Activities of Bodil VALERO related to 2018/2036(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on minimum standards for minorities in the EU PDF (448 KB) DOC (77 KB)
Amendments (34)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to Articles 2 and 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), and Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which gives the Union a political mandate to take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols, especially Protocol No. 12 on non-discrimination,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 11 October 2017 on the fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism,1a _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P8 TA(2017)0413
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
– having regard to the decision and case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), in particular case T- 646/13, and case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR),
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the reports and surveys published and carried out by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), such as the report entitled ‘Respect for and protection of persons belonging to minorities 2008-2010’, as well as other relevant reports by national, European and international organisations and NGOs on the matter,
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas Article 2 of the TEU states that the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the primacy of law and human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities – values which are shared by all the Member States and which must be upheld and actively promoted by the EU and each Member State individually in all their policies, both internally and externally in a consistent way; whereas Article 17 of the TEU states that the Commission must ensure the application of the Treaties;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU has laid down the principle of non-discrimination; whereas the values of the European Union are common to the Member States; whereas special attention should be paid to the protection of fundamental rights of the most vulnerable groups;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, at present, the Union has tools of only limited efficacy to respond to systematic and institutional manifestations of discrimination, racism and xenophobia against minorities; whereas there are discrepancies among Member States in terms of recognition of minorities and respect for their rights; whereas, in spite of numerous calls on the Commission, only limited steps have been taken to ensure effective protection of minorities;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas recent developments have shown that instruments and processes to ensure the full and correct application of the principles and values of the Treaties – of which the respect for rights of persons belonging to minorities is a constituent part – need to be revised and integrated, and that an effective mechanism to close remaining gaps, and to ensure that Treaty principles and values are upheld throughout the Union, should be developed; whereas this mechanism should be evidence-based, objective, non- discriminatory, respecting the principles of subsidiarity, necessity and proportionality, applying to both Member States and institutions of the Union, and based on a graduated approach, including both a preventative and corrective arm; whereas the Parliament has given its support for the establishment of a EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, which could be central to the coordinated European approach to governance which is currently lacking;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Condemns any discrimination based on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation; notes that the proposed 2008 Equal Treatment Directive is still pending approval by the Council; reiterates its call on the Council to adopt the proposal as soon as possible;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Recalls that while protection of minorities is a part of the Copenhagen criteria, both for the candidate countries and for the Member States, there is no guarantee that candidate states stick to the commitments undertaken under the Copenhagen criteria once they became Member States; notes that compliance with the Copenhagen criteria by states before and after their accession to the EU must be subject to constant monitoring and to a constant dialogue within and between Parliament, the Commission and the Council;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Condemns the instances of discrimination, segregation, hate speech, hate crime and social exclusion experienced by Roma people; reiterates its position expressed in its resolution of 11 October 2017 on the fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism; condemns the continuous discrimination against Roma people in access to housing, healthcare, education and the labour market; recalls that all European citizens should receive equal assistance and protection regardless of their ethnic or cultural origin;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1c. Insists on the importance of pursuing equality policies that enable all national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities to enjoy their fundamental rights uncontested; considers that the rights concerned are those which any person may exercise either individually or in community with others;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1d. Reaffirms that indigenous people, in the exercise of theirs rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind and have the right to the dignity and diversity of their culture, traditions, histories and aspiration which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information; the Member States shall take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous peoples concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society; encourages those Member States that have not yet done so to ratify the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO) No. 169 and implement it in good faith;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1e. Calls on Member States to ensure minority groups’ right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, as well as to participate freely and effectively in cultural, social and economic life and in public affairs, in particular those affecting them;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
-1f. Recalls that there is no standard for minority rights in Union policy nor a common understanding of who can be considered a member of a minority; notes that there is no definition of minorities in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, nor in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM); underlines the need to protect all national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, regardless of the definition, and any definition should be applied in a flexible manner, as de facto inclusion of beneficiaries under the protection of minority rights often forms part of an evolutionary process that eventually may lead to formal recognition;
Amendment 97 #
1. Recalls that while protection of minorities is a part of the Copenhagen criteria, both for the candidate countries and for the Member States, there is no guarantee that candidate states stick to the commitments undertaken under the Copenhagen criteria once they became Member States; recalls that there is no standard for minority rights in Union policy nor a common understanding of who can be considered a member of a minority; notes that there is no definition of minorities in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, nor in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM);Should there be a need to define a ‘national minority’, recommends that, with respect to the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and non-discrimination, such a definition should be primarily based on the definition, laid down in Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1201(1993) for an additional protocol on the rights of minorities to the European Convention on Human Rights, of a ‘national minority’such as a group of persons in a state who
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 3
Paragraph 1 – indent 3
– display distinctive ethnic, cultural, historical, religious or linguistic characteristics,
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that, in accordance with Article 17(1) of the TEU, the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, has the legitimacy and authority to ensure that all the Member States are upholding the rule of law and other values referred to in Article 2 of the TEU; considers, therefore, that the measures taken by the Commission to carry out the task and to ensure that the conditions which existed before a Member State’s accession are still being fulfilled do not violate the sovereignty of the Member States;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Member States, while safeguarding the national citizenship, and calls on and the Commission, while promoting the European identity and common values, to safeguard the right of national minorities to preserve, protect and develop their own identity, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the effective participation of national minorities in social, economic and cultural life and in public affairs;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to ratify, and the European Union to accede to, the FCNM and the Language Charter and to respect the principles laid down in these documents; calls on the Member States and the Commission to refrain from acts that go against the principles laid down in these documents; notes thatcalls on the Member States and the EU institutions shallto refrain from adopting laws and administrative measures that weaken or derogate the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Declares its support for the “Minority Safepack” European Citizens Initiative and invites the Commission to submit relevant legislative proposals in line with this initiative;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that common and minimum standards to protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities should be developed, taking account of best practices already used within the Member States, such as in Italy (Alto Adige/South Tyro)l, in Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) or in Finland, following the procedural principles of good neighbourliness, friendly relations and co- operation between the Member States as well as the co-operation with neighbouring non-EU countries, and on the basis of the implementation of international standards and norms; recalls the implementation of the commitments adopted and principles developed in the framework of the OSCE, particularly in its thematic recommendations and guidelines; recalls that the Commission has already taken these standards into account in the context of the Copenhagen criteria during the accession negotiations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and the current candidate countries;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recognises the important role of civil society and non-governmental organisations as “watchdogs” of state compliance with minority protection standards while combating discrimination and promoting minority rights; calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure sufficient funding and support for these stakeholders;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that persons belonging to minorities are in a special category with regard to the right to remedies and have specific needs that must be met if they are to achieve full and effective equality, including appropriate remedies, and that their rights should be respected and promoted, including the right to freely express, preserve and develop their cultural or linguistic identity, free from any attempt at assimilation against their will;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Member States to promote friendly and stable relationships between each other,; especially inncourages Member States to have an open and supportive dialogue with neighbouring countries with border regions where moreseveral languages are spoken and different cultures may be presentnd cultures are present, especially in order to support the cultural ties between the groups divided by the state borders;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Is concerned about the alarming increase of hate crime and hate speech motivated by racism, xenophobia or religious intolerance against national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in Europe; calls on the EU and Member States to strengthen the fight against hate crime and discriminatory attitudes and behaviour; calls on the Commission and the FRA to continue their work on hate crime and hate speech monitoring in the Member States aimed against minorities, and to report regularly on the cases and tendencies;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that national minorities are groups of persons belonging to minorities who have been living on the same territory andwho sharinge a common identity, in some instances as a result and an awareness of bforder changes, in others as a result of living a long time in an area, whereby they have managed to preserve their identityming a demos regardless of state borders; calls on the Member States and the Commission to protect the cultural, political and linguistic identity of national minorities, and to create conditions for the promotion of that identity; points to the important role that regional and local authorities in the EU can play in protecting national minorities, and considers that administrative reorganisation and territorial districting must not have negative consequences for them;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that maintaining the cultural heritage of the EU is a common interest of the Member States; calls on the EU institutions and its Member States to support, enhance and promote the cultural rights of national minorities;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to recognise the contribution of national minorities to the cultural heritage of the Union, to reinforce dialogue with the representatives of nationaland persons belonging to minorities and to identify and implement coordinated policies and actions for the sustainable management of preserving and developing their culture;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to involve and support national minorities and their representativespersons belonging to them in fostering knowledge and skills that are necessary in order to safeguard, sustainably manage and develop cultural heritage and that should be handed down to future generations; calls on the Member States and the Commission to establish and maintain concrete cultural funds for the representatives of regional andpersons belonging to minority righties, both at horizontal and vertical levels;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that education is a key element of socialisation and development, and that the continuity of mother tongue education is vital to preserving their cultural and linguistic identity; notes that, when it comes to minority language education, there is no one single best- practice model that is suitable for all national minorities;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Member States to apply positive measures in order to ensure proper representation of minorities in education, as well as in public administration, executive agencies at national, regional and municipal levels; calls on the Commission to collect and report statistical information in this regard, if available;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use his or her surname (patronym) and first names in the minority language and the right to official recognition of them, including in the context of the freedom of movement in the EU;