Activities of Javier COUSO PERMUY related to 2015/2229(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (A8-0344/2015 - Cristian Dan Preda) ES
Amendments (26)
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
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)
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)
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,
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 d (new)
Citation 24 d (new)
- having regard to Convention No 169 of the International Labour Organisation on indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 e (new)
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,
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
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;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas climate change is undermining the most basic human rights such as access to water, natural resources and food;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the abolition of the death penalty remains one of the EU’s biggest concernpriorities when approaching third countries;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
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;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
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 toshould 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;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
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 freedomsthird countries with the aim of protecting its geopolitical and economic interests independently of the humanitarian situation;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
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 engagin this context, condemns the politicisation of human rights by the European Endowment for Democracy funding political foundations and movements in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood of the EU in favour of democracy promotion and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
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 righthighlights, 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;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
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 rightscalls, 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;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
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);
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
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;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)
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;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
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;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
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;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses the urgent need to tackle the root cauat responses must be found to the current crisis basesd of migration flows and, therefore, to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including byn the principles of solidarity and an overall strategy which promotes safe and legal migration and fully respects human rights and fiunding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhoodamental 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;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 d (new)
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;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 e (new)
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;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 f (new)
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;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 g (new)
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;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
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;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 b (new)
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;