Activities of Pablo IGLESIAS

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 d (new)

- having regard to Convention No 169 of the International Labour Organisation on indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries,

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 e (new)

– having regard to UN Resolution A/69/L.84 of 10 September 2015 on the basic principles on sovereign debt restructuring processes,

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Article 21 TEU commits the EU to developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principle of equality and solidarity and compliance with the UN Charter and international law; whereas under Article 6 TEU the European Union is to accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas increased coherence between EU internal and external policies stands as an indispensable requirement for a successful EU human rights policy; whereas EU human rights policy is restricted and indeed contradicted by diplomatic, political and economic considerations;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the world economy is going through a major crisis, the impact of which, alongside certain measures, in particular drastic budget cuts, is having an adverse effect on human rights, especially economic and social rights, on people’s living conditions (increases in unemployment and poverty, inequality and insecure employment, lower-quality services and restricted access to such services), and therefore also on their wellbeing;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas human rights and democracy support policy ~~is being~~should be mainstreamed through other EU policies with an external dimension, such as trade and development;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas climate change is undermining the most basic human rights such as access to water, natural resources and food;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the abolition of the death penalty remains one of the EU’s ~~biggest concern~~priorities when approaching third countries;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief must be unconditionally enhanced through inter- religious ~~and~~, inter-cultural and secular dialogues;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Expresses its firm opposition to the annexation, occupation and settlement of territories and insists on the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Welcomes the EU’s renewed commitment to promoting and protecting h~~Notes that the Action Plan on Human rRights and ~~supporting democracy worldwide; notes that the Action Plan~~Democracy aims to allow the EU to take a more focused, systematic and coordinated approach in the area of human rights and democracy, as well as to reinforce the impact of its policies and tools on the ground; supports, in this regard, the prioritisation of five strategic areas of action;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to develop a comprehensive mechanism for monitoring and reviewing the functioning of human rights dialogues with a view to improving their impact; believes that, if such dialogues persistently fail, alternative tools for supporting the advancement of human rights in the country concerned should be used; ~~notes, in this respect, that the human rights dialogue with Russia was suspended in 2014; urges, therefore, that the EEAS profoundly rethink its human rights strategy vis-à-vis Russia;~~

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Recalls that the EU committed itself to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles ~~needs to~~should be supported through all EU policies which have an external dimension, such as the enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy, and the development, trade, justice and home affairs policies; is disappointed, therefore, by the double standards which undermine all EU policies in this area and are entirely at odds with a universal vision of human rights;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights provisions in its impact assessments for legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; urges the Commission to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of the impact assessments and to ensure the systematic incorporation of human rights issues; calls on the Commission to take account, in its impact assessments, of the contributions made by civil society in the countries concerned; urges the Commission to draw the necessary conclusions from these impact assessments and to assess the appropriateness of adopting the proposals where applicable;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and the civil society of neighbouring countries in their efforts to promote democratisation and respect for human rights; positively notes in this context the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood ofRegrets that the claim that the EU’s international agreements are subject to compliance with human rights is a matter of propaganda, since there is no effective monitoring of their application; calls for reports to be submitted to the relevant committee of Parliament on the agreements’ human rights aspects; rejects, meanwhile, the imposition of sanctions by the EU ion ~~favour of democracy promotion and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms~~third countries with the aim of protecting its geopolitical and economic interests independently of the humanitarian situation;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Reiterates its support for the introduction of human rights clauses in international agreements between the EU and third countries; ~~calls on the Commission to effectively and systematically monitor the implementation of the human rights clauses and to report regularly to Parliament on partner countries’ respect for human right~~highlights, nevertheless, the failure of their introduction in free trade agreements with third countries, as such agreements may even have led to the violation of basic economic and social rights, including the impoverishment of the populations concerned and the monopolisation of resources by transnational companies; sees a need, moreover, for ex ante monitoring mechanisms prior to a framework agreement being concluded and on which such conclusion is made conditional as a fundamental part of the agreement, and for ex post monitoring mechanisms which enable tangible action to be taken in response to infringements of these clauses, including the possible suspension of the agreement; believes that besides these clauses there is a need to implement new forms of cooperation to facilitate the economic and social development of third countries based on the needs of their peoples;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; positively notes that 14 countries had been granted GSP+ preferences by the end of 2014, as a means of stimulating the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards; expects the Commission to report back to Parliament and to the Council on the status of ratification and the effective implementation of the conventions by the beneficiaries of the GSP+ preferences by the end of 2015;deleted

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Reaffirms that the activities of EU companies operating in third countries should be in full compliance with international human rights standards; ~~reaffirms, moreover, the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility and of European enterprises playing a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights~~calls, therefore, on the Member States to ensure that companies which come under their national law do not disregard human rights or the social, health and environmental standards to which they are subject when moving to, or doing business in, a third country; calls on the Commission to take the necessary action against European companies which do not comply with these standards and which, furthermore, do not adequately compensate victims of human rights violations falling directly or indirectly under their responsibility;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Believes, therefore, that the EEAS should require that EU Delegations engage with EU companies operating in third countries in order to promote respect for human rights in their business-related activities; recalls, furthermore, its request that EU Delegations include respect for human rights in business operations as a priority in local calls for proposals carried out under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Reiterates its call on the Commission to report on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the EU Member States by the end of 2015; condemns the fact that EU Member States voted against the resolution adopted by the United Nations on 27 June 2014 which sought to establish a binding framework for transnational companies which do not respect human rights; urges the EU and its Member States to participate fully in the development and implementation of a binding international mechanism;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)

49b. Deplores the way in which the financial and economic crisis and the sovereign debt crisis, together with the budgetary restrictions imposed, have negatively affected people’s economic, civil, social and cultural rights, often resulting in increasing unemployment, poverty and precarious working and living conditions, as well as exclusion and isolation, particularly in the countries in which economic adjustment programmes have been adopted; stresses that the UN has repeatedly criticised the management by the European institutions and the Troika of the debt issue and its consequences for human rights; deplores the fact that almost all none the Member States voted for the UN resolution of 10 September 2015 recognising the right of any state to restructure its sovereign debt;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Takes ~~positive~~ note of the counter- terrorism guidance document drafted by the EEAS and the Commission and endorsed by the Council with the aim of ensuring respect for human rights in the planning and implementation of counter- terrorism assistance projects with third countries; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure effective implementation of the document, starting with its wide dissemination; supports, in this context, the international efforts to stop human rights violations being perpetrated by ISIS/Da’esh; deplores the fact that counter- terrorism policies are used as a pretext to introduce repressive policies which apply to all citizens and is concerned by the lack of attention to given to independent control mechanisms;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Expresses its solidarity with the high number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as victims of conflicts, tangible governance failures and networks of illegal immigration and trafficking; expresses also its deep regret at the tragic loss of lives of people seeking asylum inNotes that the refugee crisis is a global problem and that the UNHCR puts the number of refugees and displaced persons in the world today at 60 million; expresses its solidarity with the high number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations fleeing conflicts, lawless zones and poverty as victims of violent repression and networks of illegal immigration and trafficking in which many public authorities have direct and indirect responsibilities; stresses that the EU and its Member States have a responsibility for refugees and migrants trying to escape war, chaos, economic misery, hunger and death, not least because of global neoliberal economic policies and the current and past neo-colonial policies of some Member States; expresses also its deep regret at the tragic loss of lives of people seeking asylum in the EU; warns the EU and its Member States against constructing fences which encourage human trafficking without providing possibilities for safe and legal access to the EU;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Stresses th~~e urgent need to tackle the root cau~~at responses must be found to the current crisis basesd o~~f migration flows and, therefore, to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by~~n the principles of solidarity and an overall strategy which promotes safe and legal migration and fully respects human rights and fiund~~ing sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood~~amental values; calls on the European Union and its Member States to promote peace and reject violent intervention as a basis for foreign policy; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights-based approach to migration and calls on the EU to collaborate with the UN, regional organisations, governments and NGOs in order to address the root causes of migration flows; takes note in this context of the European Union Naval Force – Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med) operation against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean; welcomes the measures proposed by the Commission on 9 September 2015 to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis; points out that this comprehensive strategy will also involve humanitarian aid and development aid;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 d (new)

53d. Expresses concern at the measures proposed by the Commission on 9 September 2015 to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis; condemns the Commission proposal to strengthen the ‘safe country of origin’ provisions of the Asylum Procedures Directive by drawing up a common European list of safe countries of origin, and considers it particularly alarming that Turkey might be included on that list; points out that such s list could restrict the procedural rights of nationals of the countries in question; calls for every step to be taken to ensure that an approach along these lines does not undermine the principle of non-refoulement and the individual right of asylum, especially where people in vulnerable groups are concerned;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 e (new)

53e. Expresses disquiet at the proliferation of negotiations on the subject of readmission and return; calls for the suspension of all readmission agreements with countries that do not respect fundamental human rights; calls on the Member States to observe the international principle of non- refoulement, not just in words, but also in deeds;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 f (new)

53f. Rejects any attempts to outsource EU migration policies, and accordingly condemns the proposals from Member States and the Commission to set up processing or detention centres in third countries; calls on the Commission and the Member States immediately to cease cooperation with third countries aimed at preventing migrants and refugees from getting to safety in Europe and at tightening up border controls; calls for a halt to negotiations on agreements that do not protect refugees or guarantee respect for fundamental rights in the manner called for by the Khartoum and Rabat processes;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 g (new)

53g. Points out that 17.5 million people were displaced in 2014 as a result of climate-related disasters; points out that these displacements chiefly affect regions in the South, which are most exposed to climate change impacts; points out that 85% of these displacements occur in developing countries, primarily within one country or parts of countries; points out that as part of the Millennium Development Goals, the EU Member States have committed themselves to earmarking 0.7% of their GDP for development aid financing; deplores the fact that Member States are a long way from meeting their commitments and indeed some countries, for instance France, are revising them downwards;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Reaffirms its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in bringing justice to the victims of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression; considers it regrettable that no state ratified the Rome Statute in 2014; expresses serious concern that several arrest warrants have still not been executed and some senior political leaders have even managed to escape arrest because states parties have failed to act;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60

60. Recalls that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental human right, as recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; notes that this right encompasses the right to have beliefs or not to have them, the right to change religion or beliefs, freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and the right of parents to bring up their children according to their moral convictions, whether religious or not;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63

63. Expresses its concern at the growing number of death sentences worldwide; ~~considers it regrettable that Belarus has resumed executions after a two-year pause; reiterat~~notes that the countries which make greatest use of capital punishment (China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United States) account for more than 80% of executions in any one year; condemns the fact that executions have resumed in some countries twhere~~fore its call on Belarus to implement a moratorium on the death penalty, which should ultimately lead to its abolition~~ there used to be a moratorium and expresses serious disquiet at the fact that other countries, alongside other laws, have again been resorting to the death penalty, sometimes on the pretext of fighting terrorism or drugs; condemns in particular the sentencing of children, mentally retarded persons, and pregnant women; also condemns stoning and the sentences imposed for adultery, homosexuality, and blasphemy;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65

65. Considers that, following the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture, and given that torture and ill- treatment continue worldwide, the EU should intensify its efforts to eradicate these serious human rights violations; urges, therefore, the EEAS and the VP/HR to more strongly engage in the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment through increased diplomatic undertakings and a more systematic public positioning; recommends that the EEAS, the EU Delegations and the Member States make use of all existing instruments such as the EU Guidelines on Torture to their full potential; furthermore, calls on all the Member States to carry out transparent and impartial inquiries into the use of torture on their territories; calls once again for the removal of all illegal military bases wherever they are in the world and points out that under no circumstances can the fight against terrorism justify the use of torture;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 b (new)

75b. Emphatically rejects any military intervention carried out under the pretext of providing assistance in humanitarian crises or assuming a responsibility to protect; emphasises that military intervention in various countries in recent years has only served to exacerbate the humanitarian crises and serious human rights problems in those countries;

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that EU Member States are major global arms exporters, accounting for EUR 36.7 billion in exports in 2013, of which EUR 26.7 billion is to non-EU countries; ~~considers that the defence industry should aim to primarily ensure defence and security of EU Member States;~~ is seriously concerned by the consequences for the security and defence of the EU caused by the transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology to third countries; recalls that Article 10 of the Common Position clearly states that compliance with the eight criteria takes precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that arms export controls are an integral part of EU foreign and security policy and shall be guided by the principles enshrined in Article 21 of TEU, notably the promotion of democracy and the rule of law and preservation of peace, prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security; recalls that arms exports ~~might~~do affect the credibility of the EU as a global human rights advocate; calls for the new EU global strategy on foreign and security policy to properly consider arms export ~~issues in view of~~s as one of the causes for the changed security environment and associated risks and threats;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Deplores that irresponsible arms transfers continue to hinder democratic, economic and social development in many parts of the world; recognises that the effective implementation of Criterion Eight would be a decisive contribution to the EU’s Policy Coherence on Development objectives; takes the view that, because of the negative impact of arms spending on the development prospects of poorer recipient countries, Criterion Eight should be upgraded by making denial of export licences automatic if they are incompatible with development; takes the view that because of the negative impact of arms expenditures this Criterion should also be applicable to arms transfers within the EU;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the entry into force of the ATT; welcomes the outreach activities undertaken by the EU to promote universal ratification and implementation of the Treaty; regrets the lack of a sanctioning mechanism for countries violating the ATT;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Is critical of the frequent violations of the eight criteria by various Member States; regrets that there are no mechanisms for sanctions for violation of the eight criteria by a Member State and that there are no plans to that effect; takes the view that ways and means of carrying out independent verification and mechanisms for sanctions for violations of the Common Position should be provided for;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Takes the view that the European Union should meet its increased responsibility for peace and security in Europe and in the world by means of further arms limitation and disarmament initiatives and that, as a responsible global player, it should lead the way, i.e. that it should play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms, global disarmament and arms transfer controls; therefore is of the opinion that the EU should formulate a comprehensive conversion strategy; recommends, in connection with that strategy, that a plan be developed as to how conversion from arms production to civilian goods production can proceed as quickly as possible;

2015/09/24
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the importance of ~~climat~~the fight against climate change; calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to prioritise diplomacy on climate policy goals in order to build support for a ~~strong, fair and comprehensive agreement~~n ambitious, transparent and legally binding agreement in keeping with scientific data on the climate, international human rights obligations and the principles of the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with particular regard to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities; stresses the importance of the EU as a ~~key~~ player in climate diplomacy and emphasises the need ~~to speak with one voice~~for the Member States jointly to coordinate their objectives and negotiating strategies; calls on the Member States to coordinate their positions in this regard with those of the EU; underlines that the EU and the Member States have an enormous foreign policy capacity and must mobilise this network based on political will in order to secure the objectives; welcomes, in this context, the 45 national contributions on the fight against climate change already announced by COP21, and invites those states that have not yet done so to contribute promptly before the summit; calls for a fair agreement under which those countries that have polluted most bear differentiated climate responsibility, since they should shoulder more of the financial commitments, and calls on the parties involved in environmental aspects of the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations to ~~take into account the Paris Conference conclusions~~abandon this agreement that has been negotiated against the people and to the detriment of the climate;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points to the urgent resolution adopted on 5 June 2015 by the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (entitled ‘The Europe-Latin America position on issues related to climate and climate change in the context of the Summit of 2015 in Paris (COP 21)’), which stresses that ‘the level of international collective effort is still well below what is required to achieve a below 2 degree outcome’ and therefore calls for strong guarantees with a view to reaching an agreement by including a precise roadmap and effective funding for the Green Climate Fund;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Urges all the parties to promote scientific and technological cooperation and improve their resource allocation, and therefore invites them to follow the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that climate diplomacy should be part of the comprehensive approach to the EU’s external action, treating the climate as a global common good that belongs to everyone and must be protected by everyone; calls for a debate on a forward-looking strategy at EU level to address the strategic and political consequences for sectors of the economy, administrations and citizens, allowing the EU to respond to and prepare for climate- induced geopolitical instability and paying particular attention to cooperation with countries most afflicted by the impacts of climate change, bearing in mind the impacts that the climate will have on populations, in particular the most vulnerable populations; urges Western countries therefore to help other countries in their process of adapting to climate change, providing financial assistance for national adaptation programmes of action (NAPA);

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Regrets that the developed countries refused to strengthen their objectives at the most recent climate summit in Lima in December 2014, while the latest IPCC reports have appealed for efforts to be speeded up and greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced; regrets that, by signing an agreement outside the UN framework shortly before the Lima Summit, China and the United States have opened up a significant breach in the legally binding climate commitments; stresses the need to reach a binding agreement with the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters; emphasizes that the idea that the agreements are ‘voluntary’ is jeopardising the possibility of reaching a legally binding agreement among the parties;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Condemns the fact that multinationals are lobbying with the aim of deriving economic gain from the issue of climate change and pushing through false green solutions: carbon trading, pollution offsets, REDD, CO2 capture and storage; COP21 sponsorship;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Welcom~~Notes the action plan for climate diplomacy, which states that the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States must together implement a strategic, coherent and cohesive climate diplomacy plan throughout 2015 and in subsequent periods and calls for the European Parliament to be actively involved in that plan; stresses that the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of July 2011 and June 2013 endorsed the joint EEAS and Commission non-papers, which identified three strands of action for climate diplomacy, and that the action plan must form an integral part of this strategy;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in close cooperation with the Member States, to develop strategic priorities for the external climate and climate change policy enshrined in the general foreign policy objectives and to ensure that the EU’s delegations increase their focus on climate monitoring issues, and requests that all EU policies and actions should take climate change policy into account; calls on the EU to cooperate more closely on climate issues with neighbours and candidate countries.

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2112(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in close cooperation with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, to ensure that differences as regards the effects of climate change in countries in the north and south of Europe are taken into account; notes that countries in the south of Europe are most vulnerable and will be most affected by rising temperatures, an increase in extreme weather events, heatwaves, droughts and more irregular rainfall; calls, therefore, for specific studies and financial resources with a view to drawing up climate adaptation plans, particularly in the most vulnerable areas such as coastlines;

2015/07/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the need for a holistic EU approach to migration which ensures coherence between ~~its internal and external policie~~the right to asylum and human rights;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that the persistent instability and conflicts in the EU’s neighbourhood have a serious impact oin t~~he mass influx of migrants~~erms of the forced displacement of people; believes that a genuine response to the ~~migratio~~humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean will come only from tackling the root causes, namely poverty, instability, wars, persecution, natural disasters, and any other violations of human rights ~~and natural disasters~~;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Advocates broader and intensified EU cooperation with third countries of origin and transit, through bilateral agreements, ~~in order to clamp down on smuggling and trafficking networks, to ensure capacity building in the fields of asylum sys~~and organising safe and legal channels for entry into the EU via a range of mechanisms, such as the possibility of applying for humanitarian visas and asylum at consulatems and ~~border~~embassies in third countr~~ol, to provide protection for people in need, to develop frameworks for regular migration and mobility, and to put into force a humane and effective return policy for irregular migrant~~ies and the creation of humanitarian corridors; considers that it is not a tightening-up of policies, but rather an orchestration of these mechanisms, that will contribute effectively to stopping networks that traffic in human beings and organised criminal groups;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. C~~alls on key origin and transit countries for irregular migration to the EU to implement the existing bilateral readmission agreements fully and effectively; highlights, furthermore, the need to improv~~onsiders, at the same time, that the EU should develop a binding resettlement programme, with annual quotas, and a system of mandatory and permanent relocation, which would automatically be applicable across-border cooperation with neighbouring EU Member States in this respect, including through enhanced operational and technical cooperation with FRONTEX; believes, at the same time, that the EU should establish a binding resettlement programme with yearly quotas and a permanent mandatory and automatically triggered relocation system across the EU the EU, and that the remit of Frontex should be expanded to include search and rescue operations, while also equipping it with the requisite humanitarian tools; considers also that the possibility of suspending the Dublin Convention should be examined, while working towards the adoption of a common asylum policy;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes the launch of the EUNAVFOR Med operation against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean and supports the reinforcement of the management of the Union’s external borders; i~~Insists, however, on the need for broader sustained, coordinated search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean to save lives and for an EU policy on asylum, subsidiary protection and temporary protection which fully comply with binding obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and wholly and unconditionally respect the non- refoulement principle;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that enhanced international cooperation, exchange of information, the implementation of a culture of prevention as well as the development of alternative long-term approaches, the determined national action and along with stable inclusive government in third countries at direct risk from jihadist extremist groups hold the key to deter and countering the threat posed by terrorist groups and stemming the radicalisation of ~~European~~ citizens;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Expresses concern that without such action the phenomenon of potential fighters from Europe travelling to different locations to join jihadist extremist groups, as well as the security risk they present when returning to the EU, are likely to worsen in the years ahead with the on- going military escalation in the region and the inability of the international community to deter this phenomenon;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Encourages~~Notes that the development of targeted and regularly upgraded security and counter-terrorism initiatives at Member State, EU and international level with a view to ensuring appropriate responses to emerging threats, including through working in partnership with neighbouring countries and regional actors have had considerably impact on the lives of citizens in Europe and should be critically revised as they have not effectively curtailed threats. Calls on Member States to set up a joint security initiatives that is supported on the close international cooperation, based on the aspects related to the respect for human rights, including data protection by ensuring that in no case it violated the right to judicial protection for the suspects;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Council to keep the EU Syria and Iraq and Counter- Terrorism/Foreign Fighters Strategy, adopted on 20 October 2014, under constant review, in the light of the developing security situation in the EU’s southern neighbourhood, ~~alongside other~~to give greater importance to initiatives such as the Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network and is convinced that the strategy against terrorism cannot be conceived as a fight between civilisations or religions leading to racist and xenophobic presumptions. Further calls the Member States to promote common respect and understanding as crucial elements within the framework of the fight against terrorism both within the EU and its Member States as well as in third countries;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Supports greater international cooperation to identify EU citizens who are at risk of ~~becoming radicalised and~~ travelling to join jihadist extremist groups; further calls for enhanced cooperation between the EU, its Member States, and third countries to develop alternative long-term approaches to divert European citizens from this course of action and to intercept them at the point of exit;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2063(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Notes with concern~~Encourages the development of programs that seek to defuse both violent and sectarian aberrations in order to curb potential fighters; notes that some Member States are assessing the potential for recruiting ~~former foreign~~ fighters to assist in deradicalisation programmes; calls on Member States to proceed cautiously when introducing such programmes~~, especially where cooperation is linked to immunity from prosecution~~ in order to take into account the justice imperatives;

2015/07/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas humanitarian crises ~~almost~~ invariably result in immense human suffering for the affected civilians, including threats and violations of international human rights and humanitarian law;

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas humanitarian crises, including natural disasters, are ultimately the result of human action (mainly the exploitation of natural resources and the devastation caused by big business) in contributing to climate change and infringing human rights;

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Rejects any military intervention under the pretext of either humanitarian aid to crisis-hit areas or the responsibility to protect; stresses that recent interventions in Libya or Syria, and previous action such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, have served only to aggravate humanitarian crises and the desperate state of human rights in those countries;

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to the fact that displacement due to conflicts, natural disasters or environmental degradation leaves certain populations particularly vulnerable; stresses that refugees, internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking and other migrants caught in crisis must be afforded the same protection of their human rights as all other affected groups; expresses its deep concern regarding the unprecedentedly high number of refugees in the world today, and calls on the global community to use the World Humanitarian Summit to mobilise the necessary financial and operational resources to meet this challenge; calls on the EU and its Member States to prioritise the global refugee crisis in its policies and positions regarding the Summit; underlines the responsibility of host countries to submit the necessary documentation, safeguard human rights and thus respect the right to asylum of refugees; is alarmed at the stance taken by certain countries concerning the reception of refugees; stresses that if the EU does not take its responsibilities seriously it will be failing in its duty to assist people in danger, and thus be in breach of international law.

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the EU to show leadership in the World Humanitarian Summit by calling for more flexible methods for delivering humanitarian aid, as well as for proactive tools to prevent crises; urges the EU and other donors to stay true to their financial commitments and to develop ways to reduce the time it takes to convert financial commitments into actions on the ground; points out, in addition, the importance of human rights reporting as an early warning mechanism for crises, and encourages the World Humanitarian Summit to take this into account when moving from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention; is extremely concerned at the fact that in many cases the aid pledged by the EU fails to reach its destination or to directly benefit the population; demands that aid be provided as donations rather than loans so as to avoid increasing the burden of debt that all countries carry, particularly those mired in humanitarian crises; calls, therefore, for debt cancellation, as the removal of that burden would free up valuable and scarce funds that could reorientate the development path of the countries concerned;

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2051(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Notes the willingness to include the private sector in solving the humanitarian crisis; stresses the responsibility of all states to ensure the development and security of their population; highlights the responsibility of big business in causing these crises, whether by contributing to climate change, exploiting resources or infringing human rights; endorses UNHRC Resolution 26/9 of 26 June 2014, concerning corporate responsibility and the need for an internationally legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of companies and punish those guilty of human rights violations; supports in this connection the need for taxation of companies with a view to preventing humanitarian crises in the countries in which they are based and ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth;

2015/09/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas Russia is one of the European Union’s biggest trade partners, which has made the two economies strongly interdependent;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas NATO has condemned the Russian Federation’s military escalation in Crimea, ‘it's illegal and illegitimate annexation’ of Crimea and ‘its continued and deliberate destabilisation’ of eastern Ukraine in violation of international law; whereas it was the Atlantic Alliance that waged a war to further Kosovo’s secessionist process;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas the Collective Security Treaty Organisation does not consider NATO to be an enemy and has repeatedly rejected the policy of blocs promoted by that organisation; whereas the CSTO has repeatedly invited NATO to cooperate in order to assure the stability and security of the region;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the military balance in the Black Sea Basin has shifted following ~~the illegal annexation of Crime~~Crimea’s incorporation into Russia, with Russia now ~~unlawfully~~ controlling hundreds of kilometres of the Crimean coastline and the adjacent waters facing NATO and EU maritime borders; ~~whereas Russia has fuelled aggressive actions on Ukrainian territory;~~

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas the policy of the Ukrainian Government represents a threat to the stability of the Black Sea Basin;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas prior to the i~~llegal annex~~ncorporation, Russian land and air forces in Crimea were minimal and concerned mainly with the defence of Sevastopol – main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet – and two adjacent naval bases; whereas through a military build-up in Crimea and in the Black Sea Basin following the annexation, Russia has moved to create an offensive joint striking force comprising the navy and land and air forces;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas NATO has activated an ‘immediate action plan’ that represents a threat to its eastern neighbours, placing its European members in a situation of vulnerability;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas NATO, the United States and most of the EU Member States encouraged and supported the process of Kosovo’s violent secession;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Firmly supports the non-recognition of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea~~Notes the incorporation of Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation, decided by referendum on 16 March 2014; reiterates its commitment to the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine and to the non-violability of borders; ~~fully support~~notes the European Council’s conclusions that the EU will not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes with concern that the ~~annexation of Crimea has~~violent change in power in Ukraine and the incorporation of Crimea into Russia have precipitated a significant change in the strategic landscape of the Black Sea Basin and the adjacent area; ~~warn~~recalls that by occupying the entire peninsula, Russia has gained a very important launching pad facing both west (Transnistria and the Danube Mouths), the Balkans and south (the Eastern Mediterranean), where it has established a pNATO has been moving progressively nearer the borders of the Russian Federation and that this has determaine~~nt naval task force, and that the illegal annexation of Crimea offers Russia a ‘southern Kaliningrad’, another outpost directly bordering on NATO, this time at sea~~d the organisation’s enlargement policy since 1999;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Believes that the change in the strategic landscape, and the evolving military situation in the Black Sea Basin, are indicative of broader, systemic challenges to European security; believes that the EU and the Member States must have a security response to these challenges; is concerned about the dependence of the EU and its Member States in relation to the United States and the situation of vulnerability to which they are subjected as a result of America’s policy towards our neighbours;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Notes with grave concern the warlike drift of NATO that is revealed in the exercises that it is carrying out in some States bordering on Russia; recalls that already in February 140 vehicles and 1 400 soldiers were transferred to barely 300 metres from the border of Estonia with Russia; expresses its concern about the military exercises that NATO has carried out on the Bulgarian coast;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Considers that NATO’s aerial deployment over the Baltic - as part of the ‘Immediate Reassurance Measures’, an extension of the ‘Baltic Air Policing’- is unjustified and forms part of the military Alliance’s warmongering escalation; recalls that all identifications of Russian aircraft within the framework of NATO’s manoeuvres were made only in international waters;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Condemns the support given by the West to the Ukrainian Government; recalls that that government had its origin in a coup that included the participation of fascist and neo-Nazi elements;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines that the relationship with Russia, being a major actor in the international system, should be cooperative rather than conflictual in the long run; is of the view, however, that in the short and medium term, owing to a lack of trust following Russia’s latest actions, any resumption of cooperation should continue to rely, firstly, on the strong strategic reassurance offered by NATO to its eastern members and, secondly, on the fact that there can be no political solution based on accepting the illegal annexation of Crimea;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Believes that, in the event that Russia does not honour the Minsk ceasefire agreement, and continues the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea, the sanction regime should be continued and even strengthened;deleted

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. ~~Welcom~~Notes the implementation of the EU energy policy aimed at promoting energy security for all Member States; urges the Member States to take the steps needed to ensure the security of oil and gas exploitation and transportation activities in the Black Sea region; is of the view that a constructive relationship of trust with the neighbouring countries is the best guarantee for the Member States’ energy supply;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Is concerned that the benefits of oil and gas exploitation and transportation in the Black Sea are increasingly dependent on the level of militarisation triggered by the ~~illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and the subsequent build-up of its capabilities in the area~~destabilisation of Ukraine that began at the end of 2013;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Underline~~Regrets that the current crisis is affectsing cooperation in other important fields, such as border management and security ~~(in particular migration control)~~, illegal trafficking and combating organised crime;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Regrets that Kiev has contributed to precipitating an internal war conflict through seeking to deny the linguistic and cultural rights of an important part of its population;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses that, in spite of the fact that the BSS is practically on hold, cooperation with the states in the Black Sea Basin should continue; ~~welcom~~notes the ongoing CSDP missions – the EU Advisory Mission, the EU Monitoring Mission and the EU Border Assistance Mission – as important components of the EU approach to resolving the protracted conflicts in the region;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Stresses the critical importance of coordinating with NATO and the United States~~Regrets Europe’s dependence on American policies carried out through NATO as the Black Sea Basin is a key component of Euro~~-Atlantic~~pean security; ~~welcomes~~fears that the commitment of NATO to support regional efforts of Black Sea littoral states is aimed at ~~ensuring security and stability~~imposing the objectives of the Euro-Atlantic elites instead of satisfying the wishes for peace and stability of the peoples who live along the coasts; calls on the OSCE to enlarge the scope of its efforts related to Black Sea security;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Welcomes~~Fears that the commitment by NATO member states to collective security and the Article 5 of the Washington Treaty~~; welcomes~~ may prevent the dialogue of the European institutions and its Member States with the neighbouring countries; expresses its very serious concern about the NATO Wales Summit decision on strategic reassurance measures and the Readiness Action Plan, ~~important~~ elements ~~for~~that put the security of the most affected NATO member states; calls on NATO to continue to develop its cyber and missile defence capabilities, including in the Black Sea region, and to develop contingency plans for deterring and countering asymmetric and hybrid warfare at risk;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines th~~at NATO should preserve its general naval and air superiority in the Black Sea Basin and maintain its capacity to monitor the area~~e need to foster dialogue and cooperation on security and defence among all the littoral states so that they can address shared threats and challenges, rejecting all warmongers and the actions they take, such as military exercises;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2036(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Considers that only an independent system of collective security can assure peace and stability for the peoples of the littoral states, aside from the interests of other powers; regrets that the interferences of the United States and its insults towards the European institutions have given rise to a highly negative framework for assuring the strategic stability of the Black Sea;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the aim of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), was ~~created to strengthen the European Union’s (EU) partnerships with neighbouring countries in order to~~a coherent political and economic component of the EU’s foreign policy strategy, is, by actively and systematically exerting influence on all aspects of the development of the countries in its immediate neighbourhood, to foster social transformation processes as a prerequisite for the development of an area of shared stability, security and prosperity; whereas, with that aim in view, efforts are being made to secure acceptance of formal democratic structures, constitutional principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms and, above all, the introduction of a market economy on the basis of the acquis communautaire;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the ~~neighbourhood is currently in a state of flux an~~countries in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood are currently in a state of flux; whereas the developments in question range from huge social and cultural challenges, national, ethnic, religious and ideological contradictions, serious social problems, unemployment, poverty and a significant skills drain, still widespread corruption and human rights violations and deep social divisions to the collapse of the fabric of the state in some neighbouring countries and encompass growing tensions and conflicts between states; whereas the ENP has thus not achieved any of its aims in the EU’s neighbouring countries, with the result that the neighbourhood is less stable and less secure than when the ENP was launched;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas developments thus far in the region ~~since 2004, but in particular i~~have shown that the ENP, with its instruments, experiences and proposals geared to the pre-accession strategy as part of EU enlargement policy and its implementation on the lbas~~t few years, have shown the ENP to be~~is of formal criteria and benchmarks unilaterally set in stone by the EU, is unable to respond ~~adequate~~flexibly and promptly to ~~the~~ rapidly changing ~~and challenging circum~~circumstances and to take account of real development conditions and aspirations and the possibilities and traditions of the individual ENP stanctes;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the latest developments in the ENP countries have shown quite clearly that the ENP is not seen by the EU’s neighbouring countries as the sole available source of support for their development and that the ENP must repeatedly convince the citizens of those countries anew of the benefits it offers;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Commission has ~~tried~~repeatedly tried without success to reshape the ENP so as to address its flaws and adapt it to changed national and international circumstances, in particular after the Arab Spring; whereas this was reflected in the new financing instrument for the ENP for 2014-2020 – the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI);

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas despite its efforts to reshape the ENP the Commission has done nothing to alter its basic approach or the instruments used to implement it; whereas recently, in the context of introducing conditionality into the ENP and its fixation with so-called pro-reform forces, the Commission has started taking sides in domestic conflicts in partner countries, for example between competing groups of oligarchs;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas since the introduction of the new approach in 2011, political developments in the neighbourhood have demonstrated that the EU needs to further rethink its policy on shaping relations with its neighbours, taking into account the different external and internal realities; whereas the EU needs to address new challenges in its neighbourhood and adjust its strategy by examining its interests and priorities and assessing its policy tools, incentives and available resources and their attractiveness to its partners; whereas the criticisms voiced in the past by the European Parliament concerning the unbalanced nature of the ENP and the unnecessary delays in implementing it also proved to be unrealistic;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the EU Member States should play an important role in the European neighbourhood by aligning their efforts and s~~upporting~~eeking to speak with a single EU voice;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the consultation process carried out by the Commission should be comprehensive and inclusive so as to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are consulted; whereas the aim of these consultations must be to determine the specific interests and aspirations of the individual partner countries as a prerequisite for doing away with the ‘one- size-fits-all’ approach;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas it will not be possible for the European Union to have a credible neighbourhood policy while internal inequalities continue to increase and some of its Member States are adopting a regressive approach to human rights;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the importance and timeliness of the review of the ENP; emphasises that the revised ENP should be able to provide a quick and adequate response to the situation on the ground, while also putting forward a long-term vision for developing relations with the neighbouring countries and taking account of asymmetries between the parties; takes the view that a new framework needs to be created for relations with the ENP countries and regions, based on strict compliance with international law and the United Nations Charter and on non-intervention in their internal affairs and respect for their sovereignty, aimed at supporting the development of neighbouring regions and promoting employment and education, instead of association agreements geared solely to establishing free-trade areas that harm the ENP’s peoples and offer benefits only for corporate interests on the European side and for elites in the ENP states;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Believes in the continued value of its initially stated objective of creating an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, based on ~~the founding~~common values and principles ~~of the Union, through a deep structural transformation in the neighbouring countries; stresses therefore the need to go back to basics and bring this objective back to the top of the agenda~~;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Believes in the continued value of its initially stated objective of creating an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, based on the founding values and principles of the Union, through a ~~deep~~ structural transformation in the neighbouring countries carried out under their own responsibility and in a manner consistent with national circumstances; stresses therefore the need to go back to basics and bring this objective back to the top of the agenda;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that respect for the universal fundamental values of human rights, rule of law and democracy ~~on which the EU is founded must remain~~and respect for the sovereignty of states must be at the core of the revised policy;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Reiterates that it is looking to the Commission, in the context of the reshaping of neighbourhood policy, to put forward clear proposals concerning the nature of the relationship between neighbourhood policy, as a component and instrument of foreign policy, and enlargement policy;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Emphasises that local ownership and inclusiveness should be key aspects of the new approach so as to ensure that the benefits of the ENP reach all levels of society throughout the country; emphasises that autonomous social and economic modernisation in the countries in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood is impossible without the direct involvement of those countries' citizens; stresses that a common area of stability must therefore be based on practical measures which acknowledge and take account of specific national circumstances, possibilities, traditions and cultures;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Emphasises its conviction that, if the partner countries are to be helped to strengthen their own development potential, the political dialogue which currently characterises the ENP must give way to a broader social, economic and cultural dialogue which embraces all facets of the political, social, ethnic and cultural diversity of the partner countries; stresses the value of the progress achieved through territorial cooperation with the direct involvement of local authorities;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Commission to focus on sectors identified together with its partners, in which progress and universal added value can be achieved, and to gradually expand cooperation based on that progress and ~~ambition~~on respect for human rights;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that enlargement and neighbourhood policies as components of foreign policy are separate policies with different objectives and are subject to different legal systems and rules, namely EU law and international law; reiterates, however, that European countries within the ENP can apply for membership if they satisfy the criteria and conditions of admission under Article 49 TEU;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Considers support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights to be central to the ENP; stresses that the EU should be willing to offer incentives and know-how to help overcome the social challenges and economic costs of undertaking democratic reforms; emphasises, in that connection, the key importance of support services in fostering the establishment in the partner countries of conditions conducive to the creation of jobs which provide a proper livelihood, welfare protection, education, social justice and legal certainty in this area as well;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Underlines the continuous need to focus on strengthening and consolidating democracy, the rule of law, the independence of the justice system, respect for minorities and diversity; highlights that capacity-building in national institutions, including their national assemblies, together with support for civil society, pro- democracy groups and political parties, will enhance political dialogue and pluralism; stresses the importance of respecting the sovereignty of states with which the European Union maintains relations and not interfering in their internal affairs;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission, in developing relations with the ENP States, to take into account the sensitive domestic balance of power which in many cases exists in those States as regards political association and economic integration; reiterates its call to require ENP partners to take final decisions only with the involvement of the widest possible public, particularly if such possibilities as, for example, the holding of referendums exist in the States concerned;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Stresses the importance of developing a thriving and active civil society in the processes of transformation and democratisation, which includes social partners ~~and the business community; underlines the importance of European companies and their role in the promotion and dissemination of international standards for busines~~; draws attention to the harmful effects of the presence of European companies on some of the neighbourhood policy countries;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4

Differentiation ~~and~~without conditionality

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. ~~Stresses the need to implement conditionality in relation to reform processes; e~~Emphasises that the EU cannot compromise wits fundamental values and should avoid creating double standards; stresses that countries that are making progress in implementing reforms and following European policy should be granted more substantial supporth regard to human rights violations and must avoid creating double standards;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the authorities of the EU Member States and the countries of the Middle East and North Africa to respect the prohibition of torture, enshrined for example in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment that most of them have signed and ratified; reiterates that confessions extracted under torture are invalid and condemns this practice;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Considers it vital for the sustainability of the region to restore relations with the Arab Republic of Syria; supports the efforts of Staffan de Mistura, UN envoy to Syria, to mediate in the conflict and end the civil war in the country; stresses the need to support secular political figures and uphold the unity and territorial integrity of countries in the face of religious sectarianism;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Expresses concern that EU anti- terrorism policies are focused on military 'solutions', involving numerous programmes of military assistance to authoritarian regimes aimed at strengthening their military capabilities and hence encouraging their repressive policies; warns against the temptation to revert - in the name of security, stability and the fight against violent extremism - to the short-sighted and ineffective practices of the past, involving collusion with authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa; expresses its concern about enhanced security cooperation with highly repressive regimes;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24c. Stresses that the Union’s external actions to combat international terrorism should be aimed primarily at prevention and the implementation of a policy opposed to all kinds of military intervention, making it necessary to adjust the EU’s position in international negotiations accordingly; highlights the need to promote political dialogue, tolerance and understanding among different cultures and religions;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)

24d. Strongly criticises the intensive arms trade between certain EU Member States with various highly repressive regimes of the Middle East and North Africa, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Morocco; calls on the Council, in this connection to verify whether breaches of the EU code of conduct on arms exports have occurred and to adopt stringent measures to ensure compliance by all Member States; calls for the suspension of, and a ban on, exports of teargas and riot control equipment to these countries pending investigation of the improper use thereof and until the perpetrators have been brought to justice;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 e (new)

24e. Strongly opposes the use of unmanned aircraft to carry out the extrajudicial and extraterritorial killing of terrorist suspects and calls for a ban on the use of such aircraft for that purpose;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 f (new)

24f. Regrets that EU security and defence policy is governed by compliance with US and NATO foreign policy models; believes that the invasion of Iraq and foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs have served as breeding ground for the emergence and spread of IS activities; objects to the role played by the US, the EU Member States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey in particular;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 g (new)

24g. Takes the view that terrorist acts are being committed by Islamist radicals to weaken countries in the Middle East and North Africa by military and other means and prevent the emergence of any strong state capable of channelling oil revenues into its own economic and social development;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Condemns the continuing occupation of Palestine by Israel and the latter’s violation of international law, including international humanitarian law; reiterates its call for an end to Israeli colonisation in the Palestinian territories and to the criminal attacks and the isolation of the Gaza Strip; stresses the urgent need to bring about a fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East with a view to achieving a two-State solution — an independent and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the state of Israel, living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the internationally recognised 1967 borders;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27b. Reiterates its call to Morocco and the Polisario Front to continue negotiations for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara; recalls that this conflict poses a major obstacle to integration and cooperation in the region; considers it essential and urgent therefore to complete the decolonisation process of the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara as established by international law and to put an end to Moroccan occupation;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Helmut SCHOLZ, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)

27c. Regrets the circumstances in which the Sahrawi people find themselves, having been forced to live under Moroccan occupation or in exile in refugee camps for 40 years following Morocco’s invasion of the former Spanish colony; notes the presence of more than 80 000 Moroccan troops and millions of mines along more than 2 000 km of the wall dividing the territories of Western Sahara from north to south, and deplores that, after more than 20 years after the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and the establishment of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), the holding of a referendum is being prevented by the intransigence of Morocco, compounded by the complicity and passivity of the international community and the European Union;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Considers the conceptual rivalry between the ENP and the strategic partnership with Russia to be one of the fundamental errors of the ENP, and warmly welcomes in this context the general question raised by the Commission in connection with the consultation procedure concerning overcoming such rivalries by means of the conceptual inclusion of the ‘neighbours of neighbours’ in the neighbourhood policy;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)

28b. Observes that none of the current conflicts in the eastern neighbourhood can be resolved without the Russian Federation; considers that, as a precondition for resolving them, the EU should make greater efforts to overcome the stagnation in the development of relations; welcomes the prospect, recently reaffirmed by EU Member States, of a large common economic area, and calls on the Commission, as part of the repositioning of the ENP, to assign corresponding importance to the requirement that convergence be achieved between the respective integration processes of the EU and of the Eurasian Union;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33a. Rejects the repressive migration agreements and the establishment of FRONTEX; considers that the migration issue needs an anti-poverty, pro- employment, pro-peace and fair trade strategy by the EU countries as a significant contribution towards the stability of the region;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU has for decades striven to build a mutually beneficial strategic partnership with Russia based on shared values and principles and on common interests; whereas the EU remains open to such a relationship and to dialogue leading to it, and wishes to return to a cooperative relation with Russia; whereas Russia is one of the EU’s main trading partners, and this has created a high level of interdependence between the two economies;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas a number of EU Member States have impeded the establishment of constructive dialogue with a view to facilitating a diplomatic solution that is of benefit to all sides;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas EU-Russia ~~has – by illegally annexing Crimea and waging an undeclared war against Ukraine, with the direct participation of Russian military units, and by deliberately de~~relations have been affected by this confrontational policy and by the lack of constructive dialogue; whereas the military and political instabilisty ing this neighbouring sovereign and independent country – profoundly and for a long time damaged its relationship with the EU by jeopardising the basic principles of Europe’s security order and by breaking its international commitments, notably under the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Budapest Memorandume region constitutes a systemic challenge for European democracies; whereas EU Member States and Russia must respond to these challenges on the basis of, and in compliance with, international law, whilst fostering mutual understanding by means of dialogue;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Russia is the instigator of and, directly or indirectly, party to a number of ‘frozen conflicts’ in its neighbourhood – in Transnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhasia, and Nagorno Karabakh – that constitute serious impediments to the development and stability of the neighbouring countries concerned;deleted

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ~~in reaction to Russia’s covert military invasion of Ukraine,~~ the EU has adopted a stage-by- stage series of restrictive measures; whereas similar sanctions have been adopted by a number of other countries ~~in reaction to Russia’s aggression~~, and whereas those measures have thus far proven to be ineffective and unfair for Europe as a whole;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas these restrictive targeted measures are not directed against the Russian people but aim at stimulating a change in Russian policy towards, and actions in, the common neighbourhood; whereas the sanctions could be lifted, partially or fully, as soon as Russia commits itself to implementing, fully anhaving an adverse effect on the population as a whole; whereas the EU’s stance must be peaceful and conciliatory, based hon~~estly,~~ the provisions of the Minsk agreements and the return of Crimea to Ukraine; whereas the sanctions will be strengthened should Russia chose to do otherwise and refrain from taking any positive step to change its policyinciples of dialogue, and geared towards providing a framework to ensure that citizens’ fundamental rights are upheld;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the EU ~~has firmly~~must maintain its supported for Russia’s accession to and participation in different international organisations and fora, such as the G8, the G20 and the WTO; whereas this strategy of including Russia in international decision-making bodies has not had the results expected but instead created tensions owing to Russia’s habit of breaching rules, e.g. its non-compliance with WTO standards and obligations (by introducing a number of discriminatory measures against individual EU Member States and other countries iin order to ensure that dialogue can be used as a tool to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict; whereas NATO’s expansion to the east and the EU’s Eastern Partnership have been implemented without close consultation wit~~s neighbourhood), its failure to implement more than a thousand judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, etc.~~h Russia, and as a result have unnecessarily damaged relations between Russia and the EU;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas Russia has developed policies and instruments for, and became an active user of, a new type of hybrid warfare, deliberately blurring the lines between military/paramilitary activity and political activism, employing a mix of weaponised information (information deliberately altered and aired to inflict damage to societal, political and institutional structures), using professional instigators of insurgency in foreign countries, targeting local minority-language groups abroad for destabilisation, controlling information space and combining cyber warfare with military means;deleted

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. takes the view that it is a matter of concern that NATO is becoming more bellicose, as evidenced by the exercises it is carrying out in some states bordering Russia, principally around the Baltic; points out that back in February 140 vehicles and 1 400 troops were moved to within just 300 metres of Estonia’s border with Russia; expresses concern about the military exercises that the aforementioned military alliance has carried out along the Bulgarian coast and about the recent calls by long-standing, high-profile members of the alliance to supply supposedly defensive weapons to the government of Ukraine;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the World Media Freedom Index 2014 ranks the Russian Federation at 148th place out of 180; ~~whereas the financing of state-controlled media outlets has been significantly widened and increased;~~

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Reiterates~~Takes the view that, igiven the ~~light of Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in the war in Ukraine, amounting to a deliberate violation of the core of~~seriousness of the situation in Ukraine, the EU must reaffirm its commitment to peace, and to the democratic principles and values ~~sustained by the EU and~~that are widely shared internationally~~, the EU cannot envisage a return to ‘business as usual’~~; calls for a critical re- assessment by the EU of its relations with Russia, and for the drafting, as promptly as possible, of a ~~soft-power contingency~~diplomatic plan to ~~coun~~promoter the ~~aggressive and divisive policies conducted by Russia against the EU and its partners~~paths of dialogue, negotiation and understanding, in order to ensure that commitment to peace and fundamental rights is effective;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that at this point, Russia, because of its actions, can no longer be treated as, or considered, a ‘strategic partner’; points out that strategic partnerships are only conceivable with countries that do not jeopardise the international order, which is based on democracy, state sovereignty (including the choice of internal constitutional order and foreign policy orientation), the inviolability of state borders, respect for the rule of law and the principles of international trade, and mutual trust;deleted

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is deeply concerned by the fact that Russia ~~now~~and the EU are openly position~~s itself,~~ing themselves and acts,ing not as a partner ofs, but as a rivals to the international democratic community, seeking to challenge the current international order, and is in the process of redrawing borders within Europe; is extremely worried by the tendency of the Russian authorities to systematically denigrate liberal democracy and to consider democratic neighbouring countries as a threat to their own rulehat are incapable of coming to an understanding, and emphasises its grave concern about the increasing tension between the two powers; takes the view that the best way of defending human rights and democracy is to press ahead along the path of understanding, dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, and that this principle is incompatible with the bellicose tendencies that are putting Europe’s stability at risk;

2015/03/31
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines that EU-Russia relations must henceforth be based on the rule of law and on ~~preconditioned~~continuous, open and constructive dialogue, whereby the EU would be ready to relaunch cooperation with the authorities in Moscow on the condition that Russia unambiguously and without pretence takes its share of responsibility and fully implements the Minsk Agreements; stresses that in order to ensure that such a dialogue – if renewed (for which the return of Crimea to Ukraine would be a prerequisite) – is not conducted at the expense of European values, standards and international commitments, it would be necessary to specify very clearly the EU’s expectations of Russia, along with the retaliatory measures it would take should Russia not keep to its, whilst upholding standards and international commitments;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Commends the solidarity and the unity demonstrated by the Member States in the context of Russia’s undeclared war against Ukraine, allowing the adoption and further extension of responsive measures; calls on the Member States to consider as an absolute priority the preservation of this unity; reiterates that unity and solidarity amongst the Member States, as well as between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of the EU’s policies and its ability to withstand external challenges and pressures;deleted

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Firmly supports the swift creation of a robust European Energy Union, specifically the interconnection of national energy networks in order to reduce considerably the dependence of individual Member States on external energy suppliers; is of the firm conviction that the challenges to and vulnerability of European solidarity, and the exposure of individual Member States, to the illegitimate use of energy as a political and diplomatic bargain chip can only be combatted efficiently through the full implementation of the Third Energy package and the completion of a transparent, integrated, synchronised and resilient European internal energy marketNotes the implementation of the EU energy policy aimed at promoting energy security for all Member States; takes the view that a constructive and trusting relationship with neighbouring countries is the best way of guaranteeing the Member States’ energy supply until such time as the necessary steps are taken to change an energy model that has proven to be unsustainable;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the ~~relev~~importance of the suspension of cooperation with Russia in the defence sector, and calls on the Member States to refrain from taking any decisions that could jeopardise this united position; is therefore of the view that, notwithstanding their undisputable bilateral nature, agreements in the field of defence cooperation between some Member States and Russia should be assessed carefully at EU level, with a view to defining an appropriate and consistent approach; calls for the EU’s cooperation with NATO to be consolidated furthermaintaining a defence policy that is inseparable from the EU’s commitment to human rights; takes the view that relations with Russia, which is a major international player, must be based on cooperation and not on conflict; regrets the lack of autonomy in framing European security and defence policy that results from its dependence on NATO initiatives;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Is deeply concerned by the ever growing restrictions on free media, the tightening of online media control, the use of coercion to curb impartial reporting and the erosion of journalistic standards in Russia, as well as the increasing monopoly on the information available to Russian-language audiences abroad by state-owned media outlets; ~~deplores that Russian state- controlled media have become players in the EU information sphere without keeping to the norms of independent journalism, including the rejection of hate speech;~~

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Renews its call for the development of EU reconnaissance capabilities of weaponised information and the preparation of information contingency plans, including the strengthening of analytical and monitoring capabilities, especially in the Russian language, in order to be able to identify, and respond swiftly and appropriately to, purposefully biased information; calls on the Commission to earmark without delay adequate funding for concrete projects aimed at countering Russian propaganda within the EU and abroad; calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise as well a mechanism for the collection, monitoring and reporting of financial, political or technical assistance provided by Russia to political parties and other organisations within the EU, with a view to assessing its involvement in, and influence over, political life and public debate in the EU;deleted

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the EU to provide support to grass-roots projects aimed at developing high journalistic standards, freedom of the media, and unbiased and trustworthy information in Russia, and at deconstructing propaganda within the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries; supports the initiative to develop Russian- language media channels, with a view to providing a credible and accessible alternative to biased information for Russian-speaking minorities in the EU and in the Eastern Partnership countries;deleted

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Reiterates that uncompromising respect for the rule of law is a core and founding principle of the EU, and ~~rejects past attempts to put forward pragmatic interpreta~~that as such it must guide all the EU’s actions ofin the ~~rules to accommodate Russia as a trade partner; calls, therefore, on the strict, swift and unconditional application of the rule of law –~~ area of foreign policy; recognises that interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs and the immediate recognition of the government resulting from the Maidan protests, following the eove~~nt of any breach of the rules – and of the principle of free and fair~~ rthrow of a democratically elected executive, is incompeati~~tion, including in the proceedings against Gazprom~~ble with that commitment;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Expresses its deep concern for the state of human rights and the rule of law in Russia, and strongly condemns the crackdown on independent civil society and the persistent and multiform repression of activists, political opponents and critics of the regime, which has in some cases led to their murder (Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, Boris Nemtsov, Sergey Magnitsky, Alexander Litvinenko, and others)activists, political opponents and critics of the regime; demands that all assassinations of political activists, journalists and whistle blowers be investigated properly and independently; reiterates its call on the Council to deliver on its commitment to defend these principles~~, and to adopt restrictive measures for the officials involved in the well-documented Magnitsky case~~; reaffirms its commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms within and without its borders;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2015/2001(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Stresses the importance of continued political and financial support to independent civil society activists, media and NGOs; encourages the EU to reach out to Russian officials and civil society organisations that are inclined to develop an alternative vision of political and diplomatic relations with the EU;deleted

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2014 on the US NSA surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and their impact on EU citizens’ fundamental rights,

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)

- having regard to Edward Snowden’s written statement to the LIBE Committee of March 2014,

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. mindful of the mass surveillance carried out by the US on European citizens and governments;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the Internet represents a revolution in terms of the possibilities for exchanging data, information and knowledge of all kinds;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. mindful of the potential risk posed by the use of new technologies as a tool for the unlimited domination and exploitation of nature;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises that human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal and ~~should~~need to be defended globally;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Asks that ICTs and new technologies should be able to help strengthen the participative fabric of European society; takes the view, in this context, that cyber citizenship and teledemocracy offer a new horizon in terms of rights;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for ICT freedom, the possibility of self-determination in ICT matters and the protection of personal data to be deemed new rights corresponding to current technological challenges;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to support, train and empower human rights defenders, people reporting cases to civil society activists and independent journalists using ICTs in their activities, and to promote the related fundamental rights of privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association online;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Asks that no agreements should be signed with third countries that practice mass surveillance on European citizens;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that an effective EU development and human rights policy will require the mainstreaming of ICTs and the bridging of the digital divide, by providing basic technological infrastructure and by facilitating access to knowledge and information to promote digital literacy all over the world, as well as a better understanding of the potential risks and benefits of ICTs;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Deplores the fact that EU-made information and communication technologies and services are ~~use~~sold in third countries to violate human rights through censorship, mass surveillance, jamming, interception, monitoring, and the tracing and tracking of citizens and their activities on (mobile) telephone networks and the internet;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers mass surveillance, such as that carried out by the US, to be disproportionate at all times, hence in violation of the principles of necessity and proportionality, and, therefore, a violation of human rights;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Commission and Council actively to defend a neutral network and the open internet, multi- stakeholder decision-making procedures and digital freedoms in internet governance fora;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2232(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Believes that cooperation between governments and private actors worldwide in the digital domain calls for clear checks and balances and must not lead to the undermining of democratic and judicial oversight, including the Internet Governance Forum;

2015/03/27
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

– having regard to the Human Rights Watch's report on Afghanistan: "Today We Shall All Die - Afghanistan's Strongmen and the Legacy of Impunity" of 3 March, 2015,

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)

– having regard to report of Transparency International Defence and Security Programme: "Corruption: Lessons from the international mission in Afghanistan" of February 2015,

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Is concerned about the high costs of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), which is estimated to have reached USD 6 billion in 2014, and the lack of long-term commitments by the EU, or by other members of the international community, to finance the ANSF budget; stresses that even with the planned reduction of personnel to about 230 000 in the coming years it will be impossible for the Afghan Government to provide the necessary financing; expresses its grave concern that this may lead to a dangerous situation in which a highly militarised and equipped police and army could look for alternative ways of generating income; is strongly concerned about the high number of cases of corruption and cases of torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial and summary executions and other serious human rights abuses by governmental security forces (police, military, intelligence, militia personnel) on state, regional and local level; calls for investigation and if found responsible, for criminal prosecution regardless of function or rank;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for the transformation of EUPOL Afghanistan into a support mission for an Afghan-led DDR process, i.a. with the goals of demobilising the various militias and reducing the total number of ANSF personnel as far and as fast as possible; calls on the Afghan government and the respective ministries to disband irregular armed groups and hold them accountable for abuses they have committed; calls on the EU and on NATO to support and adequately fund efforts for demining Afghanistan;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Believes that women’'s rights are part of the security solution and that it is impossible to achieve stability in Afghanistan unless women enjoy their full rights in political, social and economic life; is deeply concerned that Afghan women continue to be victims of discrimination, forced marriage, domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape; stresses, therefore, the need for more female employees in all public offices; points out that progress in peace talks may not be made at the cost of any of the rights acquired by women in recent years; emphasises the need to ensure that women and civil society actors play a prominent role at all stages of any peace and reconciliation process;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Expresses grave concern over the fate of the over 680.000 IDPs and of the approximately 2.6 million Afghan refugees living under inacceptable and disastrous conditions in the neighbouring countries, esp. in Iran and Pakistan; underlines the importance to increase EU's support to Afghanistan's humanitarian needs; calls on the EU and its Member States to open their borders to all refugees of the conflict;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the stated intent of the new President Ashraf Ghani to make combating corruption one of his priorities; encourages the Afghan Government to engage in establishing an independent judiciary; encourages a thorough review process of the role and failures of the attempts to establish a functioning justice system, as well as of the role of the EUPOL mission in this context; believes that EUPOL could assist the Afghan government establishing an independent mechanism to investigate government officials and security force officers implicated in corruption and serious human right abuses;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Finds the continued restrictions on the freedom of the media inacceptable; calls on the EU to support the Afghan government in the protection of journalists against attacks by terrorist as well as extremist and criminal groups; highlights the positive contribution towards a pluralistic civil society by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC);

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Afghan authorities to commute all death sentences and to reintroduce a moratorium on executions with a view to achieving the permanent abolition of the death penalty; calls as well on the Afghan Government to stop any kind of torture and abuse, especially in prisons and to hold those responsible accountable regardless of function or rank;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Is critical of the fact that a large portion of the aid provided through various funding channels does not serve the needs of the Afghan people, and that project funding is often not guided by social but by military considerations; urges the EU to use all allocated aid strictly for development, not for security purposes, and to encourage its allies to follow suit; proposes to link assistance and EU funds - in particular to the security sector - to benchmarked improvements in countering human rights abuses, impunity and corruption;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Encourages the EU and Afghanistan to conclude negotiations, following a period of interruption, on a Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development (CAPD) in the key areas such as social and economic development, human rights and freedoms, support of the civil society, rule of law and viable institutions;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the EU and the international actors to free the Afghan Government from ~~the~~its commitment given at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014 to pay ~~a share of the~~ USD 500 million to be allocated annually to the ANSF, which is irresponsible in light of the budget deficits, declining revenues and serious poverty that are endemic in Afghanistan; urges the Member States to meet their commitments and pay what they promised;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2230(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Emphasises the potential of Afghanistan’'s resources, which are estimated to have a value of USD 900 billion; encourages the EU to assist the government to realise this potential in a way that in the first instance benefits the Afghan people rather than safeguards the profits of multinational enterprises; calls further to support Integrity Watch Afghanistan's claim for full contract disclosure, transparency in bidding process, the provision of security and use of water by companies during the mining operation, publication of payments and revenue in line with the revised extractive industries transparency index (EITI) standards; stresses that the exploitation of resources has to be carried out in consultation and cooperation with the local communities and must not involve any armed groups or militias; calls on the international community to assist the Afghan government to set up effective oversight mechanisms including effective anti-corruption measures;

2015/05/06
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23

– having regard to the escalating crises and conflicts, their political, ethnic and sectarian dimension, the rise of paramilitary groups and the weakness or collapse of certain states in the region; having regard to the many human rights violations resulting from this; whereas the MENA countries and international community have shared security interests in connection with the fight against ISIS;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcom~~Notes the action taken by the Member States against ISIS in Iraq; ~~notes that this type of operation should be carried out under the auspices of the European Union; to this end, calls on the EU to develop sufficient operational capacity to achieve CSDP targets;~~ stresses however that a response must be found at political and regional level to the challenge presented by ISIS on the basis of respect for international law and the United Nations Charter; calls on the EU to facilitate regional dialogue involving all stakeholders, in particular Saudi Arabia and Iran;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Stresse~~Regrets that ~~the~~ European Union ~~will only gain real influence on the international scene if it is able to speak with one voice~~security and defence policy is governed by the tendency for foreign policy to follow the United States and NATO model; calls on the VP/HR accordingly to appoint representatives at the highest level, i.e. EU foreign ministers or very senior political figures acting on her instructions and together with her, to ensure a constant dialogue with the countries of the region;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Recall~~Takes the view that the invasion of Iraq and foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs tha~~t the emergence of ISIS is~~ve been a breeding ground for the emergence and expansion of ISIS, which are also a symptom of the economic, political, social and cultural crisis afflicting the region; c~~alls on the EU, together with the Arab world~~ondemns the role that the United States, the Member States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have played in exacerbating the conflict; calls on the EU, together with the neighbouring countries and regional players, to assess the root causes and adopt a global approach through an approach based on security, political, economic, social and cultural considerations;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes the allocation of EUR one billion under the EU strategy entitled 'Elements of an EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Da'esh threat' , under which EUR 400 million has been earmarked for humanitarian aid; calls for special attention to be given to Jordan and Lebanon; ~~is concerned that, as a result of extreme poverty and deprivation, refugee camps may become a hotbed of radicalis~~calls for aid to be brought to the canton of Kobani as a matter of urgency; is concerned at the situation in the refugee camps resulting from extreme poverty and deprivation; welcomes the funds for host populations under the new strategy and under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP);

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcom~~Urges the involvement of ~~the countries of the Arab Peninsula in the international coalition~~regional governments in the fight against ISIS; urges their governments of countries of the Arab Peninsula to redouble their efforts to ~~prevent the~~stop financing of international terrorism, for example through including increased surveillance of waqfs and private donors; stresses the urgent need to introduce an efficient system of penalties coordinated with the LAS so as to put an end to ISIS financing by the Arab world; stresses also the urgent need for a decryption system to deal with clandestine oil sales by ISIS;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses ~~also the importance of regional dialogue with Turkey and Iran; stresses the need to reintegrate Iran into~~the urgent need for a political settlement for the conflict in Libya; supports the proposal of Algeria for national dialogue in Libya and calls regional actors to get involved on it; condemns the intervenation~~al community once it has provided definitive assurances and cast- iron guarantees of its~~ carried out by NATO, in which some EU member states actively participated; recalls that the intervention ~~to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes only~~of 2011 led to a humanitarian and political disaster for the Libyan people;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Expresses deep concern at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated lack of commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state; condemns Israel's disproportional use of force within and beyond its borders; demands that the Israel government issue formal apologies for the January 28th incidents in south Lebanon, including the bombing of UN installations and the killing of Francisco Javier Soria Toledo by the IDF, and to provide justice and reparation to the family of the soldier;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Expresses full support for a new common security and defence policy (CSDP) to promote stability and security in the MENA countries; points out that the EU could play a major role in providing specific training in border surveillance, anti-terrorism and the prevention of arms’ trafficking and in overhauling security; stresses the need for such cooperation to rest upon the basis of the EU's commitment to Human Rights and the rule of law; takes note that previous border agreements show that, absence of adequate monitoring, significant abuses could take place under this framework;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Is concerned about the focus on military ‘solutions’ in the EU’s counter- terrorism policies, resulting in numerous military assistance programmes for authoritarian regimes aimed at strengthening their military capacities and thereby supporting their repressive policies; warns against the temptation to revert – in the name of security, stability and the fight against violent extremism – to the previous short-sighted, ineffective practices of collusion with certain authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa; takes the view that it is vitally important to uphold democratic principles based on defending human rights as a basis for the EU’s foreign policy strategy; expresses concern at the strengthening of security cooperation with very repressive states;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Strongly criticises the intensive arms trading by some EU Member States with various highly repressive states in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco; calls on the Council, in this connection, to check whether there have been breaches of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, and to adopt stringent measures to ensure that all Member States adhere to the code of conduct; calls for the suspension of, and a ban on, exports of tear gas and crowd control equipment to those countries until investigations have been conducted as regards their improper use and until the perpetrators of such improper use have been held to account;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)

9c. Firmly opposes the use of drones in extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings of terror suspects, and demands a ban on the use of drones for this purpose;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)

9d. Calls on the authorities in the EU Member States and in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa to uphold the ban on torture as enshrined in particular in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which most of them have signed and ratified; reiterates that confessions obtained under torture are invalid, and condemns that practice;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recalls the crucial importance of promoting improved cooperation between the EU Member States and the MENA countries in combating terrorism~~; calls for closer cooperation with the Europol and Interpol countries, providing them with assistance in developing the necessary anti-terrorist structures and resource~~, which must not be conceived as a battle between civilisations or religions, giving rise to racist or xenophobic presumptions, and must comply with the most basic rights;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Condemns the continuing occupation of Palestine by Israel and the latter’s violation of international law and international humanitarian law; reiterates its call for an end to Israeli colonisation in the Palestinian territories and to criminal attacks and the isolation of the Gaza Strip; stresses the urgent need to bring about a fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East with a view to achieving a two-State solution – an independent and viable Palestinian State with its capital in East Jerusalem, and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within the internationally recognised 1967 borders;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Emphasises the fact that the Union’s external actions to combat international terrorism should, in the first place, be aimed at prevention, and at a policy which opposes all kinds of military intervention, thoroughly rethinking the EU’s position in international negotiations, and highlights the need to promote political dialogue, tolerance and understanding among different cultures and religions; is convinced that, in the security field, the EU should limit itself to cooperation programmes focusing on deradicalisation and countering violent extremism, where deemed appropriate, but refrain from imposing its economic or political ideas on sovereign states through its external dimension policies;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict in Syria, taking due account of the moderate opposition existing alongside the Syrian National Council and strengthening the moderate Sunni components; ~~points out that no democratic solution in line with the fundamental principles of the Union can be negotiated with Bachar Al-Assad, following the massacres perpetrated by him~~condemns the war crimes and violation of Human Rights that have taken place in the country since the beginning of the civil war; expresses its support to the efforts of the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve an conflict settlement among the parties through the implementation of concrete ceasefires; considers that the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country should be a condition of any agreement;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls for any initiative to end the fighting in Syria to take into account the requirements of international humanitarian law; calls on the European Union to step up its efforts to channel humanitarian aid towards the areas controlled by the moderate opposition and the Kurds, who have been in the forefront of the fight against Islamic State; supports the Commission’s recommendation to encourage restoring the administration and public services in the Kurdish regions of Syria, and calls urgently for help to be provided for the reconstruction of Kobane;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the need for the Iraqi Government to continue to promote the sharing of political responsibilities, power and oil profits, encompassing all religious and ethnic communities in that country; calls for this to be made an essential condition for implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Iraq; calls on the EU to contribute to capacity building by the Iraqi Government; expresses concern with the growing political and military clout of pro-government Shiite militias accused of committing war crimes; emphasizes that the central government's reliance on such groups is incompatible with access to European support and funding;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Stresses the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict in Libya and the need that the EU reconsider the shortcomings and errors in strategy implemented in Libya; condemns the intervention carried out by NATO in which some EU members countries participated actively;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Reiterates its call on Morocco and the Polisario Front to press ahead with talks aimed at finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict, points out that the conflict is a major obstacle to integration and cooperation in the region, meaning that it is absolutely vital and urgent to complete the decolonisation process in the Non- Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara in line with international law and to put an end to the Moroccan occupation once and for all;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Regrets the circumstances in which the Sahrawi people find themselves, having been forced to live under Moroccan occupation or in exile in refugee camps for almost 40 years following Morocco’s invasion of the former Spanish colony; points out that there are more than 80 000 Moroccan troops and millions of mines along the 2 000 km-plus wall that divides the territories of Western Sahara from north to south, and deplores the fact that, more than 20 years after the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and the establishment of MINURSO (the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), the referendum has still not taken place, thanks to the intransigence of Morocco and the accompanying complicity and passivity of the international community and the European Union;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to continue to encourage democratic reforms within the EU neighbouring countries; stresses the importance of maintaining the ‘two- thirds/one third’ principle for the allocation of ENP funding; calls on the Commission, the EEAS, the Council and the Member States to develop a political and strategic ENP dimension; welcomes the launch by the HR/VP and the Commission of broad consonsiders that the EU should drastically revise its external policy, in particular its strategy as regards the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as part of the ongoing European Neighbourhood Policy review, in the light of its failure; calls for the EU to establish a new framework of relations with those countries and regions based on non- intervention in their internal affairs, respect for their sovereignty and defence of human rights, and aimed at supporting understanding, the development of neighbouring regions and promoting employment and education, rather than ‘association agreements’ serving mainly to establish free trade areas that benefit corporate interests on the European side and multination ~~on ENP renew~~als;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Stresses the importance of refugee protection policies as a critical tool for the promotion of democratic values; regrets the unwillingness of certain European states to enact inclusive policies; calls for the EU to develop a robust refugee protection policy;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Regrets that conditionalities as well as a minimum one-year period isare necessary for the release of macro-financial assistance to countries in a very precarious financial situation; urges the European Union to mobilise or redirect funding very promptly and free of conditions; calls on Arab donors to coordinate aid within the LAS and, as far as possible, together with the European Union;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2229(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Pablo IGLESIAS, Sabine LÖSING, Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Calls on the EU to develop partnerships with countries in the region that are not direct neighbours; supports the ~~conclusion of a convention to establish a free-trade area between the EU and GCC and the~~ resumption of negotiations for a new joint action programme with the GCC;

2015/04/17
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Believes that the United States is the EU's key strategic partner~~Regrets the subordinate role to United States’ foreign affairs policies that the EU plays; stresses that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is the most significant recent EU-US project and will ~~reinvigorate the transatlantic partnership as a whole, beyond its trade aspects; emphasises that its successful conclusion is of high geopolitical importance at a moment whe~~ensure the US hegemonic power in decline in the current multilateral context and will consolidate the EU geopolitical subordination theo US i~~s pivoting to Asia and concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership; underlines that the TTIP will have a positive impact on jobs and growth for the two economies, which have both been hit by the crisis~~nterests, beyond its trade aspects; underlines that the TTIP will benefit mainly big transnational corporations and will have a negative environmental, economic and social impact for workers and peoples in the EU and the US, which have both been hit by the systemic crisis, and also on the rest of the world;

2015/03/02
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the EU agricultural sector is a very sensitive and essential part of the TTIP negotiations and one in which the EU, which already enjoys a significant trade surplus with the US, stands to benefit greatly from new or increased market access opportunitiere are strong trade links between the EU and the US and taking into account the consequences of the CAP in the employment and the rural areas, it is necessary to build new trade links even in the absence of a TTIP Agreement; however, the EU agricultural and food sector is a very sensitive part of the TTIP negotiations;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas ~~it is important for Europe~~the need to get out of the commercial and agricultur~~e to secure a mutually beneficial trade deal with the US in order to advance Europe’s position as a key player on the global market~~al export policy is important for European agriculture;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas respect for food safety and human and animal health standards will be a fundamental tenet of the ~~negoti~~trade relations for European agriculture;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Pablo IGLESIAS, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that the conclusion of the TTIP ~~creates the prospect of a broad economic space, which would include third countries with which the EU and the US have close trade and economic relations~~will be a significant attempt to impose a global model of free trade and investments; calls on the EU and the US to immediately suspend the current negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; is convinced that they should henceforth focus their trade policy on ensuring that multilateral trade relations at all levels are sustainable and equitable;

2015/03/02
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas practices such as the treatment of poultry meat with chlorinated products, the treatment of pork meat with organic acid and the use of Somatotropin in bovine are commonly used in the meat and dairy sectors in the US;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the use of antibiotics in the EU is more restrictive than in the US and the US has not banned other pharmaceutical products as growth promoters in animals including the use of ractopanima, banned in 160 countries;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas there is a majority both in the European Parliament and amongst EU citizens which demands a prohibition of products from cloned animals and their descendants;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Pablo IGLESIAS, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Is convinced that one of the main aims of the TTIP is to reinforce corporation powers over international and national law; underlines the need to dismantle the excessive power held by the transnational corporations; in this sense calls for a binding international code for corporations that obligates them to respect human rights;

2015/03/02
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas the EU animal welfare standards have no equivalence in the US;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)

Ce. having regard to the use and approval of new GMOs in the US and its use for animal and human consumption;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Pablo IGLESIAS, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the EU's energy supply largely depends on foreign sources; ~~emphasises the considerable contribution the TTIP could make to the EU's energy supply diversification and to its energy security by, inter alia, lifting licensing requirements for US~~considers that the conclusion of the TTIP narrows the access of the European Union to its more reliable and natural energy suppliers; is highly concerned about the environmental consequences of the TTIP related to the expansion of fracking, offshore oil drilling and gas explortsation;

2015/03/02
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas there are many sensitivities and problems with products in the US’s market defaulting protected geographical indications including port wine;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS

Draft opinion
Recital C g (new)

Cg. considering that each year in the United States of America, an estimated 9 million people get sick, 55,000 are hospitalized, and 1,000 die of foodborne disease caused by known pathogens, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157), Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), and Campylobacter as outlines in the report ‘Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157), Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), and Campylobacter using Outbreak Surveillance Data’ by the Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC);

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK, Anja HAZEKAMP

Draft opinion
Recital C h (new)

Ch. whereas existing agreements between the US and the EU, particularly those relating to the recognition by the United States of winemaking practices, recognition of geographical indications for this sector, agreements related to sanitary measures for the protection of public and animal health have not solved today divergent conception of risk analysis;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Stefan ECK, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital C i (new)

Ci. whereas the import of products which fail to meet EU standards on animal welfare, food safety, human and animal health, put farmers, consumers and animals in the EU at a disadvantage;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital C j (new)

Cj. whereas the survival of small and medium-sized farms cannot be abandoned to the volatility of prices in the international markets;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Pablo IGLESIAS

Draft opinion
Recital C k (new)

Ck. whereas the approval of TTIP would lead us to a situation of weakening of the European legislation to permit the use of carcinogens and other substances of very high concern as pesticides, posing a health hazard to workers, consumers and communities, as well as weaken, slow or stop efforts to regulate endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C l (new)

Cl. whereas the approval of TTIP would obstruct efforts to save bee populations, risking irrevocable damage to the quality and quantity of our food supply;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Miguel VIEGAS, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Recital C m (new)

Cm. whereas the approval of TTIP would install a ‘regulatory ceiling’ hampering global pesticide regulation.

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a

a. prioritise an ambitious and balanced result of the negotiations for agriculture, the three main components of which (market access, geographical indications and sanitary and phytosanitary measures) should be tackled early and in parallel reorientation of trade and agricultural policy by removing the ~~negotiation process, in order to give Parliament enough time to discuss and evaluate this chapter with stakeholders and European citize~~agriculture and food out of the negotiations;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Pablo IGLESIAS, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Jean-Luc MÉLENCHON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcom~~Deplores the ~~fact that the Commission is taking steps aiming to improve the transparency of the~~secrecy and lack of transparency of the Commission during the TTIP negotiations.

2015/03/02
Committee: AFET

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b

b. firmly commit to the strict preservation of standards on food safety ~~and~~, human and animal health and animal welfare, as defined under EU legislation, and ensure that fundamental values of the EU such as the precautionary principle ~~are not undermin~~, the recognition of animals as sentient beings as enshrined in Article 13 TFEU, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union are not undermined and will be respected;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

ba. prevent products that have not been produced in line with EU food safety, human and animal health, and animal welfare standards from entering the EU-market;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point b b (new)

bb. prevent any interference of non- democratic or non-EU bodies in or prior to the democratic decision making process in the EU regarding any future SPS- measures that might be considered;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point c

c. ensure a positive final outcome of the negotiations for agriculture reflecting both the offensive and defensive interests of the EU agricultural sector concerning the abolition or reduction of both tariff and non-tariff barriers, including in particular sanitary and phytosanitary standards andthat trade relations between the EU and the US do not put access to land for feeding local populations at risk; prevent products coming to market with proice~~dures, so that EU producers make genuine gains~~ s below costs of production, including t~~erms of access to the US market~~he correct remuneration of the producers;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point d

d. ~~sec~~ensure a level playing field, treating as sensitive those products for which direct competition would expose EU agricultural producers to excessive pressure, for example in cases where regulatory conditions and related costs of production in the EU diverge from those in the USthat the precautionary principle is not called into question, as this means the defence of quality standards and food safety demanded by European consumers, and serves as an added value that ensure the maintenance of public health;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e

e. secure ~~significantly improved~~the protection of EU geographical indications and better consumer information as an essential element of a balanced agreement~~, taking the relevant chapter of the CETA with Canada as a good example~~;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

ea. not question the aspects relating to the establishment of standards of European public procurement law, as applied in practice, especially at regional and local level, when you take into account, for example, compliance labour and social legislation and collective agreements, GPP, local hiring and prioritize local development, or attention to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which ensures that, when awarding the contract to the highest bidder, you can weigh in addition to price, other criteria such as social aspects related to sustainability;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f

f. en~~gage in a fully transparent, timely and comprehensive manner with all agricultural stakeholders on all aspects of the negotiations.~~sure the application of the Lisbon Treaty Article 218.10 (TFEU) which says that the European Parliament shall be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

fa. ensure that products such as GMOs or coming from cloned animals and their descendants, and with substances banned in the EU do no enter the EU market or end up in the EU food chain;

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2228(INI)

Matt CARTHY, Luke Ming FLANAGAN, Anja HAZEKAMP, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miguel VIEGAS, Stefan ECK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point f b (new)

fb. remove regulatory cooperation and any investor-state dispute settlement body (ISDS) as these defy EU standards on animal welfare, food safety, public and animal health, transparency, accountability and traceability.

2015/03/03
Committee: AGRI

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on all the EU institutions and Member States to place human rights at the centre of the EU’s relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners and in all high-level statements and meetings, as well as association agreements; emphasises the importance of effective, consistent and coherent implementation of the EU’s human rights policy, in line with the clear obligations laid down in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and in the EU Strategic Framework on human rights and democracy; commends the new Vice- President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) for openly stating her forthright commitment to the implementation of these principles;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses the importance for the EU Member States of speaking with one voice in support of the indivisibility, inviolability and universality of human rights and, in particular, of ratifying all the international human rights instruments established by the UN; calls on the EU to uphold the indivisibility and inviolability of human rights, including those enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in conformity with Article 21 TEU; calls for the EU to further promote universal human rights standards as the basis for its engagement among the Member States and with third countries and regional organisations, in both political and human rights dialogues;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Strongly supports the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; recalls the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stresses the need to include corporate accountability, including in business operations outside the EU, and ensuring its respect along the whole supply chain; is convinced that European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors should play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of international standards on business and human rights worldwide;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Calls on the EU to support the emerging initiatives aimed at concluding a legally binding international instrument on business and human rights within the UN system, including an accountability mechanism, and to engage from early on in the debate on this issue;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

54. Condemns all violence and discrimination on the basis of ideology, religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious minorities around the world; stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, is a fundamental human right, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one’s choice;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of abuse and acts of violence against women~~, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence~~; calls on all Council of Europe member states, accordingly, to sign and ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women; calls on the EU as such to take steps to accede to the Convention in order to ensure coherence between EU internal and external action on violence against women;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that, under Article 208 TFEU, the primary objective of EU development cooperation is to reduce and eradicate poverty; highlights the fact that development cooperation must be guided by that objective and not by geostrategic or economic interests; refuses to accept that development cooperation should be subordinate to external and security policy; opposes the use of EU instruments to pressure partner governments and local authorities to take measures in favour of multinational and EU-companies which are not in the interest of the sustainable development of the partner countries;

2015/05/07
Committee: AFET

2014/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that direct jobs in Multi- National Companies (MNC) accounts for only 3.4 percent of global employment in year 2000 and their role for job creation is often overstated; notes that domestic micro and small enterprises accounts for the bulk of employment in developing countries; deplores that export subsidies for agricultural products and free trade agreements like EPAs seriously harm the development of the domestic private sector; demands to allow developing countries to protect their domestic markets and for the abolishment of export subsidies in EU regulations;

2015/05/07
Committee: AFET

2014/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Is dismayed that because of public procurement contract awards and debt servicing, inter alia, 61 % of official development assistance goes back to donor countries1 ; calls for an increase in real aid and for sustainable building of regional/local value chains; __________________ 1 ActionAid (2005): Real Aid An Agenda for Making Aid Work, p. 4.

2015/05/07
Committee: AFET

2014/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the EU and its Member States to support developing countries in garnering their resources, e.g. through national tax systems, and in combating illicit financial flows and corruption, as a result of which developing countries lose at least € 660-870 billion a year2 ; calls for the ownership principle to be resolutely acted on; calls for effective international rules against tax avoidance and evasion; ~~__________________ 2 Eurodad~~urges the EU Commission to make the interests of developing countries a priority i.e. in the "Action Plan on efforts to combat tax evasion and tax fraud" e.g. in impeding effectively tax avoidance and tax frauds by EU-companies in developing countries; __________________ 2 Eurodad: Giving with one hand and taking with the other - Europe's role in tax-related capital flight from developing countries, p.6.

2015/05/07
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) Given the different characteristics of capital punishment, on the one hand, and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on the other, it is appropriate to establish a specific export licensing system with a view to preventing the use of certain goods for capital punishment. Such a system should take into account the fact that a number of countries have abolished capital punishment for all crimes and have made an international commitment on this issue. As there is a risk of re-export to countries that have not done so, certain conditions and requirements should be imposed and guaranteed when authorising exports to countries that have abolished capital punishment. It is, therefore, appropriate to grant a general export authorisation for exports to those countries that have abolished capital punishment for all crimes and confirmed it with an international commitment.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) If a country has not abolished capital punishment in this way, the competent authorities should, when examining a request for an export authorisation, check whether there is a risk that the end-user in the country of destination would use the exported goods for such punishment. Appropriate conditions and requirements should be imposed to control sales or transfers to third parties by the end-user. If multiple shipments between the same exporter and end-user take place, the competent authorities should be allowed to review the status of the end-user on a periodic basis, e.g. every six months, rather than every time an authorisation is granted, without prejudice to their right to annul, suspend, modify or revoke an export authorisation in accordance with Article 9(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 where warranted. In the case of countries that have not abolished capital punishment and that have signed association agreements with the European Union, the Union authorities should review those agreements in the light of the requirement agreed to by the parties that human rights be respected.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) Granting a global authorisation would also be appropriate where a manufacturer needs to export medicinal products controlled by Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 to a distributor in a country that has not abolished capital punishment, ~~provided~~solely when both the exporter and the distributor have concluded a legally binding agreement requiring the distributor to apply a~~n appropriate~~ set of measures ensuring that the medicinal products will not be used for capital punishment in a direct or indirect manner.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)

(11a) The European Union code of conduct on arms exports stipulates that Member States will not export arms that might be used for internal repression, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) It is appropriate to make it compulsory for customs authorities to share ~~certain~~ information with other customs authorities and, when they detect prohibited exports or imports of goods or exports of goods for which the required authorisation has not been granted, to inform the relevant authorities with a view to imposing penalties on the economic operator that committed the infringement.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 2 – point a

(a) “torture' means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from that person or from a third person information or a confession, punishing that person for an act that either that person or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing that person or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted either by or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not, however, include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful penalties, but includes pain or suffering caused by the cumulative effects of deficiencies of the conditions of detention, such as cramped conditions of accommodation, lack of hygiene, isolation, threats, humiliation or of medical care and assistance, denial of contacts with the outside world, or an impoverished detention regime, irrespective of any specific or positive intention to inflict pain or suffering by those who are in charge of the prison or the other place of detention, even if a natural person is deprived of his liberty in accordance with the law. Capital punishment is not deemed a lawful penalty under any circumstances;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 2 – point b

(b) ”other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment' means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is inflicted on a person, when such pain or suffering is inflicted either by or at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not, however, include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful penalties, but includes pain or suffering caused by the cumulative effects of deficiencies of the conditions of detention, such as cramped conditions of accommodation, lack of hygiene or of medical care and assistance, denial of contacts with the outside world, isolation, threats, humiliation or an impoverished detention regime, irrespective of any specific or positive intention to inflict pain or suffering by those who are in charge of the prison or other place of detention, even if a natural person is deprived of his liberty in accordance with the law. Capital punishment is not deemed a lawful penalty under any circumstances;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 2 – point k – subparagraph 2

For the purposes of this Regulation the sole provision of ancillary services is exincluded ~~from~~in this definition. Ancillary services are transportation, financial services, insurance or re-insurance, or general advertising or promotion;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 2 – point 1

(l) “"broker' means any natural or legal person or partnership resident or established in a Member State o~~f the Union~~r a national of a Member State that carries out services defined under point (k) ~~from the Union into the territory of a third country~~;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 2 – point m

(m) ”supplier of technical assistance' means any natural or legal person or partnership resident or established in a Member State of the Union that supplies technical assistance defined under point (f) ~~from the Union into the territory of a third country~~;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

For any export of goods listed in Annex III, an authorisation shall be required, irrespective of the origin of such goods. ~~However, no~~A transit authorisation shall also be required for goods which only pass through the customs territory of the Union, namely those which are not assigned a customs approved treatment or use other than the external transit procedure under Article 91 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, including storage of non-Union goods in a free zone of control type I or a free warehouselisted in Annex III, even for goods that are in transit through the customs territory of the Union.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 7b – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

An authorisation shall be required for any export of goods listed in Annex IIIa, irrespective of the origin of such goods. ~~However, no~~A transit authorisation is~~hall be~~ required for goods which only pass through the customs territory of the Union, namely those which are not assigned a customs approved treatment or use other than the external transit procedure under Article 91 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, including storage of non-Union goods in a free zone of control type I or a free warehouse.;

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 7c – paragraph 3.1

3.1. If the manufacturer of a medicinal product containing any active substance listed in Annex IIIa requests an authorisation for exporting such product to a distributor in a third country, the competent authority shall make an assessment of the contractual arrangements made by the exporter and the distributor and the measures that they, as well as potential end-users, namely authorities, are taking to ensure that the medicinal products will not be used for capital punishment.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 7d – paragraph 3.2

3.2. If an authorisation is requested for exporting goods listed in Annex IIIa to an end-user in a third country, the competent authority shall assess the risk of diversion taking into account the contractual arrangements that apply and the end-use statement signed by the end-user, if such a statement is provided. If no end-use statement is provided, it shall be up to the exporter to demonstrate who will be the end-user and what use will be made of the goods. If the exporter fails to provide sufficient information to assess the risk of diversion, the competent authority is~~hall be~~ deemed to have reasonable grounds for believing that the goods might be used for capital punishment and hence will automatically decline the authorisation request.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 7d – paragraph 2

2. A supplier of technical assistance shall be prohibited from supplying to any person, entity or body in a third country technical assistance in relation to goods listed in Annex IIIa, irrespective of the origin of such goods, if the supplier of technical assistance knows or has grounds for suspecting that some or all of the relevant goods are or may be intended to be used for capital punishment in a country that does not belong to the customs territory of the Union. Additionally, the supplier of technical assistance is prohibited from giving instructions, advice, training, or transmitting knowledge and/or skills that could aid judicial executions.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2014/0005(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8

Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005
Article 8 – paragraph 5

5. Applicants shall supply the competent authorities with all relevant information required for their applications for an individual or global export authorisation or for an individual import authorisation so that the competent authorities have complete information in particular on the end-user, the country of destination and the end-use of the goods. The authorisation mayust be subject to an end-use statement~~, if appropriate~~.

2015/06/15
Committee: AFET

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) The free movement of safe and wholesome food is an essential aspect ~~of the internal market~~ and contributes significantly to the health and well-being of citizens, as well as benefitting their social and economic interests. Differences between national laws concerning the safety assessment and authorisation of novel foods may hinder the free movement of such food, thereby creating unfair conditions of competition.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) The right to produce and consume healthy food that is free of pesticides, GMOs, hormones and antibiotics that may pose a risk to human and animal health or to the environment is part of the fight for food sovereignty and a fundamental human right.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) A high level of protection of human health and of consumers’ interests ~~and the effective functioning of the internal market~~ should be assured in the pursuit of Union food policies, ~~whilst ensuring transparency~~and these should be given priority over the interests of the internal market.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) Emerging technologies in food production processes may have an impact on food and thereby on food safety. Therefore, it should also be clarified that a food should be considered as a novel food where a production process which was not previously used for food production in the Union is applied to that food or when foods contain or consist of engineered nanomaterials, as defined in Article 2(2)(t) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council16. It must be clear that if a food is changed by a new production process such as nanotechnology or nanoscience (about which not enough is known to carry out a risk assessment), that food must only be placed on the market if it has been assessed as safe by means of a valid risk assessment. __________________ 16 Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive 1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directive 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC No 608/2004 (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 18).

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) Implementing powers should be conferred to the Commission to decide whether a particular food falls within the definition of a novel food and is thereby subject to rules on novel food laid down in this Regulation.deleted

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) The determination of whether a food was used for human consumption to a significant degree within the Union before 15 May 1997 should be based on information submitted by food business operators and, where appropriate, supported by other information available in the Member States. Food business operators should consult Member States ~~if they are unsure of~~about the status of the food they intend to place on the market. When there is no information or insufficient information available on human consumption before 15 May 1997, a simple and transparent procedure, involving the Commission, the Member States and food business operators, should be established for collecting such information. Implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to specify the procedural steps of such consultation process.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a (new)

(16a) Ethical and environmental aspects must be considered as part of the risk assessment during the authorisation procedure. Those aspects should be assessed by the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies and the European Environment Agency respectively.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)

(21a) Foods produced with engineered nanomaterials or nanomaterials for use in food subject to testing methods by the Commission should not be included in the Union list until they have been assessed and certified as food that is healthy and safe to eat.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

1. This Regulation lays down rules for the placing of novel foods on the market within the Union in order to ensure ~~the effective functioning of the internal market while providing a high level of protection of human health and consumer interests~~a high level of human and animal health protection, and also protects the social and economic interests of consumers. At the same time, national differences relating to assessment of the safety of novel foods and their authorisation may not only constitute an obstacle to the free movement of these products, thus giving rise to unfair competition, but also pose a risk to human and animal health.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2

2. Food business operators shall in any event consult a Member State ~~where they are unsure~~to ascertain whether ~~or not a~~the food which they intend to place on the market within the Union falls within the scope of this Regulation. Consumer and user organisations shall be informed. In that case, food business operators shall provide the necessary information to the Member State on request to enable it to determine in particular the extent to which the food in question was used for human consumption within the Union before 15 May 1997.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)

(aa) it is a healthy food that is free of pesticides, GMOs, hormones and antibiotics that may pose a risk to health or the environment;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) where it is produced in a Member State, it must not have an impact on the environment; the opinion of the European Environment Agency concerning the extent to which the production process and normal consumption have a harmful impact on the environment must always be taken into account in the assessment.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. The Commission shall authorise a novel food and update the Union list in accordance with the rules laid down in: this Regulation.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a

~~(a) Articles 9, 10 and 11 and, where applicable, in accordance with Article 25 or~~deleted

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b

~~(b) Articles 13 to 18.~~deleted

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point c

(c) additional specific labelling requirements to inform the final consumer of any specific characteristic or food property, such as the composition, type of production, nutritional value or nutritional effects and intended use of the food, which renders a novel food no longer equivalent to an existing food or of implications for the health of specific groups of the population;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)

(da) a reference to the source country/country of origin.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b

(b) the ~~composi~~designation of the ~~novel foo~~food, and its specification, including the production process used;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b a (new)

(ba) the production method;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point c

(c) conclusive scientific evidence produced by independent bodies demonstrating that the novel food does not pose a safety risk to human health or the environment;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point c a (new)

(ca) an analysis, supported by appropriate information and data, showing that the characteristics of the food are not different from those of its conventional counterpart, having regard to the accepted limits of natural variations for such characteristics;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point d

(d) where app~~licabl~~ropriate, a proposal for ~~the c~~post- market mondit~~ions of use and a proposal for specific labelling requirements which do not mislead the~~oring regarding use of the food for human consum~~er.~~ption;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point d a (new)

(da) particulars concerning the physical and chemical properties of the novel food or the novel food ingredient.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2

2. The Commission ~~may~~shall request EFSA to render its opinion if the update is liable to have an effect on human health.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

~~Where applicable, i~~It shall take account of the views of Member States, the EFSA's opinion and any other legitimate factors relevant to the update under consideration.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point a

(a) the name and a description of the traditional food; the potential for allergenicity of the novel food and metabolism/toxicokinetic studies on the novel food ingredient;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

(ba) the production method;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point e

(e) where app~~licable, the conditions of use and specific labelling requirements, which do not mislead the~~ropriate, a proposal for post- market monitoring regarding use of the food for human consum~~er.~~ption;

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0435(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)

(ea) the method of preparation and specifications of a novel food ingredient.

2014/10/14
Committee: AGRI

2013/0420(NLE)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Sabine LÖSING, Pablo IGLESIAS, Miloslav RANSDORF, Helmut SCHOLZ, Sofia SAKORAFA

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1

1. GDeclines to gives its consent to conclusion of the Protocol;

2015/04/01
Committee: AFET

2013/0250(NLE)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to recommend that Parliament decline to give its consent to the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union of the Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record data.

2014/11/13
Committee: AFET

2013/0151A(NLE)