Activities of Georgios EPITIDEIOS related to 2015/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (A8-0286/2016 - Richard Howitt) EL
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (debate) EL
Amendments (10)
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the importance of developing the parliamentary dimension of EU-Iran relations as part of the strategy for re-establishing mutual trust; reiterates its support, in this regard, for the proposal discussed between Parliament and the Majlis for an inter-parliamentary dialogue on counter-terrorism; welcomes the renewed political dialogue between the EU and Iran, including on human rights; recognises that while there is suspicion and mistrust on both sides, there is also a long history between many Member States and Iran and that Iran has a strong ambition to have good relations with Europe, which provides the potential for a relationship based on mutual trust and respect; reiterates that the EU does not seek to interfere in internal political choices in this country or in any other, but seeks cooperation based on mutual respect for international standards and principles and on the values on which the State structure of the country is based; believes that the full normalisation of relations can only occur by means of regular and sustained dialogue and that the immediate priority should be to broaden the scope of EU-Iran relations in areas where there is common agreement to do so; believes, however, that the ultimate aim must be one of partnership between Iran and the EU; in order to achieve this goal, political expediency must be excluded together with the influence of non-signatory countries;.
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that differences exist between the EU and Iran on the use of the death penalty; nevertheless believes cooperation on anti-narcotics programmes and on the question of juvenile executions, in line with Iran’s own commitments, could provide a common agenda for addressing this question; this development will help to increase the acceptance of Iran by European public opinion and reduce the reluctance to upgrade trade relations with the EU;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that energy cooperation can play a significant role in diversifying the sources of energy supply to the EU, thereby contributing to the EU’s energy securitand limiting its dependence on one energy supplier only;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note that currently more than half of Iranian households’ energy needs are met by natural gas; stresses the great potential of developing renewable energies in Iran, a country with on average 300 days of sunshine per year, and an estimated production capacity equivalent to 13 times Iran’s total energy consumption; in the sector in question, the EU contribution in terms of its resources, experience and technology will be very significant;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of the fact that Iran hosts 3 million Afghan refugees; welcomes the additional EUR 6.5 million of EU funding to support Iran in the education and health care of the Afghan population in the country; believes thatBelieves that, in accordance with the principles of international law, EU- Iran cooperation on refugee management can enhance mutual understanding, promote improved respect for international law and the lives of refugees themselves, as well as contributingcontribute to conflict resolution in order to reduce the causes of current and future refugee movements;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises that the young, educated and technologically advanced population in Iran can provide particular opportunities for advancing people-to- people contacts with the EU; calls for increased cooperation in the field of education, research and innovation via increased exchanges of students and researchers; calls for the Commission to study the possibility of visa liberalisationprivileged mobility for Iranian academics and researchers following strict controls on the conditions required for granting this privilege with the objective goal in future of liberalising the visa regime for them to study and undergo training in European universities;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes note that because of its geostrategic location, the size of its population, its oil and natural gas reserves and its influence in the region, Iran is a major playerfactor for stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region; stresses that the pursuit of Iranian interests does not and should not be in competition with other major players in the region;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that regional rivalries are an underlying factor in conflicts in several countries in the region; calls for active EU diplomacy to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Riyadh, including confidence building, track II diplomacy and de- escalation measures in the normalisation of their relations; calls on the EU to work with the US and Russia to that end and, in particular, in supporting the development of a new regional security infrastructure that takes into account Iran and Saudi Arabia’s threat perceptions and legitimate security concerns and provides security guarantees both to Iran and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council; stresses that cooperation on maritime security in the Persian Gulf, including the signing of a charter on free navigation, could be a first confidence-building measure in developing regional trust and cooperation;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that Iran’s revolutionary legacy and its constitution as an Islamic State must notay be an impediment for finding common ground on matters related to democracy or human rights; For this reason, Iran's cooperation with the EU on the issues in question will increase its prestige of the international community and dispel any reservations;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the fact that the adoption of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code and Iran’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits child executions and allows all juvenile offenders sentenced to death prior to 2013 to seek retrial; calls on Iran to ensure this prohibition is fully implemented and that all relevant offenders are made aware of this right; calls on Iran to declare a moratorium on the death penalty, at least for juvenile offenders and then, after having made the necessary legislative arrangements, to abolish the death penalty for minors;