18 Amendments of Bernd LANGE related to 2017/2056(INI)
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Azerbaijan is part of both the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership framework, which are based on a shared commitment with the EU to deepen bilateral relations and to uphold international law and fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas since 1999 EU-Azerbaijan relations have been regulated by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; whereas negotiations on the new EU- Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement were launched in February 2017 and will include a title on trade and related matters, including chapters on trade in goods, customs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, transparency, dispute settlement, competition, public procurement, intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, state-owned enterprises, energy and trade, and a sustainable development chapter;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the EU is by far the biggest trading partner of Azerbaijan, in terms of both imports and exports, accounting for 48.6% of its total trade and constituting the largest source of foreign direct investment;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the economy of Azerbaijan relies heavily on the oil and gas sector, which accounts for around 30% of GDP and around 90% of exports, making it vulnerable to external shocks and fluctuations in global oil prices; whereas the diversification and modernisation of the Azerbaijani economy remains important in ensuring sustainable long-term growth; whereas Azerbaijan was initially downgraded from the status of an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)-compliant country to an EITI candidate country in April 2015, before having its membership suspended in March 2017;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas despite having officially applied in 1997, Azerbaijan is not yet a Member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and its trade relations with the EU currently fall under Most Favoured Nation Treatment, having graduated from GSP+ in 2014 on the basis of its income level; whereas until Azerbaijan does join the WTO, serious tariff and non-tariff barriers will continue to hamper its trade and business relations with its economic partners;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G (new)
Recital G (new)
G. whereas a fully functioning civil society is a vital precondition for securing economic diversification by means of enhanced trade and economic integration, with a view to benefiting the whole of Azerbaijani society;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the Commission, the European External Action Service and the Member States should take the lead internationally to promote the fight against corruption among the EU’s partner countries, including under the Neighbourhood Programming Instrument, with a view to establishing and consolidating independent and effective anti-corruption institutions;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recommends the following to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service:
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to take into account the specific characteristics of SMEs, with the aim of improving their business climate, fostering their internationalisation and unlocking their export potential;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(na) to include provisions on anti- corruption by setting up a framework for cooperation on transposing the relevant international standards;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
(nb) to support Azerbaijan in the fight against money laundering and to lend its cooperation in preventing tax evasion;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n c (new)
(nc) to encourage Azerbaijan to resume its activities in the EITI;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(ua) to include strong and enforceable measures covering the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications for wines, spirits and other agricultural and foodstuff products;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
(ub) to follow the principles of the revised ENP and to strive for an ambitious agreement compatible with the aspirations of both sides; to commit to rapid progress in negotiations that would help Azerbaijan to accelerate the structural reforms it needs to diversify its economy; to bear in mind that the agreement should serve to reduce the number of barriers to market access, facilitate trade and encourage sustainable development for the benefit of citizens; to take into account the gender impact and respect for human rights while boosting export opportunities for both sides of the agreement;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u c (new)
(uc) to support Azerbaijan in its accession process to the WTO by providing technical support, so as to enable the country to harmonise with international standards and benefit from the rules-based multilateral trading system and trade facilitation;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u d (new)
(ud) to include in the public procurement chapter a reference to the rules set out in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ac a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ac a (new)
(aca) to include a strong parliamentary dimension in the monitoring of the implementation of the agreement;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ac b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ac b (new)
(acb) to conduct the negotiations as transparently as possible; reminds the Commission of its obligation to inform Parliament immediately and fully at all stages of the negotiations and urges the Council to publish the negotiating directives;