158 Amendments of Edward MCMILLAN-SCOTT
Amendment 41 #
2013/2196(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Notes that Protocol 6, annexed to the Treaties, on the location of the seats of the institutions, decided by common agreement of the governments of the Member States, imposes on Parliament its three working places; notes the call expressed in its resolution of 17 April 2013 on the 2011 discharge for ‘the Secretary-General and the Bureau to provide Members with up-to- date figures and information on the financial and environmental impact of the multiple seat arrangement’ that followed Parliament’s resolution of 6 February 2013 on the guidelines for the 2014 budget procedure and the report on the location of the seats of the European Institutions adopted on 20 November 2013;
Amendment 43 #
2013/2196(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Recalls that significant historical reasons motivated the seat of the Parliament to be established in its current three places of work and that the question of determination of the seat of an Union institution is the exclusive competence of the Member States; notes in this respect that any decision to change the seats arrangement of Parliament would require a change of the Treaties, a decision which would have to be taken unanimously by the Member States; recalls that with the adoption of the report on the location of the seats of the Europeans institutions, Parliament has taken its first step in invoking Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 15 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the EU guidelines on the death penalty of 16 June 20081, __________________ 1 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/c msUpload/10015.en08.pdf.
Amendment 16 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) 2009 Istanbul protocol on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Amendment 21 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas torture can be both physical and psychological; whereas there has been a growing number of cases where psychiatry is used as a tool for coercion of human rights defenders and dissidents, who are placed in psychiatric institutions in order to prevent them from carrying out their political and community activities;
Amendment 41 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reiterates the vital importance of rehabilitation centres for torture victims both inside and outside the EU in addressing not only physical, but also long-term psychological problems experienced by torture victims; is convinced that funding for such centres in third countries provided by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) should not be cut even in the face of the financial and economic crisis since national healthcare systems of these countries are often not in a position to adequately address the specific problems of torture victims;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Is particularly concerned by torture of human rights defenders, including community activists, journalists, human rights lawyers and bloggers in prisons; recognises that it is often the people who are most involved in the fight for human rights and democracy who suffer the most through unlawful detention, intimidation, torture and exposure to danger of their families; insists that both EU missions on the ground and high-level EU officials systematically and consistently raise this issue in meetings with their third-country counterparts, including mentioning specific names of human rights defenders in prisons;
Amendment 104 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the EEAS and the Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM) to make sure that Human Rights Country Strategies (HRCSs) contain country- specific objectives and benchmarks related to the fight against torture, including the identification of groups requiring special protection, such as children, women, displaced persons, refugees and migrants, and those facing discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, caste, religious or other beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 127 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on EU delegations to provide support for members of civil society when they are prevented from visiting prisons and observing trials;
Amendment 151 #
2013/2169(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls on Members States that have not made declarations recognising the Article 22 jurisdiction of the Committee Against Torture to do so as a matter of priority;
Amendment 38 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; therefore repeats the call for the adoption of EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) Conclusions on strategic partners that would establish a common threshold for the Member States and for EU officials in terms of the human rights concerns that they have to raise, as a minimum, with their strategic partner counterparts; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the VP/HR, EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to pursue these commitments and mainstream human rights and democracy in the EU's relations with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant EU external policy instruments; regrets that EU too often channels criticism of abusive governments through quiet diplomacy using lower-level "dialogues" rather than high- level ministerial meetings to express concerns and demand corrections; considers that when faced with cases of persistent human rights violations the EU should speak up to ensure its message is heard both by abusive governments and their people;
Amendment 60 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises that EU institutions and all 28 member states have to exercise a firm, coherent and uniform approach to human rights abuses worldwide, in a transparent and accountable manner; calls on the EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on human rights;
Amendment 96 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes the continued difficulties in achieving concrete progress in several of the EU human rights dialogues and consultations; encourages the EU to seek new ways of making the dialogues with countries of concern more meaningful; believes that human rights dialogues and consultations should have the primary aim of strengthening and supporting civil society, human rights defenders, trade unions, journalists, lawyers and parliamentarians who stand up and challenge abuses at home and demand that their rights be respected; calls on the EU to ensure that human rights dialogues and consultations are ambitious and accompanied by clear public benchmarks based on which their success can be objectively measured; underlines the need to pursue determined, ambitious, and transparent human rights policy in these dialogues; calls therefore on the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue is not constructive and, in such cases, to put more emphasis on political dialogue, démarches and public diplomacy; warns furthermore against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues;
Amendment 243 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Expresses its serious concerns about recent repressive laws and their arbitrary enforcement by the Russian authorities, often leading to the harassment of NGOs, civil society activists, human rights defenders and minorities; and deplores the political use of justice as demonstrated in the cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot, Alexey Navalny and others; regrets the culture of impunity surrounding the deaths of individuals including Sergei Magnitsky, Natalia Estimirova, Stanislaw Markelow, Anna Politkovskaya and Vasily Alexanian.
Amendment 247 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50a. Calls on the on the establishment of an EU-wide "Magnitsky list," which would include a visa ban and asset freeze of Russian officials associated with serious human rights abuses;
Amendment 254 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Urges the Chinese authorities to engage seriously with the Tibetan people in order to assess the underlying causes of the high number of self-immolations linked to the strengthening of the stability maintenance approach and patriotic education system and stresses that recent reports about harsh sentences against Tibetans charging them with incitement to self-immolations raise strong concerns; condemns the non-voluntary resettlement and relocation of Tibetan nomads, which is exacerbated by the absence of civil and political rights, and considers it a threat to the survival of a way of life that is integral to Tibetan identity as well as to the livelihoods of Tibetan nomads;
Amendment 255 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51b. Urges the EEAS, in line with the newly adopted EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion and Belief, to pay particular attention to the issue of religious repression in Tibet and call on China to put an end to its restrictive policies on Tibetan Buddhism;
Amendment 91 #
2013/2145(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)
Paragraph 78 a (new)
78a. Stresses that the two arms of the budgetary authority, in order to create long term savings in the EU budget, must address the need for a roadmap to a single seat, as stated in previous resolutions voted by the parliament, notably its resolutions of 23 October 2012 on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013- all sections1 and of 6 February 2013 on the guidelines for the 2014 budget procedure – sections other than the Commission2 and its decision of 10 May 2012 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010, Section I – European Parliament3; ____________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0359. 2 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0048. 3 OJ L 286, 17.10.2012, p. 1.
Amendment 776 #
2013/0309(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – point 3 a (new)
Article 37 – point 3 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 531/2012
Article 6a
Article 6a
(3a) Article 37 point 4 (new) the following article is inserted: Article 6a Abolition of retail roaming charges With effect from 1 July 2015, roaming providers shall not levy any surcharge in comparison to the charges for mobile communications services at domestic level on roaming customers for any regulated roaming call made or received, for any regulated roaming SMS message sent, for any roaming MMS message sent or for any regulated data roaming services used- or any general charge to enable the terminal equipment or service to be used abroad.
Amendment 305 #
2013/0137(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
For the purpose of paragraph 1, professional operators shall keep information allowing them to identify the persons to whom they have supplied plant reproductive material and the material concerned, unless that material has been supplied in retaito consumers who are not professional.
Amendment 711 #
2013/0137(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 50 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the variety has been entered in any other public or private list with an official or officially recognised description and a denominprofessional operator making material available on the market provides sufficient assurance of the identity and denomination of the variety through information provided on any other public or private list and traceability of preceding cycles of multiplication.;
Amendment 713 #
2013/0137(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 50 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 50 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
c a) the variety can be shown to be commonly known to consumers from information available in the public domain.
Amendment 80 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Investors' access to non-financial information is a step towards reaching the milestone of having in place by 2020 market and policy incentives rewarding business investments in efficiency under the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe14. Non-financial reporting can also help the EU to achieve additional milestones under this Roadmap, notably that of halving food waste by 2020. __________________ 14 COM(2011) 571 final of 20 September 2011
Amendment 130 #
2013/0110(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 1 – point a
Article 1 – point 1 – point a
Directive 78/660/EEC
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1 – point iii a (new)
Article 46 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1 – point iii a (new)
(iiia) An analysis of resource use, including at least land use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions, use of minerals and the generation of waste.
Amendment 31 #
2013/0000(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes, more generally, the enhanced cooperation between the Committee on Budgets and the Bureau during the annual budget procedure; stands ready to further strengthen the cooperation between the Secretary-General, the Bureau, and the Committee on Budgets throughout the year to ensure a smooth budgetary process and effective implementation of the budget; expects the Bureau to present prudent needs-based draft estimates that take account of possible subsequent increases arising from legally binding obligations and show a detailed record of costs developments to date as they affect the three places of work ;
Amendment 40 #
2013/0000(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls the plenary decision for the Council to present a roadmap by June 2013 on the multiple seats of the EP and expects both the Committees concerned, the Secretary General and the Bureau to provide members with up-to-date figures and information on the financial and environmental impact of the multiple seat arrangement; suggests the EP's own impact assessment services examine this question also with respect to the impact of the EP's presence or partial presence on the respective communities and regions and present an assessment by June 2013 in order for these findings to be considered for the next MFF;
Amendment 42 #
2013/0000(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the relevant services of the European Parliament to make an assessment of the agreement between the authorities in Luxembourg and the European Parliament, on the number of staff to be present in Luxembourg, taking into account a revision of the Parliament's needs; this assessment shall include suggestions on how to renegotiate this agreement, without prejudice to the legal provisions,
Amendment 5 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Parliament's estimates for 2014 put the overall budget at EUR 1 808 144 206, with costs directly related to the geographic dispersion estimated at EUR 180 000 000between EUR 169 million and EUR 204 million;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas since the beginning of the current legislature, both individual committees and the plenary have made several specific requests to the European Parliament's administration to provide comprehensive, detailed and reliable estimates of the additional costs relating to each of the three places of work;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas, the numbers provided by the Secretary-General's report to the Bureau of September 2002 are the last overall cost estimates available;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas the 2002 Secretary-General's estimate was confirmed by the joint working group report of the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets on Parliament's budget for 2012, when complementing the EUR 148 million estimate by the EUR 25 million of annual amortisation cost for the Strasbourg buildings that need to be taken into account since the purchase of named buildings;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to Rules 5.3, 29, 41, 48 and 74a of its Rules of Procedure,
Amendment 14 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 14 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the parliament's vote on 23 October 2012, which saw a majority of 78% of Members call on EU governments to revise the issue of parliament's official seat; Strasbourg;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas a reply given to the EP Budgetary Control Committee in preparation for the EP discharge for 2011 does not provide estimates on the potential savings, but only a partial estimate of the additional costs of the Strasbourg seat; whereas this EUR 55 million estimate does not include many budget lines that were included in previous and following estimates, namely the cost of data processing, equipment and movable property, travel expenses of political groups as well as any potential savings connected to time lost travelling (totalling EUR 68 million); whereas this estimate provides lower numbers on several budget lines than both previous and following estimates without providing any justification (totalling EUR 25 million);
Amendment 20 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas none of these estimates includes the additional costs of the European Parliament's geographic dispersion on the other European Union institutions, in particular the European Commission and Council, EU member states' representations, journalists and civil society representatives;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas ¾ of members believe that the EP should find significant structural savings and these could be found in re- evaluating the EP's geographical dispersion of places of work, illustrated by a breakdown of the costs of Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg set out in a transparent and credible format to standards expected from a major public body;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the historical reasons for the European bodies permanently seated in Strasbourg are well-known in respect e.g. the European Court for Human Rights and the Council of Europe, and while the European Assembly /Parliament for convenience initially used the latter's Chamber, the choice of Brussels as the seat of the European Commission and of NATO reflect the EU's aspirations for a continent progressively united in prosperity and security;
Amendment 23 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
Ce. whereas situating the co-legislators of the EU in a single place does not undermine the tradition of polycentrism in the EU but bears significant efficiency and transparency gains for EU citizens;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Cf. whereas, in many Member States, parliament's seat is laid down either in the Constitution or by law and whereas the European Parliament is a co-legislator of European law and can call for changes of the European treaties under article 48 of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C g (new)
Recital C g (new)
Cg. whereas during the European Year of Citizens it is appropriate to show that their voice is not only heard but that their directly elected representatives are taking action on their behalf in order to end the monthly travel between the EP's places of work;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C h (new)
Recital C h (new)
Ch. whereas the European institutions must do everything to further European political integration and bridge the perceived distance from citizens by tackling a major structural issue of the institutions and promoting European understanding, transparency, accountability and coherence by having the EU's decision making bodies in one place;
Amendment 27 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C i (new)
Recital C i (new)
Ci. whereas 6% of the EU budget is intended for administrative purposes and that the European Union, with a relatively small operating budget for 500 million inhabitants, must set an example in these times of crisis by streamlining its own budgetary impact as much as possible without prejudice to the proper functioning of the European Parliament, adding that the efficiency gains of having a single seat near the co-legislator cannot be ignored;
Amendment 35 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that while the seats of the European Institutions are enshrined in the Treaties, so is article 48, which allows for a proposal for treaty change;
Amendment 48 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C a (new)
Paragraph C a (new)
Ca. whereas MEPs have repeatedly requested the Parliament's Administration procure for a Eurobarometer survey which asks European citizens for their views on Parliament's split-site arrangement;
Amendment 83 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas Members have repeatedly requested up-to-date breakdowns of the financial, environmental and social costs of the parliament's working arrangements, because the Administration has yet to produce a consistent and coherent set of figures;
Amendment 93 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Asks the Administration to provide a comprehensive analysis of the potential savings for our budget if the Parliament had only one place of work, in Brussels; asks that this analysis includes the budgetary aspects and the ancillary costs such as savings made as a result of loss of working time and efficiency;
Amendment 115 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges that any future decision by Parliament on its working arrangements must allow sufficient time for debate and reflection, as well as for an orderly transition; requests a study into the one- off cost of moving all parliament's activities to a single working location;
Amendment 122 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Asks the Administration to provide a comprehensive analysis of the potential savings for our budget if the parliament had only one place of work, in Brussels; asks that this analysis includes the budgetary aspects and the ancillary costs such as savings made as a result of loss of working time and efficiency;
Amendment 123 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Asks the Administration to procure that EMAS or suitable external consultants provide an analysis of the environmental aspects if the parliament held all its plenary sessions in Brussels;
Amendment 124 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Asks the Administration to procure that the parliament's Medical Service provide an analysis of the health effects of the monthly session in Strasbourg on Members, staff and assistants;
Amendment 131 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the relevant services of the European Parliament to make an assessment of the agreement between the authorities in Luxembourg and the European Parliament, on the number of staff to be present in Luxembourg, taking into account a revision of the Parliament's needs; this assessment shall include suggestions on how to renegotiate this agreement, without prejudice to the legal provisions;
Amendment 136 #
2012/2308(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on Parliament's Administration to procure for Eurobarometer or similar professional polling service to conduct a survey of EU citizens' views on the maintenance of Parliament's split site working arrangement by 1 January 2014, with specific reference to the financial, environmental and efficiency costs of this arrangement;
Amendment 209 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recognises that the Laeken Declaration in 2001 points out that the EU institutions need to be brought closer to the Unions citizens;
Amendment 210 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Supports the development of the 'Solidarité proposal' for an inter- institutional human resources programme in the EU Institutions to facilitate the involvement of the Institutions' staff and trainees in community engagement through benevolent humanitarian and positive social activities, both as part of staff training and volunteering in their own time.
Amendment 129 #
2012/2092(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraphs 77 a, b, c, d, e, f, g (new)
Paragraphs 77 a, b, c, d, e, f, g (new)
Amendment 14 #
2012/2088(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) in order to achieve these objectives, the EUSR, while acting under the authority of the High Representative, should be granted a strong, independent and flexible mandate not defined by narrow and specific thematic responsibilities but rather allowing the EUSR to act swiftly and effectively; in line with the actions and priorities set out in the Action Plan, the EUSR for HR should also address different horizontal issues contributing to more effective and coherent action in EU external policies; the scope of the EUSR's mandate should be fully in line with the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to the policy objectives laid down in Article 21 of TEU and should cover, inter alia, strengthening democracy and institution building, international justice, international humanitarian law, abolition of the death penalty, human rights defenders, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression (including on the internet), child protection, gender issues, persons with disabilities, as well as women, peace and security;
Amendment 27 #
2012/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the administration to present an independent evaluation of Parliament's budget with the aim of identifying savings throughout all budget lines and present this evaluation to the Committee on Budgets by September 2012 at the latest; to this end, reminds the Secretary-General and the Bureau of its request for an update of the 2002 Secretary-General's report to the Bureau regarding the cost of maintaining three places of work; further reminds the Secretary-General and the Bureau of its request for the establishment of a working group as soon as possible; considers that such group should discuss inter alia the findings of the requested report concerning Members' travels, due to be completed by 31st March 2012, the results of a comparative study with the budgets of a representative sample of Member States parliaments and with the budget of the United States Congress and the financing of the building policy; recalls that conclusions reached by the group should be implemented without delay;
Amendment 36 #
2012/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is of the opinion that further reorganisation of the Parliament working methods should be considered; repeats that substantial savings could be made by having a single seat for the European Parliament; stresses that the European Parliament should have the right to decide its own working arrangements; calls on the Secretary-General to implement a possible revision of the calendar for committee meetings and delegation missions; furthermore, calls on the Secretary-General to examine possible further opportunities for savings regarding delegations; if such changes can be implemented in 2012, requests that the administration provides the Committee on Budgets with a record of savings generated in 2012 in these areas.
Amendment 4 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the activities of the Special Representatives of the UN Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders as well as the EU guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,
Amendment 6 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the protection of the rights of the child and the guidelines on children and armed conflict, as well as many previous European Parliament resolutions touching on these issues,
Amendment 19 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas democracy is, justice and accountability are the best safeguard of human rights, tolerance and equality;
Amendment 25 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas non-governmental organisations are essential to the development and success of democratic societies and the promotion of mutual understanding and tolerance;
Amendment 96 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that the mainstreaming of international justice must include systematically taking account of the fight against impunity in the broader context of trade, development and rule-of-law assistance; stresses that victims and affected communities must be the central concern, with a special focus on vulnerable groups, including women, children, young people and people with disabilities; recommends that the Rome Statute of the ICC be added to the package of international treaties on good governance and the rule of law to be ratified by third countries admitted to the System of Generalised Preferences Plus (GSP+); recommends the consistent inclusion of ICC clauses in EU agreements with third countries;
Amendment 123 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Recognises the critical role of the Rome Statute system in the fight against impunity through its promotion of the principle of complementarity, whereby States retain the primary responsibility to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute those accused of committing crimes under international law; welcomes the efforts of the European Commission to establish an "EU Complementarity Toolkit"; welcomes the efforts of EU Member States' civil society to support complementarity efforts in countries where crimes under international law and massive human rights violations have occurred, and encourages such efforts to continue;
Amendment 180 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38 a. Considers that since the "Arab Spring" began, in-country NGOs and organised citizens are playing a critical role in mobilising people and promoting their participation in public life both conducting education and awareness- raising campaigns aimed at informing people of their rights and empowering them to understand and embrace democracy; stresses that, in order to reinforce these processes, priorities on the political agenda for future reforms will need to stem from participatory consultations with in-country NGOs and civil rights advocates;
Amendment 208 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51 a. Calls on all Member States to actively intervene on the issue of the human rights of detainees and the overpopulation of prisons in and outside the European Union;
Amendment 213 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52 a. Restore section on children's rights;
Amendment 239 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Strongly condemns female genital mutilation (FGM) as a barbarian breach of the bodily integrity of women and girls; firmly rejects any reference to cultural, traditional or religious practice as a mitigating factor; urges the Commission to pay specific attention to such traditional harmful practices in its strategy to combat violence against womenflagrant violation of the fundamental human right to physical integrity, which must be combated with legislation banning the practice; congratulates African Heads of State for their adoption, at the African Union Summit of July 2011, of a Decision in support of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution banning FGM worldwide, as a demonstration of the highest degree of political will and commitment to extend all efforts to bring an end to the practice; urges the 66th Session of the UNGA to adopt a Resolution that fulfils these aspirations; emphasizes the need for the Commission to provide the means necessary to support the adoption and effective implementation both within and outside the EU of an international ban and of national laws aimed at the elimination of FGM, including outreach to ensure knowledge of the law, mechanisms to facilitate reporting and prevention, prosecution of presumed offenders, assistance to victims, and sufficient allocation of resources; and requests the EEAS to include this issue in the development and implementation of the human rights country strategies;
Amendment 280 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
Paragraph 67
67. Draws attention to the serious problem that exists in several countries in sub- Saharan Africa of children being accused of witchcraft, resulting in grave consequences ranging from social exclusion to infanticide, and to the ritual murder of children as sacrifices; notes that the State has a responsibility to protect children from abuse and, consequently, urges the EEAS to pay particular attention to the fate of these children in the human rights dialogues with the governments of the countries concerned and in the programming of the external financial instruments;
Amendment 284 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Stresses that freedom of expression and media, both offline and online, independence and pluralism are essential elements of a sustainable democracy, maximising the involvement of civil society and empowering citizens; calls and are therefore indispensable for ensuring transparency and accountability in public life; calls for increased support in the areas of promoting the freedom of media, protecting independent journalists and bloggers, reducing the digital divide and facilitating Internet access; unrestricted access to information and communication and uncensored access to the internet (digital freedom);
Amendment 286 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Notes that the Iinternet has become one of the most important vehicles through which individuals exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, and that it has played a crucial role in promoting human rights, democratic participation, accountability, transparency and economic development; notes however that ICTs can also be misused to violate human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 292 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Welcomes the Commission initiative on the ‘No Disconnection Strategy’; invites the Commission to submit a proposal for regulating the export of products and services aimed at blocking websitessmart regulatory proposals, including increased transparency and accountability for EU (based) companies, in order to improve the monitoring of the export of products and services aimed at, but also custom- made for, blocking websites, mass surveillance, monitoring all internet traffic and (mobile) communications, breaking into private conversations and transcribing them, filtering search results, and intimidating internet users including human rights defenders; believes telecommunications and internet service providers and software developers must learn the lessons of past mistakes, such as Vodafone's decision to give in to demands from the Egyptian authorities in the last weeks of the Mubarak regime to suspend services and to disseminate pro- government propagandaand should engage with policymakers, NGOs and activists in an open dialogue in order to set common minimum standards for human rights impact assessments and increased transparency;
Amendment 293 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
Amendment 294 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)
Paragraph 71 a (new)
71 a. Welcomes the inclusion of a ban on the export of technologies and services in the EU's restrictive measures against the governing authorities in Syria; notes that this ban should become a precedent for future restrictive measures against other repressive regimes, in particular towards Iran; notes however that EU policies should be precise to be effective and not to hurt human rights defenders;
Amendment 295 #
2011/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Notes that new technologies also allow witnesses and human rights defenders to collect information and share documentation of human rights abuses which may later be used to secure justice for victims; calls on the EU to work with the Global Network Initiativewelcomes multi-stakeholder initiatives and codes of conduct such as the Global Network Initiative; notes however that democratic oversight and the defence and promotion of fundamental rights are core tasks of government; calls on the Commission to support the development and dissemination of digital security technologies to empower human rights defenders through secure collection, encryption and storage mechanisms for such sensitive records and the use of ‘'cloud’' technology to ensure such material cannot be discovered and deleted; calls in particular on the Commission to examine and support the development of open- source technologies such as that developed by the Martus Project supported by the US State Department;
Amendment 7 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 13 December 2010 on "Democracy Support in the EU's External Relations – 2010 Progress Report and list of pilot countries",
Amendment 14 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
Amendment 15 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25
Citation 25
– having regard to the establishment of thecreation of a post of Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and an operational European External Action Service (EEAS), as onf 1 January 2011,
Amendment 22 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas those elements are reflected in the 2009 and 2010 Council conclusions on ‘Democracy Support in the EU's External Relations’,
Amendment 24 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas it is now clear that civil, culturpolitical, economic, politicsocial and socicultural rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and whereas democratic governance isconstitutional democracies and democratic governance, based on the rule of law, are the best means ofor guaranteeing and protecting thoese rights and working to combat povertyenabling economic development,
Amendment 34 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Union has at its disposal a wide range of instruments for supporting democracy and human rights (including: political, economic and trade agreements and partnerships, which contain clauses on respect for human rights and democracy; the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+); political dialogues; CFSP actions; ESDP missions; specialized financing instruments; twinning projects and election observation missions), but whereas it is essential to develop a coherent and more effective set of instruments tailored to the situation in each country,
Amendment 42 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, despite frequent breaches of the human rights and democracy clauses and the failure of some third countries to honour the commitments made in the relevant agreements, the countries in question are rarely penalised, only very rarelyr held sufficiently accountable,
Amendment 49 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Union has a genuine policy of incentives in this area to demand compliance with human rights and democracy clauses with a view to providing leverage for reform, but whereas the full potential of those incentives has not been exploited for political reasonsused; whereas in theory there is no structurlegal impediment to using external financing instruments to support democratisation,
Amendment 57 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas political parties and freely and fairly elected parliaments are centrally important to each democracy and democratisation process, the support for, and application of, the EIDHR has not yet corresponded to the importance of these actors in the past,
Amendment 59 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas there is widespread consensus among the EU institutions about the multidimensional, complex and long term nature of democracy, but whereas the Commission and the Member States have not taken the full electoral cycle into account when programming and implementing measures in support of democracy,
Amendment 63 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that only flourishing democracy in third countries can lay theconstitutional democracies, based on the rule of law, can function as a foundations for structural, balanced, legitimate partnerships withbetween third countries and the Union that are also in keeping with the needs and interests of both parties;
Amendment 74 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the events unfolding oin the southern shore of the MediterraneanNorth Africa and the Middle East have demonstrated the limitations of a focus on security and stability, which has failed to stamp out poverty and social injustice; believes that, although there has been economic growth, its benefits have not been distributed fairly; highlights the need for a paradigm shift aimed at the genuine consolidation of democracy on the basis of endogenous, sustainable and comprehensive development that benefits the population;
Amendment 84 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 133 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 134 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point a (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point a (new)
7 ba. Recalls that human rights and democracy are inextricably connected; only in a democracy can individuals fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms; only when human rights are respected, can democracy exist;
Amendment 135 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point b (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point b (new)
7 bb. Recalls that the rule of law must prevail, ensuring equality before the law and recognizing private property rights, the absence of arbitrary interference by public authorities, both legally and in practice; therefore requires public institutions to exercise their powers through transparent and accountable elected and public officials, and stresses that an independent and impartial judiciary is indispensable;
Amendment 136 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point c (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point c (new)
7 bc. Stresses that equality and non- discrimination are of vital importance and that everyone is entitled to enjoyment of all human rights without discrimination as to race, sex language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, birth or other status; and that democracy should ensure the rights of all, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, of indigenous people and other vulnerable groups; equally that the ability of men and women to participate on equal terms in political life and in decision- making is a prerequisite of genuine democracy;
Amendment 137 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point d (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point d (new)
Amendment 140 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point g (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point g (new)
7 bg. Believes that all citizens have the right to form independent associations and organisations, including independent political parties and interest groups;
Amendment 141 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point h (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point h (new)
7 bh. Stresses that political parties and the range of political views, interests, regional or communal affiliations that they represent are of vital importance; that political parties need to operate freely from interference by government and executive officials; that elected representatives, whether they support or oppose the government, need the authority and resources to debate and approve legislation and national budgets, to hold government to account for the conduct of public administration and the use of funds; that strong parliaments as the public forum for negotiating peacefully competitive concepts of political and social order and national legislative decision-making bodies are key to the experience of inclusive democracy;
Amendment 142 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point i (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point i (new)
7 bi. Stresses that civil society organisations and non-state actors are a vital building block of a well-functioning democracy and are key to establishing a democratic culture deeply rooted in society; that they steer public demands and hold public authorities accountable for their actions;
Amendment 143 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b – point j (new)
Paragraph 7 b – point j (new)
7 bj. Believes that independent and diverse media are essential for ensuring that a wide range of opinions and viewpoints are expressed and communicated to the public; and that free access to information, communication and uncensored access to the internet (internet freedom) are universal rights and indispensable for ensuring transparency and accountability in public life;
Amendment 171 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Is prepared to discuss the establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy (EED) should the action plan not be sufficiently promising; considers that the US National Endowment for Democracy, as a cross- party agency at arm's length from the Administration while largely funded by it and reporting to Congress and answerable to it, represents a model for democracy assistance and projection that could be considered as the basis for an EED;
Amendment 172 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Acknowledges the efforts made by the European Parliament's Office for the Promotion of the Parliamentary Democracy (OPPD) to assist and support parliaments in new and emerging democracies as well as regional parliaments; acknowledges the OPPD’s contribution to building the institutional and administrative capacity of the parliaments of new and emerging democracies and its cooperation with UNDP and the IPU in this regard; encourages the OPPD to work on a global consensus on basic standards of good parliamentary practice;
Amendment 173 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Proposes to enlarge the mandate of the Election Coordination Group (ECG) to also include democracy support policies and encourages the OPPD to closely cooperate with the ECG;
Amendment 174 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 g (new)
Paragraph 9 g (new)
9g. Underlines the important role of third countries’ parliaments for democratic budget oversight and is convinced that any direct budget support provided by the Union has to be complemented by technical and political reinforcement of the oversight capacity of national parliaments; maintains that the Union should actively inform third countries’ parliaments of the scope of EU cooperation; and encourages the OPPD to take an active role in supporting parliaments with regard to democratic budgetary supervision;
Amendment 176 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9e. Underlines the importance of mainstreaming of democratisation policies in all the work of the European Parliament as well as the European Parliament delegations; also recognizes the importance of global interparliamentary cooperation on democratization policies through fora such as Parliamentarians for Global Action;
Amendment 158 #
2011/0177(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Points to the significant savings that could be made if the European Parliament were to have a single seat; urges the budgetary authority to raise this issue in the negotiations on the next MFF 2014-2020;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to the fact that Iran's violations of its NPT Treaty obligations add to world's concerns about the safety of the world non-proliferation system, with the nuclear powers India and Israel refusing to join, the DPRK leaving the treaty and Pakistan's chief nuclear specialist operating a proliferation system in the past,
Amendment 19 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
– having regard to the Vienna Group proposal for transferring Iranian uranium to Russia and France and to the bridging proposal sponsored by the governments of Turkey and Brazil in an attempt to delay the passage of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 (2010),
Amendment 33 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the leadership has continuously used the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to suppress internal dissent, and whereas IRGC intervention in internal Iranian politics has peaked under President Ahmadinejad,
Amendment 49 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Iran has problematic relations with almost all its neighbours; whereas especially Israel and the Gulf region feel intimidated by's relations with some neighbours have been volatile; whereas especially Israel and some Persian Gulf states have expressed concern over Iran's aggressive rhetoric and, its ongoing nuclear programme and its support for Hezbollah and Hamas,
Amendment 65 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there has been a remarkable deepening of relations between Iran and Turkey, and whereas Iran is using its stateshould be much more forthcoming and ncon-state allies Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas, to destabiliseructive in its actions in the region,
Amendment 89 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Observes that previous Iranian mass movements were based on a dual pillar – the quest for both welfare and liberty – and suggests that the Green Movement add to its powerful political call of "Where is my voice?" the socio-economic and anti- corruption call "Where is my oil money?"that these remain unfulfilled promises of the 1979 revolution; whereas economic shortcomings such as inflation, corruption, high unemployment, energy shortages, an inefficient state sector and the waste of public funds have increased drastically over the last years;
Amendment 93 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses its solidarity with the millions of Iranians who have taken to the streets peacefully after the June 2009 presidential elections in the hope of political change in Iran;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Warns that the IRGC is slowly taking over Irdevelopment of an; indicates that despite ideological congruity between Supreme Leader Khamenei and the IRGC leadership, the development of the IRGC into a state within a state is turning Khamenei into a hostage in the hands of his own Praetorian Guardcreasingly greater role for the IRGC in different spheres of Iranian society raises fears of further militarization of the state;
Amendment 104 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 112 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its opposition to the death penalty and calls on the Iranian authorities, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions 62/149 and 63/138, to institute a moratorium on executions pending the abolition of the death penalty;
Amendment 118 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran finally to abolish the death penalty for crimes committed before the age of 18 and to amend its legislation to bring it into line with the international human rights conventions that Iran has ratified, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ICCPR;
Amendment 122 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Expresses its grave consternation that Iran continues to be one of the very few countries, together with Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Nigeria, which still practise stoning; calls on the Iranian Parliament to pass legislation outlawing this cruel and inhumane form of punishment;
Amendment 125 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Strongly condemns the continuing legal discrimination of women and the persecution of sexual minorities in Iran; denounces the inhumane and medieval practice of sentencing people to death for alleged acts pertaining to the choice of partners or sexual practices; in this context, reiterates its condemnation of the death sentence against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, charged with having had relations with two men; expresses continued concern about the fate of Ebrahim Hamidi, condemned to death by hanging on false charges of sodomy;
Amendment 128 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Urges the Iranian authorities to eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, and to uphold due process of law and to end impunity for human rights violations; in particular, calls on the Iranian Parliament and judiciary to abolish such cruel and inhumane punishments as limb amputation, stoning and flogging, which are inconsistent with Iran's international obligations; firmly rejects the notion promoted by the Iranian judicial authorities that such punishments are culturally justified;
Amendment 134 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is horrifiappalled by the fact that shooting into demonstrating crowds was considered acceptable by the security forces from the night of 15 June 2009 on, as shown in video footage; urges the EU institutions to present to the Iranian authoritiesCommission and the Council to establish a detailed list of all known incidents/violent actions against Iranian civilians in the aftermath of the elections, and insist that there be an honescalls on the Iranian authorities to set up an independent judicial investigation;
Amendment 141 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists that in any possible future negotiations with Iran the HR/VP makes the situation of human rights in the country a top priority; calls on the Commission to implement all the instruments at its disposal for the protection and promotion of human rights in Iran; in particular urges it to devise additional measures in the context of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in order to actively protect human rights defenders; stresses that facilitating shelter to human rights defenders and access to organisational resources and communication platforms is of particular importance; encourages the Member States to support the European Shelter City Programme and programmes to develop measures against media interception technology;
Amendment 151 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 157 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the fact that, in contradiction with the Constitution, members of religious minorities endure discrimination in housing, education and official jobs, which is leading young members of these minorities to opt for emigration; condemns in particular the systematic persecution of the Baha'i community, the wave of arrests of Christians in 2009, and the harassment of religious dissidents or non-believers as well as Sufi and Sunni Moslems; reiterates its call for the release of the 7 Baha'i leaders and calls on the Iranian Parliament to change Iranian legislation so as to ensure that all adherents of different beliefs in Iran can follow their convictions free from persecution;
Amendment 161 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 166 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Concludes that the position of Iranian NGOs worsened considerably in the wake of the disturbanceprotests following the controversial presidential election of 12 June, 2009; strongly supports the Coucriticizes the fact that all international contacts or financial and the Commission for backing these NGOs in a sensible waysupport for NGOs in Iran are systematically abused by the authorities to try to discredit these organisations and their work;
Amendment 172 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Expects the Council and the Commission toCalls for the re-establishment of a UN mandate for a Special Rapporteur to investigate human rights abuses and encourage accountability for those perpetrating human rights violations in Iran; urges the Iranian authorities to react positively to longstanding requests by several UN Special Rapporteurs (e.g. Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; Torture; Freedom of Religion or Belief; Independence of Judges and Lawyers) for official visits to Iran;
Amendment 179 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Council and the Commission to demandDemands that the Iranian regimeauthorities do not deter human rights activists from making use of their constitutional rights; calls for the immediate release of all those human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience who are still imprisoned;
Amendment 185 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to sign, ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW);
Amendment 191 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that representatives of EU institutions should include in the programmes of their official visits to Iran meetings with opposition leaders/representatives of the Green Movement and prominent Iranian human rights dissidents; stresses also that official mutual contacts between the delegations of the EP and the Majlis should be conditional on concrete improvements idevelop contacts with representatives from a broad range of Iranian political and social life including prominent Iranian human rights defenders;
Amendment 195 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges official representatives of the EU and its Member States, when meetingCondemns the repression by the Iranian authorities of the independent media, including the censorship of video and photo materials; calls on their Iranian counterparts, to insist onauthorities to respect the freedom of the media and to allow for the re-opening of the many dailyforcibly closed newspapers; closed down in recent years, as well as the release of political prisoners, by presenting lists of names in both casesondemns the practice of expulsion of foreign correspondents by the Iranian Government, including reporters from major European newspapers such as El Pais and the Guardian; believes that the censorship imposed by the Government is leading Iran into increasing isolation;
Amendment 201 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Expresses concern about the oppression of cultural, musical and artistic expression through censorship, prohibition, and the repression of artists, musicians, film directors, writers and poets;
Amendment 203 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Amendment 204 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Welcomes steps taken by several Member States to provide shelter to those Iranian human rights defenders, dissidents, journalists, students, women, children and artists who are persecuted for their religious beliefs, expression, sexual orientation, or other forms of exercising their human rights;
Amendment 212 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Condemns the campaign of dismissals of prominent university professors on political grounds as an intolerable attack on their human rights and academic freedom; believes that these policies will further politicise and debase Iranian universities, long a source of national pride and admiration by scholars around the world; calls on the Iranian authorities to take immediate steps to restore academic freedom in the country;
Amendment 231 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission, the Council and EU Member States to strengthen all enforcement mechanisms for the implementation of the EU Common Position - especially with regard to export licensing, custom and border controls, air cargo and shipping – in order to prevent Iran from evading the sanctions regime through third parties and locally registered front companiNotes that in view of Iran's persistent lack of full cooperation with the IAEA, additional sanctions have become the logical consequence and re-iterates its position that these measures should not negatively affect the general population; welcomes in this context the decision of the US to impose targeted sanctions on Iranian officials determined to be responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Iran since the disputed presidential election of June 2009; calls on the Council to adopt similar measures;
Amendment 233 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission, the Council and EU Member States to strengthenassess all enforcement mechanisms for the implementation of the EU Common Position - especially with regard to export licensing, custom and border controls, air cargo and shipping – in order to prevent Iran from evading the sanctions regime through third parties and locally registered front companiesbe able to give a realistic judgement of whether or not sanctions render the anticipated result;
Amendment 235 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Believes that renewed efforts are needed worldwide to rid the globe of the threat of nuclear weapons; welcomes President Obama's appeal for nuclear disarmament and calls on High Representative Catherine Ashton to make this issue one of her priorities both in her dealings with Member States and in her contacts with governments in the Middle East and Asia;
Amendment 237 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission, Council and U Member States to assess trade relations with Iran beyond sanctions, with the goal of limiting human rights violations through the export of technologies built according to European standards, including mobile phones, communication networks, (dual use) technologies, surveillance technologies and software for internet scanning and censorship and data mining, including data of a personal nature, to Iran; asks the Commission to table a proposal for a regulation on a new licensing system if this review suggests that legislative action is needed;
Amendment 240 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls on the Commission/Council to take immediate steps to ban the export of surveillance technology (especially monitoring centres) by EU companies to Iran;
Amendment 243 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the current Belgian Presidency and the forthcoming Hungarian Presidency to keep the Iranian nuclear file and the human rights of the Iranian people high on the agenda;
Amendment 250 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Rejects fiercely the desire expressed by the Iranian leadership to "wipe out" Israel; also fiercely rejectCondemns the anti-Semitic rhetoric of the Iranian president, especially his denial of the Holocaust and his underlying agenda of delegitimizing the Israeli state; calls on the EU institutions to safeguard the existence of the Jewish statreaffirms its full support for the existence of Israel and a two-state solution for Palestine;
Amendment 269 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Expresses its concerns on the remarkable deepening of relations between Iran and EU accession candidate Turkey; asks the Council and the Commission to discuss the Turkish attitude towards Iran with their counterparts in Ankara; calls on the Turkish authorities to follow the European approach towards the Iranian nuclear threat; calls on the EU instRecognizes the role of Turkey as an influential regional actor and commends its efforts at promoting regional stability and cooperation; welcomes the initiative of Turkey and Brazil to reach a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear impasse; encourages Turkey to include the situations to do their utmost to sever the lines between Teheran and Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas of human rights in Iran in its dialogue with Iran;
Amendment 290 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 297 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Takes note of the converging interests of the EU and Iran in finding peace and stability in Afghanistan; welcomes the constructive role of Iran in reviving infrastructure and economy in as well as preventing drug trafficking from Afghanistan; stresses, however, that sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan will require all neighbours to refrain from political interference in the country;
Amendment 298 #
2010/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Encourages transatlantic coordination and complementarity regarding Iran;
Amendment 57 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Amendment 64 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas numerous reports by NGOs and independent experts show that the 2006 NGO law and other measures taken by the Russian Government, including the anti- extremism legislation and the extension of state control over significant sections of the media, severely undermine freedom of expression and hamper human rights and civil society activities in Russia,
Amendment 67 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the Council of Europe Assembly and a number of independent human rights organisations have raised serious questions about standards of justice in Russia, including the lack of judicial independence, the denial of fair trials to defendants in politically controversial cases, the harassment and persecution of defence lawyers and the return of political prisoners within the Russian penal system,
Amendment 80 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas, in terms of energy security, relations between the EU and Russia offer great potential for positive and constructive mutual interdependence, provided that the partnership is based on the principle of non-discrimination and fair treatment, and on equal market conditions; whereas Russia’s energy policies in practice have featured examples of monopolistic and coercive abuse, particularly the denial of third country transit rights, supply interruptions and the violation of property rights,
Amendment 84 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the Brussels European Council of 15-16 June 2006 recommended that the negotiation of the European Charter Transit Protocol be concluded, that ratification of the ECT by all signatories to the Charter be secured and that the Commission be invited, especially in view of the recent gas crisis, to set out elements for an agreement with Russia on energy within the framework of the successor to the PCA, whereas the ECT is already legally binding on all EU Member States and on Russia, as a signatory according to Article 45,
Amendment 99 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 - point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 - point a a (new)
aa) insist that the EU’s relationship with Russia must be based on respect for the rule of international law and all binding agreements and treaties to which Russia and EU Member States adhere, including the UN Charter, the European Convention on Human Rights and the ECT, as well as the rules and commitments incumbent on members of the OSCE and Council of Europe;
Amendment 117 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 - point b c (new)
Paragraph 1 - point b c (new)
bc) insist on a thorough overhaul of the EU-Russia human rights consultations, including the creation of a formal role for independent NGOs from Russia and the EU, the involvement of officials from all relevant departments of the Russian Government and an end to the issuing of separate communiqués by the Russian Government;
Amendment 127 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 - point d
Paragraph 1 - point d
d) insist that the ECT, as an existing treaty, legally binding on Russia and all EU Member States, should be the basis for relations in the field of energy and that the principles of the ECT and the Transit Protocol thereto should be incorporated in the new agreement, while reiterating its call on Russia to strengthen its commitment to a rules-based approach by ratifying them ECT and signing and ratifying the Transit Protocol, bearing in mind Parliament’s opinion that the partners should be free to negotiate wording that goes beyond that of the ECT, as to the depth of cooperation and the areas covered by it, but that the agreement should in no circumstances be less comprehensive than that already subscribed to by the parties within the framework of the PCA;
Amendment 133 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 - point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 - point d a (new)
da) establish a clear code of conduct governing relations between the EU, Russia and the countries belonging to the shared neighbourhood, including respect for the sovereign independence of all European states, a commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and a determination to resolve frozen conflicts;
Amendment 158 #
2008/2104(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 - point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 - point m a (new)
ma) insist that the EU-Russia relationship be based on the principles of liberalised and open markets and reciprocity of investment rights between the partners, and therefore demand that, in exchange for close and beneficial economic ties, the Russian Government guarantee the property rights of foreign investors and review the 2008 Strategic Sectors Law, which gives the Russian state broad discretion to discriminate against foreign investors, whereas the EU internal market is freely open to Russian investors;
Amendment 27 #
2007/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the work done by the European Parliament Former Members Association in founding the International Election Monitors Institute in conjunction with the Former Members of the Canadian Parliament and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress; notes that IEMI members have observed a number of elections, and further points out that all present MEPs will one day be former Members and that their expertise will be invaluable for the further development of the democratic process;
Amendment 28 #
2007/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recognises that on a number of occasions European Parliament observation delegations have been short of numbers, and resolves that in these cases it may be thought useful to add former Members to make up the numbers; urges the appropriate political authorities of the European Parliament to follow up this suggestion;
Amendment 70 #
2007/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the added value offered by parliamentarians and former parliamentarians in election observation is incontestable but cannot, on its own, provide a rigorous judgement of an electoral process,