Fred Bauma PDF (148 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Cambodia's draft laws on NGOs and trade unions PDF (150 KB) DOC (73 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Yemen PDF (281 KB) DOC (70 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Burundi PDF (270 KB) DOC (76 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Nepal following the earthquakes PDF (178 KB) DOC (83 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Syria: situation in Palmyra and the case of Mazen Darwish PDF (191 KB) DOC (87 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Paraguay: legal aspects related to child pregnancy PDF (157 KB) DOC (82 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on recent revelations on high-level corruption cases in FIFA PDF (162 KB) DOC (87 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Nepal after the earthquakes PDF (151 KB) DOC (77 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Paraguay: the legal aspects related to the child pregnancy PDF (149 KB) DOC (74 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation Syria, in particular in Palmyra and the case of Mazen Darwish PDF (146 KB) DOC (72 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Hungary PDF (273 KB) DOC (72 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Swaziland, the case of human rights activists Thulani Maseko and Bheki Makhubu PDF (145 KB) DOC (72 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the plight of Rohingya refugees, including the mass graves in Thailand PDF (138 KB) DOC (68 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe, the case of human rights defender Itai Dzamara PDF (140 KB) DOC (68 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Swaziland, the case of human rights activists Thulani Maseko and Bheki Makhubu PDF (137 KB) DOC (64 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the plight of Rohingya refugees, including mass graves in Thailand PDF (140 KB) DOC (59 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Zimbabwe, the case of human rights defender Itai Dzamara PDF (133 KB) DOC (57 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the imprisonment of workers and human rights activists in Algeria PDF (144 KB) DOC (70 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Nadiya Savchenko PDF (136 KB) DOC (64 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria PDF (145 KB) DOC (70 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the destruction of cultural sites perpetrated by ISIS/Da’esh PDF (152 KB) DOC (76 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Imprisonment of Workers and Human Rights Activists in Algeria PDF (148 KB) DOC (66 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria PDF (131 KB) DOC (57 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Nadiya Savchenko PDF (132 KB) DOC (56 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean and EU migration and asylum policies PDF (250 KB) DOC (70 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Nigeria PDF (237 KB) DOC (63 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide PDF (127 KB) DOC (57 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide PDF (233 KB) DOC (58 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on relations between the EU and the League of Arab States and cooperation in countering terrorism PDF (142 KB) DOC (67 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Tanzania, notably the issue of land grabbing PDF (141 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on South Sudan, including recent child abductions PDF (144 KB) DOC (70 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the murder of the Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and the state of democracy in Russia PDF (231 KB) DOC (57 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Venezuela PDF (237 KB) DOC (64 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Burundi: the case of Bob Rugurika PDF (138 KB) DOC (74 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Mr Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia PDF (141 KB) DOC (70 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria, in particular in the IS context PDF (151 KB) DOC (83 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Burundi: the case of Bob Rugurika PDF (140 KB) DOC (62 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Mr Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia, PDF (135 KB) DOC (58 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria, in particular in the IS context PDF (245 KB) DOC (66 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Kyrgyzstan, homosexual propaganda bill PDF (141 KB) DOC (65 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan, in particular the situation following the Peshawar school attack PDF (142 KB) DOC (66 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Russia, in particular the case of Alexei Navalny PDF (142 KB) DOC (72 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on freedom of expression in Turkey: Recent arrests of journalists, media executives and systematic pressure against media PDF (131 KB) DOC (62 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Egypt PDF (160 KB) DOC (86 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya PDF (150 KB) DOC (77 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine PDF (150 KB) DOC (81 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of the two Italian ‘marò’ PDF (144 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan, in particular the situation following the Peshawar school attack PDF (131 KB) DOC (58 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Russia, in particular the case of Alexey Navalny PDF (131 KB) DOC (55 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on freedom of expression in Turkey: Recent arrests of journalists, media executives and systematic pressure against media PDF (232 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of the two Italian ‘marò’ PDF (288 KB) DOC (56 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Egypt PDF (244 KB) DOC (66 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya PDF (243 KB) DOC (65 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine PDF (248 KB) DOC (71 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan: the case of Dr Amin Mekki Medani PDF (144 KB) DOC (73 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Mauritania, in particular the case of Biram Dah Abeid PDF (144 KB) DOC (69 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on recognition of Palestine statehood PDF (133 KB) DOC (194 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan, the case of Dr. Amin Mekki Medani PDF (142 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Mauritania, in particular the case of Biram Dah Arbeid PDF (137 KB) DOC (63 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Serbia: the case of accused war criminal Šešelj PDF (136 KB) DOC (63 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan: blasphemy laws PDF (156 KB) DOC (72 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pakistan: Blasphemy laws PDF (148 KB) DOC (59 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on human rights in Uzbekistan PDF (137 KB) DOC (68 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the closing-down of the NGO ‘Memorial’ (winner of the 2009 Sakharov Prize) in Russia PDF (146 KB) DOC (76 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the disappearance of 43 teaching students in Mexico PDF (132 KB) DOC (59 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on closing down of Memorial (Sakharov Prize 2009) in Russia PDF (130 KB) DOC (57 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on human rights violations in Bangladesh PDF (137 KB) DOC (67 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa PDF (137 KB) DOC (64 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Iraq and Syria, and the ISIS offensive, including the persecution of minorities PDF (131 KB) DOC (61 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Libya PDF (124 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russian relations PDF (134 KB) DOC (66 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Human rights violations in Bangladesh PDF (122 KB) DOC (53 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt PDF (157 KB) DOC (81 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Ukraine PDF (130 KB) DOC (63 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on freedom of expression and assembly in Egypt PDF (144 KB) DOC (65 KB)
Oral questions (3)
10th anniversary of the Horizontal Directive proposal PDF (197 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Corporate Social Responsibility PDF (7 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Competitiveness of the EU steel industry PDF DOC
Written questions (6)
Situation at the French-Italian border near Bardonecchia PDF (100 KB) DOC (18 KB)
VP/HR - Support for Sicilian fishermen awarded the European Citizen's Prize 2017 PDF (104 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Protection of human rights: the case of Italian family assistants PDF (104 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Violation of the human rights of refugees in Hungary PDF (103 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Acts of vandalism in the city of Rome by Dutch hooligans PDF (6 KB) DOC (24 KB)
VP/HR - Situation in Iraq PDF (103 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Amendments (190)
Amendment 50 #
2018/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 1 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that public procurement markets are of major economic importance, given that procurement expenditure is estimated to account for 20 % of global GDP, and that improving access to public procurement markets in thirdstresses that, therefore, the planning, performance and management of international public countries can therefore be a major driver for growth in trade of goods and services, and a motor for economic growth and jobs in the EUacts must serve the aims of economic growth and development and help improve the fairness of competition in international trade and reciprocity of market access;
Amendment 6 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that public procurement markets in third countries are often de jure and/or de facto closed to EU bidders; recalls that the Commission estimates that more than half of the global procurement market is currently closed to free international competition owing to protectionist measures, which are globally on a rise, while approximately EUR 352 billion in value of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)1; __________________ 1considers that, in order to ensure reciprocity of market access in the field of international public procurement, the procedures in question must combat social and environmental dumping by means of compliance with social and environmental criteria by economic operators from third countries as a criterion for the award of European public procurement contracts, and the proposal for an International Procurement Instrument must be adopted. In this context, calls on the Council to urgently address the deadlock that is preventing the adoption of the Regulation. __________________ 1 Amended IPI proposal (2016). Amended IPI proposal (2016).
Amendment 7 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that public procurement markets in third countries are often de jure and/or de facto closed to EU bidders; recalls that the Commission estimates that more than half of the global procurement market is currently closed to free international competition owing to protectionist measures, which are globally on a rise, while approximately EUR 352 billion in value of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)1 ; Recalls that the reciprocity principle in public procurement should be respected and implemented by third countries and our trading partners to ensure that European companies get similar market access as our competitors enjoy in the EU market; Points out that a level-playing field could be restored with the approval of the international procurement instrument; Calls on the Council to unlock the current stalemate with regard to this instrument and calls for a rapid adoption; __________________ 1 Amended IPI proposal (2016).
Amendment 10 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that accessibility, high quality and continuity of public services are dependent on the efficiency of contract management; reiterates that public procurement should be used as a tool to achieve policy objectives in accordance with a predetermined economic, industrial and social programme; to this end, considers it necessary to ensure that public administrations responsible for tendering act transparently and extremely competently and to ensure that public money is spent on works, supplies and services that contribute to social development and to sustainable, inclusive and innovative economic growth.
Amendment 12 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that an annex on government procurement should be included in each future trade agreement with a view to maximising the participation of European companies in foreign tenders and promoting the application of social and environmental criteria, including gender equality criteria in awarding public procurement contracts; Regrets in this regard that 55% of procurement procedures still use the lowest price as the only award criterion instead of MEAT (most economically advantageous tenders);
Amendment 14 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Regrets that clear and consolidated procurement data is often not available and therefore citizens cannot access details of procurement procedures;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that one of the six priority areas for the Commission’s action in the field of public procurement is the improvement of access to procurement markets; stresses that improving access to public procurement markets in third countries, including at the sub-national level, constitutes a strong offensive interest for the EU in trade negotiations on public procurement, given that many EU companies are highly competitive in various sectors; recalls that improved market access to third-country publictrade agreements should be used as a lever to improve access to non-EU procurement markets, and that improved market access, enhanced rules for transparent procurement procedures and innovative, green and social procurement, should be key elements for any trade agreement to be concluded by the EU;
Amendment 22 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that any strategy to open up public procurement markets in third countries should take into account the specific needs of SMEs, as access to third- country public procurement markets can be particularly difficult for them; calls on the Commission to provide practical tools to promote the establishment of consortiums by SMEs, especially of a cross-border nature, to participate in international public procurement procedures; draws attention furthermore to the importance of creating appropriate instruments to enable SMEs to grow and compete at international level; stresses moreover that the division of contracts into lots should be functional in relation to the planning and performance of the contract and should not cause fragmentation of the public procurement market.
Amendment 28 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that procurement procedures are often associated with complex rules and unnecessary administrative burden; Urges Member States to boost digital transformation and the use of digital technologies of procurement processes, to simplify and accelerate procurement procedures; Stresses that improving procurement skills at all stages of the procurement process, including e-skills, is of vital importance and together with enhanced transparency and openness, can contribute to fighting collusion and eliminating cases of misconduct;
Amendment 35 #
2017/2278(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the importance of the GPA not only for providing de jure access to procurement markets in third countries, but also for enhancing the transparency of procurement procedures; encourages the Commission to promote the development of global and convergent standards for transparent procurement as an important tool for combating corruption; Recalls that enabling the reporting of corruption, simplified procedures and stronger provisions on integrity and transparency for bidders can also be effective tools to combat corruption and foster integrity in public administration; Calls on the Commission to set up effective reporting mechanisms and to strengthen the protection of whistle-blowers against retaliation;
Amendment 1 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
— having regard to the ongoing negotiations and/or the conclusion of seven Partnership and Cooperation Agreements between the European Union and certain ASEAN member states, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam,
Amendment 2 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
7a. having regard to the deadlock over the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Thailand,
Amendment 4 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the negotiations on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, the expected conclusion of FTAs with Singapore and Vietnam and the negotiations on an investment agreement with Myanmar,
Amendment 5 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the breaking-off of the negotiations on the free trade agreements between Thailand and the European Union and between Malaysia and the European Union,
Amendment 16 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29
Citation 29
— having regard to its recent human rights urgency resolutions on ASEAN member states, in particular those of 6 October 2016 on Thailand, notably the situation of Andy Hall9 , of 9 June 2016 on Cambodia10 , of 26 November 2015 on the political situation in Cambodia11 , of 9 July 2015 on Cambodia’s draft laws on NGOs and trade unions12 , of 8 October 2015 on the situation in Thailand13 , of 21 May 2015 on the plight of Rohingya refugees, including the mass graves in Thailand14 , of 15 December 2016 on the situation of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar15 , of 7 July 2016 on Myanmar, in particular the situation of the Rohingya16 , of 17 December 2015 on Malaysia17 , of 19 January 2017 on Indonesia, notably the case of Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua and the Governor of Jakarta18 , and of 15 September 2016 and 15 March 2017 on the Philippines19 , _________________ 10 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0274.
Amendment 28 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the integration processes of the EU and ASEAN each follow their own logic but are, however, comparable, as both organisations have been fostering peaceful co-existence, regional integration and development of their members for many decades;
Amendment 45 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas at present centrifugal forces are threatening the integration processes in both regions; whereas the EU is struggling with several overlapping crises ranging from the euro to migration and Brexit, and whereas ASEAN, in spite of the goal of fostering ASEAN centrality, saw intra-ASEAN trade decline in 2016 and has been beset with problems, including diverging foreign policy trajectories and spillover effects from domestic problems pertaining to religious relations, social inequalities and human rights;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the objectives of the ASEAN countries include attaining democratic standards such as respect for the rule of law and human rights, but practical action has been taken to combat corruption and illicit employment, bringing about measurable progress on the basis of these efforts;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may givecreates an opportunity for closer relations between the EU and the ASEAN countries with a view to giving new impetus to negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and whereas a more assertive China is launching initiatives such as ‘One Belt, One Road’ that challenge all countries in the neighbourhood and beyond;
Amendment 65 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas tensions in the South China Sea (SCS) constitute a dominant challenge forthreat and a risk to security and stability in the region; whereas the ASEAN-China Dialogue on a Code of Conduct remains ASEAN’s primary mechanism for exchanges with China on the SCS; whereas Chinese activities – from military patrols and drills to construction activities in disregard of the principles outlined in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea of 2002 – remain an issue of concern;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the political value of strong trade and investment relations between ASEAN and the EU and exhorts both partners to strengthen economic and political relations; highlights that the EU is the top foreign investor in ASEAN; highlights also the opportunities for cooperation on implementing the SDGs; emphasises the pursuit of a high level of EU-ASEAN cooperation in multilateral institutions such as the UN;
Amendment 82 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the political value of strong trade and investment relations between ASEAN and the EU and exhorts both partners to further strengthen economic relations; highlights that the EU is the top foreign investor in ASEAN; highlights also the opportunities for cooperation on implementing the SDGs; emphasises the pursuit of a high level of EU-ASEAN cooperation in multilateral institutions such as the UN;
Amendment 97 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the late and restrained reaction of the European Union to the UNCLOS award on the South China Sea dispute, and calls on the EU to ensure that the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are complied with; insists on the freedom of navigation; calls on China to accept the tribunal’s award; encourages the parties to aim for a peaceful settlement of the disputes based on the principles of international law under UNCLOS; regrets actions such as extensive land reclamation and the placing of military installations and arsenal on reclaimed land, which risks militarising the conflict;
Amendment 120 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that negotiations on a regional EU-ASEAN free trade agreement should be re-launched, and welcomes the ongoing stocktaking exercise by the Parties to explore the prospects towards the resumption of region-to-region negotiations;
Amendment 138 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Suggests celebrating this year’s ASEAN-EU anniversary with an EU initiative for an ‘EU-ASEAN young leaders exchange programme’, to be realised under Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2018; if successful, suggests creating an annual forum to allow young leaders from the EU and ASEAN to exchange ideas and build relationships to support EU-ASEAN relations in the future;
Amendment 151 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 12 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls on the European Commission and the EEAS to use all available instruments to enhance compliance with human and labour rights and environmental standards in the region, including through relevant provisions in Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, Free Trade Agreements and unilateral preferential arrangements such as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus;
Amendment 158 #
2017/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recognises the importance of the EU's role in the progress achieved to date by the ASEAN countries, and calls on the EU always to maintain dialogue in order to support the region in its progress towards democratisation, development and integration;
Amendment 44 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004
Article 71a
Article 71a
The seat of the Agency shall have its seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. be located in a city of a European Union Member State on the basis of absolute assurance that: - it meets, without any exception or limitation, as from January 2019, all requirements, conditions and criteria necessary to ensure that the Agency can function effectively; - it ensures the full and immediate operational continuity of the Agency’s activities, which are highly important to society and of great scientific value. The Agency's remit shall relate to what is recognised as a fundamental right of European citizens to health protection. Its headquarters shall be selected under the ordinary legislative procedure pursuant to Articles 114 and 168(4)(b) TFEU.
Amendment 46 #
2017/0328(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004
Article 71a
Article 71a
The Agency shall have its seat in Amsterdam, the NetherlandsMilan, Italy.
Amendment 95 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) As the Programme aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union's defence industryUnion defence capacity and industrial competitiveness and incorporating EU research and development, only entities established in the Union and effectively controlled by Member States or their nationals should be eligible for support. Additionally, in order to ensure the protection of essential security interests and coherence with the foreign policy objectives of the Union and its Member States, the infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and subcontractors in actions funded under the Programme, shall noteither be located on the territory of non-Member States nor be subject to any form of restriction and control by third-countries.
Amendment 146 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Commission should establish a multiannual work programme in line with the objectives of the Programme. The Commission should be assisted in the establishment of the work programme by a committee of Member States (hereinafter referred to as Programme Committee). In light of the Union policy on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key to ensuring economic growth, innovation, job creation, and social integration in the Union and the fact that the supported actions will typically require trans-national collaboration, it is of importance that the work programme will reflect and enable such cross-border participation of SMEs and that therefore a proportion of the overall budget will benefit such action, earmarking a share of the overall budget for this purpose.
Amendment 152 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The Commission should draw up an implementation report at the end of the Programmenterim and a final report once the Programme has been fully implemented, examining the financial activities in terms of financial implementation, results and where possible, impact. Thisese reports should also analyse the development of industrial expertise and defence capacity, as well as coherence with the foreign policy objectives of the EU and its Member States and the cross border participation of SMEs in projects under the Programme, as well as the participation of SMEs to the global value chain.
Amendment 161 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 168 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union defence industry by supporting actions in their development phase of technologies and products;
Amendment 242 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the Union, in which Member States and/or nationals of Member States own more than 50% of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of Article 6(3), whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings. In addition, all infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources used by the participants, including subcontractors and other third parties, in actions funded under the Programme shall noteither be located on the territory of non-Member States during the entire duration of the action nor subject to any control and restriction by a third country.
Amendment 357 #
2017/0125(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. To support greater efficiency and effectiveness of future Union policy actions, the Commission shall draw up a retrospectiveand the High Representative shall draw up an interim and a final evaluation report and send it to the European Parliament and to the Council. The report - building on relevant consultations of Member States and key stakeholders - shall notably assess the progress made towards the achievement of objectives set out in Article 2. It shall also analyse cross border participation of SMEs in projects implemented under the programme as well as the participation of SMEs to the global value chain.
Amendment 5 #
2016/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Euro-Atlantic integratU accession is Montenegro’s key foreign policy priority;
Amendment 200 #
2016/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. WelcomNotes the fact that Montenegro’s NATO Accession Protocol was signed in May 2016 and is currently being ratified by NATO members; encourages NATO members within the EU to prioritisconclude the ratification process and to recognise that NATO membership for Montenegro is an important symbolic and strategic part of the country’s Euro- Atlantic integrat; recalls that the EU accession negotiations are independent from the NATO accession process;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
Aa. whereas Turkey is a candidate country since 2005, but in the framework of the accession process the opening of eight negotiating chapters has been blocked due to the non-application of the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Association Agreement to one Member State, Cyprus;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Customs Union has shown that it clearly fails to meet the requirements of trade relations between the parties and has not been implemented effectively;
Amendment 13 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Turkey has been implementing an ever increasing number of tariff and non-tariff barriers over time; in breach of the provisions of the Customs Union and to the detriment of European companies;
Amendment 23 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas sectors that are currently excluded from the customs union, such as agriculture, services and public procurement, are importantcould offer new opportunities for both parties;
Amendment 60 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) the strengthening of trade relations between the EU and Turkey should be set against the background of the common will of the parties to share the set of values and principles laid down in the EU's founding treaties, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and to work together to implement them fully and comprehensively; in this respect, a suspension clause on human rights and fundamental freedoms should be included in the upgraded customs union between Turkey and the EU;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iii
(iii) with a view to the start of the negotiations, the economic, social, political and legal conditions under which they are to take place and which, in any case, will determine the effects of those negotiations on citizens' lives, should be specifically and carefully considered; to this aim, the results of the public consultation and of the impact assessment should be duly taken into account; similarly, the findings of the Sustainability Impact Assessment - resulting from several consultations with civil society, social partners, NGOs and all relevant stakeholders - will have to effectively feed into the negotiations, notably regarding flanking measures identified to compensate possible negative impacts;
Amendment 71 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) the current structure of the Ankara agreement should be considered inadequate in terms of the evolution of the EU’s trade policy, in that: (a) it does not consider specific issues such as sustainable development, protection of social rights and labour, child labour, gender equality, protection of food safety and health, SMEs or the protection of foreign investmentsand environmental standards, to which specific chapters and provisions should be dedicated; (b) it does not take account of the specific role of the European Parliament and of the national parliaments; (c) the provisions concerning the settlement of disputes reflect the political nature of the agreement and have made the mechanism de facto ineffective;
Amendment 82 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point a – point vi
(vi) the entire negotiating process should be based on the principles of transparency and full access to the proceedings allowing adequate monitoring from the European Parliament; calls on the Council to publish the negotiating mandate as soon as possible;
Amendment 93 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) a prerequisite for the modernisation of the Customs Union is that Turkey should refrain from adopting any protectionist or restrictive measures, such as the unilateral imposition of customs duties and non-tariff barriers on goods produced in the EU, including goods released for free circulation coming from third countries, or government policies to reduce imports;
Amendment 99 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) the fight against counterfeiting, piracy, the trade in wild animals and food fraud are importantfundamental aspects of the Customs Union to safeguard consumers and companies;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
(iv) the harmonisation of customs systems is vital for the development of trade between the EU and Turkey; to that end, the Commission should strengthen customs cooperation and the exchange of information between the Member States and Turkey; in this respect the European Parliament welcomes the swift ratification by both parties of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation that has entered into force on the 22nd of February 2017 and will allow standardisation and simplification of trade-related procedures at the multilateral level;
Amendment 110 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point v
Paragraph 1 – point b – point v
(v) it is important to introduce an effective dispute settlement mechanism that is able to operate within a framework of impartiality and legal certainty in keeping with the rules and practice of the WTO;
Amendment 115 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
(vi) in order to enable Turkey to become more involved in the decision- making process related to the EU's trade policy, and provided there is significant progress in terms of convergence and legislative harmonisation, where appropriate, it would be helpful to allow Turkey access as an observer in technical meetings and working committees;
Amendment 120 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vii
(vii) in relation to the negotiation of trade agreements between the EU and third countries in which Turkey does not participate, methods of involvement that respect the sovereignty and negotiating independence of the EU need to be considered as well as the means to foster the parallel conclusion of trade agreements between Turkey and such third countries;
Amendment 135 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) the liberalisation of the sectors that are not currently included in the Customs Union should take place in a progressive and binding manner, by measuring its impact on businesses, particularly SMEs, workers, consumers and the environment. To that end, parliamentary institutions, both at EU level and nationally, can play an active role in liaising and holding talks with stakeholders and civil society;
Amendment 139 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) negotiations shouldmust focus on the active promotion of decent work for all and the effective fight against national practices which seek to undermine the social and environmental substance of work for the purpose of promoting domestic production and attracting foreign investment by means of a specific chapter on sustainable development that includes binding provisions and a sanctions based mechanism;
Amendment 148 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
(iv) the liberalisation of agricultural products should be conditional upon reform of Turkish legislation on grants and export subsidies in order to avoid distortionary effects on the CAP systemagri-food markets. Special consideration should be given to the impact on small-scale farmers regarding those categories of product that are vulnerable to competition;
Amendment 157 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vi
(vi) owing to its importance and impact, the services sector should be liberalised preferably on the basis of a positive list approach and of stringent transparency criteria, full reciprocity, non-discrimination and legislative harmonisation, with the exclusion in the negotiating mandate of audiovisual services and services of general economic interest;
Amendment 167 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point vii
(vii) in areas such as the digital economy, telecommunications, postal services and financial services, great attention shouldhas to be paid to aspects relating to data protection; in the transport sector, the current quota system should be maintained;
Amendment 174 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii a (new)
(viiia) being the European public procurement market largely open, negotiations should aim at obtaining full reciprocity at all levels of government, restoring thus a level playing field, and further alignment and approximation of Turkish legislation to the acquis communautaire in that sector;
Amendment 175 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c – point viii b (new)
(viii b) on rules, it will be important to negotiate specific provisions for SMEs, binding and enforceable provisions on sustainable development and a proper protection of European GIs;
Amendment 178 #
2016/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ix
Paragraph 1 – point c – point ix
Amendment 9 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Articles 2(7)(a) and 2(7)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 stipulate the basis on which normal value should be determined in the case of imports from non-market economy countries. In view of developments with respect to certain countries that are Mmembers of the WTO, it is appropriate that, for those countries, normal value should be determined on the basis of paragraphs 1 to 6a of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, with effect from the date on which this Regulation enters into force, and subject to the provisions of this Regulation. In the case of countries which are, at the date of initiation, not Members of the WTO and listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2015/7552 , norma1 value should be determined on the basis of paragraph 7 of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, as amended by this Regulation. This Regulation should be without prejudice to establishing whether or not any WTO Member is a market economy. Furthermore, it should be without prejudice to the terms and conditions set out in protocols and other instruments in accordance with which countries have acceded to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation. _________________ 2 Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, p. 33).
Amendment 13 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In the light of experience gained in past proceedings, it is appropriate to clarify the circumstances in which significant distortions affecting to a considerable extent free market forces may be deemed to exist. In particular, it is appropriate to clarify that this situation may be deemed to exist, inter alia, when reported prices or costs, including the costs of raw materials, are not the result of free market forces because they are affected by government intervention. It is further appropriate to clarify that in considering whether or not such a situation exists regard may be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of the following: the market in question is to a significant extent served by enterprises which operate under the ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance of the authorities of the exporting country; state presence in firms allowing the state to interfere with respect to prices or costs; public policies or measures discriminating in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces; and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectives. It is further appropriate to provide that the Commission services may issue a report describing the specific situation concerning these criteria in a certain country or a certain sector; that such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector; and that interested parties should have ample opportunity to comment on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. and other factors of production, are not the result of free market forces because they are affected by government intervention, or when there is a situation of overcapacities 1a. It is further appropriate to clarify that in considering whether or not such a situation exists regard should be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of the following: government influence over the allocation of resources and decisions of enterprises, whether directly or indirectly (e.g. public bodies), for example through the use of state-fixed prices, or discrimination in the tax, trade or currency regimes; state- induced distortions in the operation of enterprises linked to privatisation and the use of non-market trading or compensation system; the lack of a transparent and non-discriminatory company law which ensures adequate corporate governance (application of international accounting standards, protection of shareholders, public availability of accurate company information); the lack of a transparent and effective set of laws that prevents the respect of property rights and the operation of a functioning bankruptcy regime; the lack of a genuine financial sector which operates independently from the state and which in law and practice is subject to sufficient guarantee provisions and adequate supervision; wage rates are not the result of free bargaining between labour and management; the absence of a transparent set of laws produces discriminatory effects with regards to joint-ventures and other foreign investments and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectives; the lack of ratification and of correct implementation of core International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) to which the Union is party; the non- compliance with the relevant OECD recommendations pertaining to the field of taxation (e.g. the BEPS initiative); and any other circumstance the Commission considers appropriate in order to evaluate the existence of significant distortions. For indicative purposes, a detailed list of the examples of significant distortions is available in the Annex. That list should be updated after each case. The existence of one or more significant distortions in the economy as a whole or in one or several sectors of the economy of the exporting country should lead automatically to the use of undistorted third country, international or Union prices, costs or benchmarks for each and every factor of production in the construction of the normal value, as well as to the disapplication of the lesser-duty rule for the calculation of the anti-dumping duty to be imposed on imports from exporting producers from that country. In the absence of undistorted third country or international costs or benchmarks, the Commission should determine the normal value on any other reasonable basis, including on the basis of relevant prices and costs in the Union. This is especially the case where a significant portion of the complaining industry is made up of SMEs. The reliability of the costs and prices of a given factor of production to be considered undistorted should be assessed, inter alia, by reference to the quantities involved, their proportion in relation to the total costs of that factor, and actual use in production. Under this methodology, the burden of proving the absence of significant distortions on every factors of production falls on the exporting country's producers. If an exporting producer from a country where one of more significant distortions exist conclusively demonstrates at an early stage of the investigation that the costs of one or more of its factors of production are not distorted, those individual factors of production costs should be used in the construction of the normal value, without prejudice to the use of undistorted third country, Union or international prices, costs or benchmarks for those individual factors of production that are significantly distorted. It is further appropriate to provide that the Commission services should, at their own initiative or on the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State or of the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs), issue a report describing the specific situation concerning these criteria in a certain country (departing from horizontal country distortions and then focussing on factors of production and sector distortions) or a certain sector; for those countries for which a substantial number of anti-dumping cases have been recorded, the report should be completed three months before the entry into force of this Regulation and adopted fifteen days within its entry into force. Union industry, including Trade Unions and SMEs, should be consulted during the report drafting process. When drafting a report, the Commission shall coordinate with the Union's major trading partners. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector; interested parties should have ample opportunity to comment on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. In accordance with its role, the European Parliament is to monitor the report drafting process. On the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State, of the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs) or in the case of a change of circumstances in a specific country or sector, the Commission should adopt a specific report or update an existing one. In any event, the Commission should carry out a review of the report every two and a half years. _________________ 1a Overcapacities are defined when the commercial surpluses start being structural without any comparative advantage in the country, when domestic prices and costs are lower than the prices in the world market or when investments in new production capacities are realised in discordance with a growing commercial surplus
Amendment 31 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It is further appropriate to recall that costs should normally be calculated on the basis of records kept by the exporter or producer under investigation. However, where there are one or more significant distortions in the exporting country with the consequence that costs reflected in the records of the party concerned are artificially low, such costs may be adjusted orshould be established on any reasonable basis, including information from other representative markets or from, from markets in the Union or from undistorted international prices or benchmarks. In the light of experience gained in past proceedings, it is appropriate to further clarify that, for the purposes of applying the provisions introduced by this regulation, due account should be taken of all relevant evidence, including relevant assessment reports regarding the circumstances prevailing on the domestic market of the exporting producers and the evidence on which they are based, which has been placed on the file, and upon which interested parties have had an opportunity to comment. In applying the rules, it is essential, in order to maintain the balance of the rights and obligations which the WTO and its Agreements and Protocols establish, that the Union take account of how they are interpreted, and applied by the Union's trading partners.
Amendment 46 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point a
(a) In case it is determined, when applying this provision or any other relevant provision of this Regulation, that it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs in the exporting country due to the existence of one or more significant distortions in the economy or in one or several sectors of the economy, the normal value shall be constructed on the basis of costs of production and sale reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks. For this purpose, the sources that may be used include undistorted international prices, costs, or benchmarks, or corresponding costs of production and sale in an appropriate representative country with a similar level of economic development as the exporting country, provided the relevant cost data are readily available. The constructed normal value shall include a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits. for each and every factor of production, and the lesser-duty rule shall not apply for the calculation of the anti-dumping duties to be imposed on imports from the exporting producers from that country. For this purpose, the sources that may be used include: – corresponding costs of production and sale in an appropriate representative producer country where the prices and costs concerned by the investigation are the result of free market forces, including those in the Union or – if considered inappropriate by the Commission, undistorted international prices, costs, or benchmarks, provided the relevant cost data are readily available. The constructed normal value shall include a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits. In the absence of undistorted international or third country costs or benchmarks, the Commission shall determine the normal value on any other reasonable basis, including on the basis of relevant prices or costs in the Union. This is especially the case where a significant portion of the complaining Union industry is made up of SMEs. The reliability of the costs and prices of a given factor of production to be considered undistorted shall be assessed, inter alia, by reference to the quantities involved, their proportion in relation to the total costs of that factor, and actual use in production. Under this methodology, the burden of proving the absence of significant distortions on every factors of production falls on the exporting country's producers. If an exporting producer from a country where one or more significant distortions exist conclusively demonstrates that the costs of one or more of its individual factors of production are not distorted, those individual factors of production costs should be used in the construction of the normal value, without prejudice to the use of undistorted third country, Union or international prices, costs of benchmarks for those individual factors of production that are significantly distorted.
Amendment 62 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point b
(b) Significant distortions for the product concerned within the meaning of point (a) may be deemed to exist, inter alia, when reported prices or costs, including the costs of raw materials and other factors of production, are not the result of free market forces as they are affected by government intervention, or when there is a situation of overcapacities 1b. In considering whether or not significant distortions exist regard mayshall be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of the following: the market in question is to a significant extent served by enterprises which operate under the ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance of the authorities of the exporting country; state presence in firms allowing the state to interfere with respect to prices or costs; public policies or measures discriminating in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces; and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectivegovernment influence over the allocation of resources and decisions or enterprises, whether directly or indirectly (e.g. public bodies), for example through the use of state-fixed prices, or discrimination in the tax, trade or currency regimes; state-induced distortions in the operation of enterprises linked to privatisation and the use of non- market trading or compensation system; the lack of a transparent and non- discriminatory company law which ensures adequate corporate governance (application of international accounting standards, protection of shareholders, public availability of accurate company information); the lack of a transparent and effective set of laws that prevents the respect of property rights and the operation of a functioning bankruptcy regime; the lack of a genuine financial sector which operated independently from the state and which in law and practice is subject sufficient guarantee provisions and adequate supervision; wage rates are not the result of free bargaining between labour and management; the absence of a transparent set of laws produces discriminatory effects with regard to joint- ventures and others foreign investments and access to finance granted by institutions implementing public policy objectives: the lack of ratification and of correct implementation of core International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) to which the Union is party; the non- compliance with the relevant OECD recommendations pertaining in the field of taxation (e.g. the BEPS initiative), and any other circumstance the Commission considers appropriate in order to evaluate the existence of significant distortions. For indicative purposes, a detailed list of examples of significant distortions found during previous anti-dumping cases is available in the Annex. This list shall be updated after each case. _________________ 1b Overcapacities are defined when the commercial surpluses start being structural without any comparative advantage in the country, when domestic prices and costs are lower than the prices in the world market or when investments in new production capacities are realised in discordance with a growing commercial surplus.
Amendment 81 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 6a – point c
(c) When appropriateAt their initiative or on the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State of or the Union industry (including Trade Unions and SMEs), the Commission services mayshall issue a report describing the specific situation concerning the criteria listed in point (b) in a certain country or a certain sector. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector. Interested parties shall have ample opportunity to supplement, comment or rely on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. The determinations made shall take into account all of the relevant evidence on the file. (departing from the horizontal country distortions and then focussing on factors of production distortions and sector distortions) or a certain sector. For those countries for which a substantial number of anti-dumping cases have been opened, the report shall be completed three months before the entry into force of this Regulation and adopted fifteen days within its entry into force. The Union industry, including Trade Unions and SMEs, shall be consulted during the report drafting process. When drafting a report, the Commission shall coordinate with the Union's major trading partners. Such report and the evidence on which it is based may be placed on the file of any investigation relating to that country or sector. Interested parties shall have ample opportunity to supplement, comment or rely on the report and the evidence on which it is based in each investigation in which such report or evidence is used. The determinations made shall take into account all of the relevant evidence on the file. In accordance with its role, the European Parliament shall monitor the report drafting process. On the request of the European Parliament, of a Member State, of Union industry - including Trade Unions and SMEs - or on the Commission's own initiative when the circumstances in a specific country or sector have changed, the Commission shall adopt a specific report or update an existing one. In any event, the Commission shall carry out a review of the report every two and a half years.
Amendment 97 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point d
(d) The Union industry may rely on the report referred to in point (c) for the calculation of normal value when filing a complaint in accordance with Article 5 or a request for a review in accordance with Article 11 or in a request for reinvestigation in accordance with Article 12. When the conclusions of the report show the existence of one or more significant distortions, the report pursuant to the paragraph 6 (b) shall constitute sufficient evidence in order to justify the calculation of the normal value pursuant to the methodology referred to in subparagraph (a). In any event, no additional burdens shall be requested from the Union industry. In the absence of a report, the Commission shall use any available information or data to establish the existence of significant distortions and use the methodology referred to in subparagraph (a) if the relevant requirements are met. A helpdesk and special mechanisms (e.g.: free legal advice, explicit user-friendly guidelines, especially regarding confidentiality rules) are put in place in order to help SMEs in the process of making use of the reports and filing complaints.
Amendment 113 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e
(e) The parties to the investigation shall be informed shortly after initiation about the relevant sources that the Commission intends to use for the purpose of point (a) and shall be given 10 working days to comment. For this purpose, interested parties shall be given access to the file, including any evidence on which the investigating authority relies, without prejudice to Article 19. A disclosure regarding the methodology to be used shall be communicated to the parties no later than three months from initiation of the investigation.
Amendment 115 #
2016/0351(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU) 2016/1036
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 6 a – point e a (new)
(ea) During the investigations phase, in case of less than full cooperation by an exporting producer from a country in which one or more significant distortions are deemed to exist, and without prejudice to the application of Article 18, the lesser- duty rule shall not apply for the determination of the anti-dumping duties to be imposed on imports from that exporting producer
Amendment 206 #
2016/0281(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
In the management of the EFSD the Commission shall be assdvisted by a strategic board.
Amendment 314 #
2016/0281(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The guarantee shall with preference be implemented under the lead of a European eligible counterpart;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to the 22n3rd meeting of the ASEAN-EU Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) held in Jakarta on 54 February 20156,
Amendment 7 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the 267th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in Malaysia from 2618 to 28 April2 November 2015,
Amendment 19 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Philippines initiated an arbitration case at the International Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in January 2013, calling for the invalidationseeking clarification on its maritime entitlements under the UNCLOS and the validity of China’'s territorial claims in9-dash line claim over much of the South China Sea;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the importance ofAppreciates the commitments made by the Philippine Government to promote the Mindanao peace process;
Amendment 59 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls its serious concerns over the tension in the South China Sea; urges all parties in the disputed area to refrain from unilateral and provocative actions and to resolve the disputes peacefully based on international law, in particular the UNCLOS, and with impartial international mediation and arbitration; supports efforts for the parties to agree on aconsiders it regrettable that, contrary to the 2002 Declaration of Conduct, several parties are claiming land in the Spratly Islands, and is particularly concerned about the massive scale of China’s current activities in the area, which include building military facilities, ports and at least one airstrip; urges all parties in the disputed area to refrain from unilateral and provocative actions and to resolve the disputes peacefully based on international law, in particular the UNCLOS, and with impartial international mediation and arbitration; calls on all parties to abide by the decisions of the Court of Arbitration, which are legally binding; considers it regrettable that China is refusing to acknowledge the jurisdiction of both the UNCLOS and the Court of Arbitration; believes that one way of moving towards a peaceful settlement of the disputes in the South and East China Seas would be to negotiate and jointly apply codes of conduct and encourages measures to be taken onfor the peaceful use of those maritime areas, including the establishment of safe trade routes and quotas for fishing and the allocation of areas for resource exploration; endorses the call made at the 27th ASEAN Summit for consultations to be stepped up with a view to the speedy adoption of an effective code of conduct in the South China Sea, and calls for confidence -building; measures to be taken; supports all steps that will enable the South China Sea to become a ‘sea of peace and cooperation’;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the VP/HR to identify, in line with the priorities set in the European Maritime Security Strategy, the risks that armed conflict in the East and South China Seas would pose for both regional and global peace and security, what risks it would entail for the freedom and safety of navigation in the region, and what threats there are to specific European interests in the region; believes that the EU should engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in order to make an effective contribution to security in the region;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Philippines, as one of the countries having been granted GSP+ status by the EU, to ratify and implement all the core international conventions relating to human and labour rights, the environment and good governance, as listed in Annex VIII to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, and welcomes the Philippines' full cooperation with the Commission and the progress made towards their implementation; welcomes, in particular, the fact that the Philippines has strengthened its human rights legislation and calls on it to continue its efforts in this area;
Amendment 82 #
2015/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Looks favourably upon the scoping procedureWelcomes the agreement of 22 December 2015 to open negotiations on a future Free Trade Agreement with the Philippines;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
having regard to the Council conclusions of 22 June 2015 on the EU-Central Asia Strategy,
Amendment 20 #
2015/2220(INI)
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 greater cooperation between Central Asia and the EU;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the level of development aid wasEU development aid to Central Asia, mainly under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), has been increased from EUR 750 million in 2007- 2013 to EUR 1 028 million in 2014- 2020, i.e. by 56 %;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the countries of Central Asia are strategic partners for the European Union and whereas the growing regional influence of Russia and China means that the EU needs to play a proactive role in the area in question;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the EU’s strong interest in a peaceful, democratic, stable and economically and environmentally sustainable, inclusive and prosperous Central Asian region, as stated in the strategy of 2007;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Review of the EU-Central Asia strategy conducted by the EEAS, the Commission and the Council in 2015; takes the view, nevertheless, that the priorities, objectives and targets should be better defined and accompanied by benchmarks and indicators in a credible timeframe, in order to identify and correct eventual shortfalls; highlights the importance of making the Strategy consistent with global commitments, in particular with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as adopted on 25 September 2015 at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Agrees that the Strategy adopted in 2007 and the long-term priority areas defined therein (human rights and the, rule of law, good governance and democratization; youth and education; economic development, trade and investment; energy and transport; the environmental sustainability and water; common security threats and challenges; and intercultural dialogue) remain relevant and provide the basis for a concrete and potentially fruitful European engagement in the region, in line with the objectives set in the EU strategy; welcomes, however, the more focused approach of the Strategy Review;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2220(INI)
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 concurs with the Council’s designation of the region as strategically important, with the condition that; in this regard, deems it necessary that there be effective cooperation regarding 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 94 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. shares the view that a differentiated and, conditional and incentive-based 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, Iran, Mongolia and Azerbaijan;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. takes note ofwelcomes the re-establishment of the post of EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia after a year-long gap, and expects the newly appointed EUSR to make an important contribution to the implementation of the strategy for Central Asian countries by ensuring consistency of the external actions of the Union in the region;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. deeply regrets that overall respect for democratic standards, human rights and fundamental freedoms has further deteriorated during the reporting periodnot yet reached an acceptable level; regrets that the human rights situation overall remains worrying, despitebut stresses that there have nevertheless been limited positive developments in some countries of the region, including legislative reforms, increased efforts to prevent torture, and steps towards the eradication of the use of child labour and forced labour;
Amendment 166 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Recalls that protection and promotion of children's rights is among the key objectives of the EU and calls on the authorities to support its implementation in compliance with international law and standards, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 168 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. welcomes the establishment of Human Rights Dialogues with all five countries of Central Asia; points out, however, the lack of transparency of the process, and calls on the VP/HR to review the role, mandate, objectives and follow-up of the Human Rights Dialogues with the countries of the region, and in particular to involve all stakeholders andat the European Parliament needs to become more involved, and calls on the VP/HR to introduce systematic human rights monitoring mechanisms in countries with which the EU has entered into legally binding agreements;
Amendment 173 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the authorities to make further efforts to protect ethnic and religious minorities and LGBTI persons in Central Asian societies and, to end discrimination against them and to enforce the rights of vulnerable people, in particular of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 183 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WStresses that education is one of the key areas for the EU to deploy its action in Central Asia; in this regard, welcomes the commitment of Latvia, with the help of Poland, to lead the regional programme on education; regards investment in inclusive and quality education as the best way to improve the socio-economic situation of the region; points out that such investment should pay special attention to targeting the most vulnerable groups, such as girls, children with disabilities and children belonging to minorities;
Amendment 211 #
2015/2220(INI)
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 andmainly aimed at poverty reduction and towards equal and sustainable socio- economic progress, and that those countries must demonstrate efficient anti- corruption policies and allow the EU to monitor implementation; 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 occurncerned countries should allow the EU to monitor implementation; encourages the VP/HR to help foster progress in this field;
Amendment 223 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Points out that inclusive and sustainable economic development is among the key priorities of the Strategy; stresses the need for Central Asian countries to promote active policies aimed at poverty reduction and in fighting social exclusion; underlines, in this regard, that the deteriorating economic trends as a consequence of lowering commodity prices, of the devaluation of the Rouble and of the fall in remittances from migrants working in Russia, many of whom are now returning home unemployed, pose serious socio-economic challenges to the region;
Amendment 236 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. encourages an increase in trading between the EU and the countries of Central Asia in order to promote development and opening up of the market; reiterates the need to modernise infrastructures in the region and to improve links between urbanised and rural areas;
Amendment 237 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. recognises that energy cooperation is a key issue in relations between the EU and Central Asia; calls on the EU to increase efforts towards integration of the energy market, which is in the interest of all parties as it will help to create energy diversification; in this regard, calls for a redoubling of efforts to achieve the objective of expanding the Southern Corridor and the Trans-Caspian pipeline;
Amendment 246 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the EU to further its efforts in fostering cooperation among Central Asian states on water management;
Amendment 264 #
2015/2220(INI)
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 re; considers that the fight against drug trafficking, border control and anti-terrorism are the priorities in tegration of former Soviet space, triggered by the crisis in Ukrainerms of achieving safety and stability in Central Asia, and in this regard calls for greater EU engagement in the region;
Amendment 275 #
2015/2220(INI)
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 306 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Is deeply worried about the risk posed by the Islamic State in terms of attracting radicalised youth in the region;
Amendment 318 #
2015/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Asks the Member States to refrain from arms deliveries to Central Asia, in line with the eight criteria laid down in the 2008 EU common position on arms export controls; in this respect, raises concern over the export of 300 US armoured vehicles to Uzbekistan in 2014-2015; and more generally over the circumvention of this ban on the sale of arms and military equipment by European companies following bilateral agreements by some Member States;
Amendment 315 #
2015/2104(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is of the opinion that the European Parliament must be in position to address these challenges in the same comprehensive and overarching way, and organize its work accordingly; considers that the Committee on Foreign Affairs must be entrusted the coordinashould closely cooperate with the other Committees in order to insure a coherent position ofin all policy fields relevant to the external action of the EU, with other Committees being requested to express their opinion;
Amendment 59 #
2015/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its demand to establish a legal link between the FTA and the PCA to include the possibility of suspension of the FTATo ensure proper democratic oversight of the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the Commission and Parliament shall evaluate in calose of severeconsultation any human rights abuses and reiterates its request to the Commission to proceed with the human rights impact assessment on the planned FTA as called for by the EU Ombudsman;. The Commission shall ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to Parliament.
Amendment 66 #
2015/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to ensure that the policies the EU and its Member States pursue in the context of the implementation of the PCA and the future FTA with Vietnam help advance the respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance; suggests the setting up of a complaint mechanism that can be used by affected individuals and communitiescalls on the Vietnamese Government to strengthen the involvement of civil society through the participation of associations and NGOs in the country’s political, economic and social development;
Amendment 129 #
2015/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on China and the neighbouring countries concerned including Vietnam to intensify efforts to defuse tension in the contested area in the South China Sea and to respect the law of the sea;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that, in order to seriously address the root causes of the current refugee crisis, the European Union must be at the forefront of a serious and credible diplomatic and political international initiative on both Libya and Syria, which should engage all the main interlocutors and stakeholders involved, in cooperation with and in support of the UN and, in particular, with its Envoys Bernardino Leon and Staffan De Mistura;
Amendment 58 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for the HR/VP and the External Action Service to be given the necessary tools and mandate to deploy the political and diplomatic action needed in the region within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in coordination with the Member States;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recommends that the EU’s approach to Turkmenistan strike a balance between the promotion of democracy and the pursuit of EU’s strategic interests; underlines that the ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) willcould contribute to the achievement of EU objectives in these areas only provided Turkmenistan makes significant and tangible progress towards the fulfilment of the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament in 2009 and 2011;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recommends a more ambitious and coherent EU engagement in the country and in Central Asia, as reflected in the current review of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, whilst taking into account the differences betweInsists that ratification of the PCA must be conditional on measurable progress in key areas of human rights, such as addressing the problem of persons going missing in prisons, access to Turkmen jails for independent national and international observers (achieved in part on 28 September 2015, when UN, US and EU delegates were allowed to visit women's prisons), an end to the arbitrary detention of civic activists for political or any other reasons and respect for the peaceful and legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression, freedom of movement for Turkmen citizens, and the uniqueness of each of, the countries in the regincluding travel abroad, and measures to guarantee freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of association;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that the establishment of a Cooperation Council and a Cooperation Committee, under Articles77 and 79 of the PCA, respectively, willcould revitalise EU-Turkmen relations in a constructive manner, both at the executive level and in civil society, only on the condition of the tangible, significant and measurable fulfilment by Turkmenistan of the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament in 2009 and 2011;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WBelcomesieves that the establishment of a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the European Parliament and the Turkmen Parliament (the Mejlis) under Article 82 of the PCA, leading to could prove to be a useful tool for more regular and structured parliamentary dialogue and scrutiny of the implementation of the agreement, once it is ratified subject to the significant progress by Turkmenistan in fulfilling the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises the timid legal, political, social and economic reforms introduced by the current government since 2012 asat in spite of recent legal reforms and other initiatives declared to be aimed ant encouraging sign of a renewed climate of openness, most notably with regard to prison reform, laws on internet, public assembly and public associationhancing human rights protection in the country, the situation remains highly repressive in practice; notes that the state of democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms remain weak in Turkmenistan;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note of the constitutional reform announced for this year, possibly including aand encourages the government to strengthening of the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, reinforcing the role of Mejlis, and the creation of an office with the function of Ombudsman;
Amendment 70 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Turkmen authorities to addressconsider the recommendations madeformulated by the OSCE/ODIHR, following the parliamentary elections in December 2013; notes the existence of a third official party, the Agrarian Party, since 2014; calls on the Turkmen authorities to reform legislation regarding political parties, ensuring that even anti-government parties are able to register without obstacles, so as to ensure political pluralism and competition; __________________ 5 Election Assessment Mission Final Report of 4 March 2014 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), TURKMENISTAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS of 15 December 2013; http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/11601 1?download=true.
Amendment 82 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the need for the European Parliament to closely follow and monitor developments in Turkmenistan and the implementation of the PCA in coming years; calls, in this context, on the VP/HR to honour the agreement reached with her predecessor regarding a monitoring mechanism, allowing Parliament to be properly informed by the EEAS about the implementation of the PCA, once it enters into force, in the format of a functional monitoring mechanism, whereas the EEAS will provide information to the Parliament not limited to de-briefings on Human Rights Dialogues and enables the European Parliament to react to the developments on the ground in the event of no progress in human rights protection and, in particular, of its objectives and of compliance with its Article 2;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the EU has held seveneight rounds of Human Rights Dialogue with Turkmenistan since 2008, and that while the last round in SeptemberJuly 20145 was held in a constructive and open atmosphere, it has, disappointingly, so far had very scant results;
Amendment 99 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the invitation to Turkmenistan of a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion in 2008, the first UN special rapporteur to visit the country; calls, at the same time, on the Turkmen authorities to allow entry to the remaining nintwelve rapporteurs, all of whom have asked to visit the country;
Amendment 103 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes note of the slightly improved cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN on the treatment of prisoners, but remains concerned about the hunknown numberdreds of political prisoners in the country, and about the dozens of cases of enforced disappearances in prisons6 ; __________________ 6 Prove They Are Alive ! Campaign; http://provetheyarealive.org/.who are forcibly disappeared in the criminal justice system of Turkmenistan as a result of massive repressions that took place in early 2000s;
Amendment 114 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of some limited improvements regarding the legislative framework on the freedom of the media, including a new law adopted in 2013; however, notes, that these provisions stand in stark contrast to the current restrictive media environment in the country, as expressed by, inter alia, an absence of independent media in the country, tight control of the state media by the authorities, restrictions on import of foreign newspapers; calls on the Turkmen authorities to fully guarantee freedom of speech, to lift any state controls on print and electronic media and to allow foreign media outlets access to the country and to information;
Amendment 125 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. NotWelcomes the modest improvements introduced in the new law on public associations adopted in 2014, and the adoption of the first Law on Assemblies which entered into force in July 2015; however, is concerned that the new Law on Public Associations contains major restrictive provisions, such as a requirement of compulsory registration of associations, strict registration rules for national-level organisations, provisions granting authorities wide and largely unfettered powers to oversee the activities and funding of associations and broad grounds for closing down organisations; calls on the Turkmen authorities to remove restrictions on civil society organisations and to permit the development of a genuinely independent civil society;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. UrgWelcomes, in this context, the adoption by the Turkmen Government – as a positive sign of cooperation facilitating Parliament’s consent to the PCA – to adoptin January 2016 of the draft National Action Plan on Human Rights, prepared with the assistance of the UNDP in 2013, which contains the recommendations made during Turkmenistan’s appearance before the Universal Periodic Review process at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013; recommends that a constructive resolution of the issue of forced disappearances be included in the Plan; notes that the implementation of this plan will be seen as a positive sign of cooperation facilitating Parliament's consent to the PCA;
Amendment 159 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. EmphasisNotes Turkmenistan’s potential for enhancing the EU’s energy security; supports the Commission’s plans to use all of the EU’s foreign policy instruments to establish a strategicpromote an energy partnership with Turkmenistan, thus helping the EU wean itself off dependence on Russian gao diversify the EU gas supplies; points to the reliability and stability of the EU and its companies as potential investment partners in the exploitation of the vast reserves of natural gas and oil that Turkmenistan possesses; underlines that future pipeline projects connecting Turkmenistan to Europe could lead to the fulfilment of common objectives; recognises Turkmenistan’s role as exporter of energy resources in Central Asia and beyond;
Amendment 163 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Urges the EU to finalise talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on facilitating an accord on building a trans- Caspian gas pipeline (TCP); urges Turkmenistan to resolve the legal disputes and infrastructural deficiencies with the potential transit countries;
Amendment 171 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes that Turkmenistan maintains constructiveneutral relations with all its neighbours;
Amendment 186 #
2015/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Takes note of China’s ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ policy for the Central Asian region and beyond, and cautions against Turkmenistan’s increasing economic dependence on China;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- having regard to the conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 and 13 March 2015,
Amendment 125 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to establish as quickly as possible a global strategy to prevent the radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens, taking into account all vectors of radicalisation, on the basis of the exchange of best practice within the European Union and the evaluation of measures undertaken in the Member States; takes the view that the Commission should urge the Member States to develop a common intensive communication strategy on preventing the radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations;
Amendment 152 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of making the fullest use of exexisting instruments more effective and of devisting instrumentsa new strategy to combat the radicalisation and recruitment of European citizens by terrorist organisations; recommends that more use should be made of European funds to that end; stresses the major role which can be played by the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) in stakmping onut this objective of stamping out the radicalisation of European citizens, by means of communication strategies aimed at promoting tolerance, non-discrimination and fundamental liberties, including interfaith dialogue with other communities;
Amendment 159 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
1. Par. 4 – Feels, however, that it is vital to find a correct balance between public safety and respect for the fundamental rights of individuals, including the right to privacy, the right to the protection of sensitive personal data and the right to freedom of expression and association, especially in the light of the recent ruling by the Court of Justice concerning the Data Retention Directive;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 2 (new)
2. Par. 5 – Urges the Commission to work ceaselessly to improve the exchange of information between national authorities through the existing channels of police and judicial cooperation in order to better prevent radicalisation.
Amendment 162 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 3 – point 3 (new)
(3) Par. 6 – Stresses the need to involve civil society on a national and a local level with concrete initiatives to prevent and reduce the spread of extremist ideologies;
Amendment 206 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages the establishment of edinstrucational, professional training, social integration and re-integration programmes in Europe’'s prisons in order to promote critical thinking and reintegration into society to inmates vulnerable to pressure from radicals in prison;
Amendment 236 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the internet plays a significant role in fuelling the radicalisation of European citizens, as it facilitates the rapid, large-scale distribution of hate messages and praise for terrorism; expresses concern at the impact that such messages praising terrorism have on young people, who are particularly vulnerable; calls for a dialogue to be launched at European level with the internet giants with a view to preventing the online distribution of hate messages and to eradicating them swiftly; by means of communication strategies aimed at promoting tolerance, non-discrimination, fundamental liberties and solidarity, including increased interfaith dialogue;
Amendment 316 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Feels that every Member State should set up a special unit tasked with flagging illicit content on the internet and with facilitating the detection and removalblocking of content that does not conform to the host internet platform's charter and rules; proposes that such units could cooperate with a European unit responsible for dealing with flagging;
Amendment 318 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Feels that every Member State should set up a special unit tasked with flagging illicit content on the internet and with facilitating the detection and removal of content that does not conform to the host internet platform's charter and rules; proposes that such unitwelcomes the decision of the Justice and Home Affairs cCould cooperatencil of 12 and 13 March 2015 to establish the EU Internet Referral Unit (IRU) with ain European unit responsible for dealing with flaggingol, and encourages the national authorities to cooperate closely with Europol, while fully respecting the fundamental rights of all parties involved;
Amendment 376 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the European Union to carry out a communication campaign to raise the awareness of young people, as well as supervisory staff, as regards issues of radicalisation; calls on the Member States to improve social inclusion, in particular for young people, and to introduce specialist training for teaching staff so that they can detect any suspicious changes in behaviour and properly supervise young people who are at risk of being recruited by terrorist organisations;
Amendment 427 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Feels that those local actors have a crucial role to play in the development of projects adapted to their towns or organisations, in addition to their role as an integrating factor for those European citizens who feel at odds with society and tempted by radicalisation; feels that the Member States should further promote social inclusion and support the establishment of structures facilitating, in particular, the supervisionactive involvement of young people, as well as exchanges with families, schools, hospitals, universities and so on; notes that such associations and organisations, which do not bear the mark of governments, sometimes achieve better results in reintegrating citizens who are on the path towards radicalisation into society;
Amendment 475 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Insists on the absolute necessity of stepping up the exchange of information between the law enforcement authorities in the Member Statenational authorities and on the need to optimise the use of Europol analysis projects such as 'Focal Point Travellers' and those concerning foreign fighters and related terrorist networks; stresses that stepping up the exchange of information between law enforcementnational authorities will also entail reinforcing the role of European Union agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust;
Amendment 535 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates its belief that the European Union must step up its external border controls as a matter of urgency; stresses that it will be impossible to effectively track the departures or arrivals of European citizens unless mandatory and systemic controls are introduced on the European Union's external borders; states that, to this end, onewithout close cooperation between the competent national authorities and the introduction of mandatory and systemic controls ofn the European Union's priorities must be reforming the Schengen Codeexternal borders;
Amendment 578 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is convinced that for such enhanced cooperation to be established the Commission, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) in particular, need to make greater efforts in terms of Arabic- speaking staff and spokespersons; considers it essential that the EUʼs call to combat radicalisation can be heard beyond its own borders through strategic communication that is both incisive and effective;
Amendment 590 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Acknowledges that the phenomenon of radicalisation and recruitment of EU citizens is a global phenomenon; believes that the response to this phenomenon ought to be international and not just local or European; considers therefore that cooperation with EU partner countrieIt is therefore necessary to strengthen cooperation between third countries to identify recruitment networks and foreign fighters and to increase security at the borders of the countries concerned; reiterates also that cooperation with regional and key partners that are facing similar challenges, such as Canada or the United States, has to be stepped up;
Amendment 593 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Reiterates that the global reach of terrorism requires an effective, united international response to successfully prevent the trafficking of weapons to countries that threaten international peace and security.
Amendment 595 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31b. Considers it a priority to stabilise crisis areas and find permanent solutions to conflicts which promote suffering, injustice, hatred and violence, and thus create fertile ground for terrorist recruitment.
Amendment 606 #
2015/2063(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. States that a comprehensive approach to preventing the radicalisation and recruitment of EU citizens by terrorist organisations can only be successfully put in place if accompanied by measures to deradicalise EU citizens beguiled by terrorist rhetoric; calls on the European Union therefore to urge Member States to remove the barriers which create social injustice and marginalisation, and to promote social inclusion and development, in particular among young people; calls on the European Union to facilitate the sharing by Member States of good practices in regard to putting in place deradicalisation structures to prevent EU citizens leaving the EU or to control their return thereto;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to the conclusions of the 17th EU-China summit of 29 June 2015,
Amendment 95 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas China has acknowledged the need for the threat of climate change to be addressed and has undertaken to adopt a protocol or other legal instrument that will enable a comprehensive agreement on the issue to be reached at the Paris Climate Change Conference;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas two massive explosions occurred at a warehouse in the port of Tianjin on August 12th, causing over 150 deaths; whereas another one took place on August 31st at a chemical plant in Dongying;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas, in a 2002 Declaration of Conduct, China and the ASEAN countries signified their willingness to create conditions for ‘a peaceful and durable solution’ in the South China Sea; whereas, despite this, tension is continuing to grow with neighbouring countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the Chinese Government acknowledges the importance and even the universality of human rights, but prefers to present this as an aspiration rather than a binding norm for the presentchooses not to regard them as legally binding;
Amendment 203 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the Chinese economy does not fulfil the criteria of a market economy as defined by the EU; emphasises that market economy status should only be accorded once China has taken straightforward steps towards being a market economy ; notes any decision taken at the EU level should be firstly discussed with the other European major partners within the WTO;
Amendment 275 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that the explosions on 12 August in Tianjin and on 31 August in Dongying make it urgent for China to seriously address the issue of industrial safety, in particular in relation to corruption and impunity;
Amendment 292 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the urgency of environmental protection measures, bearing in mind, for example, that in 2014 only eight out of 74 major cities reached the national standard of PM 2.5 air pollution concentrations; warns that the double water crisis (massive pollution combined with increased water usage) could cause major political and social instability; welcomes the fact that under the new environmental protection law local cadres are accountable, also retroactively, for environmental damage caused during their tenure; stresses too that a lack of environmental protection not only fails to prevent ecological damage, but is also a source of unfair competition practices;
Amendment 323 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes with concern that in recent months the value of Chinese share indexes has dropped by a third and there have been hundreds of suspensions of trading owing to excessive falls in share prices – in July around 50% of all companies were the subject of trading suspensions – while emergency liquidity of tens of billions of euro was placed with brokerage companies and extraordinary measures were adopted to support the banking system, including a cut in interest rates, the reduction of bank reserves and the adoption of a share purchase programme to shore up the market;
Amendment 382 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Draws Beijing's attention to the indispensable role of the US and the EU with regard to China's modernisation goals, given its support for Putin against the West;
Amendment 436 #
2015/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Protests against the marginalisation ofand violation of fundamental freedoms visited on the Tibetan culturpeople by the CPC and urges the Chinese authorities to respect without further delay the freedom of expression, association and religion of the Tibetan people;
Amendment 10 #
2015/0218(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Union can best support Tunisia’s economy, in accordance with the objectives set out in the European Neighbourhood Policy and in the Euro- Mediterranean Agreement, by providing an attractive and reliable market for Tunisia’s exports of olive oil. This requires. As an exceptional response to a specific situation, emergency and temporary autonomous trade measures will be implemented, allowing for the import of this productolive oil into the Union on the basis of a duty free tariff quota.
Amendment 15 #
2015/0218(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to prevent fraud, and to ensure that the envisioned autonomous trade measures will really benefit the Tunisian economy, they should be subject to compliance by Tunisia with the Union’s relevant rules regarding the origin of products and the procedures related thereto, as well as to Tunisia’s effective administrative cooperation with the Union.
Amendment 23 #
2015/0218(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The specific autonomous trade measures established by this Regulation are intended to alleviate the difficult economic situation, which Tunisia is currently facing, due to the terrorist attacks. Those measures should therefore be limited in time and be without prejudice to the negotiations between the Union and Tunisia on the establishment of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which are to started in October 2015. An extension of the application period may be contemplated at the end of this period if warranted by the market situation or progress in the DCFTA negotiations.
Amendment 32 #
2015/0218(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
An annual duty free tariff quota of 35 017 500 tons is opened for imports into the Union of virgin olive oil originating in Tunisia and falling within CN codes 1509 10 10 and 1509 10 90. On the basis of the mid- term impact assessment, this quota can be reviewed.
Amendment 40 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas an ambitious and balanced agreement with the US may support the reindustrialisation of Europe and help achieve the 2020 target for an increase of the EU’'s GDP generated by industry from 15 % to 20 %; whereas it has the potential to create opportunities especially for SMEs, micro enterprises, according to the definition of Recommendation COM 2003/361/CE, clusters and enterprises networks which suffer more from non- tariff barriers (NTBs) than larger companies; whereas an agreement between the two biggest economic blocs in the world has the potential to create standards, norms and rules which will be adopted at a global level, which would serve to the advantage of third countries as well;
Amendment 112 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas many economic impact studies on TTIP should be taken with caution as they are built on computable general equilibrium economic models with very optimistic predictions about the capacity of the EU and the US to reduce regulatory barriers to trade; whereas the TTIP alone will not resolve economic problems in the EU and no false hopes and expectations should be raised in that respectthe real impact of TTIP on both EU and US economies is difficult to assess and hard to predict while negotiations are still ongoing; whereas there are contradictory economic impact studies on TTIP and they should be taken with caution as regards the capacity of the EU and the US to reduce regulatory barriers, unnecessary or unjustified, to trade and to support economic growth and job creation; whereas the TTIP alone will not resolve economic problems in the EU and no false hopes and expectations should be raised in that respect; whereas hopes and expectations on TTIP should be commensurate to the level of ambition that will be reached sector by sector in the negotiation;
Amendment 170 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the secret character oflimited level of transparency of the negotiations as they have been conducted in the past has been a serious mistake and it has led to deficiencies in terms of democratic control of the negotiation process;
Amendment 174 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the current phase of fast change in the global geopolitical scenario requires a resolute attitude by the EU, which has to explore the various political and economic options in order to reinforce its global economic role;
Amendment 243 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) to ensure that TTIP negotiations lead to a deep, comprehensive, ambitious, balanced and high-standard trade and investment agreement that would promote sustainable growth with shared benefits across EU Member States, support the creation of high-quality jobs for European workers, directly benefit European consumers by ensuring a high level of existing and future labour, social and environmental standards, fight tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax havens, increase international competitiveness, and open up new opportunities for EU companies, in particular SMEsmicro and SMEs, and contribute to attracting more foreign investments in the EU; the content of the agreement is more important than the speed of the negotiations, which should in any case take into account the developments in the global international arena;
Amendment 260 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point a – point ii
(ii) to emphasise that while the TTIP negotiations consist of negotiations on three main areas – ambitiously improving reciprocal market access (for goods, services, investment and public procurement at all levels of government), reducing NTBs and enhancing the compatibility of regulatory regimes, and developing common rules to address shared global trade challenges and opportunities – all these areas are equally important to be included in a comprehensive package; TTIP should be ambitious and binding on all levels of government on both sides of the Atlantic, the agreement should lead to lasting, fair, genuine market openness on a reciprocal basis and trade facilitation on the ground, and should pay particular attention to structural means of achieving greater transatlantic cooperation while upholding regulatory standards and preventing social and environmental dumping, including through a structured system of pre and post impact assessment and evaluation procedures, including a precise gender assessment;
Amendment 286 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) to ensure, especially given the recent positive developments in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), that an agreement with the US serves as a stepping-stone for broader trade negotiations and is not seen as an alternative to the WTO process; bilateral trade agreements are always the second-best option and must not prevent efforts in order to reach significant improvements on the multilateral level;
Amendment 307 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) to ensure that the market access offers in the different areas are equally ambitious and reflect both parties’' expectations, as market access for industrial goods, raw materials, energy, agricultural products, services and public procurement is equally important in all cases and a balance is needed between the different proposals for these areas;
Amendment 397 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point vi
(vi) to ensure an adequate carve-out of sexplicit exclusion of public services from the scope of application of TTIP as referred to in article 14 TFEU, through the introduction of an extensitive services such as public services and public utiliticarve-out in the core text of the agreement of all public services, current and future, covering all non-economic Services of General Interest as well as Services of General Economic Interest (including water, healthbut not limited to water, health, social services, social security systems and education) allowing, to ensure that national and local authorities enough room for manoeuvre to legislate in retain the full ability to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regards to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services as provided in article 106 TFEU and Protocol 26 TFEU; this exclusion should apply whether the services in question are organised as a monopoly, operating under exclusive rights or otherwise, and whether public interest; aly and privately funded and/or organised; notes the joint declaration reflecting negotiators’' clear commitment to exclude these sectors from the negotiations would be very helpful in this regard; ;
Amendment 453 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point viii a (new)
(viiia) to aim at the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in order to enable EU and US professionals to practice on either side of the Atlantic and to facilitate mobility of investors, professionals, high-skilled workers and technicians between the EU and the US in sectors covered by TTIP;
Amendment 472 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
Paragraph 1 – point b – point x
(x) to keep in mind that, as specified in the mandate, the agreement shouldall not riskcontain any provisions that prejudicinge the Union’'s cultural and linguistic diversity, including in; to therefore ensure that the audiovisual and cultural services sector, and thats well as existing and future provisions and policies in support of the cultural sector, in particular in the digital world, are kept out of the scope of the negotiations in accordance with the principle of technological neutrality, are kept out of the scope of the negotiations; to exclude subsidies or government support to audiovisual, educational and cultural services and its industries, including "digital products", from any commitments taken in chapters related to telecommunication, investment or e- commerce;
Amendment 489 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xi
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xi
(xi) to ensurake an ambitious approach to the tchat account is taken of the discrepancies in thepter on public procurement, with a view to remedying, in line with the principle of reciprocity, the major disparity currently existing in the degree of openness of the two public procurement markets on both sides of the Atlantic andand to significantly opening up the US market, still ruled under the Buy American Act of 1933 on the basis of the international undertakings entered into under the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) and of the removal of the restrictions currently applying at federal, state and administrative level alike in the United States; emphasises, in particular, the need to guarantee that undertakings entered into by the US federal authorities will be honoured at all political and administrative levels; to ensure that account is taken of the huge interest on the part of European companies in obtaining, notably SMEs, in obtaining non- discriminatory access to public contracts in the US both at federal and state level, for example for construction services, traffic infrastructure and goods and services while respecting sustainability criteria for procurement on both sides, inter alia; to ensure the compliance of the chapter with the new EU public procurement and concession package entering into force in 2016directives, notably as regards the definition of public-cooperation, exclusions, SMEs access and the use of the MEAT criteria;
Amendment 533 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that the negotiations on rules of origin aim at reconciling the EU and US approaches; given the conclusion of the negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between EU and Canada and the potential upgrade of the EU-Mexico free trade agreement, the possibility and scope of cumulation will need to be considered; views the negotiations as an opportunity to move towards high common standards for compulsory origin marking of products in order to fully guarantee consumers and create a level playing field for economic operators with regard to access to the two markets.
Amendment 558 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) to ensure that the regulatory cooperation chapter promotes a broad, far reaching and structured dialogue with US and an effective, pro- competitive economic environment through the facilitation of trade and investment while developing and securing high levels of protection of health and safety, consumer, labour and environmental legislation and of the cultural diversity that exists within the EU; to aim at the definition of high-quality standards and law for consumers, established on the basis of the highest standards in each sector, bearing in mind that the results achieved will become de facto international standards; negotiators on both sides need, thus, to identify and to be very clear about which regulatory measures and standards are fundamental and cannot be compromised, which ones can be the subject of a common approach, which are the areas where mutual recognition based on a common high standard and a strong system of market surveillance is desirable and which are those where simply an improved exchange of information is possible, based on the experience of one and a half years of ongoing talks; stresses that SMEs are disproportionately affected by NTBs;
Amendment 593 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) with regard to the horizontal regulatory cooperation chapter, to give priority to fostering bilateral cooperation between regulatory bodies through enhanced information exchange and to promote the adoption, strengthening and timely implementation of international instruments, on the basis of successful international experiences such as, for instance, ISO standards or under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’'s (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29); to establish that the prior impact assessment for the regulatory act, as defined in the horizontal provisions on regulatory cooperation, should also measure and prioritise the impact on consumers and, the environment next toand gender relations over its impact on trade and investment; to handle the possibility of promoting regulatory compatibility with great care and only without compromising legitimate regulatory and policy objectives;
Amendment 610 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
Paragraph 1 – point c – point v
(v) to fully respect the established regulatory systems on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the European Parliament’'s role within the EU’'s decision-making process and its democratic scrutiny over EU regulatory processes when creating the framework for future cooperation while at the same time being vigilant about a balanced involvement of stakeholders within the consultations included in the development of a regulatory proposal; in order to avoid that neither Party exercise any veto power before any regulatory proposal has been officially tabled by the other Party; to specify the role, the composition and the legal quality of the Regulatory Cooperation Council, taking into consideration that any direct and compulsory application of its recommendations would imply a breach of the law-making procedures laid down in the Treaties; to also oversee that it fully preserve the capacity of national, regional and local authorities to legislate their own policies, in particular social and environmental policies;
Amendment 723 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xi
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xi
(xi) to ensure that TTIP includes a specific chapter on SME’s and aims at creating new opportunities in the US for European SMEs, micro enterprises, clusters and enterprises networks, for instance by eliminating double certification requirements, by establishing a web-based information system about the different regulations, by introducing ‘fast- track’ procedures at the border or by eliminating specific tariff peaks that continue to exist; it should establish mechanisms for both sides to work together to facilitate SMEs’ participation in transatlantic trade, for instance through a common SME ’one-stop shop’; it should provide a specific part dedicated to the peculiar needs of micro enterprises, clusters and enterprises networks;
Amendment 745 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiii
(xiii) to ensure that investment protection provisions are limited to post- establishment provisions and focus on non- discrimination and fair and equitable treatment; standards of protection and definitions of investor and investment should be drawn up in a precise manner; stresses that substantive provisions shall, inter alia, protect the right to regulate in the public interest, clarify the meaning of indirect expropriation and prevent unfounded or frivolous claims; free transfer of capital should be in line with the EU treaty provisions and should include a prudential carve-out in the case of financial crises;
Amendment 763 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that foreign investors are treated in a non-discriminatory fashion and have a fair opportunity to seek and achieve redress of grievances, which can be achieved without the inclusion of an ISDS mechanism; such a mechanism is not necessary in TTIP given the EU’'s and the US’' developed legal systems; a state-to- state dispute settlement system and the use of national courts are the most appropriate tools to address investment disputes; should ISDS provisions be included in the TTIP, negotiations must avoid any rushed, methodologically unsound investor-to-state mechanism in TTIP;
Amendment 860 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e – point iv a (new)
(iva) to fully involve National Parliaments and keep them regularly informed on the negotiations, especially since, given the scope of the ambition for the agreement, it is likely TTIP will be considered a 'mixed- type' agreement and thus require a ratification process in EU Member States including, in some cases, at the regional level;
Amendment 865 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) to seek even closer engagement with Parliament, which will continue to closely monitor the negotiating process and to engage on its part with the Commission, the Member States, and the US Congress and Administration, as well as with stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic, and to seek to reduce times and costs for legal scrubbing, translations, approval, ratifications and entry into force in order to ensure an outcome which will benefit in the short term citizens in the EU, the US and beyond;
Amendment 6 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas following considerations of the draft recommendation to give Parliament’s consent to conclusion of the PCA, and of its accompanying draft report of 8 May 2015 containing a motion for a resolution, the Committee on Foreign Affairs decided to temporarily suspend the procedure on 24 May 2016 until it deemed that sufficient progress had been made as regards respect for human rights and the rule of law, and decided to open the current interim procedure;
Amendment 13 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) A clear division between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, including a consultation with international experts such as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on the compliance of the Constitution of Turkmenistan with these democratic principles and a tangible commitment to apply these recommendations in the laws of the country;
Amendment 17 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point iv
(iv) An end to enforced disappearances, reliable information for families about the disappearance of their relatives, the possibility for family members to have direct contact with detained persons, their immediate release, acknowledgment by the country’s authorities of the existence of political prisoners and access to the country for international organisations and independent monitors;
Amendment 24 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
(v) Ensuring access to various sources of information and, in particular, allowing people to access alternative sources of information and to keep telecommunications devices, such as private satellite dishes or internet connections at affordable prices;
Amendment 25 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
(va) Putting an end to the persecution and intimidation of independent journalists, civil society activists and their family members residing in the country and abroad;
Amendment 28 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point v b (new)
(vb) Establishing a programme of visits by the United Nations and other international organisations that have requested such visits and are still awaiting an answer;
Amendment 40 #
1998/0031R(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point v
Paragraph 2 – point v
(v) General freedom of movement, both within and outside the country, specifically sanctioned by the Constitution;