47 Amendments of Dominique BAUDIS
Amendment 4 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to Articles 188 C and 188 N(6)(a)(v) of the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establish207 and 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European CommunityUnion, pursuant to which the Council must request Parliament’s consent prior to the conclusion of any international agreement that covers fields to which the ordinary legislative procedure applies,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the Declaration of the UN General Assembly on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1998 (also known as the 'Declaration on Human Rights Defenders'),
Amendment 7 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the GCC is currently the EU’s sixth largest export market and that the EU is currently the GCC’s secondmain trading partner; notes that, notwithstanding this already intensive level of trade, there is still scope for deepening it, as well as room for more diversification between the two parties; is of the opinion that the conclusion of the EU-GCC FTA would greatly favour closer ties and further diversification;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas its geopolitical environment makes the Gulf a focus of security challenges that have global and regional implications (the stabilisation of Iraq, Iran’s nuclear programme, Islamist terrorism, piracy, Darfur and the situation in Yemen) and the GCC currently remains the only stable regional organisation based on multilateralism and cooperation,
Amendment 12 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the process of structural economic liberalisation and diversification initiated in several GCC member states is producing new internal dynamics, both politically (with constitutional reforms, political participation and institutional capacity buildinga strengthening of institutions) and socially (a voluntary sector is materialising, employers’ associations are developing and women’s circumstan are gaining access are changingto posts with responsibility), and this should be encouraged and supported,
Amendment 15 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Amendment 18 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, given the scale of investment by GCC countristates in the EU’s southern neighbourhood, cooperative synergies between Europe, the Mediterranean and the Gulf are called for,
Amendment 25 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the EU should propose a strategic partnership with the GCC and its member states commensurate with the respective roles of the two entities internationally; highlights the importance, to that end, of introducing regularperiodic summit meetings of heads of state and government; , independently of the progress of ongoing negotiations ;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the European External Action Service to devote more human resources to the region and for new EU diplomatic missions to be opened there to helpin each member state of the GCC, thereby helping to raise the profile of the EU, to facilitate political dialogue and to make the Union’s efforts more effective; calls on those EU Member States with diplomatic representations there to act in line with EU policy; stresses that differentiated bilateral approaches to GCC states minded to engage in closer cooperation with the EU can only complement and strengthen the multilateral framework;
Amendment 32 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Draws attention to the social and political developments that have taken place in recent years in most countries in the GulfGCC member states; encourages the Gulfose states to sustain and extend their efforts to promote human rights, gender equality, the right to work – including for migrant workers – and freedom of expression and opin, opinion and religion; invites the GulfCC member states to listen to the voices of civil society and to support the emergence of local structures and associations; calls in particular on the GCC member states to: – adopt measures to encourage women's access to the labour market and to education by tackling all forms of discrimination based on gender and other legal or customary provisions, including all such relating to personal status, – to abolish the sponsorship system imposed on migrant workers and to pursue labour law reforms in order to ensure that workers, including migrant and domestic workers, enjoy full legal and social protection, – to fight against all forms of impunity, ensure the independence of the judiciary and strengthen the role of justice system professionals, – to adopt a moratorium on executions and punishments involving amputations etc. out of respect for the integrity of the human body;
Amendment 36 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Reaffirms that the primary objective of the EU in its relations with the GCC should be to conclude the region-to-region FTA; but, until this happens, and following what some of the GCC major trade partners have already done, encourages the HR/VP and the Commissioner for Trade to assess alternative approaches to future commercial relations with the GCC countries, in the form of bilateral agreements between the EU and those of the Gulf States that already feel prepared to engage in a further commitment with the EU.
Amendment 47 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the triennial Joint Action Programme adopted by the EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting on 14 June 2010 and intended to strengthen cooperation in many strategic areas of mutual interest; finds it regrettable, however, that it does not contain a section providing for open, regular and constructive political dialogue;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the implementation of this Joint Action Programme should be accompanied by a precise and detailed funding scheme and carried out by staff specifically assigned to this task both in Brussels and the GCC member states; stresses the importance of ensuring the visibility of this programme and the dissemination of a wide range of information accessible to the administrations and institutions concerned; requests that an evaluation of the results be carried out at the end of the three-year period and that, should the results prove satisfactory, an EU-GCC cooperation agency be envisaged;
Amendment 52 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses its concern at seeing the Gulf region caught up in an arms race; asks the EU to initiate a strategic dialogue with the GCC states on regional security issues of common interest (the Middle East peace process, Iran’s nuclear capability, the stabilisation of Iraq, and Yemen and Islamist terrorism and the internal conflict in Yemen) and, ultimately, to contribute to building a regional security structure in the Middle East in partnership with the Gulf states;
Amendment 56 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that GCC member states are important regional players; calls on the GCC states to pursue their efforts to ensure the stability of the Horn of Africa and to fight piracy;
Amendment 58 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Reiterates its support for the Arab peace initiative put forward by one of the GCC member states and endorsed by all the states of the League of Arab States and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference; calls on GCC states to pursue their mediation efforts and support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to establish a two-state solution; stresses the joint interests of the EU and the GCC in working together to establish a just and lasting regional peace in the Middle East; suggests in this regard more regular concertation between the Quartet and the Arab League monitoring committee;
Amendment 60 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Recalls that the EU is the largest donor of aid to the Palestinian people; calls on the GCC member states to contribute more to strengthening Palestinian institutions and to economic development as part of the government programme of Prime Minister Fayyad to establish a Palestinian state in 2011 and to consider paying their financial contributions through existing international aid mechanisms, where appropriate; encourages the GCC states to increase their contributions, particularly given the global crisis that particularly affects western countries so as to preserve the GCC’s vital, stabilising role in the region;
Amendment 61 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the decision by the Presidents of the parliaments of the GCC member states, meeting in Abu Dhabi on 23 November 2010, to begin monitoring the activities of the GCC and its executive decisions and to establish an annual conference of the parliamentary institutions of GCC member states; welcomes the forthcoming establishment of an interparliamentary delegation for relations with the European Parliament; is convinced that far-reaching parliamentary cooperation will make a significant contribution to constructing a strategic partnership between the two groups;
Amendment 64 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the GCC member states have made education is a national priority in the GCC countries, with high levels of need in terms of human resources (there are not enough teachers), course content (which has not kept pace with changing labour markets) and syllabus quality (teaching methods and materials are out of date); asks that the authorities’ efforts to address these shortcomings be actively supported and proposes cooperation on an ambitious scale in higher, secondary and primary education;
Amendment 70 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets that the Erasmus Mundus programme remains virtually unknown in the region as a whole, mainly because of lack of information; welcomes the initiatives taken by French, British and German universities to establish university partnerships and exchange programmes; recalls, however, that Europe continues to lag behind the United States and Asia in this area; calls on the Commission to designate information days for the promotion of European scientific teaching and research on site; insists that these exchange programmes should target students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff, while ensuring a balanced gender representation; believes that exchange programmes should be established for younger age groups by targeting secondary school and high school students;
Amendment 72 #
2010/2233(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Amendment 59 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) With a view to enhancing the coherence of overall EU support in the regions concerned, opportunities should be sought to combine EIB financing with EU budgetary resources when and as appropriate, in the form e.g. of guarantees, risk capital and interest rate subsidies, investment co-financing, alongside technical assistance for project preparation and implementation, through the IPA, the ENPI, the Instrument for Stability, the EIDHR and the DCI. Greater integration of these financing instruments should be included in the guidelines for the renewal of the EIB’s external mandate for the period 2014-2020.
Amendment 61 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) The EIB should gradually be encouraged to divide up all its external activities on a geographic basis so as to better adapt to the specific requirements of each area and promote the participation of partner countries. The EIB should begin this process by immediately splitting up its Mediterranean activities, which until now have been grouped together in the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), and creating a Euro-Mediterranean Co-Development Financial Institution, of which the EIB would remain the main shareholder. In the specific case of the Mediterranean, this institutional change would allow the EIB to improve the effectiveness of its action in the Mediterranean countries, boost its visibility and provide increased financial support for the EU's priority initiatives for the Mediterranean. Partner countries' participation in the capital of this financial institution would lead to shared responsibility between the EU and its partners in the management of funds and of structural development projects which receive funding.
Amendment 62 #
2010/0101(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
(27a) The EIB should be more rigorous and more transparent in choosing its financial partners. It should, in particular, guarantee that in the context of its financial operations covered by the EU guarantee, the financial vehicles which it or its partners use cannot under any circumstances contribute to any form of tax evasion. The EIB should also, as far as possible, increase the diversification of its financial partners in the countries in which it operates and encourage the development of public- private partnerships and the increased involvement of civil society. The EIB should build on existing networks that encourage the pooling of resources and funding and networking among stakeholders in civil society and the world of business, such as the Invest in Med programme, which possesses real expertise in this field and has links in the partner countries.
Amendment 3 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the recommendations adopted by the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) at its sixth plenary session, held in Amman on 17 March 2010,
Amendment 25 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is a means of boosting the regional and multilateral dimension of Euro-Mediterranean relations, opening up fresh prospects for the establishment of an area of peace, security and prosperity for 800 million people, and offers the ideal framework for addressing the social and economic challenges, promoting regional integration and guaranteeing the co- development of the partner states,
Amendment 29 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the ncomplementarity between bilateral cooperation policies under the European Neighbourhood pPolicy conducted with the Mediterranean countries has its limitations and, by placing the emphasis on bilateral relations, is proving imbalanced and unable the one hand, and policies with a regional dimension under the UfM on the other, should be strengthened in order to contribute to a shared process of significant reform in the region,
Amendment 59 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas Mediterranean regions are directly affected by transnational issues such as water management, pollution, access to energy and security of supply, road and maritime networks and migration flows, and whereas local and regional authorities play a key role in facilitating the development of sustainable spatial planning policies and the implementation of practical projects,
Amendment 65 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the projects announced by the UfM – de-pollution of the Mediterranean, maritime and land highways, civil protection, the Mediterranean Solar Plan, the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean university and the development of SMEs – have suffered from general underfunding since the Paris Summit, which is partly delaying their implementation,
Amendment 79 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Remains concerned by the absence of a clear definition of the EU’s Mediterranean policy or of a long-term strategic vision for the development and stabilisation of the region, despite the creation of the UfM; calls for the Euro- Mediterranean integration process to become a political priority for the EU once more;
Amendment 111 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 - point 2
Paragraph 4 - point 2
- developing communications to ensure the visibility of the UfM’s activities, informing citizens on the UfM’s major projects and progress, in particular via a comprehensive website; clarifying the criteria for approving, funding and implementing major projects;
Amendment 145 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 - point 3
Paragraph 6 - point 3
- welcomes the steps taken by financial institutions at national, European (EIB- FEMIP, EBRD) and international (World Bank) level which are already active in the region, emphasises the need to identify synergies in connection with major projects, and proposes that a Euro- Mediterranean investment and development bank be set up to consolidate the North-South parity basis on which the UfM operates;
Amendment 146 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 - point 3 a (new)
Paragraph 6 - point 3 a (new)
- emphasises the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is coordinating three of the six priority projects (de-pollution of the Mediterranean, the Solar Plan and the maritime and land highways); notes that the EIB’s role in the UfM funding mechanisms must be promoted, strengthened and adapted;
Amendment 147 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 - point 3 b (new)
Paragraph 6 - point 3 b (new)
- underlines the need for effective financial instruments to strengthen investment and cooperation in the Euro- Mediterranean region;
Amendment 148 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 - point 3 c (new)
Paragraph 6 - point 3 c (new)
- awaits the conclusions of the group of experts on the Facility for Euro- Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) in order to draw inferences from the progress and limits of this mechanism; calls for the most effective mechanism to be identified in order to support the UfM’s major projects, among which are the possibility of creating, for example, a Euro- Mediterranean investment and development bank;
Amendment 162 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 - point 2 a (new)
Paragraph 7 - point 2 a (new)
- reforms intended to improve and simplify the performance of contracts, which, due to red tape, takes on average more than two years;
Amendment 163 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 - point 2 b (new)
Paragraph 7 - point 2 b (new)
- access to credit, which remains excessively limited for SMEs, due to the guarantees required by banks and the inadequate provision of credit options suitable for small enterprises;
Amendment 182 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the strategic importance of issues such as agriculture, food security, water and rural development in Mediterranean countries, and calls for cooperation in the farming sector to be made a political priority; encourages the UfM member countries to work on harmonising their positions in the context of WTO negotiations and to move towards greater convergence among Euro- Mediterranean agricultural policies, taking into consideration the requirements of sustainable development and the maintenance of jobs in the agricultural and related sectors;
Amendment 186 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the partner states, as part of the UfM’s major transport projects, to improve infrastructure in order to encourage a sustainable transport policy, taking into consideration the requirements of sustainable development, greenhouse gas reductions, energy efficiency and intermodality; emphasises that such efforts must be carried out in connection with environmental, industrial, public health and land planning policy; emphasises the need to develop maritime highway projects in order to encourage modal shifts and create safe, clean and sustainable commercial shipping routes;
Amendment 191 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Emphasises the urgency of developing stronger cooperation in the field of civil protection in the Mediterranean region to combat natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, floods and forest fires; encourages the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean forest fires institute;
Amendment 197 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is keen to see new projects in the cultural field put on the UfM’s agenda in the very near future; suggests that priority be given to setting upencourages the initiatives intended to promote mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures and supports the Anna Lindh Foundation, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Arab World Institute; calls for the implementation of a Euro- Mediterranean junior Erasmus programme called ‘Averroës’, as a way of stepping up exchanges between secondary school pupils in UfM member countriesstrategy for cultural affairs and especially for higher visibility of the audiovisual programme established by the UfM through the Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM); supports the EuroMed-News project aimed at informing the populations of the Mediterranean countries about EU-supported actions in the region;
Amendment 203 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the choice of Marseille- Provence as European Capital of Culture in 2013: the project has a strong Euro- Mediterranean dimension intended to bring together the peoples on both sides of the Mediterranean; emphasises that the purpose of this highly symbolic cultural project is to drive concrete, innovative action to improve the dialogue between the cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean;
Amendment 207 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Welcomes the formation of the Euro- Mediterranean University EMUNI into a network; emphasises the importance of devoting a significant proportion of the UfM’s activities to education, school and university exchanges and research as ways of bringing the peoples on both sides of the Mediterranean closer together; therefore requests: - the setting up of a Euro-Mediterranean junior Erasmus programme called ‘Averroës’, as a way of stepping up exchanges between secondary school pupils in UfM member countries; - that adequate funding be devoted to strengthening academic exchange programmes such as ‘Erasmus Mundus’ and providing better information on existing exchange programmes that students are unaware of; - the development of a fully-functioning Mediterranean knowledge triangle – that is, greater coordination between training, research and innovation, and the creation of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean higher education, science and research area; - more structured cooperation in the field of higher education and research; - that the recognition of qualifications, the introduction of joint qualifications and common graduate schools be promoted; - improved mobility for researchers and efforts to fight the brain drain by improving universities’ attractiveness and quality; - that emphasis be placed on dialogue between universities and enterprises and on public-private partnerships in the field of research;
Amendment 212 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that the purpose of the EMPA is to become the legitimate democratic parliamentary assembly of the UfM, and it must therefore be closely involved in defining the areas of work and in monitoring the projects undertaken; states its wish to give full power and visibility to this assembly;
Amendment 214 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the recent establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) and calls for efforts to ensure proper coordination between the ARLEM’s activities and those of the EMPA, in particular through joint meetings or reciprocal invitations for members of their respective bureaux to attend working meetings; emphasises the need for these assemblies that bring together elected representatives from both sides of the Mediterranean and promote the exchange of best democratic practice;
Amendment 218 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for civil society, the social partners and the numerous professional and socio-professional networks developed as part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to be consulted regularly and involved in the UfM’s activities and projects; particularly in: - encouragesing the establishment of a Mediterranean business leaders’ forum andprofessional networks aimed at developing sustainable business relations, investments and business partnerships between both sides of the Mediterranean, such as the Invest in Med Programme; - improving cooperation between the enterprise confederations of all the partner countries through the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises, BUSINESSMED, especially in order to adopt and spread good economic and social practices for enabling improved convergence and integration between the enterprises of the Union for the Mediterranean; - extending the industrial cooperation group for implementing the Euro- Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise to include representatives of SMEs so that it can become the tool which will enable the removal of obstacles to growth and to the development of SMEs; - debating the need to establish a Euro- Mediterranean economic and social council;
Amendment 226 #
2009/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the Council of the European Union, the President of the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the co-presidency and the secretariat of the UfM, and the governments and parliaments of the partner states.