Activities of Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f

(f) to reflect on the crisis in Libya in a wider, regional and pan-African context, bearing in mind that Libya is key to the stability of North Africa and the Sahel; to consider, as part of this reflection, the impact of the situation in Libya on the dynamics and challenges with which the EU is confronted; to develop a comprehensive policy towards Libya which takes into account the regional and pan-African perspective and encompasses development policies, migration policies, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the fight against slavery and exploitation, security, the fight against terrorism and countering violent extremism; to ensure that this policy is backed by adequate and sufficient funding for its implementation in order to yield concrete results;

2018/03/08
Committee: AFET

2018/2017(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g

(g) to ensure that EU funds are effectively deployed in projects that help the Libyan population and civil society and that adequate support is provided to municipalities in their provision of essential services and in building local governance, so as to ensure basic living standards for the population; to ensure coordination between central authorities and local municipalities in order to identify the priorities to invest in; to promote projects that foster locally embedded dialogue and conflict-resolution mechanisms, involving young people and women in particular; to ensure the money under the EU Emergency Trust Fund is only granted when accompanied by a sound analysis of local authorities and recipients and that monitoring mechanisms are set up to ensure this is carried out;

2018/03/08
Committee: AFET

2018/2017(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k

(k) to investigate thoroughly the allegations about abuses and inhuman treatment of migrants and refugees in Libya by criminal groups, as well as allegations of slavery; to devise initiatives to prevent any such incidents from occurring in the future and to close as soon as possible those facilities which are found not to be in line with international standards; to ensure that migrants are treated in a manner accordant with the relevant international human rights instruments and to allocate the necessary funding from the EU budget; to ensure that the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in Libya is actively contributing to developing the capacities of the Libyan authorities, notably the Libyan Coast Guard, in line with the highest standards of international law;

2018/03/08
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the increasing importance ~~of political, security and economic relations between the EU and Africa at a time when both are experiencing profound changes, and recognises~~, at a time when both the EU and Africa are experiencing profound changes, of once more basing political, security and economic relations between them on the goals of peace, mutual development, independence and sovereignty of African countries and respect for human rights, emphasising especially the rights of refugees and migrants, and regrets that the contribution made by the Joint Africa- EU Strategy ~~to building a stronger partnership over the past 10 years~~over the past 10 years has more often favoured the neo-colonial interests of certain Member States or multinational corporations at the expense of the people;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger, more egalitarian and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on ~~shared values and interests~~mutual development, in order to tackle global issues such as c~~limate change, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong~~ombating poverty, peace, attainment of the UN’s development goals (SDGs) and climate change, and to promote a relationship based on the inalienable right of people to choose their own economic, political and social system without outside interference of any kind and on respect for international law and the UN;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reformdevelopment; is opposed to any funding of militia or armies through EU funds; rejects the wars and warmongering operations embarked upon or supported by the EU, some of its Member States or NATO in recent years, which have only served to destabilise the countries concerned even more; believes that the partnership with Africa has to be based strictly on development goals, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education; and health;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on ~~security~~development must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for a more strategic, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimensioninternational law, equality of both parties, the sovereignty of countries, freedom of the people and promoting human rights and the rule of law;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that with regard to the new EU-Africa Strategy, the activities of EU companies operating in African countries shall be entirely consistent with international human rights standards; 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 which apply to them when moving to, or doing business in, a third country; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the requisite action against EU companies which do not comply with those standards or which do not properly compensate victims of human rights violations falling directly or indirectly under their responsibility; stresses the importance of more work being done within the context of the United Nations on devising legal instruments on multinational companies that do not respect human rights;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management.deleted

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Highlights the fact that the level of public debt and debt servicing of some African countries is clearly unsustainable and severely restricts investment, growth and the state’s capacity to properly finance its social functions such as health, education and social security; calls on the African countries to set up an audit of their debts in order to determine the illegitimate and odious parts thereof and cancel them in line with the UN recommendations and initiatives such as the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI); calls for a new framework for cooperation between the EU and Africa that is genuinely capable of promoting the sovereign development of African countries; calls on the EU Member States to initiate and support a process of debt relief in accordance with the above- mentioned UN initiatives in the most indebted countries, thereby promoting economic and social development;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Deplores the fact that many EU Member States have not met the target of earmarking 0.7 % of GNI for development aid and that some have lowered the percentage that they spend on such aid; calls on the EU Member States to comply with the commitment to provide 0.7 % of GNI as ODA and to adopt a clear plan for how and when they will achieve this goal; stresses that this goal has to be a focal point in the new EU-Africa Strategy; stresses that development aid should be given in the form of grants, not loans, so that the debt burden is not made heavier;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Emphasises the importance of safeguarding the self-determination of the peoples of the African countries and the sovereignty of their countries; emphasises, in particular, that aid and the EU’s new Africa strategy shall not be tied to priorities chosen by the donors, apart from respect for the International Bill of Human Rights, and shall not, above all, be tied in to controlling flows of migrants and refugees; deplores, therefore, the EU’s push for ‘migration compacts’ and its attempts to outsource border control;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2083(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Reiterates that food and water sovereignty, including the right of farmers to produce food for their people, shall be a key priority under the new EU-Africa Strategy, ending land grabbing and ensuring farmers have access to land, seeds and water; reiterates as a further priority the development of health and education sectors as public services, including universal health coverage;

2017/07/26
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that the ~~EU is faced with multiple challenges that affect global stability and that can only be tackled with long-term and holistic ext~~disparities between countries and regions in the EU have increased, leaving periphernal ~~actions; recalls the ambition of EU leaders as expressed in the Rome Declaration to strive towards a Union that is ‘big on big issues and small on small ones’~~countries caught in an austerity trap with low levels of investment and increasing indebtedness; calls for the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) to ~~make this a reality by~~strengthen cohesion and substa~~ntially increasing external action appropriations (Heading 4), thereby making common foreign policy a core EU function~~inable growth based on contributory solidarity and promoting harmonious and inclusive development; calls for this to be a priority for the EU Member States;

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Takes the view that the foreign policy is the exclusive competence of each Member State; stresses that the principles of national independence, respect for human rights, the rights of peoples, equality between States, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, non- interference in the internal affairs of other States and cooperation with all other peoples for the empowerment and advancement of humankind must form the basis for international relations in each Member State;

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights that ~~increased funding is needed for an effective European response to modern challenges and to tackl~~the EU Global Strategy and European Neighbourhood policy are promoting external interventionism, militarism and the Ecur~~ope’s new priorities, which are reflected in~~ rent preoccupation with security in the EU, remaining in line withe EU ~~Global Strategy and the renewed European Neighbourhood policy, including development aid, human rights violations, bad governance, security threats and armed conf~~policies that are curtailing individual rights, freedoms guarantees; rejects therefore any type of funding contributing to the strengthening of EU external action, security and defence policties, ~~and natural disasters and climate change as well as the refugee and migratory challenges caused by these issu~~the development of military industry or the limitation of individual rights, freedoms and guarantees;

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls the importance of enhanced flexibility that allows for the mobilisation of additional resources to respond to unforeseen situations; stresses, however, that increased flexibility should not be achieved at the expense of long- term policy objectives; calls for a considerable strengthening of the flexibility mechanisms (‘special instruments’) under the MFF;deleted

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Takes the view that ~~the existing~~current EU Ttrust Ffunds should also prove their added value in their ability to mobilise additional funding; notes that a simple relabeling of existing EU funding for political purposes does not represent increases per se, and creates an additional layer of complexitycontribute to development and solidarity between peoples, and not be instruments promoting and upholding the economic and financial in termests of ~~democratic oversight and budgetary scrutiny; emphasises the need for increased parliamentary scrutiny of activities under EU Trust Funds and the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey~~major multinationals or the political interests of major EU powers;

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Maintains that EU external financing instruments are essential for effective EU external action in particular in the European Neighbourhood (European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI)) and pre-accession countries (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance II); points out that the ENI should take account of the increased emphasis on stabilisation, peace processes, post-crisis reconstruction and resilienmore funding should earmarked for demilitarisation and for conventional and nuclear disarmament programmes; calls on EU Member States to prioritise the defence and promotion of peace;

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2052(INI)

Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of strengthened support for ~~the rule of law, democracy and human rights as a cross- cutting issue in EU instruments in view of ongoing developments in the European Neighbourhood and beyond~~development, cohesion, solidarity and cooperation between States with equal rights; stresses the importance of strengthening support for policies that promote peace and healthy coexistence between peoples, in full compliance with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

2017/12/05
Committee: AFET

2017/2044(BUD)

Sabine LÖSING, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes ~~with concern~~ the Commission proposal for more than a half a billion euro decrease in both commitment and payment appropriations for Heading 4 expenditure (Global Europe); stresses that ~~an ad hoc one-year increase, such as that in 2017, can hardly be considered sufficient in view of the pressing needs for stronger EU external action~~such decrease should not be at the expense of poverty eradication and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, civil conflict solution and mediation, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, arms control, disarmament and the non-proliferation regime or fair trade and should favour balanced economic relations, and humanitarian and development aid;

2017/07/14
Committee: AFET

2017/2044(BUD)

Sabine LÖSING, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcomes the fact that the proposed appropriations for~~Strongly rejects the proposed amendment to the scope of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) ~~return to their pre-2017 levels and are further strengthened in view of new capacity building tasks which should result from the ongoing revision of the IcSP regul~~in order to finance also training and equipment for military; highlights in this context the importance of providing sufficient funds to civilian conflict resolution and prevention and civil measures that contribute to the building of peace, development and poverty eradication;

2017/07/14
Committee: AFET

2017/2044(BUD)

Sabine LÖSING, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the importance of stimulating cooperative defence research in Europe for addressing key capability shortfalls at a time when international developments increasingly require Europe to step up its efforts on defence; fully supports the increased allocation for the Preparatory ActionIs highly concerned about the current proposals subsumed under the European Defence Union, such as cooperative defence research in Europe; rejects the increased allocation to the Preparatory Action on defence research and the use of the EU budget for military implications; recalls the obligation pursuant to Article 41(2) TEU, whereby "expenditure arising from operations having military onr defence ~~research~~implications are not to be charged to the Union budget";

2017/07/14
Committee: AFET

2017/2036(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sofia SAKORAFA, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Miguel VIEGAS, João FERREIRA, Eleonora FORENZA

Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)

Va. whereas, according to Cuban Government estimates, the economic losses suffered by the Cuban people as a result of the economic, trade and financial blockade which the United States has imposed on the country for more than 50 years amount to USD 125 873 million at current prices;

2017/05/11
Committee: AFET

2017/2036(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sofia SAKORAFA, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Miguel VIEGAS, João FERREIRA, Eleonora FORENZA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Affirms the European Parliament’s aspiration to see relations between the EU and Cuba develop to the greatest possible extent, with full respect for the independence, equality and autonomy of the parties;

2017/05/11
Committee: AFET

2017/2036(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sofia SAKORAFA, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Miguel VIEGAS, João FERREIRA, Eleonora FORENZA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Reiterates the need to respect the inalienable principle of territorial integrity, and calls on the United States to return the illegally occupied territory of Guantánamo; stresses at the same time the inalienable right of peoples to choose their economic, political and social system without interference of any kind; condemns, therefore, the terrorist acts of destabilisation organised by third countries with the intention of bringing down a government;

2017/05/11
Committee: AFET

2017/2036(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sofia SAKORAFA, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Miguel VIEGAS, João FERREIRA, Eleonora FORENZA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Points out that, with a view to the development of political and economic relations between the EU and Cuba, it would be desirable for any unilateral extraterritorial measures taken by third countries that restrict our counterpart’s full economic activity to be lifted; condemns, similarly, the imposition of extraterritorial sanctions on European undertakings for trading with Cuba;

2017/05/11
Committee: AFET

2017/2036(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sofia SAKORAFA, Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Sabine LÖSING, João PIMENTA LOPES, Miguel VIEGAS, João FERREIRA, Eleonora FORENZA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses that the normalisation process cannot proceed until the economic, trade and financial blockade is lifted, as has been called for since 1992 by the UN General Assembly, which for the 25th consecutive time adopted a resolution to that effect, almost unanimously, with 191 votes out of 193 in favour;

2017/05/11
Committee: AFET

2017/2029(INI)

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Kostadinka KUNEVA, Kostas CHRYSOGONOS, Sofia SAKORAFA, Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls that according to Article 8(2) of the Common Position, all Member States are obliged to report on their arms exports, and calls on all Member States to comply with their obligations; regrets that the number of Member States making full submissions to the EU Annual Report via disaggregated data on licences and actual exports was 21 for the 17th Annual Report and only 20 for the 18th; regrets the fact that the three main arms-exporting Member States, France, Germany and the UK, have not made full submissions and calls on them to comply with their obligations and share information with a view to its inclusion in the next annual report;

2017/06/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

- having regard to Turkey not having implemented for the eleventh consecutive year the provisions stemming from the EC-Turkey Association Agreement and the Additional Protocol thereto; this refusal continues to have a profound negative effect on the negotiation process,

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

- having regard to the fact that the basis for accession to the EU for Turkey is the full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and the EU's integration capacity, in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2006 European Council meeting,

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines, however, that measures taken under the state of emergency had large-scale, disproportionate and long- lasting negative effects on the protection of fundamental freedoms in the country; condemns the collective dismissal of civil servants, the mass liquidation of media outlets, the arrests of journalists, academics, judges, human rights defenders, elected officials and ordinary citizens, and the confiscation of property and passports on the basis of emergency decree laws without individualised decisions, and without the possibility of timely judicial review; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners held without proof of individual involvement in committing crime or without any charges presented against them;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Expresses its serious concern at the continuously deteriorating situation in south-east Turkey, especially in the areas where curfews were imposed, where some 2 000 people were reportedly killed in the context of security operations and an estimated half a million people became displaced in the period from July 2015 to December 2016; notes that local prosecutors have consistently refused to open investigations into the reported killings; recalls that the Turkish Government has a responsibility to protect all people living on its territory, irrespective of their ethnic and cultural origin, religion or beliefs; is convinced that only a fair political settlement of the Kurdish question can bring sustainable stability and prosperity both to the area and to Turkey as a whole; notes that a series of laws have created an atmosphere of ‘systematic impunity’ for the security forces; regrets the decision of the Turkish Parliament to waive the immunity of a large number of MPs unconstitutionally, paving the way for the arrests of opposition politicians;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Kostadinka KUNEVA, Kostas CHRYSOGONOS, Sofia SAKORAFA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Welcomes the deepening of~~Notes that there has not been much progress in the EU- Turkey relations in key areas of joint interest, ~~such as counter-terrorism, migration, energy, the economy and trade; believes EU-Turkey coop~~believes EU- Turkey cooperation in key areas can be an investment in the stability and prosperity of both Turkey and the EU; insists that the Turkish government has to revise in line with Internation ~~in these areas to be an investment in the stability and prosperity of both Turkey and the EU~~al and European Law the legal framework as regards organised crime and terrorism in order to ensure the freedom and fundamental rights, notably the right to fair trial and freedom of expression, of assembly and association in practice;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Kostas CHRYSOGONOS, Sofia SAKORAFA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES, Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Condemns in the strongest terms all terrorist attacks carried out in Turkey, and stands firmly by Turkey’s population in our joint fight against terrorism; welcomes the close bilateral relations between EU Member States and Turkey in the field of anti-terrorism cooperation, including on ‘foreign fighters’; ~~reiterates its condemnation of the return to violence by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been on the EU’s~~stresses that the inclusion of PKK on the EU's list of terrorist organisations is standing in the way of the establishment of peace, dialogue and negotiations, at the same time that facilitates the infringement of human rights; calls therefore on the Council to revise the list and remove the PKK from the list of terrorist organisations ~~since 2002; inv~~; calls on the Turkish authorities t~~he Member States to enforce legislation banning the use of signs and symbols of organisations which are on that list~~o restart talks with PKK leaders for a peaceful solution for the Kurdish question; and to end the confinement of Abdullah Ocalan in prison;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Commends the engagement by the Turkish Government and the hospitality shown by the population in hosting around 3 million refugees; ~~notes~~calls on the EU and the Heads of States and Governments of the EU to revoke the EU-Turkey statement on migration, and urges the Member States to initiate the voluntary resettlement scheme for the most vulnerable refugees in Turkey; calls on the Commission to ensure long-term investment in both refugees and their host communities in Turkey; encourages the Turkish Government to grant work permits to all Syrian refugees; ~~calls on Ankara to keep up its patrolling efforts in the Aegean and to implement fully the bilateral readmission agreements signed with Bulgaria and Greece;~~

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Takis HADJIGEORGIOU, Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Sabine LÖSING, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Kostadinka KUNEVA, Sofia SAKORAFA, Lefteris CHRISTOFOROU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines that a settlement of the Cyprus problem would have a positive impact on the entire region, while first and foremost benefiting both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; praises the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities ~~in Cyprus~~ for having achieved major progress in the settlement talks; welcomes the exchange of preferred maps, thus far unprecedented, and the first ~~international conference~~Conference on Cyprus held with the guarantor powers; supports the settlement based on a bi- communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, a single international legal personality, single sovereignty and single citizenship ~~with political equality between the two communities, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions~~ and on the basis of respect for international law and the principles on which the Union is founded; welcomes the intensified engagement by the parties to achieve the settlement of the Cyprus problem; expects Turkey to show active support for the negotiations, and reiterates that Turkey’s commitment and contribution to a comprehensive settlement remain crucial; praises the important work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), and calls on Turkey to allow access to all relevant sites and ~~to assist the CMP by providing information from its military archive~~military zones for exhumation and to assist the CMP to the discovery of relocated and other remains by providing all relevant information from its military archives; welcomes, in this respect, the appointment of EP standing rapporteur on missing persons;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19 a. Calls on Turkey to immediately withdraw its troops from Cyprus and to transfer Varosha to its lawful inhabitants in accordance with UNSC Resolution 550(1984);

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19 b. Calls on Turkey to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which has been signed and ratified by the EU, the 28 Member States and all other candidate countries and forms part of the acquis in line with December 2015 Council Conclusions and other relevant Council Conclusions; also condemns all the provoking actions of Turkey within the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus which are a source of instability and calls on Turkey to terminate them; it recalls that Ankara must respect the sovereign rights of all EU Member States and to refrain from any action damaging good neighbourly relations while at the same time respecting the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2308(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)

19 c. Deplores Turkey's policy of illegal settlement and calls on Turkey to refrain from further settlement of Turkish citizens in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which is contrary to the Geneva Convention and the principles of international law; urges Turkey to revoke relevant threats and terminate all actions aiming to alter the demographic balance on the island thus impeding a future solution;

2017/05/12
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)

– having regard to the report 'Border Wars: The Arms Dealers Profiting from Europe's Refugee Tragedy' by the Transnational Institute, Centre Delàs d'Estudis per la Pau and Stop Wapenhandel,

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. Whereas the border security market is in rapid expansion, was estimated to be worth EUR 15 billion in 2015 and is predicted to increase in value to over EUR 29 billion per annum in 2022; whereas the European border security industry is dominated by big arms companies, which have expanded or developed their security divisions, and by a group of smaller hi-tech companies specialising in security; whereas the major players on the European border security scene also include arms companies such as Airbus, Finmeccanica, Thales and Safran, as well as the technology giant Indra; and whereas Finmeccanica and Airbus have been the main beneficiaries of European contracts aimed at reinforcing the borders; and whereas Airbus is, moreover, the main beneficiary of financing contracts for research in the field of security;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. Whereas Finmeccanica, Thales and Airbus, which are prominent players in the security business in the EU, are also three of the four main arms traders in Europe, selling to countries in the Middle East and North Africa; their total revenue in 2015 stood at EUR 95 billion;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the outsourcing of military activities, formerly an integral part of the activities of armed forces, is taking place, among other things, to provide services in a more cost-efficient manner, but also to compensate for a shortfall in capabilities in shrinking armed forces in the context of an increasing number of multilateral missions abroad; whereas PSCs can also , provide capabilities that are entirely lacking in national armed forces, often at short notice; whereas PSCs could also be used for reasons of political convenience to avoid limitations on the use of troops;deleted

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas PSCs could play a more important role in the fight against piracy and in improving maritime security, in missions involving dogs, cyber defence, research and development of security tools, mixed surveillance missions and training in cooperation with public authorities;deleted

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the concern that private security companies play an important role in aiding the state’s military and civilian agencies by closing manpower and capability gaps created by budget cuts and increasing demand for the use of forces abroad; ~~emphasises the availability of surge capacity at short notice as an additional benefit of the private provision of security services;~~

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

~~2. Notes that, compared to national troops, private security companies, particularly those based in host countries, can provide considerable cost savings as well as valuable local knowledge;~~deleted

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Points out that the use of private security companies must be strictly regulated and closely monitored, and staunchly opposes the use of private companies for military purposes in the sphere of security and defence;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the concern that the EU makes use of Private Security Companies abroad to guard its delegations and staff and to support its civilian and military CSDP missions; stresses that their services fill capacity gaps that the EU would otherwise have difficulties in tackling; demands that the Commission and the Council produce an overview of where, when and for what reason Private Security Companies have been employed in support of EU missions;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Rather than contracting to private security services, the EU should have a public security corps answerable to the Member States that is responsible for ensuring the security of EU delegations and staff and providing support for CSDP missions; this corps could be constituted from the civil police forces of the Member States or take the form of a new ad-hoc civil corps;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Urges the Commission, the Council and the Member States to invest in research for more and better technologies such as facial recognition and crowd-control tools as part of automated controls at airports, metro stations and other places where crowds gather~~, together with private security companies~~;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Urges the Council and the Commission that a single European Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) solution should be used to support all Member States; this would deliver unprecedented security intelligence to help improve security responsiveness; ~~recommends developing a commercial satellite imagery-based ISR solution for the European Union;~~

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2238(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Points out that the arms and security industry has succeeded in securing EUR 316 million in funding for research on security topics, thereby setting the agenda for research, implementing it and then, on many occasions, being awarded the resulting contracts; since 2002, the EU has financed 56 projects in the field of border security and control;

2017/03/20
Committee: AFET

2016/2053(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. HEmphasises that the history of the ACP-EU partnership has demonstrated the failure of the Lomé and subsequently the Cotonou agreements to achieve their avowed objective of sustainable development and poverty reduction; reiterates its opposition to agreements requiring the implementation of structural adjustment and stringent austerity programmes in signatory countries, to the detriment of the investment in public services that is essential for the sustainable development of the countries in question and of measures to achieve food sovereignty and provide education for all, social security and universal healthcare; highlights the need to rebuild the EU-ACP relationship on fresh foundations as a fair partnership between equals, respecting countries’ heterogeneity and sovereignty; stresses that the partnership must have as its objectives the United Nations SDGs, the meeting of basic needs and respect for human rights;

2016/06/16
Committee: AFET

2016/2053(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that since 2008 land- grabbing by multinationals in the agri- food sector has risen exponentially, affecting, according to the FAO, between 50 and 80 million hectares of agricultural land in developing countries, two-thirds of which was in sub-Saharan Africa; takes the view that one of the key priorities in future ACP-EU relations should be funding for small famers with a view to guaranteeing the continent’s food security and sovereignty and building up production stocks for the benefit of the local population;

2016/06/16
Committee: AFET

2016/2053(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b.Stresses the importance of mobilising resources by means of fair, redistributive tax systems and effective measures to combat tax fraud and illegal capital flows;

2016/06/16
Committee: AFET

2016/2053(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Stresses that official development assistance (ODA), as defined by the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the United Nations ‘Addis Ababa Action Agenda’ on financing development, remains crucial for ACP countries, in particular the least developed countries (LDCs); insists that this issue be fully integrated in future ACP-EU relations after 2020; notes the European Union’s commitment to allocating development assistance to ACP countries; asks that assistance from the EU and Member States be provided in the form of grants rather than loans (subject to repayment at a later date) in order not to increase the debt burden; deplores the fact that many EU Member States did not reach the target of allocating 7% of their gross national product (GNP) to ODA in 2015; calls on all partners to fully honour their commitments; urges that development assistance should not be used to control borders or secure the readmission of migrants;

2016/06/16
Committee: AFET

2016/2053(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. UStresses that the military intervention and the meddling by Western and NATO countries in recent years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, and elsewhere have only added to the instability on the African continent as a whole, especially as a result of violence perpetrated by ‘coalition’ forces, the movement of weapons, the partitioning of countries and the proliferation of armed groups; reaffirms the inalienable right of peoples to self- determination and to choose their political, economic and social system; underlines the importance of putting an end to foreign interference in the internal affairs of ACP countries, and to neocolonial policies~~; supports~~, and of basing future ACP-EU relations on respect for international law; supports, therefore, the idea of dismantling all foreign military bases.

2016/06/16
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the presentation of EU ambassador in Irak Jana Hybaskova the 14th September 2014 to the Foreign Affairs committee, underlining the connection between Daesh funding and purchase of petrol by Member States,

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is under growing, systematic pressure to tackle the information, disinformation and misinformation campaigns from ~~the east and from the south~~foreign actors;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the information warfare targeting the West was first introduced by the Soviet Union, and has since been an integral part of modern warfare, targeting not only partners of the EU, but also all Member States and citizens irrespective of their nationality or religion;deleted

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Russian strategic communication accompanied numerous incidents, including cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007, the war in Georgia in 2008, disinformation following the Smolensk crash in 2010 and the downing of MH-17 in 2014 and also, on an unprecedented scale, during the annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and more recently the migration crisis;deleted

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas Da’esh and many other Islamic terrorist groups have often used communication strategies as part of their actions against the ~~West~~EU and the Member States and to boost recruitment of European youth;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the multi-layered character of current EU strategic communications at various levels, ~~including NATO,~~ the EU, the Member States, and NGOs as well as civic organisations; calls for the best possible coordination and exchange of information between the different actors involved;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recognises that Russia has been aggressively employing a wide range of tools and instruments, such as special foundations (Russkiy Mir,) multilingual TV stations (Russia Today, RIA Novosti), news agencies (Sputnik), social and religious groups (including the Orthodox church), social media and internet trolls to challenge Western values, divide Europe, gather domestic support and create the perception of failing states in the EU’s eastern neighbourhoodis a key partner for the EU and a key global actor, both vis-à-vis foreign security and common fight against Da'esh and for the promotion of universal values, defended already in the past in its heroic fight against Nazism;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Is concerned by the EU race for Free Trade Agreements in East Neighbourhood and beyond promoting thus an escalation of tensions with Russia and its Eurasian Economic Union; further believes that the eruption of new and current tensions could be avoided by the lift of EU sanctions and a renewed peaceful cooperation, also to the benefit of the energy resourceful countries;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly growing Russian activity in Europe seeking to increase Russian influence and hegemony; stresses that a large part of Russian strategic communication is aimed at describing countries in central and eastern Europe as belonging to its traditional sphere of influence, thereby undermining their sovereignty; notes that falsifying history is one of its main strategies;deleted

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Is seriously concerned by the rapidly eroding democracy in the EU; stresses that a large part of EU Strategic communication is aimed at describing foreign countries and Member States with biased Human Rights concerns, double- standards; considers democracy and popular sovereignty the best answer to enhance rule of law and universal values and thus fade away criticisms other countries or foreign media might raise;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Stresses that Russia is exploiting the absence of a legal international framework in areas such as cybersecurity, and is turning any ambiguity in these matters in its favour;~~deleted

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that it would be irresponsible to place a State like Russia at the same level of threat as Da'esh';

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/2030(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Member States to work on cutting Daesh’s access to financing and funding ~~and to promote this principle in the EU’s external action~~including thought petrol, art traffic or arm trade and to revise accordingly their relationship with some third countries, in particular Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and stresses the need to expose Da’esh’s true nature and ideological legitimisation;

2016/05/30
Committee: AFET

2016/0030(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) This Regulation aims to ensure that all the necessary measures are taken to safeguard an uninterrupted supply of gas throughout the Union, in particular to protected customers in the event of difficult climatic conditions or disruptions of the gas supply. These objectives should be achieved through ~~the most cost-effective measures and in such a way that energy markets are not distort~~diplomatic measures and no security related approached.

2016/06/15
Committee: AFET

2016/0030(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Security of gas supply shall also ensure affordable prices of energy for citizens across the Union, to combat energetic poverty.

2016/06/15
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the ILO estimates that there are around 21 million people in forced labour globally, being trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation or being held in slave- like conditions and whereas of these people 14.2 million were trapped in forced labour, 4.5 million in a situation of ~~forced~~ sexual exploitation, and 2.2 million in state- imposed forced labour; whereas women and girls make up 55% of the total, while men and boys account for 45%;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas military interventions by NATO, the United States and Member States in recent years, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Mali and Syria have destabilised the region as a whole – in many cases under the false pretext of the 'responsibility to protect' – and have triggered an exponential increase in arms trafficking and driven thousands from their homes, hence encouraging armed groups and/or terrorists to take over control of those areas, and condemning entire populations to trafficking and exploitation;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Considers it essential that strategies aimed at the prevention of THB address the factors facilitating and causes underlying THB;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Calls on the EU and its Member States to constructively engage in the negotiations of the Open-ended InterGovernmental Working Group on the elaboration of an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights and to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; Urges the EU and Member States to apply a gamut of charges and penalties, including the confiscation of property and freezing of assets belonging to European companies that fail to respect human rights;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Calls on the EU and its Member States to make a particular effort to combat forced labour in EU industries abroad, and in relation to third countries, by applying and enforcing labour standards and supporting governments in adopting labour laws providing minimum protection standards for workers, including foreign workers and to make these standards a precondition for European companies operating in third countries; stresses that exploitation and undeclared work and THB can only be effectively combatted if the same rights are guaranteed to all workers in a country irrespective of their nationality or origin;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

15a. Calls on the EU and Member States to develop a legislative initiative which sets quality guidelines for domestic and care work in the EU, which should include specific recommendations for women and migrants;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Welcom~~Notes the inclusion of forced begging as a form of trafficking in human beings by the Directive 2011/36/EU; calls on the Member States to harmonise national legislation and on third-country governments to enact and enforce legal provisions; condemns any criminalisation of, or enforcement action against, beggars and the homeless under the pretext of 'combating begging'; believes that no action can be taken to stop begging unless it also enables reintegration into the job market and access to housing for all;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures to end prostitution and sexual exploitation, basing these on assistance – including psychological assistance – to victims and their reintegration into society, and on the penalisation of traffickers and clients; stresses that such measures must be accompanied by educational and awareness-raising measures;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges the EU to refrain from addressing THB primarily as a security issue and from disproportionately focusing on the fight against smuggling; emphasises that the policy of rejecting and criminalising migrants being adopted by the EU and most Member States, and the deplorable reception conditions for immigrants act as an incentive for THB controlled by criminal gangs and exploitation; urges the EU and its Member States to pay attention to the identification of refugees and migrants as victims of THB or as victims of violations and abuse as part of smuggling;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34a. Rejects any attempt to outsource the EU's migration policies, especially under the pretext of combating THB, and condemns in this respect the proposals made by Member States and the Commission to establish asylum application processing and holding centres in third countries, as well as the proposal to involve North African countries and Turkey in search and rescue operations at sea aimed at intercepting refugees and returning them to Africa or Turkey; calls on the Commission to ensure that Parliament has an assessment of the extent to which these proposals comply with international law, and particularly the Geneva Convention, and with other practical and legal impediments to their implementation; calls on the Commission and Member States to immediately suspend cooperation with third countries aimed at preventing migrants and refugees reaching Europe and tightening up border control; calls for the ending of negotiations in the Khartoum Process and suspension of the Rabat Process;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2340(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Urges the EU to find tangible solutions regarding regular, non-exploitative and safe ways into the EU for migrants and refugees; reminds Member States and the EU that they must comply with international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, in all their policies and in particular those on migration; recalls that safe and ~~if possible~~ voluntary return should be guaranteed to trafficked persons by the receiving state and state of origin, and legal alternatives offered for repatriation in cases ~~where such repatriation would pose a risk to their safety and/or of their family~~;

2016/03/14
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

– having regard to the report of Cephas Lumina, the independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights1, ______________ 1(Addendum,Mission to Greece, UN A/HRC/25/50/Add.1)

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)

– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 26 June 2014 calling for the establishment of an open- ended intergovernmental working group with the aim of drawing up an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights,

2015/10/16
Committee: AFET

2015/2229(INI)

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)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

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 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)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

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 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)

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 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

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights the need for a holistic EU approach to migration ~~which ensures coherence between its internal and external polici~~in full respect of human rights, in particular the right of asylum for political and economic refugees;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. SCondemns the foreign military interventions and destabilisation operations carried or supported by many NATO and EU Member States in countries~~ses that the persistent~~ such as Iraq, Libya or Syria; underlines that these Western interference motivated its geostrategic interests in the region have promoted and exacerbated the persistent impoverishment, instability and conflicts in the EU's neighbourhood which have a serious impact on the mass influx of migrants; highlights the European responsibility in promoting these conflicts; believes that a genuine response to the migration crisis in the Mediterranean will come only from tackling the root causes, namely poverty, instability, wars, persecution, violations of human rights, and natural disasters; considers 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 on-going European Neighbourhood Policy review, in the light of its failure;

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 systems ~~and border control,~~ to provide protection for people in need, to develop frameworks for ~~regular~~safe migration and mobility, and to put into force a humane and effective ~~return~~asylum policy ~~for irregular migrants~~;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls 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 improve cross-border cooperation with neighbouring EU Member States in this respect, including through enhanced operational and technical cooperation with FRONTEXfor a radical change of EU migration policy; strongly criticizes this "Fortress Europe"; calls for the dismantlement of inhuman and cruel borders system such as the "vallas con cuchillas de Ceuta y Melilla", demands an end to the EU systems currently in place such as FRONTEX, EURASUR, the Dublin system or EURODAC as well as the closure of immigration removal centres; believes, at the same time, that the EU should establish a ~~binding~~ resettlement programme ~~with yearly quotas and a permanent mandatory and automatically triggered~~binding for all EU Member States with a relocation system across the EU;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Welcome~~Regrets 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; insists, however~~in the Mediterranean, denounces the tragically consequences of its military approach that has increased the number of people who die trying to reach the EU; insists, on the contrary, on the need for 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, the International Humanitarian Law and respect the non-refoulement principle;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Criticises intensive arms trade by EU Member States to countries in the region. Calls on the Council to verify a breach of the EU arms export regime;

2015/09/08
Committee: AFET

2015/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that cooperation and development assistance plays a crucial role in tackling the root causes of migration; calls for the EU to establish a new framework of relations with third countries 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 multinationals, while impoverishing and plundering the natural resources of these third countries; stresses the need for continuous EU support to international efforts towards poverty reduction, as well as to peace-building, promotion of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, regional, political and economic stability, security and prosperity.;

2015/09/08
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

2015/2038(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas the link between trade, human rights and social and environmental standards has become an integral part of the EU’s economic and commercial relations; whereas the EU’s human rights and democracy policy in third countries should continue to be mainstreamed through other EU policies with an external dimension, including the trade policy;deleted

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas trade and human rights can reinforce each other, and the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy; whereas strengthening trade relations enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;deleted

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recommends, therefore, that the EU’s trade strategy be a tool for the promotion of European values and interests in third countries; welcomes, therefore, the enhancement of trade agreements and trade preference programmes as levers to promote human rights;deleted

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the EU to adopt the necessary measures to incorporate labour and social rights into the European and international regulatory framework so that these rights, and in particular the right of collective bargaining, are made binding, as proposed by the Commission in its 2004 communication ‘Partnership for change in an enlarged Europe - Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue’;

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights for impact assessment studies of legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; furthermore, calls on the Commission to systematically carry out such human rights impact assessments and to improve their quality and comprehensiveness; to this end, welcomes any effort made towards effective coordination with the ILO and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the endorsement and enforcement of all international principles and conventions signed in the field of human rights, specifically as regards labour rights;

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to support the implementation of the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact and at the same time to encourage all trading partners to comply with these international principles;deleted

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; recalls that partner countries are required to implement the 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards listed in the GSP Regulation; stresses that the Commission has to monitor and report on the implementation of these conventions by the GSP+ beneficiaries; calls for continuing the dialogue with GSP+ countries, where the EU can have the most impact on the fight against human rights violations, and to be ready to suspend GSP+ benefits in the most serious cases of human rights violations.deleted

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Encourages the Commission and Member States to work towards the promotion in Europe of social and solidarity-based economy entities (cooperatives, mutual societies, foundations, associations and others) in third countries, which in themselves represent new formats for intervention that give priority to individual rights and the values of social justice, reciprocity, democracy, ecological sustainability and social and technological innovation over company profits;

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Urges the Commission to provide an urgent and forceful account of cases of business irresponsibility that have occurred in Europe in relation to tax evasion committed by major European and multinational undertakings and fraud surrounding checks on pollutant gas emissions in the car industry, that will serve as an example and bolster the EU’s credibility when calling for human and environmental rights to be complied with in third countries; to this end, proposes stepping up fiscal control and transparency mechanisms and strengthening judicial cooperation among states;

2016/01/25
Committee: AFET

2015/2038(INI)

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Urges the Commission and Member States to play an active part in the proceedings opened by the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United Nations Environment Programme with the aim of ensuring that businesses are effectively held accountable for human rights abuses and environmental crimes; to this end, reiterates the need for international agreements signed between the EU and third countries to incorporate clauses relating to human rights and the protection of the environment and fundamental ecological equilibria in the territories where these businesses operate.

2016/01/25
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)

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 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 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 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 and strengthening state institutions;

2015/05/13
Committee: AFET

2015/2002(INI)

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 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
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)

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 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)

Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Pablo IGLESIAS, Javier COUSO PERMUY

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

2014/2229(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 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 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

2014/2228(INI)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other United Nations human rights treaties and instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted in New York on 16 December 1966,

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 26 June 2014 calling for the establishment of an open- ended intergovernmental working group with the aim of drawing up ‘an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’,

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)

– having regard to the ILO Convention on Migrant Workers (1949),

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 27 a (new)

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

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 30

~~– having regard to its recommendation to the Council of 18 April 2013 on the UN principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (‘R2P’)13, __________________ 13 Texts~~deleted adopted, P7_TA(2013)0180.

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality and indivisibility of human rights arshould as a minimum be cornerstones of the EU’s action on the international scene;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the EU’s credibility in its external relations will be bolstered by increasing consistency between its internal and external policies in relation to human rights; deplores the fact that the European Union’s human rights policy is restricted, and even contradicted, by diplomatic, political or economic considerations, creating double standards which damage all EU policies in this field and are completely contrary to a universal vision of human rights;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the new Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) has stated that human rights will be one of her overarching priorities and that she intends to use them as a compass with regard to all her relations with third countries; whereas she has also reiterated the EU’s commitment to promoting human rights in all areas of foreign relations ‘without exception’, and particularly where trade is concerned; whereas the adoption of the new EU Action Plan for human rights and democracy and the renewal of the mandate of the EU Special Representative for human rights will be on the EU agenda at the beginning of 2015;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the EU’s Annual Report, and events after its reporting period, serve as a stark reminder of the grave human cost of the non-observance of human rights; whereas the~~re is also a major material and budgetary cost to the EU as a result of the non-observance of human rights,~~ non-observance of human rights in third countries has an adverse impact on the EU when failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, failed states, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts, phenomena to which the EU is obliged to respond;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the EU’s Annual Report, and events after its reporting period, serve as a stark reminder of the grave human cost of the non-observance of human rights; whereas there is also a major material and budgetary cost to the EU as a result of the non-observance of human rights, when failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, failed states, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts~~, phenomena to which the EU is obliged to respond~~;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas the number of people who are unemployed has risen by 28 million since 2007, and whereas it is estimated that 67 million people are out of work as a result of the systemic crisis; whereas 60.9% of workers in developing countries are still living on less than 4 dollars a day; whereas 1.2 billion people all over the world are living in extreme poverty, and 805 million are suffering from hunger; whereas although the priority MDG of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger had very nearly been attained in part, austerity measures in developed and developing countries have had an adverse impact on the labour market and on living conditions, and have widened the gap between the richest and poorest in society;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas free primary education for all children is a fundamental right established by the 1989 international Convention on the Rights of the Child; whereas educating children and adults helps reduce poverty and infant mortality and promote good environmental practices; whereas access to education for all is intrinsically linked to the gender equality MDG, notably in terms of completing primary education; whereas this goal is far from being achieved;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas Article 164 of the UDHR recognises the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries; whereas the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees clearly states that all refugees are entitled to special protection ~~and that no state shall expel or return a refugee to a territory where he or she faces persecution or threats to life or freedom~~, whereas the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union recognises the right to human dignity, the right to asylum, protection in the event of removal or expulsion, and the principle of non- refoulement; whereas the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees states in Article 33(1) thereof that no Contracting State shall expel or return (ʽréfoulerʼ) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion and that no state shall expel or return a refugee to a territory where he or she faces persecution or threats to life or freedom and whereas disembarkation in a third-party country shall be an exceptional circumstance; bearing in mind the obligation to comply with international human rights conventions in accordance with international law and with the obligations on Member States to arrange for reception conditions and procedures which respect people's dignity and fundamental rights;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas this report, while drafted in response to the EU Annual Report adopted by the Council, is a forward-looking analysis of the EU’s activities in this policy area; whereas Parliament, in its resolutions on the previous Annual Reports and on the review of the EU human rights strategy, has stressed the need for a continued reflection on its own practices related to the mainstreaming of human rights in its activities ~~and~~, to the follow-up of its urgency resolutions on breaches of democracy, human rights and the rule of law and to the monitoring of compliance with clauses on democracy and human rights in all agreements concluded by the EU with third countries;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination without any outside interference in the political, economic and social life of third countries; warns the EU and its Member States once more against any exploitation of the human rights issue, which would undermine its very credibility;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Javier COUSO PERMUY, Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Points out that in addition to human suffering, the EU should also note the material and budgetary cost of non- observance of human rights where failure to respect human rights and lack of legitimate democratic participation lead to instability, corruption, failed states, humanitarian crises or armed conflicts, phenomena which undermine the EU’s efforts in its development policy~~, and to which the EU or its Member States are obliged to react in the security policy domain~~; welcomes, in this regard, the EU’s recent efforts to include violations of human rights in its early warning matrix linked to crisis prevention; calls, however, for a stronger preventative action, and urges the VP/HR, the Commission and the Member States to develop a human rights- based crisis prevention element which should be added to the EU Comprehensive Approach to external conflicts and crises;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Expresses its concern at the deterioration of human rights in Western Sahara; calls for the fundamental rights of the people of Western Sahara, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to assembly, to be respected; demands the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners; demands access to the territories of Western Sahara to members of parliament, independent observers, NGOs, and the press; urges the United Nations to establish an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara; supports a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict, on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Condemns the continuing occupation of Palestine by the State of 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 and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the internationally recognised 1967 borders;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Condemns the use of systematic torture by the United States at its military base in Guantánamo; stresses once again the illegal nature of this base and calls for it to be closed immediately and for all the land on which it is situated to be returned to Cuba;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Highlights the importance of compliance with the provisions of ILO Convention 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples in ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected; is deeply concerned by the situation of the Mapuche people and of indigenous peoples in countries such as Guatemala, condemns the repression directed against indigenous leaders and the assassination of trade union leaders and asks that the United Nations International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala should not be wound up;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Is extremely concerned at continuing impunity in many parts of the world and condemns in particular the case of Mexico, where more than 22 000 people have disappeared, more than half of them in the past few years, but where 98% of crimes remain unpunished, including a large number of femicides; condemns the criminalisation and repression of students, journalists, social activists, peasant leaders and trade unionists in the country, including disappearances and assassinations;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Commends~~Notes the presentation by the External Action Service and the Commission ofor their ~~comprehensive and clear~~ report~~ing~~ on EU action taken during the reporting period; reiterates, however, its view that the country reports in particular should have a more rigorous framework based on a set of indicators that would allow for the setting of benchmarks to assess both positive and negative trends, evaluate the efficiency of the EU’s actions, and provide grounds for adapting the levels of EU support in line with progress achieved with regard to human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance; notes that the use of such public indicators would be in line with several objectives mentioned in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, and would permit greater consistency in implementing human rights conditionality or assessing the human rights impact of EU policies;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recognises that the current systemic crisis is having a severe social impact on communities within and outside the European Union, notes that the various austerity plans adopted by the EU and other international institutions, such as the IMF, have led to an erosion in civil liberties and social and democratic rights, and a significant deterioration in living conditions, particularly among the weakest and most vulnerable groups;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses the importance of following up on the reports and recommendations of Election Observation Missions by using these as part of a ‘road map for democracy’ in the country concerned and by mandating the Chief Observer to exercise a special role in the follow-up monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations, as a coherent part of Parliament’s comprehensive democracy support approach and with the support of Parliament’s standing bodies (including the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group)with the support of Parliament’s standing bodies;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls on the EU to continue to work for the definition of best practices in this area ~~in order to support and consolidate democratisation processes; encourages the development of both policy and operational tools to be applied in priority countr~~; encourages the development of strategies in order to integrate human rights and ~~democracy support measures, including~~ conflict prevention ~~measures~~ and mediation, measures into the EU approach in a coherent, flexible and credible manner;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Welcom~~Notes the pilot country work conducted so far by nine EU Delegations to achieve increased coherence ~~for democracy support~~ in the EU’s external relations, as initiated in the Council conclusions of 2009 and 2010 and as embedded in the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy in 2012;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS enhance coordination of EU action with regard to the second generation of pilot countries so as to ensure that all EU institutions participate and combine their expertise in the effective pursuit of democracy support in third countries, in line with Parliament’s comprehensive democracy support approach;deleted

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Welcom~~Notes the dedicated Council conclusions on human rights defenders on the tenth anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs); commends, furthermore, the Commission for its increased use of EIDHR funding to provide emergency grants to human rights defenders under imminent threat, and encourages the Commission to further explore new ways of supporting HRDs;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Reiterates its call on the EEAS to continue protecting NGOs, human rights defenders and civil society activists by raising the effectiveness of EU human rights dialogues and by promoting EU thematic priorities and human rights guidelines; in this context, encourages the organisation of campaigns aimed at reaching human rights defenders also in the more remote areas of third countries, in order to help implement EU policy objectives;deleted

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Requests that the ~~EEAS and the EU Delegations engage with human rights defenders in a pragmatic political dialogue aimed at finding the best ways to support an enabling environment for their work; requests that the~~ EU enhance its active diplomacy in third countries and strengthen the position of the human rights focal points in order to mainstream human rights in the daily political work of the EU Delegation, by systematically raising the names of political prisoners and engaging in trial monitoring and visits to prisons; stresses the need for the EU to use public diplomacy to support human rights defenders and to call for the release of imprisoned human rights activists;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Recalls the commitment ofstated by Parliament and its Subcommittee on Human Rights to supporting a strong multilateral human rights system under the aegis of the United Nations, including the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the work of related UN specialised agencies such as the ILO; regrets, however, that EU human rights policy is governed by the tendency for foreign policy to follow the United States and NATO model;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Expresses its concern at the reported rise in the number of executions globally from 2012 to 2013, despite the fact that executions are confined to an increasingly small minority of countries; calls on the EU to take due action regarding the continuously high rate of executions in the United States, China and Iran, the resumption of executions in 2013 in Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria and Vietnam, as well as the marked increase in reported executions in Iraq and in Saudi Arabia;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Encourages the Commission to ~~use the new flexibility now offered by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in order to explore new ways to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty and to~~ support actions aimed at avoiding death sentences or executions;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Condemns the exportation by European companies of products and arms that can be used for the purposes of torture and other punishments or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including as part of crack-downs on protests; gives its support, in this context, to the process of revision of Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, including trade agreements, concluded with third countries, and calls for effective monitoring of their application as well as for reporting back to the relevant commStresses that introducing these democracy/human rights clauses in free- trade agreements signed by the EU with third countries has been a failure, not only since they have barely been taken into account, but also because those free- trade agreements have even resulted in violations of fundamental economic and social rights, in the impoverishment of the communities concerned and in the monopolisation of resources by multinational companies; believes that besides these clauses there is a need to implement new forms of cooperation to facilitate~~e of Parlia~~ the economic and social development onf th~~e agreements’ human rights aspect~~ird countries based on the needs of their peoples;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, including trade agreements, concluded with third countries~~, and calls for~~; regrets, however, that the claim that agreements are subject to compliance with human rights is a matter of propaganda, since there is no effective monitoring of their application ~~as well a~~; calls for report~~ing back~~s to be submitted to the relevant committee of Parliament on the agreements’ human rights aspects; rejects, meanwhile, the imposition of sanctions by the EU on third countries with the aim of protecting its geopolitical and economic interests independently of the humanitarian situation;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. 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;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Requests that the Commission and the EEAS encourage EU Delegations around the world to engage with EU businesses in order to promote respect for human rights~~, and to ensure that ‘business and human rights’ is included among the focus themes in the local calls for proposals of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)~~;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)

43a. Points out in particular the urgent need to respect freedom of association and the fight against all forms of repression, including the assassination of trade unionists;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)

46a. Notes that the poorly regulated, uncontrolled and opaque arms trade leads to irresponsible trading in weapons, has caused human suffering, fuelled armed conflict, instability and corruption, undermined peace-building processes, good governance and socio-economic development and led to the overthrow of democratically elected governments and the violation of the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law; calls on the EU to ensure that European companies do not contribute to this phenomenon;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. ECondemns the mass spying on millions of people carried out by the United States National Security Agency; expresses its concern at the spread of monitoring and filtering technologies, which represent a growing threat to human rights a~~nd democracy activists in autocratic countrie~~ctivists and also pose troubling questions regarding privacy rights ~~in democratic countries, even when used with the pretext of legitimate aims such as counter-terrorism or law enforcement~~;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

~~53. Reiterates its endorsement of the majority of the funding for the EIDHR being allocated to support for human rights defenders and civil society actions around the world;~~deleted

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 a (new)

58a. Considers that violence towards women is also expressed psychologically by the presence of a relationship of domination in society and by the dissemination of degrading images of women; stresses that the role of the Commission and the Member States in this area, both within and outside the EU, cannot be limited to combating violence towards women in all forms, be it physical, psychological, social or economic, and priority should be given to educating boys and girls from the youngest possible age, in addition to combating stereotypes;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)

59a. Expresses alarm concerning the situation of women subjected to forced marriages, the excision of their daughters, threatened honour killings, human trafficking or other forms of violence, and who have not managed to obtain the right to asylum on EU territory and are living with the threat of expulsion; calls on the EU and its Member States to grant protection to women who are victims of violence;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context, ~~consideration of public-private partnerships,~~ the blending of grants and loans, and helping developing countries to better mobilise their domestic resources; emphasises the importance of making the conclusion by the EU of agreements with third countries contingent on the implementation of effective measures to combat corruption; calls for an international tax on financial transactions that could act as an additional source of funding for development, and reminds the Member States that they have already agreed to introduce a financial transaction tax domestically and undertaken to set aside a share of the funds raised to finance global public assets, including development;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64

64. Calls on the Commission to develop innovative financial mechanisms to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; encourages, in this context, consideration of ~~public-private partnerships,~~ the blending of grants and loans, and helping developing countries to better mobilise their domestic resources; calls for an international tax on financial transactions that could act as an additional source of funding for development, and reminds the Member States that they have already agreed to introduce a financial transaction tax domestically and undertaken to set aside a share of the funds raised to finance global public assets, including development;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66

66. Points out that 78 countries still criminalise homosexuality, including ~~sev~~ten which provide for the death penalty (Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Mauritania, North Sudan, Sierra Leone, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, the Maldives and Brunei); firmly condemns the recent increase in discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, worldwide, and most notably in Nigeria ~~and Uganda~~, Uganda and Malawi; encourages close monitoring of the situation in ~~Nigeria, Uganda, India and Russia,~~countries where new laws or recent legal developments seriously threaten the freedom of sexual minorities; reaffirms its support for the continuing work of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to combat these discriminatory laws and practices and for the work of the UN more generally on this issue;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67

67. Welcomes the adoption in 2013 of the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues with third countries and multilateral forums; emphasises the importance of the Commission and the EEAS continuing to raise the issue of LGBTI rights in political and human rights dialogues ~~and of using the EIDHR~~ to support organisations defending LGBTI rights by empowering them to challenge homophobic laws and discrimination against LGBTI people, raising awareness among the general public of the discrimination and violence experienced by persons of different sexual orientations, and ensuring the provision of emergency assistance (from psychosocial and medical help to mediation and reintegration assistance) to those in need of such support;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. Condemns the inability of the European Union, its Member States and their partner countries to guarantee the right of asylum and organise rescue operations at sea; criticises readmission agreements, in particular on the grounds that they determine the substance of other agreements, including in the area of development, with third countries; considers immigration policies of this kind to be indicative of prejudice towards the inhabitants of the countries of the South; calls for a visa liberalisation policy for nationals of the countries of the South, and in particular countries in transition to democracy, such as Tunisia, and for the implementation of resettlement policies in all the Member States;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Reiterates its view that climate change undermines the most basic human rights, gives rise to displacements of persons and thereby creates a new form of forced migration, which the EU must properly address; requests that the Commission and the EEAS participate actively in the debate on the term ‘climate refugee’, including its possible legal definition in international law or in any legally binding international agreement;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)

76a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to make the Millennium Development Goals the top priority in their internal policies and their relations with third countries; emphasises that the achievement of these goals, and more specifically those concerning the eradication of poverty, universal access to education and gender equality, is contingent on the availability of better, universally accessible public services;

2014/12/15
Committee: AFET

2014/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79

79. Emphasises the need for continued reflection regarding the most appropriate ways to maximise the credibility, visibility and effectiveness of Parliament’s resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of lawRegrets that in many cases Parliament’s resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law have been used as a mechanism for interfering in the internal affairs of third countries according to the Union’s strategic and geopolitical interests;

2014/12/15
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

2013/0151A(NLE)