9 Amendments of Brando BENIFEI related to 2016/2226(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the textile sector, in particular cotton production, is the main area of trade between the EU and Uzbekistan; stresses, in this regard, that the EU should make full use of the extension of the PCA in order to step up pressure on the Uzbek authorities to ensure that the transition process following the sudden death of the president leads to better governance, strengthening of the rule of law, democratic reforms and a substantial improvement of the human rights situation;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced thatWelcomes the substantial progress made since 2013 on the question of child labour in Uzbekistan is mainly the result ofand points to the role played in this process by the diplomatic efforts of the EU and, in particular, of Parliament’sto the EP resolution of 2011 that put the agreement on hold and led to the active involvement of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Bank (WB);
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes the view that, although progress has been made in terms of a reduction of forced labour in general, the trend has been irregular; underlines that more indirect and subtle ways of involuntary work still seem to prevail;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the reports byof the independent monitors (not allowed by the Uzbek regimegovernment) and by media on this year’s pre-harvest work in 2016 indicate a massive state-led mobiliszation of citizens involving as well the, forced labour of public employees and students;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that giving consent without concrete and verified data would be misleading and premature, undermining the pressure that has helped bring about the progress that Uzbekistan has achieved so far, and weakeningconcrete evidence of substantial, measurable progress towards full eradication of the child labour and some evidence of progress towards eradication of all other forms of forced labour, as verified by the ILO, enables Parliament to give its consent, in line with the EU’s common commercialtrade policy objectives, which musthave to respect EU values; is of the opinion that such consent will constitute a positive sign of encouragement to the Uzbek government to further pursue its efforts on the full eradication of child labour and all other forms of forced labour, as well as to further strengthen cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises that the EU will keep monitoring the steps taken by the Uzbek authorities towards full eradication of child labour and any other forms of forced labour and reserves the right to suspend the implementation of the Protocol should the problem of child labour re-emerge and other forms of the forced labour not be eradicated;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Encourages Uzbek authorities to step up their efforts towards further modernisation and diversification of agriculture, with the continued support of the EU, as well as the World Bank and other international donors;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Welcomes the joining of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), as an associate member, by the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan in October 2015; stresses the role Uzbek trade unions are playing to ensure decent working conditions and protection of labour rights; calls on the Uzbek government to fully cooperate with trade unions in this direction; encourages Uzbek trade unions to step up their role towards full eradication of forced labour;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. DeplorUrges the fact that, despite theUzbek authorities to fully respect their international commitments made relating to the protection of human rights, Uzbekistan has faced virtually no consequences for its persistent refusal to acknowledge the existenceincluding the release from prisons of any individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges, release them from prison, improvethe improvement of their treatment in custody, or the end of the cycle of crackdowns, arrests, and convictions, nor has the government paid any real cost for its systematic failure to cooperate; calls for full cooperation by the Uzbek authorities with international institutions, including in eleven special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) this regard;