25 Amendments of Urmas PAET related to 2018/0356M(NLE)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to the Framework Participation Agreement, signed on 17 October 2019, which will facilitate Vietnam's participation in European Union-led civilian and military crisis management operations and show strong commitment from both sides to a rules- based multilateral approach to international peace and security
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the strategic importance of Viet Nam as a crucial partner of the EU in South East Asia and among the ASEAN countries, specifically but not exclusively in relation to climate change negotiations, good governance, sustainable development, economic and social progress and the fight against terrorism; stresses the importance for the EU and Vietnam to fully respect and implement the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the strategic importance of Viet Nam as a crucial partner of the EU in South East Asia and among the ASEAN countries, specifically but not exclusively in relation to climate change negotiations, good governance, sustainable development, economic and social progress and the fight against terrorism and the advancement of human rights and democratic reform;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
– having regard to the 2019 Universal Periodic Review on Vietnam undertaken by the UN Human Rights Council
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Remains concerned about human rights violations, including the application of the death penalty in Viet Nam; calls on Viet Nam to introduce a moratorium and move towards abolition; calls for Vietnam to revise the penal code and the new Cyber Security Law in line with international standards; highlights that human rights constitute a cornerstone of the trade and sustainable development chapter of the FTA; calls for periodic evaluation of the impact of the agreement;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes, and subsequently regrets, that the text of the sustainability chapter does not include any reference to human rights, which are a fundamental aspect of good and sustainable governance, and a part of the founding principles of the European Union; human rights ought therefore to be an integral part of any agreement between the EU and a third state;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas 90 % of future world economic growth is predicted to be generated outside Europe, and notablya significant part of this occurs in Asia;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Vietnam is a founding member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and a party to the ongoingrecently concluded negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP);
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas it is important to maximise the opportunities offered by this agreement in the most inclusive manner for businesses, in particular SMEs;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights that the FTA creates an institutional and legally binding link to the PCA; points out that Article 1 of the PCA contains a standard human rights clause which can trigger appropriate measures, including, as a last resort, the suspension of the PCA, or parts thereof, without delay; notes however that there is no precedent for the EU suspending bilateral trade agreements and believes that for such conditions to be credible, consequences must follow from breaches of agreements;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Points out that civil society in Viet Nam is not allowed to operate freely and unrestricted from state interference, as restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association in Viet Nam continue to persist; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to ensure that civil society groups, especially those which will be part of the Domestic Advisory Groups, will be allowed to operate independently, impartially, thoroughly, and safely from any repercussions;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the economic and strategic importance of this agreement, as the EU and Vietnam share a common agenda and common values – to stimulate growth and employment, boost competitiveness, fight against poverty and make progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and champion a rules-based multilateral international trade system;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is convinced that the agreement will make further strides towards setting high standards and rules in the ASEAN region, helping to pave the way for a future region-to-region trade and investment agreement; stresses that the agreement also sends a strong signal in favour of open and free trade at times of protectionist tendencies and the questioning of multilateral rules-based trade; highlights that the agreement helps the EU to strengthen its presence in the ASEAN region, and allows the EU to promote its standards and values in the region; recalls its full support to multilateralism and the importance to achieve a sustainable and ambitious reform of the WTO able to ensure a rules-based international trade;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the strong SPS chapter which will set up a single and transparent procedure for the approval of EU exports of food products into Vietnam in order to accelerate the approval of EU export applications and avoid discriminatory treatment; commends Vietnam's commitment to applying the same import requirements to like products coming from all EU member states;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a robust, comprehensive and binding chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) dealing with labour and environmental matters; stresses that the TSD chapter is designed to contribute to broader EU policy objectives, notably on inclusive growth, the fight against climate change and more generally in upholding EU values; emphasises that it is also an instrument for development and social progress in Vietnam to support Vietnam in its efforts to improve labour rights and to enhance protection at work and protection of the environment; calls on the EU to offer its support where necessary to help Vietnam advance in this regard; stresses the importance to ensure a specific and adequate monitoring of the TSD chapter in order to see it respected and implemented;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Points out that a new Vietnamese Cyber Security Law, that entered into force at the beginning of 2019, has attracted a lot of criticism, as an intensified crackdown on human rights activists in the country has been documented, linked to the provisions of this new law which gives the authorities licence to censor content, control information and silence online dissidents; notes with regret that the legislation also raises concerns for EU economic interests, including forced data localisation provisions which are at odds with the EU's liberalisation agenda in this respect; calls on Vietnam to revise this law in line with international standards and welcomes the European Union's assistance in this respect;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Notes with concern that the Vietnamese penal code still allows for serious human rights violations, which have intensified since the entry into force of the PCA; calls on a Vietnam to revise the penal code in line with international standards and welcomes the European Union's assistance in this respects; regrets that the Commission has failed to undertake a comprehensive human rights impact assessment of the FTA; calls on the Commission to carry out such an assessment;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the envisaged cooperation on the trade/related aspects of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, in particular the inter-linkage between trade and full and productive employment for all, including youth, women and people with disabilities; calls for a swift and meaningful start of this cooperation;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the commitment to effectively implement multilateral environmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, and to act in favour of the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, biodiversity and forestry; recalls that the Agreement provides for specific measures to fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) and to promote a sustainable and responsible fishery sector, including aquaculture; stresses that it is crucial for the EU and Vietnam to ensure full respect and implementation of the Paris Agreement, notably through the EVFTA;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the crucial importance of effectively implementing all provisions and chapters of the agreement, ranging from market access to sustainable development and enforcement of all commitments; considers that all of the TSD provisions should be read as providing for legal obligations in international law; highlights in this context the new post of Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, who will work directly under the guidance of the Trade Commissioner; underlines that European companies, especially SMEs, should be encouraged to make full use of the benefits of the agreement and that any hurdle regarding the implementation should be remediated immediately;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for enhanced monitoring of the agreement and efforts to ensure that shortcomings are addressed rapidly with our trading partner; calls for specific technical assistance in order to help Vietnam implement some of their commitments via projects and expertise, notably linked to environmental and labour provisions;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that the involvement of civil society in monitoring the implementation of the agreement is crucial, and calls for the swift establishment of domestic advisory groups following the entry into force of the agreement and for the balanced representation of civil society therein; notes with concern that the Vietnamese independent civil society has been harshly repressed and largely operates underground for fear of persecution and retaliation; encourages the EU institutions to support the independent civil society in Vietnam; calls on appropriate measures to be put in place to ensure that advisory groups can exercise their mandate independently, impartially, thoroughly and safely;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on both Parties to undertake to develop programmes of cooperation activities to improve capacity and conditions for women to benefit from opportunities created by the agreement, including encouraging capacity building and skills enhancement of women at work and in business, fostering women's representation in decision making and positions of authority; improving women's access to, and participation and leadership in, science, technology and innovation; conducting gender-based analysis and gender-focused statistics relating to trade;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Underlines the need for close monitoring of the implementation of the agreement and the human rights developments in Vietnam; Calls for a joint parliamentary scrutiny board, basing itself on the monitoring Group for Vietnam in the European Parliament and its equivalent in the Vietnamese National Assembly, which will be tasked to monitor the implementation of the agreement and the human rights developments in Vietnam;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Welcomes the agreement, which will create more free and fair trade opportunities between the EU and Vietnam; urges the European Parliament to give it consent to the agreement, given that Vietnam takes steps to improve the civil and labour rights situation as to move in the direction of its commitments;