1018 Amendments of David LEGA
Amendment 116 #
2023/2811(RSP)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Highlights the role of the European Parliament in calling for an efficient European Child Guarantee and its efforts in guaranteeing swift implementation as well as resilience of the European Child Guarantee to the new crises; in the light of complex and far- reaching economic and social consequences of these crises, believes that a permanent horizontal body in the European Parliament should advise to all the relevant parliamentary committees also on mainstreaming the objectives of the European Child Guarantee in their work and all children’s rights in the European legislation;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2129(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the Union budget must continue to provide support to build peace and stability in the Middle East region, to combat hate and fundamentalism and to promote human rights; awaitnotes the reviewconclusion of the Commission is conducting on the use of Union’s internal review regarding the Union funds to Palestinians and calls for an objective, third party, independent audit of these EU funds;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2129(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the Union budget must continue to provide support to build peace and stability in the Middle East region, to combat hate and fundamentalism and to promote human rights; awaitnotes the reviewconclusion of the Commission is conducting on the use of Union’s internal review regarding the Union funds to Palestinians and calls for an objective, third party, independent audit of these EU funds;
Amendment 242 #
2023/2129(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127
Paragraph 127
127. Notes that, followingReaffirms its condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the despicable terrorist attacks carried out byommitted by the terrorist group Hamas against Israel on 7 October 2023, the Commission announced on 9 October 2023 its decision to review the Union’s assistance for Palestine; welcomes that the; underlines that the Hamas terrorists who perpetrated the attack on Israel are graduates of the Palestinian education system, which is largely financed by the EU; points out, again, the incitement to violence, glorification of terrorism, and antisemitism taught in Palestinian schools via Palestinian Authority textbooks and additional material developed by the UNRWA, which are taught in both UNRWA schools and Hamas-run schools; expresses extreme worry about the credible reports regarding UNRWA staffers praising, facilitating or even assisting Hamas on 7 October; calls on the Commission to immediately stop EU funding to UNRWA, and demands that the humanitarian aid to Palestine is redirected to other organisations, as EU aid should under no circumstances - directly or indirectly - be financing terrorism; stresses that the EU should help the Palestinian civilian population and should foster peace in the region, hence it should not support any organisation or entity connected to Hamas or any other terror organisation; is ashamed of the Commissions own internal review, finalised on 21 November 2023, which has shown that the Commission has ex- ante and ex-post controls, and a system of safeguards in place that work well and that no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes; highlights, furthermore, that according to the Commission’s reply, the current rules in tender procedures and calls for proposals “make the participation of entities, individuals or groups affiliated with terrorist organisations categorically incompatible with any Union funding”;
Amendment 123 #
2023/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(na) express public concern and condemnation of hate speech that incites discrimination and violence against religious minorities; jointly commit to ensuring that those who indulge in hate speech are held accountable, and counter the impunity of lawmakers and state officials who engage in hate speech or incitement to violence.
Amendment 24 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2023 on the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai,
Amendment 48 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas China is simultaneously a partner and also increasingly a competitor and systemic rival to the EUa competitor and a systemic rival to the EU, increasingly undermining the EU's interests and posing a growing security threat;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas China is being described as simultaneously a partner and also increasingly a competitor and systemic rival to the EU;
Amendment 61 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas both the European Union and China have a shared interest inChina is not pursuing constructive and stable relations, which must be based on respect for the rules-based international order, international law, balanced engagement and reciprocity;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China is changing and moving into a new era of security and control characterised by an increasingly assertive economic and, foreign and military policy, attempts to change the international rules- based order and increasingly oppressive domestic policies;
Amendment 97 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU can only credibly defend its interests and values against an increasingly assertive China if it acts with a single, united approach and political will;
Amendment 115 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the EU must not accept critical, in coordination with like-minded partners, must clearly communicate to the PRC the consequences of its political or military support by China for Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine or for any circumvention of EU sanctions imposed followingrelated to Russia’s illegal invasion;
Amendment 120 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas China’s grey-zone activities, such as warplane incursions, missile drills, economic coercion, and cyberattacks, aim to pressure Taiwan into submission; whereas China’s expansionist policies and harassment behaviour in the South China Sea demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the freedom of navigation;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas China’s grey-zone activities, such as warplane incursions, missile drills, economic coercion, and cyberattacks, aim to pressure Taiwan into submission; whereas China’s expansionist policies and harassment behaviour in the South China Sea demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the freedom of navigation;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas since the PRC imposed the National Security Law (NSL) on 30 June 2020, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence in Hong Kong have deteriorated alarmingly; whereas the PRC has fully breached the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, the Sino-British and Sino-Portuguese Joint Declarations and the ICCPR;
Amendment 146 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas freedom of religion and belief continues to deteriorate across mainland China, with the CCP carrying out an intense campaign of ‘sinicisation’ of religion, requiring all religions to adhere to the party's ideology, doctrine, and teachings;
Amendment 161 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) continue engagingengage selectively with China to tackle global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity, health and pandemic preparedness, debt relief and humanitarian assistance, and increase dialogue with China on security issues in view of China’s increasingly critical role in global securityin those areas where China is willing to engage constructively. Notes with concern, however, that even in areas such as global security, climate change and biodiversity, health and pandemic preparedness, debt relief and humanitarian assistance, China does not play a constructive global role;
Amendment 166 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) continue engaging with China to tackle global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity, health and pandemic preparedness, debt relief and humanitarian assistance, and increase dialogue with Chinalike-minded partners on security issues in view of China’s increasingly critical role in global security;
Amendment 174 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) call on China to uphold the rules- based international order, especially the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for the territorial integrity or political independence of all states, and strengthen multilateral institutions in face of Chinese regime's malign influence and attempts to change international norms;
Amendment 177 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) call on China to uphold the rules- based international order, especially the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for the territorial integrity or political independence of all states; condemn China’s increasing military provocation around the Taiwan Strait;
Amendment 184 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) prevent China from abusing the One China Policy to threaten Taiwan and attempts to isolate and exclude Taipei from multilateral fora;
Amendment 204 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ensure that China plays a constructive role in multilateral organisations such as the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations and support steps towards allowing Taiwan’s participation in the meetings, mechanism and activities of relevant international institutions such as the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; strongly oppose China’s constant misinterpretation and distortion of the UN Resolution 2758(XXVI) which contains no mention of People’s Republic of China’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system; express grave concerns that Taiwanese passport holders, including journalists, NGO workers and political activists, continued to be barred from accessing tours and events in the UN;
Amendment 215 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) oppose China’s constant misinterpretation and distortion of the UN Resolution 2758(XXVI) which contains no mention of People’s Republic of China’s claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it authorise the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system; address grave concerns that Taiwanese passport holders, including journalists, NGO workers and political activists, continued to be barred from accessing tours and events in the UN;
Amendment 221 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) note that the Chinese government is strengthening its role and influence in international institutions, including in the United Nations and its Human Rights Council; respond adequately to China’s efforts to build alternative international organisations, including through the BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), by ensuring better coordination among the EU Member States and intensifying partnerships with like-minded partners around the world;
Amendment 239 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) insist that China fulfils its responsibilities as a global power by upholding human rights and the rule of lawhold China accountable for its violations of human rights and the rule of law, including through multilateral fora such as the UN Human Rights Council;
Amendment 248 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) oppose China's membership of UN Human Rights Council and work with like-minded partners to support the reform of the UNHRC;
Amendment 252 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) ensure a unified European approach when China uses its economic leverage to silence opposition against its human rights abuses; intensify and include Members of the European Parliament in the Human Rights Dialogue with China and work towards a united approach on cultural and academic cooperation with China while preventing undue influence from Chinese sources of finance; ensure that the Human Rights Dialogues aren’t misused for propaganda purposes by China but, instead, that the Union’s representatives fully utilise the dialogue by raising concrete cases;
Amendment 253 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) ensure a unified European approach when China uses its economic leverage to silence opposition against its human rights abuses; intensify and include Members of the European Parliament in the Human Rights Dialogue with China and work towards a united approach on cultural and academic cooperation with China while preventing undue influence from Chinese sources of finance; continuously evaluate the cultural and academic cooperation with China to make sure that these cooperation are not used as foreign interference mechanisms from the PRC;
Amendment 269 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) support an independent and impartial UN investigation into human rights violations in China, in particular in Xinjiang and, Tibet and Hong Kong, and urge the Chinese authorities to grant meaningful access to the regions concerned and immediately and unconditionally release the Uyghur scholar and 2019 Sakharov Prize Laureate Ilham Tohti; call for the immediate release of Chinese human rights defenders and lawyers, including Li Qiaochu, Xu Yan, Xie Yang, Li Yuhan, Yang Bin, Lin Shenliang, Sophia Huang Xueqin, Wang Jianbing, He Fangmei and Wu Yi;
Amendment 270 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) support an independent and impartial UN investigation into human rights violations in China, in particular in Xinjiang and Tibet, and urge the Chinese authorities to grant meaningful access to the regions concerned and immediately and unconditionally release the Uyghur scholar and 2019 Sakharov Prize Laureate Ilham Tohti; support the 2022 UN Human Right report on Xinjiang and call on China to cease its crimes against humanity in the region, which include arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups;
Amendment 277 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) condemn the PRC’s assimilationist policies in Tibet that violate the educational, religious, cultural and linguistic rights of the Tibetan people and threaten to ultimately eradicate Tibetan culture and identity, including the compulsory boarding school and pre- school system; stresses that such policies separates over 1 million Tibetan children from their families and enforces Chinese- language education;
Amendment 279 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) underline religious freedom and human rights have continued to deteriorate in China; condemn Chinese government measures aimed at suppressing believers who resist being controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and which force bishops to join the CCP-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association; highlight the need to protect religious freedom from authoritarianism like China;
Amendment 281 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) insist on China to follow up on the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and UN Committee on Women’s Rights regarding violations of rights and freedoms and breaches of international legal obligations in China, in particular Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong;
Amendment 288 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i b (new)
(ib) urge China to immediately allow private Tibetan schools to be established and ensure that Mandarin is not the only language allowed as the language of instruction in Tibet; consider adopting sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for designing and implementing the boarding school and preschool system in Tibet;
Amendment 289 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i c (new)
(ic) reaffirm that the credible evidence about birth prevention measures and the separation of Uyghur children from their families amount to crimes against humanity and represent a serious risk of genocide; call on the Chinese authorities to cease all government-sponsored programmes of forced labour and mass forced sterilisation and to put an immediate end to any measures aimed at preventing births in the Uyghur population;
Amendment 291 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i d (new)
(id) reiterate its call on the Council to adopt additional sanctions targeting high- ranking PRC officials, such as Chen Quanguo, Zhao Kezhi, Guo Shengkun and Hu Lianhe, as well as others identified in the Xinjiang police files, and other individuals and entities, who are involved in the systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region;
Amendment 292 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i d (new)
(id) adopt additional sanctions targeting high-ranking PRC officials, such as Chen Quanguo, Zhao Kezhi, Guo Shengkun and Hu Lianhe, as well as others identified in the Xinjiang police files, and other individuals and entities, who are involved in the systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region;
Amendment 294 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i f (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i f (new)
(if) address the deteriorating situation of religious freedom in China; condemn the Chinese government measures aimed at suppressing believers who resist being controlled by the CCP, and which force bishops to join the CCP-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association;
Amendment 297 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) address individual cases of European citizens, including dual nationals, being held in ‘administrative detention’ in China, such as the Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai, and use all diplomatic channels to pressure for their release;
Amendment 299 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
(ja) ensure adequate resources for the European Union Office to Hong Kong (EU Office) so that it can continue conducting prison visits and human rights monitoring, by releasing public statements, appointing a human rights focal point among its staff for human rights defenders and raising their cases with the authorities at all levels; calls on the EEAS and the EU Office to report regularly on the most prominent trials, as well as on the evolution of the human rights situation in Hong Kong more generally;
Amendment 305 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) show solidarity with civil society inacross mainland China and Hong Kong and speed up the implementation of the European human rights framework with Magnitsky-style sanctions in close collaboration with international partners, including the freezing of foreign assets and visa restrictions against those involved in human rights abuses, including and crimes against humanity, including John Lee and other Hong Kong and PRC political decision makers in Hong Kong;
Amendment 313 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) identify and close down any avenues that currently facilitate transnational repression efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including illegal Chinese 'police stations' in the European Union and in particular those targeting diaspora communities, in cooperation and coordination with like- minded partners; work with third countries to protect the targets of the PRC's transnational repression, such as Chinese and Hong Kong human rights lawyers and activists;
Amendment 324 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(ma) review the agreement between the EU and Hong Kong/China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, the status of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, and Hong Kong’s seat in the World Trade Organization;
Amendment 328 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) condemn attempts by the Chinese authorities to target Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU and call on those Member States who have not yet done so to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong;
Amendment 330 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) condemn attempts by the Chinese authorities to target Chinese and Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU and call on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong;
Amendment 331 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) condemn attempts by the Chinese authorities to target Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU and call on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and, Hong Kong and Macau;
Amendment 338 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(na) organise annual 4 June Tiananmen Square vigils in commemoration of the victim of communist totalitarianism;
Amendment 340 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
(nb) closely monitor the trials of political prisoners in Hong Kong and call for the release of such political prisoners, including the founder of Apple Daily Jimmy Lai and the 47 pro-democracy activists, including former elected legislators, arrested and imprisoned for holding a primary election campaign in 2020;
Amendment 344 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n c (new)
(nc) fully implement the Council conclusions on Hong Kong of 24 July 2020;
Amendment 351 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 3
Paragraph 1 – subheading 3
Amendment 358 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) work closely towards fostering unity and political will among the Member States’ approach towards China and strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy to ensure that Europe is able to defend its values and economic interests vis-a-vis China, as well as the global rules-based order;
Amendment 364 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) work towards a renewed, assertive and coherent EU approach towards China that shapes relations with the PRC in the interest of the EU as a whole and takes full account of the challenges stemming from the PRC’s rise as a disruptive global actor and, its increasingly oppressive domestic policies and assertive foreign policythe multi-dimensional security threat it poses to the EU and to democracies around the world;
Amendment 375 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) strengthen the EU’s economic autonomy, and develop effective approaches to counter China’s targeted economic coercion towards Member States, such as Lithuania; ensure mutually beneficial economic relations and prevent sensitive technologies from being used for military purposes by de-risking trade flows and reducing critical dependencies on the PRC without aiming to decouple or turning inwards;
Amendment 390 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(ra) highlight that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is vital for global economy and more than 50 percent of the world’s shipping containers pass through Taiwan Straits; urge the EU and its Member States to take a firm stand against China’s intimidation and coercion towards Taiwan; welcome Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing diversification in Europe and reiterate its longstanding support to a EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement and any arrangements mutually beneficial to bilateral trade and investment;
Amendment 395 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r c (new)
(rc) strengthen economic cooperation with Taiwan, including the semiconductor industry which is vital for global economy and continue supporting Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing diversification in Europe;
Amendment 396 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s
Paragraph 1 – point s
(s) work towards a more coordinated approach towards the protection of critical infrastructure at EU level and strengthen cooperation with NATO and other like- minded partners; present an EU strategic policy framework to reduce and limit influence and operational control by China and other regimes that a security threat to the Union in the EU’s critical infrastructure;
Amendment 405 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
(sa) call on the Commission and the Member States to urgently address the need to reduce the risks of espionage and sabotage in critical infrastructure, in particular those with a military function, such as ports that are used by NATO;
Amendment 413 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) ensure greater coordination and cooperation with like-minded partners to address the multi-dimensional threat posed by China, on issues of common concern, especially but not exclusively on issues such as strategic dependencies, economic coercion, political interference and disinformation, and to promote rules- based multilateralism and strategic solidarity between democracies;
Amendment 419 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) highlight that the EU’s ‘One China policy’ remains the foundation of our engagement with both the PRC and Taiwan but also; maintain that whilst the EU’s relationship with Taiwan remains unofficial, it recognises Taiwan as a reliable and valued like-minded partner in Asia; underline the positive effects and strategic importance of deepening ties between the EU and Taiwan;
Amendment 423 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) highlight that the EU’s ‘One China policy’ remains the foundation of our engagement with both the PRC and Taiwan but also underl, and that the Union will not tolerate its abuse by Beijing; continue strengthenineg the positive effectdynamic of deepening ties between the EU and Taiwan;
Amendment 428 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
(v) revisit the EU’s engagement policy with Taiwan and continue supporting democracy there together with like-minded partners; encourage further exchanges between Parliament and its Taiwanese counterparts in this context as well as people-to-people contact; strengthen cooperation with Taiwanese institutions in addressing China's hybrid threats;
Amendment 435 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
(va) intensify cooperation and pursue a comprehensive enhanced partnership with Taiwan, notably essential cooperation on critical supply chain resilience, and countering disinformation and foreign interference; stresses the need to urgently begin an impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the Taiwanese authorities in preparation for negotiations to deepen bilateral economic ties;
Amendment 441 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w
Paragraph 1 – point w
(w) ensure that the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is not changed by means of force or coercion by supporting initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building between the two sides; take concrete steps, including increasing Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) in the Taiwan Strait, facilitating Taiwan’s military capability- building, and considering economic sanction packages in the event of a Chinese invasion, to discourage China from escalating tensions in the region; prepare a scenario-based strategy for tackling potential security challenges in the Taiwan Strait;
Amendment 455 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x
Paragraph 1 – point x
(x) establish a ‘Far-East StratCom Task Force’ as part of the European External Action Service, to be tasked with identifying, monitoring and countering disinformation efforts and nation-specific actions by China; strengthen efforts to fight Chinese malign influence, including information operations, in third countries, including Latin America and Africa;
Amendment 459 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(xa) strengthen cooperation between national intelligence agencies in identifying and addressing Chinese espionage and other subversive activities seeking to influence or undermine our democratic societies and institutions;
Amendment 472 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
(ya) make clear to China the consequences of supporting Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and sanctions circumvention, including through the territory of Hong Kong;
Amendment 473 #
2023/2127(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
(ya) stress that the human rights situation in China must be taken into consideration before final ratification of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI);
Amendment 113 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) strengthen the transatlantic partnership in the fight for democracy, human rights, the rules-based international order and multilateralism;
Amendment 119 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) reinforce the accountability and resilience of our democratic systems in the run-up to the elections next year on both sides, as well as enhance transatlantic dialogue and cooperation on policies supporting democracy, human rights and the rule of law and combating disinformation and foreign interference from authoritarian regimes; encourage further cooperation and exchanges between like-minded partners, in particular those who stand on the frontline defending democracy and freedom against authoritarian expansion.
Amendment 201 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) explore ways to create synergies and possibilities of EU-US engagement with China in multilateral frameworks on common and global challenges, such as climate change, health-related risks, respect for human rights, cyberspace including religious freedom, foreign information manipulation and interference, cyberspace, freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, arms control, non- proliferation and emerging disruptive technologies;
Amendment 226 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) foster closer partnership with the US and other like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region; , including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan, in order to counter challenges that affect our shared values, interests, security and prosperity, in particular, any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo; note that China’s continued military provocations pose a threat not just to Taiwan, but to the wider Indo-Pacific, and ultimately, the established global order.
Amendment 232 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) foster closer partnership with the US and other like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region; seek a more EU-US coordinated approach on Taiwan;
Amendment 250 #
2023/2126(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s
Paragraph 1 – point s
(s) underline the need to deepen the EU-US cooperation in the Middle East while continueing the good bilateral engagements on our respective policies towards the Middle East Peace Process, as well as to continue to coordinate our efforts to encourage positive developments in the wider region, including the Abraham Accords;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2122(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that the EU external action funds should not go directly or indirectly to non-governmental entities that do not adhere to European standards and values regarding human rights and democracy;
Amendment 62 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the People’s Republic of China has for many years promoted an alternative narrative, challenging democratic values, open markets, and the rules-based international order; whereas China’s increasing influence in international organisations has impeded positive progress and further excluded Taiwan from meaningful participation;
Amendment 273 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the VP/HR and Member States to deliver more robust, flexible, efficient and modular CSDP missions and operations, that can adapt to the changing security context and that build on the synergies and complementarities of civilian and military dimensions of CSDP; welcomes the adoption of the new Civilian CSDP Compact and the commitment to increase the effectiveness, flexibility and responsiveness of civilian missions, including through speeding up decision making, strengthening operational planning, improving selection and recruitment of personnel, emphasising greater gender equality and improving responsiveness tools;
Amendment 336 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on Member States to increase their levels of defence spending to adjust to the current geopolitical situation, and address the significant threats towards the Union’s security; calls on theall EU NATO Member States to increase their military budgets to at least 2 % of GDP considering the impact of historic under-investment and spiralling inflation on defence budgets, in accordance with NATO standards;
Amendment 363 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls for heightened attention to China’s escalating hybrid warfare tactics in the Indo-Pacific, particularly pertaining to Taiwan, which faces five million cyberattacks every day, primarily from China. Acknowledges that the potential repercussions of destabilisation in the region would resonate far beyond the Taiwan Strait and impact the security of the EU; stresses the importance of developing regular dialogue, cooperation, and capacity building with Taiwan, which possesses substantive expertise and employs scientific methods to counter Chinese cyberattacks and FIMI based on its extensive experience, technological advantages, and linguistic proximity to China;
Amendment 433 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Emphasises that the EU must further develop its own capabilities in allrelevant domains to protect the sovereignty of all Member States while enhancing its security cooperation with NATO and like- minded partners across the globe;
Amendment 455 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the importance of the partnership dimension of the Strategic Compass in reinforcing cooperation between the EU and its allies and partners around the world in order to counter foreign strategies aimed at undermining the EU and destabilising the rules-based international order; welcomes the long- awaited third Joint Declaration on EU- NATO Cooperation which confirmed that the EU and NATO are essential partners who share common values and strategic interests, and who work in complementarity to ensure Euro-Atlantic and global security and stability; calls in particular for synergies and coherence between NATO’s Strategic Concept and the EU’s Strategic Compass, particularly in the areas of countering Russian aggression, hybrid and cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns and providing support to partners;
Amendment 457 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Expresses deep concern about China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the Taiwan Strait, including its 1,727 fighter jet incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone in 2022, which is undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Encourages Member States to increase the frequency of freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and deepen security dialogues with Taiwan to deter Chinese aggression against the democratic island. Condemns China’s disruptive activities in the South China Sea, including island- building, harassment, and dangerous manoeuvres conducted by its navy, coast guard, and maritime militia. These actions have raised tensions with neighbouring countries and threatened maritime security in one of the most important global trade routes. Calls for greater Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) and capacity building with the EU’s partners in the region. Stresses the need to cooperate with a broader set of actors in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Taiwan, in terms of information exchange, burden-sharing, and strategic alignment, in order to optimise the use of the EU’s limited resources;
Amendment 488 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of developing security and defence dialogues with partners around the world, in particular in the Western Balkans, Southern Neighbourhood and Eastern Partnership but also with key partners in strategic maritime areas such as those stretching from the Red Sea and Horn of Africa to the Indo-Pacific;
Amendment 96 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas accession to the EU must always be a merit-based procedure whereby each applicant is assessed on their own merit in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, in particular those of ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; whereas positive outcomes should be sought as quickly as possible, while avoiding fast-tracking or counterproductive fixed deadlines; whereas negative outcomes or backtracking must have consequences including reopening closed chapters when necessary, as the entire accession process is based on strict conditionality;
Amendment 96 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas accession to the EU must always be a merit-based procedure whereby each applicant is assessed on their own merit in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, in particular those of ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; whereas positive outcomes should be sought as quickly as possible, while avoiding fast-tracking or counterproductive fixed deadlines; whereas negative outcomes or backtracking must have consequences including reopening closed chapters when necessary, as the entire accession process is based on strict conditionality;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the parallel processes of widening andany potential deepening of the Union must go hand in hand with the processes of widening the Union;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the parallel processes of widening andany potential deepening of the Union must go hand in hand with the processes of widening the Union;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU should step up considerably its conditional technical and financial support for fundamental reforms, the resolution of bilateral disputes and regional economic integration in accession countries; whereas candidate countries and potential candidate countries should step up their efforts to ensure fundamental reforms;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU should step up considerably its conditional technical and financial support for fundamental reforms, the resolution of bilateral disputes and regional economic integration in accession countries; whereas candidate countries and potential candidate countries should step up their efforts to ensure fundamental reforms;
Amendment 150 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the role of the European Parliament should be streenhanced in evaluating the intermediate steps of the accession throughout the entire enlargement process;
Amendment 150 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the role of the European Parliament should be streenhanced in evaluating the intermediate steps of the accession throughout the entire enlargement process;
Amendment 172 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas under the current institutional framework, the EU already faces considerable challenges in crisis management and strategic decision- making; whereas it is clear that the EU institutions and decision-making mechanisms were not designed for a Union that could be composed of up to 37 Member States; whereas before the next enlargement takes place, significant pre- enlargement reforms are needed to guarantee that the EU is able to absorb new members and to promote their successful integration; whereas this implies significant changes in the EU’s institutional framework, including to decision-making procedures, and the possible introduction of differentiated integration solutions; whereas in order to achieve this, the EU should take full advantage of the flexibility afforded by the Treaty of Lisbon and consider the possibility of treaty change, including via adaptations introduced by the accession treaties;
Amendment 172 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas under the current institutional framework, the EU already faces considerable challenges in crisis management and strategic decision- making; whereas it is clear that the EU institutions and decision-making mechanisms were not designed for a Union that could be composed of up to 37 Member States; whereas before the next enlargement takes place, significant pre- enlargement reforms are needed to guarantee that the EU is able to absorb new members and to promote their successful integration; whereas this implies significant changes in the EU’s institutional framework, including to decision-making procedures, and the possible introduction of differentiated integration solutions; whereas in order to achieve this, the EU should take full advantage of the flexibility afforded by the Treaty of Lisbon and consider the possibility of treaty change, including via adaptations introduced by the accession treaties;
Amendment 184 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Union’s credibility and ability to act in a timely and effective manner depends on efficient decision- making, and even more so in an enlarged EU of 30 or more Member States; whereas efficient decision-making leading to timely and coordinated internal and external action is vital for safeguarding the EU’s interests and its global geopolitical leadership; whereas reformvise of the EU’s governance structures, with simplified decision-making procedures, must be discussed and where necessary adopted in parallel with the ongoing accession negotiations;
Amendment 184 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Union’s credibility and ability to act in a timely and effective manner depends on efficient decision- making, and even more so in an enlarged EU of 30 or more Member States; whereas efficient decision-making leading to timely and coordinated internal and external action is vital for safeguarding the EU’s interests and its global geopolitical leadership; whereas reformvise of the EU’s governance structures, with simplified decision-making procedures, must be discussed and where necessary adopted in parallel with the ongoing accession negotiations;
Amendment 211 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas enlargement is also a major challenge for EU’s financial sustainability, in particular regarding cohesion and agriculture policies; whereas this need reprioritisation and revision of the current and the next multiannual financial frameworks should be strengthened considerably to enable EU enlargement; whereas this financial groundwork must be in place before enlargement takes place;
Amendment 211 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas enlargement is also a major challenge for EU’s financial sustainability, in particular regarding cohesion and agriculture policies; whereas this need reprioritisation and revision of the current and the next multiannual financial frameworks should be strengthened considerably to enable EU enlargement; whereas this financial groundwork must be in place before enlargement takes place;
Amendment 233 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the interest and the political will to join the EU shown by so many countries, and acknowledges the serious efforts made by some candidate countries to meet the requirements for membership; emphasises that Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans are the EU’s closest partners, due to geographical and historical links;
Amendment 233 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the interest and the political will to join the EU shown by so many countries, and acknowledges the serious efforts made by some candidate countries to meet the requirements for membership; emphasises that Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans are the EU’s closest partners, due to geographical and historical links;
Amendment 242 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reaffirms that enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and represents a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;
Amendment 242 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Reaffirms that enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and represents a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability and security throughout the continent;
Amendment 253 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that enlargement is of the utmost strategic importance for the EU, and all the more so in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; stresses that an enhanced enlargement policy has become the strongest geopolitical tool at the EU’s disposal; points out that enlargement is a strategic and vital investment in peace, security and prosperity, as well as a driver for democracy, human rights, rule of law and European values on the continent; insists that the EU enlargement is a shared responsibility of the EU and the aspiring member states;
Amendment 253 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that enlargement is of the utmost strategic importance for the EU, and all the more so in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; stresses that an enhanced enlargement policy has become the strongest geopolitical tool at the EU’s disposal; points out that enlargement is a strategic and vital investment in peace, security and prosperity, as well as a driver for democracy, human rights, rule of law and European values on the continent; insists that the EU enlargement is a shared responsibility of the EU and the aspiring member states;
Amendment 264 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that judicial independence, rule of law, and the fight against corruption , disinformation, money laundering and organised crime, as well as eradicating the improper influence of oligarchs on authorities, the media and the economy, and advancing human rights are crucial preconditions for progress on the EU path;
Amendment 264 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that judicial independence, rule of law, and the fight against corruption , disinformation, money laundering and organised crime, as well as eradicating the improper influence of oligarchs on authorities, the media and the economy, and advancing human rights are crucial preconditions for progress on the EU path;
Amendment 269 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Considers that the accession process must ensure that candidate countries intensify their efforts to improve the functioning of the rule of law and the judiciary, tackle corruption, trafficking and organised crime, ensure media freedom, empower civil society, guarantee fundamental rights and the rights of minorities, and strengthen its cooperation with the EU institutions;
Amendment 269 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Considers that the accession process must ensure that candidate countries intensify their efforts to improve the functioning of the rule of law and the judiciary, tackle corruption, trafficking and organised crime, ensure media freedom, empower civil society, guarantee fundamental rights and the rights of minorities, and strengthen its cooperation with the EU institutions;
Amendment 271 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Considers that the accession process must ensure that candidate countries increase their efforts related to equal rights for persons with disabilities; emphasises the need to increase pressure on candidate countries to implement reforms to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and to increase their efforts in terms of deinstitutionalisation including the transition from institutional to family and community based care;
Amendment 271 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Considers that the accession process must ensure that candidate countries increase their efforts related to equal rights for persons with disabilities; emphasises the need to increase pressure on candidate countries to implement reforms to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and to increase their efforts in terms of deinstitutionalisation including the transition from institutional to family and community based care;
Amendment 273 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Stresses the need to improve the visibility and communication concerning Union financing in candidate countries;
Amendment 273 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Stresses the need to improve the visibility and communication concerning Union financing in candidate countries;
Amendment 284 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Acknowledges that the main challenge for future enlargement is not about the change of the EU treaties but rather reforms in the candidate countries;
Amendment 284 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Acknowledges that the main challenge for future enlargement is not about the change of the EU treaties but rather reforms in the candidate countries;
Amendment 296 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that accession to the EU must always be a strictly merit-based procedure and that each applicant must be assessed on their own merit in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria and in ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses that while positive outcomes should be sought as quickly as possible, there should be no fast-track or fixed deadlines for membership; underscores that there can be no short-cuts on fundamental and core EU values; points out that alignment with the common foreign and security policy is also an important way of showing full adherence to the EU’s fundamental principles and an importantessential indicator for sustainable future membership;
Amendment 296 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that accession to the EU must always be a strictly merit-based procedure and that each applicant must be assessed on their own merit in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria and in ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; stresses that while positive outcomes should be sought as quickly as possible, there should be no fast-track or fixed deadlines for membership; underscores that there can be no short-cuts on fundamental and core EU values; points out that alignment with the common foreign and security policy is also an important way of showing full adherence to the EU’s fundamental principles and an importantessential indicator for sustainable future membership;
Amendment 301 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls for accession processes to take place in a reversible manner, where additional rights and funding are suspended or revoked, and where closed chapters may be reopened in cases of stagnation or backsliding, especially when the stagnation or backsliding is related to fundamental values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 301 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls for accession processes to take place in a reversible manner, where additional rights and funding are suspended or revoked, and where closed chapters may be reopened in cases of stagnation or backsliding, especially when the stagnation or backsliding is related to fundamental values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 316 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for a robust monitoring mechanism for the reforms and progress made by the candidate countries; urges, in particular, the setting up of a specific and effective monitoring mechanism for protecting fundamental values and the financial interests of the Union in the context of accession procedures; reiterates in this regard its calls to include candidate countries in the EU rule of law mechanism and its annual reporting exercise, automatically activating pre-accession cooperation and verification mechanisms; calls on the Commission to vigilantly scrutinise the IPA III and other funds relevant to the accession during the whole process and to scrutinise the spending and implementation more proactively;
Amendment 316 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for a robust monitoring mechanism for the reforms and progress made by the candidate countries; urges, in particular, the setting up of a specific and effective monitoring mechanism for protecting fundamental values and the financial interests of the Union in the context of accession procedures; reiterates in this regard its calls to include candidate countries in the EU rule of law mechanism and its annual reporting exercise, automatically activating pre-accession cooperation and verification mechanisms; calls on the Commission to vigilantly scrutinise the IPA III and other funds relevant to the accession during the whole process and to scrutinise the spending and implementation more proactively;
Amendment 335 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that there is a need for stronger parliamentary oversight of the EU’s enlargement policy; insists on strengthening the role of Parliament in evaluating the intermediate steps of the accession process throughout the entire accession process, including allowing it to scrutinise fully the progress made by the candidate countries across policy fields; underlines that regular dialogue and cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments of candidate countries should be encouraged;
Amendment 335 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that there is a need for stronger parliamentary oversight of the EU’s enlargement policy; insists on strengthening the role of Parliament in evaluating the intermediate steps of the accession process throughout the entire accession process, including allowing it to scrutinise fully the progress made by the candidate countries across policy fields; underlines that regular dialogue and cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments of candidate countries should be encouraged;
Amendment 347 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that the challenge of a bigger Union requires an enhanced enlargement policy putting in place a clear incremental pathway towards EU membership, including gradual integration into common policies; notes that this pathway should be accompanied by increased technical and conditional financial assistance with a special focus on the implementation and enforcement of laws under negotiating chapters 23, 24, 30 and 31; invites the Commission to present detailed proposals on the incremental accession methodology, including clear reversible ‘graduation’ criteria; underlines that the phasing-in of candidate countries into selected policy areas entails limited rights and obligations, and is by no means an alternative to fully-fledged membership;
Amendment 347 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that the challenge of a bigger Union requires an enhanced enlargement policy putting in place a clear incremental pathway towards EU membership, including gradual integration into common policies; notes that this pathway should be accompanied by increased technical and conditional financial assistance with a special focus on the implementation and enforcement of laws under negotiating chapters 23, 24, 30 and 31; invites the Commission to present detailed proposals on the incremental accession methodology, including clear reversible ‘graduation’ criteria; underlines that the phasing-in of candidate countries into selected policy areas entails limited rights and obligations, and is by no means an alternative to fully-fledged membership;
Amendment 388 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the mechanism to protect the rule of law and the EU’s fundamental principles and values, especially independent judiciary and combatting corruption, and the monitoring capacity to ensure compliance, to be strengthened ahead of the next enlargement;
Amendment 388 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the mechanism to protect the rule of law and the EU’s fundamental principles and values, especially independent judiciary and combatting corruption, and the monitoring capacity to ensure compliance, to be strengthened ahead of the next enlargement;
Amendment 425 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that institutional pre- enlargement reforms must also address the implications of enlargement on the composition of Parliament; recalls that the European Parliament is already one of the largest parliaments in the world and underlines that in any case it must remain at a workable scale; points out, however, that a reasonable increase in the size of Parliament cannot be ruled out in orinsists on a new system for seat allocation based on a permanent mathematical formula; considers to ensure sufficient democratic representativeness; insists on a new system for seat allocation based on a permanent mathematical formulahat reprioritising of the current seats is a better solution than increasing the seats of the Parliament;
Amendment 425 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that institutional pre- enlargement reforms must also address the implications of enlargement on the composition of Parliament; recalls that the European Parliament is already one of the largest parliaments in the world and underlines that in any case it must remain at a workable scale; points out, however, that a reasonable increase in the size of Parliament cannot be ruled out in orinsists on a new system for seat allocation based on a permanent mathematical formula; considers to ensure sufficient democratic representativeness; insists on a new system for seat allocation based on a permanent mathematical formulahat reprioritising of the current seats is a better solution than increasing the seats of the Parliament;
Amendment 442 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the composition of the Commission must take into account enlargement and recalls in this regard the flexibility provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon, stresses however that geographical representation in the Commission is imperative;
Amendment 442 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the composition of the Commission must take into account enlargement and recalls in this regard the flexibility provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon, stresses however that geographical representation in the Commission is imperative;
Amendment 451 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that enlargement is a major financial challenge for the EU, in particular regarding cohesion and agriculture policies; point out that this challenge cannot be met without a larger EU budget and sufficient own resourcerevision of the multiannual financial framework, a more efficient EU budget and reprioritisation of current funds; notes that this adds to growing demands on EU funding in the fields of financial stability, health, energy, decarbonisation, digital, research and defence and security; underlines that such financial reforms must be discussed in parallel with the ongoing accession negotiations and adopted before enlargement takes place; defends its position that the current and future multiannual financial frameworks should be strengthened considerably to enable EU enlargement, and that this financial groundwork must be in place before enlargement takes place;
Amendment 451 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that enlargement is a major financial challenge for the EU, in particular regarding cohesion and agriculture policies; point out that this challenge cannot be met without a larger EU budget and sufficient own resourcerevision of the multiannual financial framework, a more efficient EU budget and reprioritisation of current funds; notes that this adds to growing demands on EU funding in the fields of financial stability, health, energy, decarbonisation, digital, research and defence and security; underlines that such financial reforms must be discussed in parallel with the ongoing accession negotiations and adopted before enlargement takes place; defends its position that the current and future multiannual financial frameworks should be strengthened considerably to enable EU enlargement, and that this financial groundwork must be in place before enlargement takes place;
Amendment 79 #
2023/2107(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes with interest Japan’s efforts to promote a stable architecture in the Indo-Pacific, for instance through its participation in the Quad, its engagement with Pacific island states or the recent Camp David Agreement with Korea and the US; continues to note Japan’s concerns about North Korea; intends to continuously cooperate with Japan in order to oppose China’s aggressive policies towards its neighbours; shares Japan’s position that Taiwan is an important partner and a precious friend; reaffirms that the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community; shares, further, Japan’s high regard for the Association of Southeas Asian Nations (ASEAN); welcomes the fact that some new vice- ministerial formats also include the EU (in groupings such as Japan/Australia/Korea/EU and Japan/Korea/US/EU);
Amendment 9 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
– having regard to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions 2533 as adopted on 11 July 2020 and 2504 as adopted on 10 January 2020, both concerning the border crossings of Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa and the provision of humanitarian aid,
Amendment 13 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the report of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Republic of 21 January 2021 to the 46th regular session of the Human Rights Council,
Amendment 32 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas since 2011 half a million Syrians have died and 14 million have been displaced due to violent attacks by armed and terrorist groups, but mainly as a result of the fierce repression by the Syrian regime, with the help of its allies, of its own people; whereas this repression has included the repeated use of chemical weapons, incendiary bombs, barrel bombs, missiles and conventional aerial bombardments on civilians; whereas at least 150 000 Syrians are missing in the regime’s concentration-camp system and families have still not been informed of the fate of their loved ones; whereas this remains the largest displacement crisis in the world;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the crisis has left some 15.3 million people in Syria in need of humanitarian aid and protection; whereas an estimated 8.8 million people were further affected by the earthquakes in February 2023, exacerbating the pre- existing humanitarian challenges in Syria and the neighbouring countries;
Amendment 53 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas anti-Semitic propaganda has been a key feature of Bashar Al- Assad's family’s overall messaging;
Amendment 65 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Türkiye is engaging in large-scale armed conductoperations on Syrian territory on a regular basis;
Amendment 69 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas ISIS committed crimes against humanity, including genocide on Christians, in the territories temporarily under its control prior to the intervention of the international coalition;
Amendment 75 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas as a result of Russia’s continued obstruction in the UN Security Council, only one crossing point is ensured for the delivery of international humanitarian aid between Türkiye and the areas not controlled by the regime in Syria;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the UN warns that 90% of the Syrian population lives below the poverty line, with many Syrians now eking out an existence in conditions that are even worse than those that existed during the years of conflict; whereas the World Food Programme estimates that 12.4 million Syrians are suffering from food insecurity, representing nearly 60% of the population;
Amendment 84 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the responsibility for the current dire situation lies mainly with the Assad regime;
Amendment 91 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas public education is under pressure across the region, with around half of Syria’s school-aged population (nearly 2.4 million pupils) not receiving any form of education, resulting in many children suffering from the psycho-social impacts of prolonged conflict and displacement; whereas according to UNESCO only around half of the youth aged 15-24 in Syria meet the minimum expected competency levels in literacy, numeracy and life skills;
Amendment 122 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) stress that the repression, negligence and corruption on the part of the regime are responsible for the economic situation, not the targeted sanctions from the EU against individuals and entities involved in the repression; underline, however, that EU restrictive measures need to be accurate, local and must foresee exemptions for humanitarian aid;
Amendment 126 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) commend the efforts for stabilisation and cooperation in the region undertaken through the Abraham Accords and promote the idea that Syria would also benefit from this development one day in the future;
Amendment 127 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q b (new)
(qb) strongly condemn all forms of religious discrimination and insist on respect by all for the rights of ethnic and religious groups and minorities in Syria, including Christians; make sure that education and educational materials are in line with these principles; call for anyone who has been displaced, to continue to live in or return to their historical and traditional homelands in dignity, equality and safety, and to be able to freely practise their religion and beliefs without being subjected to any kind of coercion, violence or discrimination; support interreligious dialogue in order to promote mutual understanding and counter violent extremism or any attempt to supress freedom of speech or of religion;
Amendment 136 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) condemn the attacks by Turkish forces and their occupation of Syrian territories in the north; express their deep concern about the persistence of radical Islamist opposition in Idlib province; call on Türkiye to refrain from acting as a silent partner along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the provision of direct and indirect financial assistance to Islamist armed opposition groups; support the continuation of the international coalition against the Islamic State, which remains active in Syria despite significant defeats, in order to prevent the regrouping of this terrorist organisation;
Amendment 139 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point l c (new)
(lc) recall that Turkish unilateral military actions constitute a grave violation of international law and has undermined the stability and security of the region as a whole;
Amendment 146 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) stress the role of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against Daesh in northeast Syria;
Amendment 151 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) urge Member States to continue repatriating their nationals from the Al- Hol and Roj jihadist prison camps and to try themtrying returned jihadists for the crimes they have committed;
Amendment 176 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) urge that information be exchanged automatically between all Member States on war criminals whose asylum applications are rejected under Article 1(F) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees;
Amendment 180 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) call for the pooling of expertise and interpreters among the judicial and police authorities, and for a public prosecutor to be appointed in each Member State for crimes against humanity; call for European scholarships to be specifically allocated to Syrians seeking legal training;
Amendment 183 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) call on Member States to establish a European fund fsupport victims of crimes against humanity in Syria, by developing a legal frameworklooking at possibilities to allowing the transfer to families of the victims funds frozen for being linked to property unlawfully acquired by the Syrian regime;
Amendment 190 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
(qa) urge the EU and its Member States to expand the list of those subject to targeted sanctions under the so-called EU Magnitsky Act, including the Syrian and Russian civilian and military commanders who have been credibly implicated in war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations committed in north-west Syria, including those falling within command responsibility;
Amendment 194 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) invite the international community, at the 2024 Brussels Conference, to increase urgently its humanitarian assistance to the 15.3 million Syrians who depend on it on a daily basis; insist on access to clean water, educationincluding drinking water, sanitary water and water for agricultural purposes, formal education, also for girls and women, energy supply, affordable motor fuels and long- term budget support tailored to women’s needs; point out that the EU is the biggest contributor in this regard; welcome the continued efforts of Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Iraq to host 6 million refugees while facing difficult economic conditionfocus on directing humanitarian aid especially towards clean water, affordable energy, heating, health care and health products; point out that the EU is the biggest contributor in this regard; take note of the efforts of neighbouring countries who fulfil their responsibility to host refugees;
Amendment 197 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) invite the international community, at the 2024 Brussels Conference, to increase urgently its humanitarian assistance to the 15.3 million Syrians who depend on it on a daily basis; insist on access to clean water, education and long- term budget support tailored to women’s needs; point out that the EU is the biggest contributor in this regard; welcome the continued efforts ofexpress solidarity with Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Iraq for their continued efforts to host 6 million refugees while facing difficult economic conditions;
Amendment 201 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(ra) step up efforts in order to make education for all a priority; in this regard, increase support for the creation of SMEs and local businesses;
Amendment 202 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r b (new)
(rb) recognise the huge cultural heritage of Syria as a major part of cultural world heritage and as a source for resolving some problems of the country;
Amendment 218 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) recall that Syria cannot be regarded, in whole or in part, as a safe country for the return of its nationals living as refugees in Europe, people who have fled the crimes of the regime and risk torture and enforced disappearance if they return to Syria; stress that some Syrians have fled terror organisations operating in Syria such as ISIS; stress that there are areas in Syria that are not regime-controlled;
Amendment 223 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(ua) demand that restrictive measures against the Syrian regime do not impede the delivery of humanitarian aid and therefore, make sure that they do not penalise the export of food, medicine or medical equipment;
Amendment 224 #
2023/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
(ub) strive for new approaches and solutions that allow for reconciliation of former Daesh fighters, Kurds, Christians and Muslims of different denominations, which would finally allow the return of refugees to their home in Syria; recall that this does not exclude punitive measures for criminals;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas of January 2021, there were at least 1,300 children with disabilities held in nine institutions; whereas these institutions had problems with proper diagnostics, education, and social reintegration as well as public accountability and transparency;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas released political prisoners face extreme discrimination with the regime prohibiting them free movement, as well as access to the labour market, to their bank accounts and other financial assets;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Belarusian regime to refrain from any kind of harassment also of former political prisoners who have now been released; urges the regime to allow these former prisoners to live their life in freedom and give them full access to the labour market, social life, as well as their bank account and assets;
Amendment 133 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EU institutions and its Member States to explore the possibility of allowing representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society to take up the empty seats, in bilateral and multilateral formats, in particular within the framework of the Eastern Partnership policy, which were previously occupied by representatives of the Belarusian authorities; regrets that the Belarusian civil society and the Belarusian Freedom Movement is currently not yet able to take part in multilateral formats like the European Political Community (EPC);
Amendment 135 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the leaders of the Member States, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, as well as the political leaders of the remaining participating states of the European Political Community to include the Belarusian Freedom Movement in the European Political Community, for instance by giving them an observer status;
Amendment 137 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that the inclusion of representatives of political, civil society and human rights organizations of Democratic Belarus ("Belarusian Freedom Movement") with observer status in the EPC would also strengthen the platform for developing joint strategies against authoritarian regimes and for democracy in Europe;
Amendment 149 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Belarusian authorities to immediately seize the temporal removal and threat of removal of children from the custody of their parents to punish the parents for protesting or political activism;
Amendment 151 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Deplores that institutions for children with disabilities have had problems with proper diagnostics, education, and social reintegration as well as public accountability and transparency; underlines the need for deinstitutionalisation and the repeal of the Belarusian law that discriminates against children and persons with disabilities, limiting their ability to access primary, secondary, and higher education depending on their degree of disability;
Amendment 157 #
2023/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Is appalled that Belarusian authorities continue the practice of placing persons with different disabilities in the same facilities and does not provide any groups with specialized care, that more than 10,000 persons with disabilities who lived in “psychoneurological” institutions are deprived of legal rights, and courts designated directors of these institutions as their legal guardians; underlines the need to repeal provisions allowing involuntary deprivation of liberty;
Amendment 152 #
2023/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action against the alarming increase in antisemitism in the Union; is of the opinion that the will to accommodate other religious minorities in some cases has created an unjustifiable acceptance of antisemitism;
Amendment 154 #
2023/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Amendment 188 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law, human rights, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption. These objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 188 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The support under the Facility should be provided to meet general and specific objectives, based on established criteria and with clear payment conditions. The general objectives of the Facility should be to accelerate regional economic integration, progressive integration with the Union single market, socio-economic convergence of Western Balkans economies and alignment with Union laws, rules, standards, policies and practices with a view to Union membership. The Facility should also help accelerate reforms related to fundamentals of the enlargement process, including rule of law, human rights, public procurement and State aid control, public finance management and fight against corruption. These objectives should be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner.
Amendment 192 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Facility should promote the development effectiveness principles, respecting additionality to the support provided under other Union programmes and instruments and striving to avoid. The Commission will ensure the avoidment of duplication between assistance under this Regulation and other assistance provided by the Union, the Member States, third countries, multilateral and regional organisations and entities.
Amendment 192 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Facility should promote the development effectiveness principles, respecting additionality to the support provided under other Union programmes and instruments and striving to avoid. The Commission will ensure the avoidment of duplication between assistance under this Regulation and other assistance provided by the Union, the Member States, third countries, multilateral and regional organisations and entities.
Amendment 241 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Disbursement of Union support should be conditional on no persistent stagnation, compliance with the payment conditions and on measurable progress in the implementation of reforms set out in the Reform Agendas assessed and formally approved by the Commission. The release of funds should be structured accordingly, reflecting the objectives of the Facility.
Amendment 241 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Disbursement of Union support should be conditional on no persistent stagnation, compliance with the payment conditions and on measurable progress in the implementation of reforms set out in the Reform Agendas assessed and formally approved by the Commission. The release of funds should be structured accordingly, reflecting the objectives of the Facility.
Amendment 246 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The Reform Agendas should include clear-targeted reform measures and priority investment areas, along with payment conditions in the form of measurable qualitative and quantitative steps that indicate satisfactory progress or completion of those measures, and an indicative timetable for the implementation of those measures. Those steps should be planned for no later than 31 August 2027, although the overall completion of the measures to which such steps refer may extend beyond 2027 but not later than 31 December 2028.
Amendment 246 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The Reform Agendas should include clear-targeted reform measures and priority investment areas, along with payment conditions in the form of measurable qualitative and quantitative steps that indicate satisfactory progress or completion of those measures, and an indicative timetable for the implementation of those measures. Those steps should be planned for no later than 31 August 2027, although the overall completion of the measures to which such steps refer may extend beyond 2027 but not later than 31 December 2028.
Amendment 254 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Measures under the Reform Agendas should, where appropriate, contribute to improving an efficient public finance management and control system, fight against corruption, fraud and organised crime, and to an effective system of State aid control, aiming at ensuring fair conditions for all undertakings. Such measures should be implemented by the Beneficiary by an indicative date which could be set, appropriate for each measure, in the early stage of implementation of the Facility.
Amendment 254 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Measures under the Reform Agendas should, where appropriate, contribute to improving an efficient public finance management and control system, fight against corruption, fraud and organised crime, and to an effective system of State aid control, aiming at ensuring fair conditions for all undertakings. Such measures should be implemented by the Beneficiary by an indicative date which could be set, appropriate for each measure, in the early stage of implementation of the Facility.
Amendment 340 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities; align with the Union's common foreign and security policy, including its sanctions against Russia;
Amendment 340 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
(i) further strengthen the fundamentals of the enlargement process, including the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering and terrorism financing, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote gender equality, non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities; align with the Union's common foreign and security policy, including its sanctions against Russia;
Amendment 345 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) reinforce the effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid control; support initiatives and bodies involved in supporting and enforcing international justice in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries. Funding can be withdrawn in the event of backsliding or persistent stagnation in reforms on fundamental values, and will be resumed only after significant improvement.
Amendment 345 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point j
(j) reinforce the effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid control; support initiatives and bodies involved in supporting and enforcing international justice in the Western Balkans Beneficiaries. Funding can be withdrawn in the event of backsliding or persistent stagnation in reforms on fundamental values, and will be resumed only after significant improvement.
Amendment 385 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Preconditions for the support under the Facility shall be that the Beneficiaries continue to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms in a sustainable way, including a multi- party parliamentary system, and the rule of law, and guarantee respectprotection for all human rights obligations, including the rights of persons with disabilities and persons belonging to minorities. Another pre-condition shall be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 385 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Preconditions for the support under the Facility shall be that the Beneficiaries continue to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms in a sustainable way, including a multi- party parliamentary system, and the rule of law, and guarantee respectprotection for all human rights obligations, including the rights of persons with disabilities and persons belonging to minorities. Another pre-condition shall be that Serbia and Kosovo engage constructively in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex as well as all past Dialogue Agreements and engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on normalisation of relations.
Amendment 435 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point f
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point f
(f) the measures to prevent, detect, investigate and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest, and the obligation to notify the Commission, the European Court of Auditors and OLAF without delay of suspected or actual cases of irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflict of interests and their follow- up;
Amendment 435 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point f
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point f
(f) the measures to prevent, detect, investigate and correct irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest, and the obligation to notify the Commission, the European Court of Auditors and OLAF without delay of suspected or actual cases of irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflict of interests and their follow- up;
Amendment 527 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Article 21 – paragraph 7
7. The Commission may reduce the amount of the non-repayable financial support, including by offsetting in line with Article 102 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, or of the loan, in the event of identified cases of, or serious concerns in relation to, irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests affecting the financial interests of the Union that have not been corrected by the Beneficiary, or a serious breach of an obligation resulting from the Facility Agreements or from the Loan Agreements, including on the basis of information provided by OLAF and the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 527 #
2023/0397(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 7
Article 21 – paragraph 7
7. The Commission may reduce the amount of the non-repayable financial support, including by offsetting in line with Article 102 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046, or of the loan, in the event of identified cases of, or serious concerns in relation to, irregularities, fraud, corruption and conflicts of interests affecting the financial interests of the Union that have not been corrected by the Beneficiary, or a serious breach of an obligation resulting from the Facility Agreements or from the Loan Agreements, including on the basis of information provided by OLAF and the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 12 #
2023/0264(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Insists that the Commission must guarantee that EU funds are not allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalization while ensuring notably that individuals or groups affiliated, linked to, or supporting terrorist organisations are excluded from Union funding; reiterates its position that salaries of education civil servants responsible for drafting and teaching school textbooks paid by Union funds, must be made conditional on full compliance with UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance; is concerned about antisemitism, hate speech and incitement to violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks, funded by the EU; stresses that conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered; underlines the importance of proper training of Palestinian teachers, in line with UNESCO education standards.
Amendment 164 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
Recital 42
(42) In line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, tThe Facility should support solidarity, integration, and social justice with the aim of creating and sustaining quality employment and sustainable growth, ensuring equality of, and access to, opportunities and social protection, protecting vulnerable groups and improving living standards. The Facility should contribute to protecting children through a reform of the child protection and care system. This should include a support to the transition from institutional to family and community-based care. The Facility should also contribute to fighting poverty and tackling unemployment and lead to quality job creation, the inclusion and integration of disadvantaged groups. The Facility should provide for investment opportunities in skills including through vocational education and training aiming to prepare the workforce to the digital and green transitions. It should also enable the strengthening of social dialogue, infrastructure and services.
Amendment 185 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) The commitment appropriations and corresponding payment appropriations from the Ukraine Reserve should preferably be mobilised annually within the budget over and above the ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
Amendment 274 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) rebuild and modernise infrastructure damaged by the war, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, internal and cross-border transport networks including rail, roads and bridges and border crossing points, and foster modern, improved and resilient infrastructures; restore food production capacities; help address social challenges stemming from the war, including for specific groups such as war veterans, Internally Displaced Persons, single parents, disabled peoplechildren without parental care including the children in institutions, persons with disabilities, minorities and other vulnerable persons; contribute to the demining effort;
Amendment 279 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) Enhance the child protection and care system including the transition from institutional to family and community based care. The Facility must not be used to fund institutions, including refurbishing, building, or renovating, if it’s not part of a deinstitutionalisation process.
Amendment 290 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) further strengthen the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime and money laundering, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote non-discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities and the promotion of gender equality; promote and protect the rights of children and persons with disabilities; reinforce the effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid; support initiatives and bodies involved in supporting and enforcing international justice in Ukraine;
Amendment 102 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas the Turkish law requires the state to protect children from exploitation; whereas young migrants, notably Syrian refugees are particularly vulnerable to being exploited by criminal organizations and prostitution, and displaced children, mostly Syrian, remain very vulnerable to economic and sexual abuse;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas hate speech and hate crime remain a serious issue for ethnic and religious minorities including Jews and Christians;
Amendment 184 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Expresses concern about the widespread hate speech and discrimination against the LGBT+ community;
Amendment 185 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Is concerned about the continued hate speech and hate crimes against Jews and Christians, including the Armenians; deplores that antisemitic rhetoric is widespread in print media and on social media; commends the Turkish government for commemorating the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January in an effort to combat antisemitism and Holocaust distortion;
Amendment 186 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Deplores that vandalism and destruction of religious sites and cemeteries belonging to minorities continues; calls on the Turkish authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute the persons responsible;
Amendment 187 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Calls on Türkiye to rapidly adopt an effective national action plan to combat child marriages and forced marriages;
Amendment 188 #
2022/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Expresses concern over the clashes between marchers and the police on March 8, when hundreds of women and LGBT+ activists participated in the 20th annual Women’s March in Istanbul;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 a (new)
Citation 37 a (new)
— having regard to UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,
Amendment 56 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. Whereas children with disabilities are overrepresented (70 %) among children living in residential large-scale institutions;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Deplores the fact that Serbia has still not aligned with EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; calls on the authorities to show real commitment to EU values as soon as possible and to align with the EU’s decisions and positions in foreign and security policy, including sanctions against Russia;
Amendment 148 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Reiterates calls on the Serbian authorities to provide more transparency on the role and activities of the so called Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Niš;
Amendment 257 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Is deeply concerned about the spread of disinformation about Russian aggression against Ukraine; calls on the Serbian authorities to take an active stand against the disinformation and to fight back the most circulated fake news; calls on the Serbian authorities and the Commission to bolster infrastructure to fight disinformation and other hybrid threats;
Amendment 294 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the significant representation of national minorities in the new parliament, but is concerned with the practice of pro forma representation of national minorities who are under government control, and calls on all newly elected members of parliament to ensure national minority rights are protected and legislation is implemented in practice;
Amendment 304 #
2022/2204(INI)
16 a. Calls on the Serbian authorities to step up efforts to ensure the non- discriminatory treatment of national minorities and to actively pursue investigations and convictions for hate- motivated crimes; moreover, regrets the fact that national minorities are protected only on paper; more has to be done to actively implement the anti-discrimination legislation;
Amendment 331 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Welcomes Serbia’s adoption of a Law on temporary social care residents, further aligning its legislation with the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 333 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the adoption of a new general protocol for the protection of children from abuse and neglect; encourages Serbiacalls on Serbia to also amend its Family Law to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment of children in the family and to ban child marriage and to take other concrete actions to improve the situation of all children;
Amendment 335 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Is concerned about violations of children's rights in large-scale institutions for children with disabilities despite a relatively small number of children placed in institutional care; condemns that women with disabilities in residential institutions continue to face specific forms of violence;
Amendment 336 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Notes that Serbia adopted a strategy on de-institutionalisation in January 2022; deplores that the related action plan and funding were due in April 2022 and are now overdue; urges the Serbian authorities to finalise the de- institutionalisation promptly;
Amendment 341 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Welcomes the continuation of the implementation of the Law on the restitution of heirless Jewish property, as well as the return of properties to churches and religious communities;
Amendment 363 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Calls for historical reconciliation and the overcoming of discrimination and prejudices from the communist past, especially in the educational, media, academic and social spheres, as a prerequisite to eradicate the language of hate against national minorities and neighbouring nations;
Amendment 365 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Reiterates its call on the authorities to continue their efforts to eliminate the legacy of the former Communist secret services by making its files open to the public, as a step towards the democratisation of Serbia; calls on Serbia to intensify the process of succession and implementation of obligations relating to the division of the common archive of the former Yugoslavia; reiterates, in this connection, that full access to all archival materials, especially those of the former Yugoslav Secret Services (UDBA) and the Yugoslav People’s Army Secret Service (KOS) is of vital significance; reiterates its call to the authorities to facilitate access to those archives that concern the former republics of Yugoslavia and to return them to their respective governments if they so request;
Amendment 420 #
2022/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Serbian authorities to take measures to counter depopulation, notes with concern that additional efforts need to be invested in the socio-economic development of the border regions in order to prevent them from depopulation; reminds that to use IPA III Cross-border Co-operation Programmes could be utilised for this purpose;
Amendment 2 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
— having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 June 2019, 25 March 2020, 14 December 2021, 18 July 2022 and 13 December 2022 on enlargement and the stabilisation and association process,
Amendment 4 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Amendment 5 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Amendment 100 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses concern about the unjustified delays in the accession process; stresses the need to strengthen the process’s transparency, accountability and inclusiveness, including its parliamentary dimension;
Amendment 190 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Urges the relevant bodies to proactively prevent and systematically prosecute all instances of hate speech, hate crimes, threats and intimidation, to thoroughly investigate related attacks and to ensure the safety and security of their targets, such as journalists, people belonging to ethnic communities and other vulnerable groups; strongly urges the media outlets and the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia to deter from utilizing and publicizing hate speech against EU Member States and its closest neighbours; calls for the government and the judiciary to improve institutional capacity in this area and ensure the increasing hate speech is addressed in accordance with international standards;
Amendment 193 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. UStresses the need for further progress to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities, including by providing adequate resources and infrastructure to uphold necessary social protection and ensure decent living conditions for people with disabilities in North Macedonia; encourages North Macedonia to continue its efforts to provide equal access to education to children with disabilities;
Amendment 196 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes that North Macedonia’s government has adopted an action plan to implement the deinstitutionalisation strategy for 2022-2024; deplores the limited progress when it comes to improving the rights to persons with disabilities in general; urges the authorities to finalise the de- institutionalisation promptly;
Amendment 206 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Republic of North Macedonia to fully guarantee equal rights for all ethnic communities in the country, including through appropriate constitutional and legislative amendments and in all relevant legislation, and ensure that no disadvantage shall result for citizens from the exercise of their right to identify themselves as belonging to any ethnic group;
Amendment 218 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes the Government of North Macedonia’s improving engagement with civil society, whileand underlines the importance of ensuring inclusive consultations and transparency; however notes with concern the lack of engagement with civil society representing and defending the rights of the various ethnic communities in the country;
Amendment 247 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Welcomes the agreement at the Tirana Summit on reduced roaming costs; in this respect calls on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate reaching the agreed targets to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data on 1 October 2023 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027;
Amendment 267 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Invites policymakers and the societies of Bulgaria and North Macedonia to assume joint responsibility and to restore the positive agenda between the two countriesSupports the restoration of a positive agenda between Bulgaria and North Macedonia in the spirit the of the Treaty of Friendship; expresses support for continued diplomatic and societal dialogue to resolve bilateral grievances in good faith;
Amendment 269 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Regrets the fact that apart from a few sporadic instances the two countries have failed to jointly commemorate and/or celebrate shared historical figures/dates in the past years in a consistent manner; the relations between RNM and Bulgaria should be based on deep, mutual respect and appreciation for each other, including consideration and preservation of the common historical heritage;
Amendment 272 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Recalls the need to open up Yugoslav secret service archives, kept both in Skopje and in Belgrade, in order to vigorously address communist-era crimes across the region; takes the view that transparent handling of the totalitarian past is a step towards further democratization, accountability and institutional strength in both the country and the Western Balkan region as a whole;
Amendment 280 #
2022/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Supports efforts to reach an agreement on constitutional and legislative changes that would include additional communities in the preamble of the North Macedonia’s constitution and all relevant legislation;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2201(INI)
— having regard to UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities,
Amendment 190 #
2022/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. UDeplores that persons with disabilities remain among the most discriminated in Kosovo; underlines the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to education, health services, public buildings and transport; calls on Kosovo to close the gap in harmonising the legislation and policies with the relevant UN Conventions and the EU acquis on the rights of persons with disabilities;
Amendment 194 #
2022/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Is concerned about the fact that children with disabilities lack proper access to education facilities as well as necessary assistance; stresses that the Kosovar authorities should provide needed support and increase its efforts to integrate them effectively into educational institutions;
Amendment 239 #
2022/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Urges Kosovan authorities to investigate the alleged presence of the Russian Wagner Group mercenaries on the border with Serbia; in that respect expresses serious concern about the Russian Wagner Group graffiti, that appeared in public spaces in the northern regions Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Amendment 19 #
2022/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)
Citation 22 b (new)
— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Amendment 275 #
2022/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Notes that persons with disabilities is one of the most marginalised and excluded group in society in BiH, especially children with disabilities; deplores that there has been no progress in addressing the concerns previously identified regarding the situation of persons with disabilities; reiterates the call on BiH to step up its work to protect persons with disabilities, and develop and adopt a strategy on deinstitutionalisation, ensuring people with disabilities a dignified life; condemns that the law that allows persons with disabilities to be deprived of their legal capacity, which is a clear violation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, of which the country is a signatory; underlines that it is unacceptable that the support provided is differentiated and that some types of disabilities are prioritised over others; calls on the authorities to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory education for all children; regrets that many children with disabilities continue to be placed in institutions;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
— having regard to the final report of 26 July 2021 by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) Election Observation Mission on the Republic of Albania’s parliamentary elections of 25 April 2021,
Amendment 4 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 27 a (new)
Citation 27 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 14 April 2021 on the EU strategy to tackle organised crime 2021-2025 (COM(2021)0170),
Amendment 5 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 27 b (new)
Citation 27 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 24 July 2020 entitled ‘2020-2025 EU action plan on firearms trafficking’ (COM(2020)0608),
Amendment 28 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the EU remains fully committed to support Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration; whereas European integration represents the aspirations of Albanian citizens towards democracy and prosperity;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the prospect of Albania’s merit-based membership is in the Union’s own political, security and economic interests; whereas Albania’s EU accession depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; whereas the quality of a country’s necessary reforms determine the timetable for accession;
Amendment 35 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas democratic transformation, the rule of law and reconciliation play a central rois indispensable in the EU accession process;
Amendment 37 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas protection of minorities is crucial for aspiring EU member states; whereas the implementing legislation on free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages remains to be adopted in Albania;
Amendment 39 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the fight against high- level corruption, malicious foreign interference, money laundering and organised crime unfortunately remain a large problem in Albania; whereas combating these criminal patterns is a European security issue that is crucial for Albania’s EU accession;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas electoral shortcomings persist in Albania; whereas the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to further improve the conduct of elections in Albania and bring them fully in line with the OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards have not yet been fully addressed;
Amendment 51 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU remains the main political and economic partner of the Western Balkan countries; whereas the EU continues to be by far Albania’s biggest trade and investment partner and its largest provider of financial assistance;
Amendment 53 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas Albanian citizens have enjoyed visa-free travel to the Schengen area since December 2010 and have been able to participate in student, academic and youth exchanges under the Erasmus+ programme since 2015;
Amendment 64 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the pace of EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; Encourages its policymakers to accelerate the reforms that enabled the first long overdue intergovernmental conference and a successful start to the screening process, and to demonstrate steady progress in guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges decision- makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030as soon as possible; recalls that candidate countries undergo in-depth transformations to fulfil membership criteria during accession negotiations, which last as long as needed to implement the necessary reforms; stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension;
Amendment 73 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes that the government maintained a focus on reforms related to the country’s EU path and reinforced its coordination structure for EU integration; stresses that the government, in cooperation with the opposition and all segments of society, needs to further advance the EU reform agenda;
Amendment 89 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Deplores political confrontation and disruptive actions and underlines a joint political and social responsibility for reforms; invites political actors to step up their commitment to dialogue and to strengthen democratic institutions and procedures through constructive engagement, the active participation of civil society, inclusive consultations and transparent decision-making; recalls the need to strengthen parliamentary oversight and underlines that the political opposition needs to be able to monitor and scrutinize the government;
Amendment 93 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores that the impending electoral reform was not concluded before the local elections in 2023; Calls on the Albanian authorities to fully address the outstandingOSCE/ODIHR electoral and party financing recommendations well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections; stresses the need to prevent misuse of public administration/resources and vote- buying;
Amendment 103 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime; points out that the seizure and confiscation of assets in corruption cases is an important step on the road to justice and efforts in this regard should be strengthened; calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration;
Amendment 104 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the ongoing progress and looks forward to systematic improvements in the prevention, proactive investigation and prosecution of and non-selective final convictions for cases involving corruption and organised crime; calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administrationstresses that increasing the number of final convictions of high-level officials remains an important priority to tackle the existing culture of impunity; notes that there were no convictions of officials on high-level corruption charges;
Amendment 110 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 111 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes that Albania remains both a destination and a transit country for light firearms; expresses concern over the wide prevalence of firearms in Albania; stresses the need to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 112 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines that the contribution of Albania to the protection of the European Union’s external border is of crucial importance; stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross- border crime, notably human trafficking, must continue to be a priority;
Amendment 113 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration; points out that greater political will and more structured and consistent efforts, including adequate resources, tools and skills, remain necessary in the fight against corruption;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for continued action to reduce unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, while tackling criminal trafficking networks and increasing cooperation with the EU’s justice and home affairs agencies; welcomes successful international investigations and police operations to combat the trafficking of people, narcotics and firearms, and online fraud; commends and encourages the cooperation between Albanian and EU authorities in this respect ;
Amendment 131 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that infrastructure projects, including in and around the port of Durrës, must comply with EU standards on public procurement contained in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement;
Amendment 133 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Condemns malign foreign interference and hybrid attacks, including disinformation, espionage, incitement to all forms of radicalisation and cyberattacks against Albanian citizens and critical infrastructure; invites the authorities to prevent data leaks by considerably strengthening cybersecurity; encourages the EU European External Action Service and Commission to further help boost Albania’s resilience against hybrid threats, in the area of cyber security, information manipulation and protection of critical infrastructures; stresses the need to improve coordination and address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to people in the Western Balkans;
Amendment 155 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on Albania to swiftly adopt the remaining pending legislation ensuring the full protection of national minorities, particularly the implementing legislation on free self-identification of national minorities and the use of minority languages;
Amendment 160 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Welcomes that Albania submitted its first report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; reiterates the conclusions of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention, stating the urgency of increasing resources to put legal provisions into practice; stresses that efforts are needed to increase women’s awareness of their rights and available services relating to domestic violence and protection;
Amendment 165 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Underlines that child sexual abuse online remains a serious concern; notes that the efforts to detecting and retorting child sexual abuse material online needs to increase, and that existing laws prohibiting child pornography and the online sexual exploitation of children need to be properly enforced;
Amendment 166 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Deplores that no progress was made on the rights of persons with disabilities and that Albania’s legislation on the rights of persons with disabilities remains only partially in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; calls on Albania to address the UNCRPD gaps and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; notes that the 2021-2025 national action plan for people with disabilities did not have enough funding, hence it could not be fully implemented; calls for more robust efforts to address discrimination and violence against persons with disabilities, to improve overall accessibility and to promote employment; expresses deep concern over the reports of limited access to voting for persons with disabilities;
Amendment 167 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Regrets that no progress was made regarding freedom of expression, and the increase in disinformation including smear campaigns, intimidation and threats, especially in online media and against journalists reporting on rule of law, corruption and justice issues;
Amendment 169 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses its concern with the lack of progress on achieving institutional transparency, freedom of expression and media freedom and stresses the role of political leaders in creating an enabling environment for the pursuit of these freedoms; condemns attempts to discredit reporters and arbitrarily withhold public information, as well as the failure to ensure the safety of journalists; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters; welcomes the withdrawal of the draft anti- defamation legisexpresses concern over enduring inflammatory rhetoric, including by high-level politicians, public officials and other public figures, which fuels the culture of intimidation, smear campaigns, violence and rioting, and calls for the final convictions of those who attack journalists to be ensured; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters; welcomes the withdrawal of the draft anti- defamation legislation; stresses that that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner, in consultation with media organisations, with the aim of improving media freedom and self-regulation; urges the government to ensure the independence of the public broadcaster and media regulator and the transparency of media ownership, financing and public advertising;
Amendment 174 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines the importance of journalists’ equal, direct and transparent access to information from government sources; in this regard, expresses concern over the need for all government public relations to be handled by the newly created Media and Information Agency; encourages the government to improve access to the reporting and scrutinising of its work via official and formal channels, such as press conferences and interviews;
Amendment 211 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes steps in accelerating the energy transition and energy diversification towards wind and solar power; applauds, in this regard, the EU energy support package for the Western Balkans and calls on the authorities to make the best use of this assistance in order to build a resilient and environmentally friendly energy market; notes that no new energy efficiency funding mechanisms have been put in place;
Amendment 229 #
2022/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Commends the removal of roaming charges between the Western Balkan states; welcomes the Roaming Declaration enabling the reduction of the roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans as of 1 October 2023;
Amendment 91 #
2022/2195(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes Uzbekistan’s long-standing and close relations with Afghanistan, which have continued after the takeover by Taliban; commends its efforts to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis in the country through the provision of humanitarian aid and electricity; invites Uzbekistan to use its contacts with the Taliban to call for respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, in particular women, girls, persons with disabilities and minorities, which are essential conditions for greater international engagement with Afghanistan; reiterates its strong condemnation of the Taliban’s decisions to ban women and girls from attending secondary and university education and to prohibit the employment of women with non-governmental organisations; deplores that persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination, limited services, and a lack of a legislative or institutional framework to ensure their fundamental rights in Afghanistan;
Amendment 150 #
2022/2195(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Urges the Uzbek authorities to protect Christian converts who are at risk of facing physical assault, kidnappings, and forced marriages by their families and community;
Amendment 6 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Article 5 c of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination states that States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equally before the law enjoy political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections, to vote and to stand for election;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas autocratic and illiberal regimes have developed new ways and mock-compliance strategies to overcome the costs of fully complying with international election observation standards without overtly denouncing them; whereas they are becoming increasingly well organised in their efforts to provide international legitimacy to each other’s fake elections; whereas EU Election Observation Missions aim to strengthen confidence in elections, deter fraud, and provide an informed and factual assessment of an election process;
Amendment 55 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) acknowledge the severity of the difficulties that people living under autocratic and illiberal regimes have in accessing unbiased, uncensored election- related information and discerning it from among regime-sponsored propaganda, including reliable information on candidates, voting preferences and the conduct of the election process, which inhibits their ability to understand whether elections are truly competitive and whether citizens’ preferences are reflected in the results and to work to prevent misuse of public resources and vote-buying;
Amendment 77 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) mainstream information about genuine elections and people’s right to participate in them, including about all minorities’ right to vote, in the context of support for human rights and democratisation in the projects under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe and the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance, including support for election observers as human rights defenders; support the Global Campus of Human Rights to that end;
Amendment 93 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) address the right to participate in non-EU countries through EU human rights dialogues; pay special attention to religious and ethnic minorities right to participate in elections;
Amendment 107 #
2022/2154(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) advance the idea of developing guidelines on the right to participate in elections in the UN Human Rights Council, with the greater involvement of local civil society organisations and religious representatives; assess the feasibility of further developing and systematising General Comment No 25 to Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to evidence the link between the right to participate and human rights and democracy in order to deal with new challenges, including online disinformation and the rise of authoritarianism;
Amendment 7 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas sound public spending and the protection of the EU’s financial interests should be key elements of EU policy in order to increase the confidence of citizens by ensuring that taxpayers’ money is used properly and effectively,
Amendment 8 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 9 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the conditionality regulation allows the EU to take measures – for example suspension of payments or financial corrections – to protect the budget from fraud and shield the rule of law;
Amendment 10 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the European Court of Justice dismissed claims by two Member States, ruling that the conditionality regulation falls within the power conferred by the financial rules for the implementation of the EU budget;
Amendment 11 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Union and Member States share responsibility for protecting the EU’s financial interests and, with the entry into force of the unprecedented funds of the RRF, responsibility for the regulation and the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans (RRPs), such that the role of national authorities in ensuring an adequate level of protection of the EU’s financial interests has increased significantly;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the implementation of the RRF will increase the pressure on national administrations in the coming years, asnd it coincides with the 2021-2027 spending programmes, and whereas the Member States will need to master different management modes linked to the implementation of the various funds;
Amendment 14 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the Commission has made efforts to supported national authorities on the design and assessment of national plans, paying particular attention to the provisions concerning measures to protect RRF resources from fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest and double funding;
Amendment 16 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas deficiencies in the validity and comparability of data and reporting technologies with varying degrees of digitalisation in the Member States continue to severely hamper the quality and reliability of information available;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas the Arachne tool is voluntary and, although already largely used in cohesion policy and being introduced for agricultural spending, making it mandatory - as repeatedly requested by the Parliament - would be a major step forward, according to the Commission;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas on 1 June 2021 the EPPO finally started its operational activities as the final pillar of the anti-fraud architecture designed by the Union to enhance the protection of its financial interests; whereas the EPPO received 2 832 reports and opened 576 investigations 2021; whereas the EPPO requested more than EUR 152 million to be seized, and the seizure of more than EUR 147 million was granted; whereas the workload of the EPPO is expected to increase;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas the EPPO with minimum resources under extreme time pressure, has started to work, adequately and in profit; whereas the EPPO’s budget for 2021 was less than forty five (45) million Euro, and the same year EPPO judges have granted the seizure of more than a quarter of a billion of Euro, illustrating that the return on investment is massive and immediate;
Amendment 22 #
2022/2152(INI)
N. whereas the unprecedented increase in EU spending under the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) recovery plan offers significant risks, including the potential for misuse of funds by organised criminals;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
N a. whereas cooperation with international partners is crucial to protect EU funds spent outside Europe and the revenue side of the EU budget; whereas OLAF 2021 concluded administrative cooperation arrangements with two international partner authorities, the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine and the World Customs Organization (WCO); whereas OLAF 2021 organised online events to establish new operational contacts with investigative authorities in non-EU countries and to encourage the reporting of fraud and irregularities through EU Delegations around the world;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the number of cases of fraud and irregularities reported by the competent EU and national authorities – 11 218 in total – remained stable in 2021 relative to 2020 (when there were 11 755 cases overall); points out that the value involved in these irregularities rose significantly to EUR 3.24 billion (having more than doubled +121%, from EUR 1.46 billion in 2020), due to a small number of large cases in certain Member States; expresses its grave concern about the increased amount involved in fraud and irregularities;
Amendment 32 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is concerned by the increasing threat to the EU budget posed by organised crime, including mafia-type organisations and oligarchic structures, trying to infiltrate the legal economy and perpetrating administrative irregularities with criminal methods that are more harmful and more difficult to investigate and remedy, increasingly making use of highly skilled intermediaries who are able to carry out extremely sophisticated, hard- to-detect European-fund fraud and by making money disappear through complex financial architectures, sometimes with the help of tax havens, making it particularly difficult to trace and recover funds;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to focus more on the more severe issues, such as intentional manipulations in the tender criteria to favour the application of certain bidders, corruption in relation to bidder selection, and conflicts of interest in general, instead of minor formal errors;
Amendment 36 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the lack of specificefficient legislation onand actions to combat organised crime in many Member States isenable fertile ground for the growing number of cross-border activities in areas affecting the Union’s financial interests; calls on the Commission to promote the good practices of those countries in the EU that have an advanced regulatory framework for fighting organised crime;
Amendment 43 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that an enhanced and consistent level of protection for journalists and whistleblowers across the Union helps detect corruption and counter the spread of a subculture of impunity, silence and conspiracy; stresses the important role played by the media and investigative journalists in the fight against corruption;
Amendment 44 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Remarks that China remained the major country of origin of goods affected by irregularities; stresses that a number of the cases investigated, which involved products sent from China, are emblematic of the challenges posed by China’s Belt and Road policy; is concerned by the recurrence of cases of absorption and circumvention of trade defence measures and by the difficulty of detecting them; calls on the Commission to adopt countermeasures and deploy them intensively to address unfair trade;
Amendment 49 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Observes that for agriculture the analysis confirms a very low incidence of reported fraud in proportion to disbursements for direct payments, with the highest level observed for market measures in the fruit and vegetable sector and related to the promotion of agricultural products; notes however that the fraudulent irregularities in rural development related to the 2014-2020 programming period are progressively increasing;
Amendment 51 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that for the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) implementing cohesion policy, the number of fraudulent irregularities reported for the 2014-2020 programming period remained in line with the number reported for the 2007-2013 programming period, while there was a fall in the number of non- fraudulent irregularities; remark with concern that financial amounts linked to fraudulent irregularities in the cohesion policy 2021 compared to the five year average of 2017-2021 increased with 186%;
Amendment 60 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to design a regulatory frameworkStresses the need to address the lack of information on the owners and ownership structure of companies or groups of companies with the aim of making the current distribution of funds more transparent and helping to make significant improvements in more efficient detection of irregularities;
Amendment 75 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45 a. Recalls that OLAF was created not only for internal investigations but also for supporting Member States in external investigations; recalls that the subsidiarity principle prevents OLAF from launching investigations where Member States are in a better position to act, but this does not exclude OLAF from conducting analyses of recurring cases, trends and patterns and on how its ability to detect these phenomena has resulted in enhanced cooperation and successful actions;
Amendment 78 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. RecallDeplores that in 2021, out of an overall budget of EUR 44.9 million, the EPPO was forced to return EUR 9.5 million (about 20 %) to the EU budget, after having requested and obtained additional resources to hire statutory staff from the budgetary authority, because the clearance to hire them was not granted by the Commission;
Amendment 80 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Reiterates its concerns related to permanent understaffing at OLAF, the EPPO, Europol and Eurojust and their lack of financial and human resources, as they need an adequate and predictable budget to be able to organise and carry out the work to the best of their ability; underscores that their workload has now further increased due to the adoption of the NextGenerationEU and the extraordinary funds supporting Ukraine; reminds the Commission and the Council that every euro spent on investigation and anti-fraud actions returns to the EU budget;
Amendment 87 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Underlines the important role the Member States play in protecting the Union’s financial interests; is aware that, under the new delivery model adopted with the RRF, the Member States have the biggest responsibility in preventing and countering fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest and double funding; believes that an efficient cooperation between the EU and the national authorities is essential for proper delivery;
Amendment 91 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Amendment 97 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Believes that uneven and fragmentary legislation and digitalisation across EU Member States represents an obstacle to the effectiveness of the protection of the Union’s financial interests and obstruct the comparability, evaluation and mapping of the scale, nature and causes of fraud in the EU;
Amendment 103 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Observes that the transposition of the PIF Directive is a precondition to enabling the EPPO and its partners to effectively carry out investigations and prosecutions; welcomes the first report of the Commission on the transposition of the Directive, published on 6 September 2021; regretnotes that, since then, and despite the transposition of the Directive by all the Member States, the Commission has opened infringement procedures against 17 Member States for not correctly transposing the PIF Directive12 ; _________________ 12 By the end of 2021, 13 out of the 14 procedures launched in 2019 were closed. In the subsequent conformity check, the Commission services assessed the compatibility of these notified national transposition measures with the Directive’s provisions and obligations. In December 2021, the Commission launched infringement proceedings for incorrect transposition against other eight Member States.
Amendment 115 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Is aware that in its 2020 PIF Report the Commission made targeted recommendations to Member States aiming at enhancing cooperation and strengthening internal control frameworks; notes that attention was drawn to risk assessment and risk management, collection and analysis of data on irregularities and fraud and use of integrated and interoperable information and monitoring systems for the implementation of RRF and EU budget financed activities; regrets that not all the Member States have implemented such recommendations, and notes that some of them have systematically refused to do so; asks the Commission to enhance its monitoring actions for those Member States that have not provided acceptable justification for declining the follow up toimplemented the PIF recommendations;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)
Paragraph 67 a (new)
67 a. Recommends the suspension of budgetary support in non-EU countries, including candidate countries, where authorities manifestly fail to take genuine action against widespread corruption, while ensuring that the assistance reaches the civil population through alternative channels; calls for greater priority to be given to the fight against corruption in pre-accession negotiations and a focus on capacity building, such as via specialised anti-corruption bodies; calls on the Commission to send clear signals to candidate countries that a backlash against rule of law standards is jeopardising or delaying the accession to the EU; regrets that according to ECA Special Report No 01/2022, EUR 700 million in financial support for the improvement of the rule of law in the Western Balkans provided by the EU between 2014 and 2020 had little impact on fundamental reforms;
Amendment 125 #
2022/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 b (new)
Paragraph 67 b (new)
67 b. Highlights that cooperation with international partners is crucial to protect EU funds spent outside Europe and the revenue side of the EU budget; welcomes that OLAF 2021 concluded administrative cooperation arrangements with two international partner authorities, the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine and the World Customs Organization (WCO); welcomes that OLAF 2021 organised online events to establish new operational contacts with investigative authorities in non-EU countries and to encourage the reporting of fraud and irregularities through EU Delegations around the world;
Amendment 107 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas joint declarations on EU- NATO cooperation should define areas of cooperation and coordination, establish the tasks to be fulfilled within each framework and be accompanied by roadmaps for their implementation; whereas EU defence missions should complement NATO missions;
Amendment 242 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 2 – point g a (new)
(ga) Stresses that these RDC and related defence missions should be a complement to NATO;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the Member States to switch to QMV for decisions in all areas of the CFSP, starting within a year with priority areas, for decisions in certain areas of the CFSP such as the EU global human rights sanctions regime, restrictive measures and other instruments linked to the Russian war against Ukraine and interim steps in the enlargement process; stresses that unanimity decisions should remain required for the creation and deployment of military missions or operations under the common security and defence policy (CSDP);
Amendment 14 #
2022/2090(DEC)
4. Deplores the remaining lack of diversity, gender and geographical imbalances within the EEAS staff; reiterates the importance of ensuring an intersectional distribution,providing opportunities for greater diversity, and gender equality, as well as promoting a balance of staff in terms of gender and geographical origin within different categories and grades, particularly at senior management levels; calls on the EEAS to significantly improve the representation of women and marginalised groups across all levels and calls on all Member States to consider nominateing more women and candidates from marginalised groups to seconded positions in the EEAS; draws attention to the remaining overrepresentation of some Member States’ diplomats among the Heads of Delegation and calls for further efforts to address those imbalances; encourages the EEAS to create and share guidelines on best practices on the conducting of recruitment procedures in order to ensure diversity, openness, fairness and transparency;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2090(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Commends the EEAS for rapid responses on global events;
Amendment 25 #
2022/2090(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Reiterates the need to tackle disinformation and combat malicious foreign influence; underlines the importance of the EEAS Strategic Taskforce and calls for the broadening of its mandate, including in relation to state sponsored disinformation originating in China and the Middle East, particularly Iran, and providing it with further necessary financial and human resources;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2081(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recommends the suspension of budgetary support in non-EU countries, including candidate countries, where authorities manifestly fail to take genuine action against widespread corruption, while ensuring that the assistance reaches the civil population through alternative channels; calls for greater priority to be given to the fight against corruption in pre-accession negotiations and a focus on capacity building, such as via specialised anti-corruption bodies; calls on the Commission to send clear signals to candidate countries that a backlash against rule of law standards is jeopardising or delaying the accession to the EU; regrets that according to ECA Special Report No 01/2022, EUR 700 million in financial support for the improvement of the rule of law in the Western Balkans provided by the EU between 2014 and 2020 had little impact on fundamental reforms;
Amendment 11 #
2022/2081(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned about destruction and confiscation ofthe Union- funded projects in the West Bank; reminds of the position of the Council, expressing its commitment to ensure that all agreements between Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate the inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, as well as to continue the effective implementation of existing Union legislation and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products;
Amendment 14 #
2022/2081(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises the critical role performed by UNRWA in providing Palestine refugees with vital services; commendsnotes that the EU- commissioned study by the Georg-Eckert Institute published last June confirmed previous reports of antisemitism, glorification of terror and the erasure of Israel on maps in Palestinian schoolbooks; deplores that the results of the study on Palestinian schoolbooks performed by the Georg Eckert Institute, confirming that they do not adhere to UNESCO standards and adopt criteria that are prominent in international education discourse.; stresses that the EU should never finance or support any organisation that do not adhere to UNESCO standards;
Amendment 19 #
2022/2081(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reaffirms the Abraham Accords’ historical importance in maintaining and strengthening peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond; commends the role that the United States has played in facilitating the Abraham Accords; calls on the Commission to support the implementation and extension of the Abraham Accords as an important framework for achieving durable peace in the Middle East; encourages the Commission to further initiate and support policy initiatives, and projects aimed at supporting the Abraham Accords and the peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as the EU’s partnership with the involved states;
Amendment 24 #
2022/2081(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls that malicious foreign actors tend to exploit ethnic tensions in the Western Balkans, including in EU candidate countries, sometimes trying to use these countries as an information manipulation and hybrid warfare laboratory, aimed at undermining the EU; recommends that the Commission finance StratCom Taskforces that tackle disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective; reiterates the need for StratCom Taskforces focused on the disinformation emanating from the Middle East, particularly Iran;
Amendment 215 #
2022/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(h a) reiterate its clear support for the EU enlargement policy, but recall that final EU accession depend on each aspiring member’s lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; underscore that the pace of the merit- based EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights;
Amendment 231 #
2022/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) establishuse clear, transparent and consistent performance benchmarks, to improve the measuring of progress and ensure continued political and technical support throughout the accession process;
Amendment 263 #
2022/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) recognise Western Balkan countries’ achievements by opening long over-due accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia and granting visa liberalisation to Kosovo without delay, following the complete fulfilment of existing conditions;
Amendment 333 #
2022/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) formally suspend accession negotiations with Turkey, in accordance with the negotiating framework, until the country reengages with the EU and demonstrates clear and significant progress in EU-related reforms, while continuing partnership in essential areas of joint interest; ensure that any improvement of the official EU-Turkey relations, and any move on the positive agenda is dependent on an improvement of the civil and human rights and rule of law situation in Turkey;
Amendment 350 #
2022/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
(v) bring democratic transformation and the rule of law back to the very centre of the EU accession process, prioritising judicial independence, the fight against corruption, trafficking, disinformation and organised crime, good governance, human rights, fundamental freedoms and media freedom;
Amendment 115 #
2022/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Condemns authoritarian regimes, like Iran, that are restricting journalists and the civil society from reporting what is happening on the ground; calls on the Commission to provide EU-based communication providers to offer safe tools to the citizens and residents of those countries;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2051(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for theStresses that any introduction of provisions in Articles 42 and 46 TEU enabling the joint procurement of defence equipment and other security-related spending from the budget of the Union as well as the establishment of joint military units and command structuresshould be drawn up in close collaboration with the Member States, and be designed so that the Member States’ right to transparency and influence is ensured in matters of national defence;
Amendment 195 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on Member States to assess the reform of the decision-making process with a view to realising untapped potential within the Treaties, in particular by activating Article 31 TEU extending qualified majority voting (QMV) to areas relating to the CSDP, notably those concerning sanctions and human rights and pursuing full use of the ‘passerelle clauses’ and scope of articles that enhance EU solidarity and mutual assistance in the event of crises; proposes changes to the Treaties in the CSDP, to be discussed and decided upon within a convention following up on the Conference on the Future of Europe, primarily focusing on switching from unanimity to QMV for Council decisions without military implications andor on defence matters for situations where passerelle clauses do not apply;
Amendment 243 #
2022/2050(INI)
9. Considers it important for member states to fill their identified defence investment gaps such as replenishing stockpiles, replacing Soviet- era systems, reinforcing air and missile defence systems, expanding existing main battle tank capabilities and armoured vehicles, strengthening naval forces and improving satellite-based secure connectivity; strongly calls on Member States to commit to a significant increase in funding for EU procurement mechanisms and to take swift and thorough action in this crucial field;
Amendment 358 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for fasterefficient operationalisation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) based on the increased readiness of Member States’ military forces; calls on Member States to commit to substantially narrowing critical gaps in strategic enablers by 2025, in particular linked to the RDC, such as strategic airlift, space communication assets, medical assets, cyber-defence capabilities and intelligence and reconnaissance;
Amendment 420 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers synergies and coherence with the implementation of NATO’s Strategic Concept essential, particularly in the areas of countering Russian aggression, cyber defence, hybrid warfare, disinformation campaigns and support to strategic partners;
Amendment 490 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 – indent 1
Paragraph 27 – indent 1
Amendment 13 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Human Rights High Commissioner's Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China of 31 August 2022,
Amendment 17 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
— having regard to the European Council conclusions on Ukraine of 30 and 31 May 2022,
Amendment 22 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 a (new)
Citation 31 a (new)
— having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief of 24 June 2013,
Amendment 30 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 48 a (new)
Citation 48 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the Xinjiang police files
Amendment 39 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as set out in Article 2 TEU; whereas article 21 TEU stipulates that the Union's actions on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement;
Amendment 68 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the Xinjiang police files document in detail – and, for the first time, with numerous photographs – the dimensions of the systematic, brutal and arbitrary repression in the Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang; whereas this material demonstrates the informed role, active support and direct involvement of the Central Government in Beijing, including Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, and of leading Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region officials in directing the mass internment policy in Xinjiang; whereas the documents also point to President Xi Jinping’s informed and active support for Xinjiang’s ‘re- education’ campaigns, as well as for continued spending on additional detention facilities and staff to manage the influx of detainees;
Amendment 69 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas the Iranian authorities is committing human rights violations and crackdown on protests throughout the country following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was killed after being arrested for allegedly wearing an improper hijab;
Amendment 74 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reaffirms the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the inherent dignity of every human being; stresses, in this regard, its strong commitment to addressing first and foremost the challenges to human rights worldwide and reiterates the duty of the EU and its Member States to act as a global leader in the promotion and protection of human rights, freedom and democracy in line with the founding values of the Union;
Amendment 95 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine; expresses, in this regard, its deep grief at the human suffering and serious human rights violations caused by the Russian armed forces at the EU’s borders; welcomes the joint efforts of the EU and its Member States in response to the war; welcomes, moreover, the solidarity shown by a great number of countries towards Ukraine, as highlighted by their stance during the sessions and votes of the UN General Assembly on the crisis in Ukraine; calls for the EU and its Member States to give the Ukrainian people the support they need to defend democracy, human rights and international law; welcomes the unprecedented ambition of the sanctions imposed in the context of the war and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to use all of the instruments at their disposal to support the Ukrainian people in their fight to free Ukraine from its occupiers and to hold the invading forces responsible for devastation and war crimes committed;
Amendment 116 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the EU to reflect on how to promote a human rights-based approach in all EU instruments and strategies in order to strengthen the EU’s human rights foreign policy and shape the evolving geopolitical situation; underlines that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI – Global Europe), including its thematic programme on human rights and democracy, is one of the main tools at the EU’s disposal to improve the human rights situation around the world and help foster resilient, inclusive and democratic societies while pushing back against the influence of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes; stresses that the engagement of local civil society actors is vital to protect human rights and democracy in their countries and reiterates its call to fully engage them in all of the EU’s relevant external activities; highlights the importance that NDICI – Global Europe attaches to the promotion of human rights and democracy with strategic international and local partners; underlines Parliament’s role in the instrument’s programming process and calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to share all the relevant information in a timely manner in order to enable Parliament to play its role accordingly, in particular during high-level geopolitical dialogues with the Commission;
Amendment 133 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with deep regret that the post of the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU has remained vacant for more than a year; reiterates its and calls for the Council and the Commission to carry out a transparent and comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and added value of the position of the Special Envoy as part of renewing and reinforcing its mandate,appointment of the new Envoy without further delay; reiterates its call for the Council and the Commission to provide the Special Envoy with adequate resources, and to adequately support the Special Envoy’s institutional mandate, capacity and duties; recalls that the Special Envoy’s duties should focus on promoting freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and the rights to non-belief, apostasy and the espousal of atheistic views;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes withStrongly regrets that the post of the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU has remained vacant for more than a year; reiterates its call for the Council and the Commission to carry out a transparent and comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and added value of the position of the Special Envoy as part of renewing and reinforcing its mandatappoint a new Special Envoy as soon as possible, to provide the Special Envoy with adequate resources, and to adequately support the Special Envoy’s institutional mandate, capacity and duties; recalls that the Special Envoy’s duties should focus on promoting freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and the rights to non-belief, apostasy and the espousal of atheistic views; calls for the Special Envoy to work together with national Special Envoys in the Member States in order to coordinate actions and to have regular consultations with the relevant committees of the European Parliament;
Amendment 146 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that human rights dialogues with third countries represent a unique opportunity to focus on human rights challenges and calls for them to be harnessed to their full potential; reiterates its call for the human rights dialogues to be based from the outset on a clear set of benchmarks enabling their effectiveness to be monitored; calls for the EEAS to systematically carry out evaluations of the outcomes of the dialogues and to follow up on them accordingly; stresses that in order to be effective, the dialogues must not be used as a standalone tool, but should instead be integrated within the EU’s comprehensive set of activities with the third countries concerned, which would streamline the human rights dimension and reinforce the messages conveyed in the dialogues; draws attention to the importance of raising individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, in the context of human rights dialogues and of ensuring adequate follow-up to and transparency of these cases; is of the opinion that, in the case of Human Rights Dialogues with regimes such as the People's Republic of China (PRC), failure to achieve concrete results should have consequences for the wider conduct of bilateral relations, including the freezing of negotiations on any future investment or trade agreements;
Amendment 177 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Reiterates its call for the Council to introduce targeted sanctions under the GRHSR against the Chief Executive John Lee and all other Hong Kong and PRC officials responsible for the ongoing human rights crackdown in the city;
Amendment 178 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Stresses that more states should be sanctioned under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, for instance Iran and China, due to the respective authorities’ continuous human rights violations;
Amendment 179 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Amendment 182 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that corruption seriously weakens democratic governance and hinders the enjoyment of human rights worldwide; calls for the fight against corruption to be a part of all of the EU’s efforts and policies to promote human rights and democracy, by formulating a dedicated global anti-corruption strategy, including programmes under the EU’s external financial instruments and enhancing Parliament’s role of scrutiny; underlines the utmost importance for the EU and its Member States to lead by example by applying the highest transparency standards to their external funding and by stepping up their support for civil society organisations, activists and investigative journalists engaged in the fight against corruption;
Amendment 190 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its call to include robust clauses on human rights in agreements between the EU and third countries, supported by a clear set of benchmarks and procedures to be followed in the event of violations; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to actively reflect on how to ensure that the human rights clauses in existing international agreements are effectively enforced; stresses that the EU should react swiftly and decisively to persistent breaches of human rights clauses by third countries, including by suspending the relevant agreements if other options prove ineffective; highlights that the ongoing revision of the Regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and the revaluation of beneficiary countries offers a great opportunity to strengthen the commitment to enforcing the respect for human rights in agreements between the EU and third countries;
Amendment 206 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reaffirms that the effective protection of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance the efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to strive to speak with one voice both at the UN and in other multilateral forums; recalls the obligations of all UN member states to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the Founding Charter of the United Nations and UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251; stresses the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council to address all the grave violations of human rights around the world; encourages the continuing efforts of the UN General Assembly to abolish the death penalty including abolishing capital sentences for non-violent crimes;
Amendment 209 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Stresses that the UNHRC should address situations of violations of human rights in a balanced manner, and cease attempts to disproportionately target the State of Israel; calls in this regard for a fundamental reform of the Human Rights Council including the setting of clear criteria for members of the Council;
Amendment 218 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Deplores the abuse of the UN Human Rights Council by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes which continue to abuse it for their own ends, in particular, to undermine its functioning, and erode the human rights norms regime; calls for the EU and its Member States to support a comprehensive reform of the HRC;
Amendment 245 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Stresses the vital role of ICC in carrying out investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by non-state, regional or ethnic-based armed forces against ethnic, religious or belief minorities; calls on the EU and its Member States to continue cooperation with ICC in combatting and preventing such crimes; reiterates the importance of scaling up efforts to support ICC in initiating and conducting formal investigations in a timely manner and in full conformity with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;
Amendment 247 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Reaffirms that the credible evidence about birth prevention measures and the separation of Uyghur children from their families amount to crimes against humanity and represent a serious risk of genocide; calls on the Chinese authorities to cease all government- sponsored programmes of forced labour and mass forced sterilisation and to put an immediate end to any measures aimed at preventing births in the Uyghur population;
Amendment 258 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; calls on all countries that have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; condemns in strong terms, enforcement of blasphemy laws across the globe that carry the possibility of death penalty to the convicted; reiterates that the freedom to choose one’s religion, to believe or not to believe at all remains a fundamental human right that cannot be punished by death or any degrading treatment; condemns any incidents of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and deplores the fact that they continue to be common in many countries; notes with great concern the trend of increasing instances of torture worldwide and widespread impunity of its perpetrators;
Amendment 297 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25 c. Calls on the Commission and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to address the issue of forced marriage, including the phenomenon of underaged girls being forced to marry older men from outside their religion or belief, as a means of (re-)conversion from one religion or belief to another; condemns in strong terms any such use of forced marriage, house arrest, rape and other degrading treatment against women;
Amendment 329 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their efforts in promoting equal rights for persons with disabilities through external action; emphasises the need to increase pressure on candidate countries to implement reforms to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and to increase their efforts in terms of deinstitutionalisation; calls on the Commission to assist candidate countries to develop a structured process for consulting persons with disabilities and their representative organisations;
Amendment 339 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines its opposition to and condemnation of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, which in many of the world’s regions leads to killings and persecution; stresses that racism, antisemitism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to be a major problem worldwide and have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against antisemitism and welcomes the adoption of the EU strategy to this end;
Amendment 341 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Is concerned about the hate speech and violence still taught in Palestinian school materials and used in schools by UNRWA; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; demands that all school material, which is not in compliance with these standards will be removed immediately;
Amendment 376 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Strongly condemns the Iranian authorities’ brutal crackdown on protests throughout the country following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed after being arrested for allegedly wearing an improper hijab; urges the EU and Member States to call on the Iranian authorities and President Raisi to immediately stop using violence against the protesters and cease shutting off access to the internet inside the country;
Amendment 387 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Is deeply concerned about the violence against people belonging to minorities on the grounds of their belief or religion as a global phenomenon; deplores that it affects many religious communities, namely Christians (including Copts, Syriacs, Assyrians), Jews, Muslims (including Uyghurs, Ahmadis and Alevis), Buddhists, Hindus and smaller religious groups, such as Baha’is, Sikhs and Zoroastrians, as well as groups of people who are atheists, humanists, agnostics or do not identify with any religion;
Amendment 397 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35 c. Calls on the Commission and the Council to implement ambitious programmes to defend freedom of religion or belief worldwide, including encouraging and supporting international efforts to collect evidence of crimes of atrocity, bringing the perpetrators to court, rendering criminal sentences effective, and compensating the victims; calls on the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to work with third countries to adopt measures to prevent and fight hate crime;
Amendment 409 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Is concerned by the growing body of evidence on transnational repression emanating from the People's Republic of China, aimed at silencing dissent across the globe and forcing the return of overseas nationals through extra-legal means, including the existence of physical ‘overseas police service stations’ in countries around the world, including Europe, by the PRC Public Security forces in cooperation with Chinese Overseas associations linked to United Front Work; stresses that such extraterritorial practices by a totalitarian regime are not only illegal, but represent a grave human rights risk; calls on the Council and the Member States to urgently investigate and close these stations and other mechanisms of transnational repression, and to provide for adequate monitoring, reporting and protection mechanisms for the communities at risk; further reiterates its urgent call for the remaining Member States which have not done so to suspend all active extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong as the human rights situation in these territories is incompatible with Member States' international obligation of non- refoulement, and their maintenance is an essential part of the PRC's transnational repressive framework, and gravely infringes on the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms within the EU and around the world;
Amendment 429 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reaffirms the inalienable human rights of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons, which must be reflected in the EU’s migration policy and in its cooperation with third countries in this area; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, particularly focusing on displaced women, children, ethnic, religious and belief minorities and persons with disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and where possible step up their support for countries hosting most refugees, as well as transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with third countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling is crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU13 , including the development of Talent Partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 13 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).
Amendment 480 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42 a. Highlights with concern the fact that religious, belief or ethnic background can be used as a discriminating factor in the distribution of food and humanitarian aid in the context of food insecurity and humanitarian crises; encourages the EU, its Member States and the Commission to bring this issue to the attention of the foreign governments concerned;
Amendment 499 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Underlines that trade agreements often offer the possibility for the EU to work with third countries to address their domestic situation by providing some conditions that would serve to enhance living standards, as well as allow for some conditionality to improve the human rights situation in those countries; notes, however, that in some cases there has been little to no improvement in the countries concerned; notes that excessive and exploitative business activities often have detrimental effects on human rights in third countries;
Amendment 502 #
2022/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Calls for the EU to make more and coherent use of clauses in trade agreements that protect human rights, including closer monitoring and adequate enforcement of human rights commitments, and to use the full potential of conditionality on human rights to grant preferential access to its market to third countries; calls, in particular, for a closer link between preferential treatment and progress on human rights in the updated Regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) and for greater transparency throughout all steps of the procedure for granting GSP+ status, including following up on any possible violations; calls on the Commission to keep the European Parliament adequately informed in this regard; calls for a standing invitation for the EU to observe national elections in third countries to be established as a condition for granting those countries GSP+ status; reiterates its calls for the Commission to systematically carry out human rights impact assessments focused on the risks of human rights violations prior to granting any preferential regime to a country and to swiftly respond to any violations, including the revocation of GSP+ status if warranted;
Amendment 306 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reiterates that the credible evidence about birth prevention measures and the separation of Uyghur children from their families indicates crimes that amount to crimes against humanity and represent a serious risk of genocide; calls on the Chinese authorities to cease all government-sponsored programmes of forced labour and mass forced sterilisation and to put an immediate end to any measures aimed at preventing births in the Uyghur population;
Amendment 308 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. expresses grave concern at Chinese government’s position indicated at the CCP’s 20th Party Congress that China will never renounce the right to use force over Taiwan; reiterates that the status quo of the Taiwan Strait should not be unilaterally altered against the will of the Taiwanese people; is of the view that the dispute between Taiwan and China should be solved through peaceful dialogues without any preconditions;
Amendment 311 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Underlines that preserving peace, stability and the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region remains of critical importance to the interests of the EU and its Member States; notices with grave concern China’s increasingly provocative military moves aimed at Taiwan; strongly condemns the National Security Law imposed in Hong Kong; calls on the Commission to review the autonomous status of Hong Kong in the light of China’s breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the crackdown of Hong Kong’s autonomy;
Amendment 315 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission and the VP/HR to establish strategic cooperation with Taiwan; recalls the importance of trade and economic relations between the EU and Taiwan; stresses therefore the need to urgently begin an impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the Taiwanese authorities in preparation for negotiations to deepen bilateral economic ties; calls for the EU and its Member States to cooperate with international partners in helping sustain democracy in Taiwan free from foreign threats;
Amendment 324 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines that Taiwan is a key EU partner and democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific region, one that contributes to maintaining a rules-based international order and upholds fundamental values; strongly urges the EU and its Member States to intensify cooperation and pursue a comprehensive enhanced partnership with Taiwan, notably essential cooperation on critical supply chain resilience, and countering disinformation and foreign interference.
Amendment 326 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Strongly advocate Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in the meetings, mechanism and activities of the World Health Organization, UNFCCC, International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol;
Amendment 420 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses that countries wishing to be part of the EU have to be aligned with our values and views, in particularly the policies on Russia; emphasises that human rights and human dignity are non- negotiable, hence candidate countries must mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities across sectors and policies; reiterates the urgent need of de- institutionalisation strategies in all candidate countries;
Amendment 437 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Condemns the Iran’s, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), brutal crackdown on the demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini; reiterates its supports to the peaceful protest movement across the country, protesting against Mahsa Amini’s killing, the systemic and increasing oppression of women, and severe and mass violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; strongly supports the aspirations of the Iranian people who want to live in a free, stable, inclusive and democratic country that respects its national and international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 438 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Calls on the Council to include the IRGC in its terror list;
Amendment 442 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for a swift restoration and full implementation by all partieStresses that the negotiations ofn the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which is a cornerstone of non-proliferation and (JCPOA) cannot be concluded at this stage due to the continuous grave human rights violations that the Iranian regime is committing against its own people; notes that non-proliferation is a cornerstone for the stabilisation of the Middle East and the Gulf region;
Amendment 447 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Takes the view that the EU should create a dedicated Iran StratCom Task Force to build on the StratCom Task Force South with the aim to further develop a concrete strategy for combating disinformation from the Islamic Republic of Iran in our Southern Neighbourhood countries, aiming to counter fake news and propaganda in order to reinforce democracy and stability;
Amendment 452 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the strengthening of the EU’s relations with the Gulf countries, as underlined in the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 18 May 2022 on a strategic partnership with the Gulf (JOIN(2022)0013); notes that there is a common interest in engaging more strategically with the Gulf partners; reiterates its support for the Abraham Accords, which has normalised diplomatic relations between United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and which has later led to Morocco and Sudan signing a normalisation agreement with Israel; commends the role that the United States has played in facilitating the Abraham Accords; calls on the Commission and the Council to support the implementation and extension of the Abraham Accords as an important framework for achieving durable peace in the Middle East; calls on the EU to explore the possibility of signing the Abraham Accords;
Amendment 457 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Is concerned about the hate speech and the incitement to violence still taught in Palestinian school materials; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; demands that all school material, which is not in compliance with these standards will be removed immediately;
Amendment 461 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Commends the EU for re- establishing the EU-Israel Association Council after a decade and stresses the importance of a continuous growing partnership with Israel in common fields including peace and security in the region;
Amendment 510 #
2022/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Recalls the important role of national parliaments in the Member States; stresses that the Member States has the ultimate competence on foreign policy; underlines the key role the NATO Parliamentary Assembly can play and calls for a further strengthening of Parliament’s relations with it;
Amendment 121 #
2022/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Implement under the NDICI, as a matter of priority, strategies and dedicated programming for broader youth access to education, vocational training, higher education together with adequate funding for access to education and ensuring that school textbooks and educational material in partner countries adhere to the UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance and non-violence in education, and as an integral part of the Union’s strategy for combatting Antisemitism; commends the ongoing curriculum reforms commenced by Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco in this regard; reiterates its concern about anti-Semitic content and incitement to violence present in Palestinian educational materials, as demonstrated by the findings of the recent EU funded study by the Georg Eckert Institute; recalls that youth migration, whether regular or irregular, and professional brain drain are a matter of serious concern to our partners in the region, as well as a serious threat to the longer-term capacity for economic growth and economic viability of Southern Neighbourhood countries; stresses the importance of expanding access to the Erasmus and Erasmus+ programmes for participants from Southern Neighbourhood countries; recalls the importance of circular mobility, including South-to-South exchanges, so that professionals from Southern Neighbourhood countries can have concrete opportunities to further their professional training in the EU and return to their country of origin to share and build knowledge; insist that financial support to education initiatives must be conditionally linked to an adherence to Union values and UNESCO standards; recalls the importance of mainstreaming the socioeconomic integration of women in the region and of gender equality in all EU policies areas whenever possible; stresses the importance of targeted EU support for women with the objective of improving their access to education, training and employment and, more generally, promoting equal professional and socioeconomic opportunities;
Amendment 173 #
2022/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) Build on the very positive experience of some Member States in supporting start-up companies and further advancing their work through dedicated incubators or accelerators, especially in key sectors such as health, renewable energy and education; takes the view that the EU should set up incubators or accelerators in relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries, support the creation of local start-up companies, and increase their digital and green capacities; concurs on the importance of further improving the digital infrastructure of relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries and including these countries in the EU’s digital agenda; points out that this is a prerequisite for economic development, socioeconomic integration and wider access to education; recalls the importance of close policy dialogue and cooperation between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood countries to develop adequate cybersecurity policies and partnership in international forums on cybersecurity standards; takes the view that the EU should create a dedicated Iran StratCom Task Force to build on the StratCom Task Force South andwith the aim to further develop a concrete strategy for combating disinformation from the Islamic Republic of Iran in our Southern Neighbourhood countries, aiming to counter fake news and propaganda in order to reinforce democracy and stability;
Amendment 185 #
2022/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) Promote regional, sub-regional and bilateral integration in the Southern Mediterranean, in particular with a view to the removal of any border, transport or trade barriers between the countries of the region and actively promoting closer links and partnerships; takes the view that the recent Negev Foreign Ministers summit in Sde Boker attests to the potential for regional integration and peace in the region in the framework of the historical Abraham Accords; welcomes the intention of holding this summit annually and calls on the VP/HR and the Commission to use the positive momentum of the Abraham Accords to advance dialogue and cooperation in the region on support for the Middle East Peace process and the two-state solution; support the normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab States through the implementation and extension of the Abraham Accords and to use the positive momentum of it to advance dialogue and cooperation in the region on support for the Middle East Peace process and the two-state solution; reiterates its strong support for the Abraham Accords, which has normalised diplomatic relations between United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and which has later led to Morocco signing a normalisation agreement with Israel; commends the role that the United States has played in facilitating the Abraham Accords;
Amendment 165 #
2022/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action against the alarming increase in antisemitism in the Union; is of the opinion that the will to accommodate other religious minorities in some cases has created an unjustifiable acceptance of antisemitism;
Amendment 168 #
2022/2005(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission to implement zero tolerance for EU support for projects that directly or indirectly express antisemitism; emphasizes in this context that it is an important issue of credibility for the EU that the external action of the union in this respect is linked to other EU policies; calls therefore on the Commission to change its policy regarding UNRWA so that there is a clear conditionality in the fight against antisemitism in order to gain access to EU funds;
Amendment 18 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The EU Heads of State or Government, meeting in Versailles on 11 March, committed to “bolster European defence capabilities” in light of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. They agreed to increase defence expenditures, step up cooperation through joint projects, and common procurement of defence capabilities, close shortfalls, boost innovation and strengthen and develop the EU defence industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Amendment 21 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) In addition, given that the EDTIB requires favourable long-term conditions, it is of utmost importance that access to finance for defence companies is assured, as laid out in the Strategic Compass. Lacking an explicit classification of being sustainable within the EU's taxonomy, EU defence companies are faced with substantial difficulties to secure financing and thus to increase their production capacity rendering relocation of production outside of the EU's common market more attractive to defence companies. Furthermore, the EU Member States should take a first step in that regard and send a positive signal to European defence companies and the financial sector by adapting the statute of the European Investment Bank in order to allow for financing of defence investments.
Amendment 34 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3, Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/954, Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/965and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/19396, the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. It is of the essence to counteract corruption and uphold the rule of law.In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council7. In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights. _________________ 3 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1. 4 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1). 5 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96 , , p.2). 6 Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017, p.1). 7 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29).
Amendment 36 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and efficiency of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) for a more resilient Union, in particular by speeding up, in a collaborative manner, the adjustment of industry to structural changes, including ramp-up of its manufacturing capacities, while safeguarding cost efficiency;
Amendment 29 #
2022/0212(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Insists that the Commission must guarantee that EU funds are not allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; is concerned about the antisemitism, hate speech and incitement to jihad and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks, indirectly funded by the EU; stresses that conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered;
Amendment 45 #
2022/0212(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the EU and its Member States’ capacities to counter disinformation, hybrid warfare, propaganda and espionage must be strengthened due to, among other reasons, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; calls for further funding for strategic communication to counter malicious interference, and reiterates the need of dedicated StratCom Task Forces, including one focused on interference emanating from the Middle East, in particular from Iran;
Amendment 56 #
2022/0212(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the intention of the Commission to soon appoint a new Special Envoy for the promotion of the freedom of religion or belief outside the EU; regrets, however, that the post has been vacant for over two years, in part due to the unforeseen resignation of the previous Special Envoy, and that the procedure of appointing a new Special Envoy has taken disproportionately long given the continuing decline of religious freedom around the world; calls on the Commission to formalise the appointment as soon as possible and to provide the Special Envoy with adequate resources, both in terms of staff and funding, to effectively carry out the mandate;
Amendment 308 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to achieve the objectives of this Regulation, it should cover providers of services that have the potential to be misused for the purpose of online child sexual abuse. As they are increasingly misused for that purpose, those services should include publicly available interpersonal communications services, such as messaging services and web-based e-mail services, in so far as those service as publicly available. As services which enable direct interpersonal and interactive exchange of information merely as a minor ancillary feature that is intrinsically linked to another service, such as chat and similar functions as part of gaming, image-sharing and video-hosting are equally at risk of misuse, they should also be covered by this Regulation. Online search engines and other artificial intelligence services should also be covered. However, given the inherent differences between the various relevant information society services covered by this Regulation and the related varying risks that those services are misused for the purpose of online child sexual abuse and varying ability of the providers concerned to prevent and combat such abuse, the obligations imposed on the providers of those services should be differentiated in an appropriate mannerand targeted manner. Considering the fundamental importance of the right to respect for private life and the right to protection of personal data, as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, nothing in this regulation should be interpreted as prohibiting or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of end-to-end encrypted content and communications.
Amendment 333 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to prevent and combat online child sexual abuse effectively, providers of hosting services and providers of publicly available interpersonal communications services should take effective and reasonable measures to mitigate the risk of their services being misused for such abuse, as identified through the risk assessment. Providers subject to an obligation to adopt mitigation measures pursuant to Regulation (EU) …/… [on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC] may consider to which extent mitigation measures2022/2065 may consider to which extent mitigation measures adopted to comply with that obligation. Mitigation measures necessary for the fulfilment of the obligations in this regulation may include the design of online interfaces or parts thereof with the highest level of privacy, safety and security for children by default, the adoapted to comply with that obligation, which may includeation of standards for protection of children, participation in codes of conduct for protecting children, targeted measures to protect the rights of the child, including age verification and-appropriate parental control tools, may also. Enabling flagging and/or notifying mechanisms and self-reporting functionalities, where possible with the use of AI, shall serve to address the risk identified in the specific risk assessment pursuant to this Regulation, and to which extent further targeted mitigation measures may be required to comply with this Regulation.
Amendment 353 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) With a view to ensuring effective prevention and fight against online child sexual abuse, when mitigating measures are deemed insufficientthe provider refuses to cooperate by putting in place the mitigating measures aimed to limit the risk of misuse of a certain service for the purpose of online child sexual abuse, the Coordinating Authorities designated by Member States under this Regulation should be empowered to request, as a measure of last resort, the issuance of detection orders. In order to avoid any undue interference with fundamental rights and to ensure proportionality, that power should be subject to a carefully balanced set of limits and safeguards. For instance, considering that child sexual abuse material tends to be disseminated through hosting services and publicly available interpersonal communications services, and that solicitation of children mostly takes place in publicly available interpersonal communications services, it should only be possible to address detection orders to providers of such services. Such detection orders shall be issued with regards to the technical capacity of the provider, and shall in no way be intrepreted as prohibiting, or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of, end-to-end encrypted content and communications.
Amendment 373 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In addition, to avoid undue interference with fundamental rights and ensure proportionality, when it is established that those requirements have been met and a detection order is to be issued, it should still be ensured that the detection order is targeted and specifiedjustified, proportionate and related only to an identifiable part of the specific service, user or group of users, as well as targeted and limited in time so as to ensure that any such negative consequences for affected parties do not go beyond what is strictly necessary to effectively address the significant risk identified. This should concern, in particular, a limitation to an identifiable part or component of the service where possible without prejudice to the effectiveness of the measure, such as specific types of channels of a publicly available interpersonal communications service, or to specific users or specific groups of users, to the extent that they can be taken in isolation for the purpose of detection, as well as the specification of the safeguards additional to the ones already expressly specified in this Regulation, such as independent auditing, the provision of additional information or access to data, or reinforced human oversight and review, and the further limitation of the duration of application of the detection order that the Coordinating Authority deems necessary. To avoid unreasonable or disproportionate outcomes, such requirements should be set after an objective and diligent assessment conducted on a case-by-case basis.
Amendment 383 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The measures taken by providers of hosting services and providers of publicly available interpersonal communications services to execute detection orders addressed to them should remain strictly limited to what is specified in this Regulation and in the detection orders issued in accordance with this Regulation. In order to ensure the effectiveness of those measures, allow for tailored solutions, remain technologically neutral, and avoid circumvention of the detection obligations, those measures should be taken regardless of the technologies used by the providers concerned in connection to the provision of their services. Therefore, this Regulation leaves to the provider concerned the choice of the technologies to be operated to comply effectively with detection orders and should not be understood as incentivising or disincentivising the use of any given technology, provided that the technologies and accompanying measures meet the requirements of this Regulation. That includes the use ofIn accordance with Article 6a, nothing in this regulation shall be interpreted as prohibiting, or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of, end-to-end encryptied con technology, which is an important tool to guarantee the security and confidentiality of the communications of users, including those of childrennt or communications through client-side scanning with side- channel leaks or other measures by which the provider of a hosting service or a provider of interpersonal communication services provides third party actors with access to the end-to-end encrypted content and communications. When executing the detection order, providers should take all available safeguard measures to ensure that the technologies employed by them cannot be used by them or their employees for purposes other than compliance with this Regulation, nor by third parties, and thus to avoid undermining the security and confidentiality of the communications of users.
Amendment 389 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 a (new)
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) End-to-end encryption is an essential tool to guarantee the security, privacy and confidentiality of the communications between users, including those of children. Any weakening of the end-to-end encryption's effect could potentially be abused by malicious third parties. Nothing in this Regulation should therefore be interpreted as prohibiting or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of end-to-end encrypted content and communications. As compromising the integrity of end-to-end encrypted content and communications shall be understood the processing of any data, that would compromise or put at risk the integrity and confidentiality of the aforementioned end-to-end encrypted content. Nothing in this regulation shall thus be interpreted as justifying client-side scanning with side-channel leaks or other measures by which the provider of a hosting service or a provider of interpersonal communication services provide third party actors access to the end-to-end encrypted content and communications.
Amendment 651 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – indent 4 a (new)
- functionalities enabling age- appropriate parental controls, including with the use of AI;
Amendment 653 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – indent 4 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – indent 4 b (new)
- functionalities enabling self- reporting, including with the use of AI;
Amendment 695 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The provider, where applicable, shall assess, in a separate section of its risk assessment, the voluntary use of specific technologies for the processing of personal and other data to the extent strictly necessary to detect, to report and to remove online child sexual abuse material from its services. Such voluntary use of specific technologies shall under no circumstances undermine the integrity and confidentiality of end-to-end encrypted content and communcations.
Amendment 862 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) take reasonable measures to prevent child users from accessing the software applications in relation to which they have identified a significant risk of use of the service concerned for the purpose of the solicitation of children; or where:
Amendment 864 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i (new)
i) the developer of the software application has decided and informed the software application store that its terms and conditions of use do not permit child users,
Amendment 865 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii (new)
ii) the software application has an appropriate age rating model in place, or
Amendment 866 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii (new)
iii) the developer of the software application has requested the software application store not to allow child users to download its software applications.
Amendment 875 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Article6a End-to-end encrypted services Nothing in this Regulation shall be interpreted as prohibiting or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of end-to-end encrypted content and communications. As compromising the integrity of end-to-end encrypted content and communcations shall be understood the processing of any data that would compromise or put at risk the integrity and confidentiality of the content and communications in the end- to-end encryption. Nothing in this regulation shall thus be interpreted as justifying client-side scanning with side- channel leaks or other measures by which the provider of a hosting service or a provider of interpersonal communications services provides third party actors access to the end-to-end encrypted content.
Amendment 1017 #
2022/0155(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
The Coordinating Authority of establishment when requesting the issuance of detection orders, and the competent judicial or independent administrative authority when issuing the detection order, shall, in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, target and specify it in such a manner that the negative consequences referred to in paragraph 4, first subparagraph, point (b),2 remain limited to what is strictly necessary, justifiable and proportionate to effectively address the significant risk referred to in point (a) thereof, and limit the detection order to an identifiable part or component of a service, such as a specific channel of communication or a specific group of users identified with particularity for which the significant risk has been identified. In accordance with Article 6a, no such detection order shall be interpreted as prohibiting, or compromising the integrity and confidentiality of, end-to-end encrypted content and communications.
Amendment 214 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Violence against women and domestic violence violate fundamental rights such as the right to human dignity, the right to life and integrity of the person, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to respect for private and family life, personal data protection, and the rights of the child, as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union., the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its General comment No. 25 in relation to the digital environment
Amendment 321 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Rape should explicitly include all types of sexual penetration, with any bodily part or object, including when performed online by the victims themselves as a result of coercion such as cases of sextortion. The lack of consent should be a central and constitutive element of the definition of rape, given that frequently no physical violence or use of force is involved in its perpetration. Initial consent should be withdrawable at any given time during the act, in line with the sexual autonomy of the victim, and should not automatically imply consent for future acts. Non-consensual sexual penetration should constitute rape even where committed against a spouse or intimate partner.
Amendment 398 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) Young people and children are increasingly connected at earlier age, and women and girls are at greater risk of encountering, being subjected to or targeted by cyber violence, involving new technologies. Gender-based violence can be perpetuated with greater ease and at greater scale online, using a range of online communications channels and tools, including social media, web content, discussion sites, dating websites, comment sections, and gaming chat rooms. The root causes of gender-based violence must be addressed. Common digital design features, either alone or in combination, can contribute to the replication of existing discriminatory practices and stereotypes, to the normalisation of gender-based violence, with a particular impact on norm creation in childhood.
Amendment 409 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In the case of domestic violence and violence against women, especially when committed by close family members or intimate partners, victims may be under such duress by the offender that they fear to reach out to the competent authorities, even if their lives are in danger. Therefore, Member States should ensure their confidentiality rules do not constitute an obstacle for relevant professionals, such as healthcare professionals, to report to the competent authorities, where they have reasonable grounds to believe that the life of the victim is at an imminent risk of serious physical harm. Similarly, instances of domestic violence or violence against women affecting children are often only intercepted by third parties noticing irregular behaviour or physical harm to the child. Children need to be effectively protected from such forms of violence also when they are witness of violence, given the long-lasting detrimental consequences it has on children, and adequate measures promptly taken. Therefore, relevant professionals coming in contact with child victims or potential child victims, including healthcare or education professionals, should equally not be constrained by confidentiality where they have reasonable grounds to believe that serious acts of violence under this Directive have been committed against the child or further serious acts are to be expected. Where professionals report such instances of violence, Member States should ensure that they are not held liable for breach of confidentiality.
Amendment 607 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 58
Recital 58
(58) Member States should ensure that preventive measures, such as awareness- raising campaigns, are taken to counter violence against women and domestic violence. Prevention should also take place in formal education, in particular, through strengthening comprehensive and age- appropriate sexuality education and socio- emotional competencies, empathy and developing healthy and respectful relationships.
Amendment 625 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 60 a (new)
Recital 60 a (new)
(60a) Member states should ensure the full implementation of the rights of the child in the digital environment, including their rights to a high level of safety, privacy and security by design and default, and ensure that providers and operators of digital products or services likely to be accessed by children take the necessary measures to prevent, mitigate or minimise risks of violence against women and girls and domestic violence.
Amendment 1084 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 6
Article 18 – paragraph 6
6. The individual assessment shall be undertaken in collaboration with all relevant competent authorities depending on the stage of the proceedings, and relevant support services, such as victim protection centres and women’s shelters and children's specialised services, social services and healthcare professionals.
Amendment 1215 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 25 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the removal of that material is necessary to prevent or limit significant harm to the victim and further dissemination, thereby preventing revictimization;
Amendment 1397 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 33 – paragraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. Child victims shall be provided with age-appropriate medical care, emotional, psychosocial, psychological and educational support, as well as any other appropriate support tailored in particular to situations of domestic violence. Child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse online shall be provided with adequate reporting mechanisms to trusted flaggers, including the EU Centre to prevent and combat child sexual abuse as per article 40 of the Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse [2022/0155 (COD)] and have access to specific support mechanisms;
Amendment 1460 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 36 – paragraph 2
Article 36 – paragraph 2
2. Preventive measures shall include awareness-raising campaigns, research and education programmes, including age- appropriate and comprehensive sexuality education and early intervention programmes, where appropriate developed in cooperation with relevant civil society organisations, social partners, impacted communities and other stakeholders.
Amendment 1504 #
2022/0066(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 36 a (new)
Article 36 a (new)
Article 36a Safety By Design 1. Member States shall ensure providers and operators of digital products or services likely to be accessed by children take measures to prevent, mitigate or minimise any risks their product or service may pose to gender equality and the safety of women and children; 2. Member States shall ensure providers of digital products or services likely to be accessed by children ensure a high level of safety, privacy and security by design and default for child users.
Amendment 446 #
2022/0051(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that companies take appropriate measures to identify actual and potential adverse human rights impacts and severe adverse environmental impacts arising from their own operations or those of their subsidiaries and, where related to their value chains, from their established business relationships, in accordance with paragraph 2, 3 and 4.
Amendment 514 #
2022/0051(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) persons who are affected or have reasonable grounds to believe that they might be affected by an adverse impact, in case the complainant is a child, a legal guardian may bring a complaint on behalf of the child,
Amendment 214 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Stresses the importance of the freedom of religion; deplores that the lack of legal personality for non-Muslim communities remains a serious issue; urges Turkey to give the right to the Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul the right to use the title “Ecumenical” and reopen the Halki (Heybeliada) Greek Orthodox Seminary, which remains closed since 1971;
Amendment 215 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Expresses concern over the ineffective investigations on hate speech and hate crimes against minorities; stresses the need to remove all discriminatory elements against all religions and faith groups from school textbooks;
Amendment 227 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates its serious concern about the disproportionate and arbitrary measures curtailing freedom of expression; welcomes the further decrease in the number of journalists in prisoncontinued backsliding of freedom of expression; expresses concern about the continuing of criminal cases against journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, writers and academics in Turkey;
Amendment 233 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses that torture remain a major issue in detention facilities in Turkey; urges Turkey to effectively investigate allegations of torture and ill- treatment in police custody and in prison, as well as allegations of enforced disappearances;
Amendment 383 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. CommendNotes the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting the largest refugee population in the world; welcomes, in this regard, thedeplores human smuggling and human rights violations refugees have been subjected to in Turkey and emphasises that continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustain this support in the future must not be used as leverage against the EU;
Amendment 465 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Deplores the fact that the unresolved conflict in Cyprus is a major obstacle to EU-Turkey relationsCondemns Turkey’s illegal activities in Cyprus, particularly its partial ‘opening’ of Varosha and acknowledges that it is one of the major obstacles to EU- Turkey relations; calls on Turkey to immediately end its military violations of Cyprus’ and Greece’s airspace and territorial waters; and in this regard, encourages Turkey to sign and ratify UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); reaffirms its view that the only sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue is that of a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi- communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality and political equality, in accordance with international law and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded; deeply regrets that Turkey has abandoned this UN framework;
Amendment 525 #
2021/2250(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Insists that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights should remain at the heart of EU-Turkey relations under any framework; reaffirms its supportconsiders that Turkey does not fill the necessary criteria needed for keeping the accession process; reminds that andy its value-based approach as the main framework formprovement of the official EU- Turkey relations, as it is still the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure and sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society; nevertheless remains open to the possibility of both sides reviewing, in a realistic manner, the appropriateness of this framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, exploring other possible models for future relationsnd any move on the positive agenda as offered in the European Council Conclusions of October 2020 and December 2020, is dependent onan improvement of the civil and human rights and rule of law situation in Turkey;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
— having regard to the EU-Western Balkans summit, held in Sofia, Zagreb and Brdo pri Kranju oin 6 October2018, 2020 and 2021, and its declarations,
Amendment 89 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges North Macedonia to sustain and intensify efforts to strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence, counter corruption, the protection of human rights, reform its public administration and consolidate media freedom;
Amendment 118 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomNotes with interest the implementation of the 2021 population census, while expecting the publication of its results soon;
Amendment 138 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls the need to strengthen independent investigative journalism, non- biased fact-checking and media literacy as means to tackle hate speech, disinformation and foreign interference campaigns;
Amendment 145 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Commends the government’s efforts to improve engagement with civil society and calls for a framework to ensure the financial sustainability of civil society organisations, including those representing the defending the rights of the various ethinc communities in the country;;
Amendment 157 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Encourages ongoing steps to build trust in inter-community relations and the functioning of a multi-ethnic society by fully guaranteeing the rights of all ethnic communities in the country, including through appropriate constitutional and legislative amendments, while recalling the importance of upholding the rights of non-majority communities and effectively tackling all instances of discrimination;
Amendment 169 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Stresses the need for further progress to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities; welcomes the mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities established within the Ombudsman’s Office; stresses the need to combat the discrimination people with disabilities face, both direct and indirect, due to infrastructure-related barriers, a lack of information and services, discriminatory attitudes and social exclusion; urges the authorities to finalise the de-institutionalisation promptly; stresses the need for adequate resources and infrastructure to uphold necessary social protection and ensuredecent living conditions for people with disabilities in North Macedonia;
Amendment 190 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes North Macedonia’s membership of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; recalls the need to open up Yugoslav secret service archives, kept both in Skopje and in Belgrade, in order to vigorously address communist- era crimes across the region; takes the view that transparent handling of the totalitarian past, including the opening-up of the archives of the secret services, is a step towards further democratization, accountability and institutional strength in both the country and the Western Balkan region as a whole;
Amendment 221 #
2021/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. EncouragesCalls for the finalisation of the security and intelligence sector reform; calls for the whistle-blower protection mechanism to be updated and the lobbying law to be implemented effectively;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is worried about widespread corruption and urges Montenegro to boost the criminal justice response to high-level corruption and create conditions for the effective and independent functioning of judicial institutions and independent bodies dealing with corruption; deplores that the poor working conditions, hampering the efficient functioning of the SPO, remain unaddressed;
Amendment 149 #
2021/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that gender-based violence and violence against children is still of serious concern; stresses the need of further improvement of the treatment of children in civil proceedings and child friendly justice; deplores the insufficient protection of victims, in particular women and children;
Amendment 165 #
2021/2247(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Regrets that persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination; notes that the reform of the National Disability Determination System is under way; deplores that alignment of the national legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities is not yet ensured: gaps remain to be addressed with respect to mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities across sectors and policies; stresses the urgent need of a de- institutionalisation strategy;
Amendment 156 #
2021/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Kosovo to increase efforts to better integrate children with disabilities into educational institutions; stresses that more effort is required to provide children with disabilities access to quality education;
Amendment 289 #
2021/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Reiterates that Bosnia and Herzegovina still needs to develop and adopt a new action plan on child protection; in this regard, stresses that child exploitation and child begging remain of concern;
Amendment 291 #
2021/2245(INI)
24 b. Regrets that there was no progress in addressing the concerns previously identified regarding the rights of people with disabilities; encourages Bosnia and Hercegovina to take action to protect people with disabilities, and develop and adopt a strategy on deinstitutionalisation, ensuring people with disabilities a dignified life; condemns that the law allows persons with disabilities to be deprived of their legal capacity, which is a clear violation of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, of which the country is signatory; underlines that it is unacceptable that the support provided is differentiated and depends on the type of disability, such as the fact that persons with war-related disabilities (war veterans and civilian victims of war) are prioritised over other persons with disabilities.;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas enlargement is one of the EU’s most effective foreign policy instruments, as it contributes to extending the reach of the Union’s fundamental values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, peace building and respect for human rights;
Amendment 17 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU must provides a clear pathway for countries seeking to join the EU; whereas the Council has set conditions for Albania to fulfil prior to the first intergovernmental conference; whereas the quality of the necessary reforms determines the timetable for accession;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Albania shouldmust continue to press forward with the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, including the protection of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the EU is Albania’s biggest trading partner and largest donor and whereas the country has benefited from EUR 1,24 billion in EU pre- accession funding under IPA I and IPA II since 2007;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the EU remains fully committed to support Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration; whereas Albania remains an important geopolitical ally and a trustworthy foreign policy partner, thanks to its efforts to advance regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;
Amendment 40 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Albania has fulfilled almade sustained efforts to fulfil the conditions for the scheduling of the first Intergovernmental Conference and is advancing in its accession process;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas Albanian citizens have enjoyed visa-free travel to the Schengen area since December 2010;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas Albanian citizens have been able to participate in student, academic and youth exchanges under the Erasmus+ programme since 2015;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls the need to uphold the pace and credibility of European integration by promptly opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, following the complete fulfilment of the conditions set by the European Council, as continuously recommended by the Commission, given that both countries have fulfilled the conditions and deliver sustained results across fundamental areas;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. URecalls that Albania’s EU accession depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, starting with the rule of law and the functioning of democratic institutions; underscores that the pace of EU accession is determined by the progress on the due functioning of all institutions and is grounded in the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights; urges Albania to sustain and intensify efforts to reinforce the functioning of the judiciary, strengthen the rule of law and the economy, counter corruption and organised crime, and ensure media freedom;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reaffirms the joint responsibility of Albania’s political forces to strengthen constructive political dialogue and cooperation, enabling an effective functioning of the country’s democratic institutions by continuing to improve governance, transparency and pluralism and by enabling the active participation of civil society; expresses its serious concern about the polarised political climate and lack of sustainable cross-party cooperation that continue to hamper the democratic process; encourages the use of the Jean Monnet Dialogue (JMD) to build the consensus necessary for generating a democratic parliamentary culture and trust and to develop true inter-party dialogue;
Amendment 73 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes all efforts to reduce polarisation ahead of the 2021 general elections, which brought the opposition parties back into the political process in parliament;
Amendment 77 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls the need to keep addressing the remaining electoral shortcomings by further improving the accessibility and integrity of elections preventing misuse of public administration/resources and vote- buying, including through digitalisation, data protection, equitable access to media and revised rules on political party financing;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Proposes an EU Election Observation Mission to Albania ahead of the next parliamentary election; calls on the Albanian government to ensure the full implementation of the ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations regarding the electoral shortcomings in due time before the upcoming general elections;
Amendment 84 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Expresses concern about the pervasive allegations of vote buying, and recalls that initiation of proceedings against those accused of vote buying is among the conditions set by the Council; notes with regret that convictions in cases involving high-level officials remain limited and investigations have so far not resulted in a substantial number of final convictions of high-ranking officials;
Amendment 105 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reportersat Albania has fallen nine places in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index since 2018; notes the need for progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; calls on Albania to ensure a policy of zero tolerance for intimidation and attacks against journalists, and the media; requests authorities to take decisive action against the violence, intimidation, smear campaigns and indirect political and financial pressure directed at independent media outlets and reporters, which seriously stifle media freedom, induce self-censorship and gravely undermine efforts to uncover crime and corruption; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising;
Amendment 115 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that any revision of media laws should be in line with the Venice Commission recommendations and should take place in a transparent and inclusive manner; in this regard, reiterates its grave concerns about the previously proposed so-called ‘anti-defamation package’, a legal act suffering from vagueness, that would likely have had a “chilling effect” suppressing free discussion and political speech in Albania, according to the Venice Commission6a; welcomes that the Parliament has initiated a process to review the current laws regarding the anti-defamation framework; _________________ 6a https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/docu ments/?pdf=CDL-AD(2020)013-e
Amendment 125 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to improve coordination and to address disinformation and hybrid threats that seek to undermine the EU perspective by more strategically underscoring the EU’s relevance to citizens in the Western Balkans;
Amendment 128 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that the newly established Media and Information Agency should increase transparency and decentralisation and must in no way inhibit journalists’ equal access to information from government sources;
Amendment 133 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges the relevant bodies to systematically and proactively prevent, investigate and prosecute all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation;
Amendment 142 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls for further efforts to ensure and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities; notes that persons with disabilities were among the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; deplores that during the April 2021 elections, persons with disabilities encountered barriers and difficulties to vote; calls for further efforts to address violence against persons with disabilities, improve overall accessibility (including services and information), and to promote employment; points out that the quality of education for disabled children, especially deaf children, remains a cause for concern;
Amendment 156 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on Albania to swiftly adopt the remaining pending secondary legislation ensuring the full protection of national minorities;
Amendment 161 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Acknowledges the progress achieved in implementing the Istanbul Convention and calls on authorities to step up the prevention and responses to gender- based violence and femicide, to enhance support to survivors and to advance the prosecution of cases of harassment, and domestic violence andincluding violence against children; deplores that in Albania, 60% of all sexual abuse cases are committed against children - refugee and migrant children, and children with disabilities are extremely vulnerable to violence, exploitation, stigmatization and abuse;
Amendment 163 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that the authorities still need to strengthen the system for monitoring and combating child labour and other forms of exploitation;
Amendment 180 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Notes that Albania has fallen 27 places on the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2021, since 2016, scoring only 35 points out of a possible 100; worries that the pandemic was used as an excuse to reduce oversight and accountability for public procurement and foreign aid spending, allowing corruption to spread widely;
Amendment 191 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Commends the steady progress in implementing a comprehensive justice reform, underpinned by the unprecedented vetting process, followed by a restorn improved functionality of relevant courts;
Amendment 192 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Welcomes the Constitutional Court’s full functionality, following the appointment of members equal to the necessary quorum; expresses concern regarding the Constitutional Court’s quorum ahead, as the High Court lacks the necessary quorum to elect judges to the Constitutional Court and the mandates of members of the CC are expiring;
Amendment 195 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes the work of the Specialised Structure for Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) and the SPAK Courts in tackling corruption and organised crime; underlines the importance of delivering tangible results in the form of successful prosecution of high-profile crimes, including corruption; deplores that convictions in cases involving high-level officials still remain limited, fostering a culture of impunity within the higher levels of the State; stresses the need to further increase seizure and confiscation of criminal assets stemming from corruption-related offences;
Amendment 198 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes the work of the Specialised Structure for Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) and the SPAK, including its Courts in tackling corruption and organised crime;
Amendment 205 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the adoption of 10 laws aiming to further strengthen the efficiency of the judicial system and underlines the importance of additional measures such as the implementation of the judicial map, a new integrated case management system and a strengthened legal education system; urges the government to take in consideration the opinion of all stakeholders for the new judiciary map, including the social-economic conditions of vulnerable groups;
Amendment 207 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Underlines the importance of taking decisive action against money laundering and terrorist financing by ensuring a consistent track record of proactive investigation, prosecution and final convictions for high-level corruption and confiscation of criminal assets; stresses the need of further alignment of its legislation with the EU acquis is this regard:
Amendment 209 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Notes with concern the large share of grey economy and massive illicit cash payments in the country; underlines that while cash transactions are not synonymous with illegal behaviour, their traceless nature offers an ideal vehicle for money laundering; calls on the government to implement measures to reduce informality, where possible;
Amendment 213 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the ongoing efforts that should lead to systemic improvements in tackling organised crime, including the trafficking of humans, drugs, firearms and goods, along with cybercrime, violent crime, extremism and terrorist threats; commends the ongoing regional, bilateral and international cooperation on dismantling transnational crime networks, including with the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust; highlights that Albania is the only country from the region that has signed cooperation agreements with all justice and home affairs agencies of the EU and that the first fully fledged joint operation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) outside the European Union was deployed at the Greek-Albanian border in May 2019; commends that Albania has allowed air monitoring by EU Member State law enforcement services to detect production of narcotics;
Amendment 219 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Recommends Albania to update the legislation regarding drug precursors;
Amendment 220 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Expresses concern over the large numbers of firearms available in Albania; stresses the need to improve standard procedures and mechanisms to counter the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, and to step up the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking;
Amendment 221 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29c. Underlines that the contribution of Albania to the protection of the European Union’s external border is of crucial importance; Stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross- border crime must continue to be a priority, and must be conducted in full respect for the fundamental rights enshrined in applicable international and regional laws and principles;
Amendment 222 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 d (new)
Paragraph 29 d (new)
29d. Notes that the Western Balkan countries serve as a transit corridor for migrants and refugees and that the large population movements in recent years have posed an enormous challenge to the region and EU Member States; notes that Albania continued to experience a growing influx of irregular migrants, mostly leaving Albania after a few days, on the way to other EU countries; notes that the number of irregular migrants apprehended in Albania in 2020 increased by 13% compared with 2019; stresses that the issue of Albanian nationals making unfounded asylum applications to EU Member States still requires substantial efforts from the Albanian authorities; calls for enhanced efforts in addressing the smuggling of migrants, in particular unaccompanied minors;
Amendment 223 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 e (new)
Paragraph 29 e (new)
29e. Stresses the need to ensure adequate financial, technical and human resources, as well as the financial and operational independence of judicial and law enforcement institutions;
Amendment 227 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Highlights EU funding of sustainable post-earthquake and post- pandemic recovery and supports the ongoing efforts towards Albania’s democratic, green and digital transformation; underlines the need to step up EU assistance and funding for the rule of law, improvements, and encouraging sustainable green growth, biodiversity, innovation, competitiveness, property rights and reversal of the demographic decline;
Amendment 244 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Stresses the need to improve the visibility of and communication concerning EU aid and Union financing in Albania; recalls, in this regard, the performance reward under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to North Macedonia and Albania and notably the substantial support the EU has provided to the Western Balkans to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to limit the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 271 #
2021/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Amendment 80 #
2021/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to provide the Republic of Moldova with EUR 60 million through a new budget support programme in order to deal with a gas supply crisis artificially created by Gazprom and to mitigate the impact of the rising prices on the most vulnerable Moldovans; points out that energy is the most important resource for Russia’s budget, military and social programmes, and that Gazprom is used as a tool in advancing the Kremlin’s economic and geopolitical interests abroad; notes that the crisis further underscores the importance of thereducing the reliance on Russian gas and the boosting diversification of energy supplies and routes, and of building long-term resilience through a transition to more sustainable energy sources and investing in key infrastructure;
Amendment 182 #
2021/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Is deeply concerned about the human trafficking of women and girls run by both Moldovan and international criminal networks that trade women for prostitution abroad; calls for increased cooperation between the judicial authorities and the enforcement agencies of Moldova and the Member States, in order to reduce cross-border crime, particularly human trafficking and trafficking in illegal drugs;
Amendment 2 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
— having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia, in particular, that of 8 June 2022 on violations of media freedom and the safety of journalists and that of 16 September 2020 on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia,
Amendment 28 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas freedom of expression, freedom of media and the safety of journalists are a cornerstone of a functioning democracy;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the media environment of Georgia continues to deteriorate and, in the recent years, an unprecedented high number of violent physical attacks against journalists have occurred in Georgia; whereas in 2022 Georgia fell in the World Press Freedom Index from 60th to 89th place out of 180;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)
Recital D g (new)
Dg. whereas 20% of Georgian territory continues to be occupied by the Russian Federation;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D h (new)
Recital D h (new)
Dh. whereas Russia continues to employ disinformation, cyber attacks and other hybrid methods to undermine Georgia's societal and institutional resilience;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D i (new)
Recital D i (new)
Di. whereas the Russian Federation has intensified the annexation of Georgia’s occupied territories, including through the intentions of holding the so- called 'referendum' in the Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region on the matter of 'joining' the Russian Federation, transfer of the “Bichvinta” property complex and the surrounding area to the Russian Federation, as well as the incorporation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia in military, economic, justice, social and other spheres of the Russian Federation;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2236(INI)
Dj. whereas ethnic cleansing, discrimination and other severe forms of human rights violations of Georgians in the Russian occupied territories of Georgia, erection of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers and lengthy closure of so-called crossing points along the 'Administrative Border Line' continue to destabilise Georgia;
Amendment 66 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine calls for unity and solidarity on the part of the international community; welcomes the strong response of Georgian society in support of Ukraine; regrets the fact that Georgia has not aligned with EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; calls for political alignment by the Georgian authorities and all political stakeholders with EU positions on this important matter, in line with the country’s European ambitions;
Amendment 78 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; calls for the continuation of efforts to achieve a negotiated peaceful resolution of the conflict, including through the Geneva International Discussions, the ongoing activities of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the efforts of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia; notes with concerncondemns the continuation of illegal ‘borderisation’ activities in the occupied regions; calls on the Council to extend the mandate of EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia beyond 14 December 2022 and to provide it with a budget that is commensurate with its tasks to stabilise and normalise the situation and build confidence between the parties in the conflict in an increasingly tense security environment;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 86 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its international obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, notably to withdraw all its military and security from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow establishment of international security mechanisms therein, to allow the EUMM unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia pursuant to its mandate;
Amendment 137 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that, despite Georgia's legal framework for guaranteeing freedom of expression and freedom of media, there is continued deterioration of the media environment and the safety of journalists;
Amendment 142 #
2021/2236(INI)
11b. Condemns the increasing number of cases of intimidation, threats and violence against the persecution of journalists, including an increasing number of criminal investigations into media workers and owners;
Amendment 145 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Notes continued Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the Georgian society, including in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine; calls on the EU institutions and Member States to continue strengthening cooperation with relevant Georgian institutions to address Russian disinformation and its consequences;
Amendment 168 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Underlines that violence against children in a family context, in residential care, foster care, and educational institutions remains a significant problem; calls on the Georgian authorities to work on the deinstitutionalisation strategy and action plan in line with the requirements of the Code on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 175 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Commends the Georgian government for creating the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, under the responsibility of the Prime Minister;
Amendment 51 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas China’s rapid military build-up, coupled with its increasingly assertive behaviour and expansionist policies in the Indo-Pacific region and its military activitimanoeuvres in the Taiwan Strait, East and South China Seas, as well as its deliberate and repetitive violations of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone and its increasingly aggressive rhetoric and media campaigns, are leading to rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific;
Amendment 88 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights the need to safeguard EU unity as a pre-condition to achieve the EU’s ambition of strategic sovereignty amid the increasing competition between the United States and ChinaUnderlines that preserving peace, stability and the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region remains of critical importance, also to the interests of the EU and its Member States; highlights the need to safeguard EU unity with regards to China as a pre-condition to achieve that; recalls that the EU’s unified approach must be underpinned by a pragmatic and principled foreign and security policy;
Amendment 213 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the positive role Taiwan plays in fostering peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; recalls, in the context of regional dynamics, the importance of trade and economic relations between the EU and Taiwan; stresses therefore the need to urgently begin an impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the Taiwanese authorities in preparation for negotiations to deepen bilateral economic ties;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
— having regard to the Open Doors World Watch List 2023,
Amendment 23 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30
Citation 30
Amendment 24 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the two-state solution, with the state of Israel andEU remains united it its commitment to achieving a two-state solution, based on the parameters in the Council conclusions of July 2014 that allow the sState of PalestineIsrael to livinge side by side, together in peace, security and mutual recognition under the 1967 borders with mutually agreed upon land swaps and Jerusalem as the capital of both states, is the only viable solution to the conflictwith an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the two-state solution, withon the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side, together in peace, security and mutual recognition under the 1967 borders with mutually agreed upon land swaps and Jerusalem as the capital of both states,basis of the 1967 lines with two sovereign, democratic states living side by side in peace and guaranteed security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, and in full respect of international law is the only viable solution to the conflict;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Palestinian leadership has repeatedly called for renewedplaced preconditions on the peace talks leading to a two-state solution, which has not been reciprocated by the Israeli Governmentereas the successive Israeli Governments have also offered peace talks but without any preconditions;
Amendment 41 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas both Israel and the Palestinian leadership hasve repeatedly called for renewed peace talks leading to a two-state solution, which has not been reciprocated by the Israeli Governmentsustainable solution providing peace and security;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2207(INI)
B a. whereas Arab states such as Egypt or Jordan, which have maintained diplomatic relations with Israel for years, have played a meaningful role in promoting dialogue on the Middle East Peace Process, including on security and stability; underlines the continuing relevance of investing in meaningful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; whereas one of the premises for the Abraham Accords was the halting of annexation plans in the West Bank; whereas on all parties should respect this;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the Iranian regime continues to influence the PA, and represents a serious threat to peace and stability in the region;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Israeli occupation of -Palestinian territoryconflict has been ongoing for 55 years; whereas the number of settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has dramatically increased since the signing of the Oslo Accords in contravention of international law and the objective of peace;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas European development partners (the EU, its Member States, Norway and Switzerland) are by far the largest donors and disburse EUR 1.2 billion annually in official development assistance to Palestinethe PA;
Amendment 78 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas EU assistance provides vital budget support to the PA through the PEGASE programme; whereas since the beginning of the current multiannual financial framework, EU assistance to Palestine has been ad hoc; whereas the 2021-2024 joint strategy provides a basis on which annual action programmes can be adopted, but a multiannual prospect for concrete fundingwhereas an effective oversight and examination of where the funds are allocated is still lacking ;
Amendment 80 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas EU assistance provides vital budget support to the PA through the PEGASE programme; whereas since the beginning of the current multiannual financial framework, EU assistance to Palestinethe PA has been ad hoc; whereas the 2021- 2024 joint strategy provides a basis on which annual action programmes can be adopted, but a multiannual prospect for concrete funding is still lacking;
Amendment 86 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas EU funding includes a multiannual contribution to UNRWA, whose work Parliament continually supports and advocates to be continued; reminds that the conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered; insists that the Commission must guarantee that no Union funds are allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation;
Amendment 105 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in 2011, the UN Ad Hoc Liaison Committee concluded that Palestinian institutions are ready for statehood; whereas however, since then, the democratic status of Palestine has deteriorated owing to the ongoing occupation and internal problems, as well as worsening rule of law and, corruption and terrorism;
Amendment 106 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in 2011, the UN Ad Hoc Liaison Committee concluded that Palestinian institutions are ready for statehood; whereas however, since then, the democratic status of Palestinethe PA has deteriorated owing to the ongoing occupation and internal problems, as well as worsening rule of law and corruption;
Amendment 111 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the PA faces a crisis of legitimacy; whereas the last Palestinian parliamentary elections were held in 2006; whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as set out in Article 2 TEU; whereas the Union's action on the international scene should be guided by these principles;
Amendment 119 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas Palestinian Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by the EU;
Amendment 123 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas the terrorist organisation Hamas aims to annihilate the State of Israel;
Amendment 130 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas socioeconomic and employment conditions in the Palestineian Territories have severely deteriorated; whereas the BDS movement has led to many Palestinians losing their jobs; whereas the Israeli occupation involves significant restrictions on the Palestinian economy, which undermines the effectiveness of EU aid and further increases Palestinian dependence on foreign aid;
Amendment 139 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. Whereas a significant reason behind the deterioration of the social and economic conditions in the Palestinian territories is related to corruption in the PA;
Amendment 140 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas according to the Open Doors World Watch List 2023, Christians in the Palestinian Territories face discrimination and persecution;
Amendment 146 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas women in the Palestinian Territories face discrimination and still have fewer rights than men, for instance in relation to divorce, custody of children and inheritance;
Amendment 148 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas even though same-sex acts is decriminalised in the West Bank persons belonging to the LGBTQI+ community still face harassment and discrimination; whereas there are no laws that protect LGBTQI+ persons from discrimination and harassment; whereas Palestinians belonging to the LGBTQI+ community frequently seek refuge in Israel and in the EU, fearing for their lives, and fearing death from members of their own family; whereas Gaza criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between men and LGBTQI+ people can face up to 10 years of imprisonment;
Amendment 151 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
I d. whereas hate speech and the incitement to violence are still taught in Palestinian school materials; whereas the EU-commissioned study by the Georg- Eckert Institute published last June confirmed previous reports of antisemitism, glorification of terror and the erasure of Israel on maps in Palestinian schoolbooks; whereas the EU demands that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non- violence;
Amendment 156 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) reiterate the EU’s stroits unwavering support for thea negotiated two-state solution, as on the only viable solution to the conflict, with the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side, together in peace, security and mutual recognition under the 1967 borders with mutually agreed upon land swaps and Jerusalem as the capital of both statesbasis of the 1967 lines with two sovereign, democratic states living side by side in peace and guaranteed security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, and in full respect of international law;
Amendment 174 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) continue to underline that Israeli settlements in the oPt are illegal; call for an end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solutiona sustainable solution providing peace and security on the ground;
Amendment 179 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) stress the importance of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestineian Authority and remind both sides of the importance of the participation of women in all levels of the negotiation, ethnic and religious minorities;
Amendment 185 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) recognise that the Abraham Accords are a factor in the reorganisation of inter-state relations in the region and must be taken into account in a European strategy aimed at helping the region to achieve stability;
Amendment 187 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) underline the importance of the condemnation of hate speech and violent behaviour by the PA Authorities;
Amendment 190 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
(c b) support the need to, with the respective Arab countries that have signed the Abraham Accords, explore how their normalisation agreements with Israel can be conducive to the two-state solution;
Amendment 195 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) support Palestinian calls for renewed and inclusive political representation; strongly urge the PA and President Abbas to hold free and fair national elections in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian political leadership; stress that it is unacceptable that the PA has held no elections in more than 16 years; call on Israel to respect its obligations to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem; promote the participation of youth and women;
Amendment 200 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) support Palestinian calls for renewed and inclusive political representation; strongly urge the PA and President Abbas to hold free and fair national elections in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian political leadership; call on Israel to respect its obligations to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem; promote the participation of youth and women, women and ethnic minorities;
Amendment 204 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) express grave concern about people affiliated with EU-listed terrorist organisations running or seeking to run for Palestinian political office; insist again that the EU and the international community must be able to observe these elections, upon invitation;
Amendment 208 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) strongly call for East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to be brought under one legitimate, democratic PA rule that respects Israel's right to exist in security and peace; facilitate political consensus and reconciliation among Palestinian political factions; stress the importance of democratic elections being respected by all parties involved;
Amendment 219 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) strongly condemn the harassment and discrimination of persons belonging to the LGBTQI+ community and “honour killings” of girls and women; call for concrete measures to be enacted to fight discrimination and the lack of protection for LGBTQI+ persons, women, religious minorities and other marginalised groups;
Amendment 223 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) urge the PA to eliminate repressive restrictions on the funding and registration of non-governmental organisations and to respect the freedom of assembly and expression and freedom of religion;
Amendment 227 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(g a) call on the PA to condemn any organizations that are affiliated with or express support for extremist and terrorists;
Amendment 231 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) condemn the continued, widespread use of torture by Palestinian authorities; demand that the PA establish independent and reliable mechanisms to investigate occurrences of torture or ill- treatment within its territory;
Amendment 236 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(h a) Call on the PA to eliminate any kind of political connection with the terrorist regime in Iran;
Amendment 239 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) call on the PA to amend national legislation to align with international legal standards on anti-discrimination and counter-terrorism to ensure that hate crimes including anti-semitic acts are prohibited under the law, and to diligently investigate any discriminatory motives;
Amendment 240 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) call on the PA to amend national legislation to align with international legal standards on anti-discrimination to ensure that hate crimes are prohibited under the law, and to diligently investigate any anti- Semitic or other discriminatory motives;
Amendment 247 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
Amendment 260 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) comply with the commitment to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products; demand the adoption of EU legislation banning trade with settlements in the oPt, in compliance with international humanitarian law;
Amendment 265 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) engage with the PA to jointly establish a more regular political dialogue at the ministerial level and to launch, as soon as possible and with strict conditionality, negotiations on a full association agreement between the EU and Palestinethe PA; convene an association council when an agreement has been reached;
Amendment 271 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(m a) address the widespread antisemitism among the Palestinians in private and public; reiterate the EU:s commitment to combat all forms of antisemitism and stress that such a commitment will affect all of its relations with the Palestinian Authority.
Amendment 276 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) work towards an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip while making sure that both parties respect each other’s right to exist; strongly and publicly condemn the rhetoric from Hamas wanting the annihilation of the State of Israel;
Amendment 280 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(n a) strongly condemn Palestinian terrorist groups firing indiscriminate rockets into Israel;
Amendment 284 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) actively offer to deploy an election observation mission to the oPtWest Bank upon the announcement of general elections;
Amendment 287 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) enhance funding, including humanitarian aid and development assistance, for the green transition, good governance and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack; create a scrutiny mechanism to make sure that the funding is going to the right place and assess if progress is being made and make sure that that EU funds do not directly or indirectly finance terrorism any longer, including the six Palestinian organisations who has close links with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an EU terror designated group;
Amendment 290 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) enhance funding, including humanitarian aid and development assistance, for the green transition, good governance and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack; call on the PA to stop rewarding terrorists via the provision of payments to their families from the "Palestinian Authority Martyrs' Fund", which acts as a means to incite and glorify terrorism;
Amendment 291 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) enhance funding, including humanitarian aid and development assistance, for the green transition, good governance and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack and develop a more rigorous process to check where European funds are used to prevent any taxpayer money going to terrorist organisations or affiliates;
Amendment 293 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) enhance funding, including humanitarian aid and development assistance, for the green transition, good governance and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack; make sure that access to EU funding is subject to a clear conditionality in the fight against antisemitism, extremism and terrorism;
Amendment 299 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
(p a) call on the PA to eradicate all anti- Semitic content and incitement to violence from its school textbooks; call on the EU and its Member States to reiterate in their exchanges with representatives of the PA that this is a longstanding issue that must be resolved immediately;
Amendment 313 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) express concern about how EU policy and effectiveness of financial assistance in the Palestineian Territories are undermined by illegal settlements, the Israeli occupation and related restrictions on the Palestinian economy; demand compensation for the demolition of all EU- funded infrastructure in the oPt;
Amendment 314 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) express concern about how EU policy and effectiveness of financial assistance in Palestine are undermined by illegal settlements, the Israeli occupation and related restrictions on the Palestinian economycall for both parties to respect EU policy in order to ensure the effectiveness of financial assistance; demand compensation for the demolition of all EU- funded infrastructure in the oPt;
Amendment 331 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) ensure continued and additional financial support to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA to meet the increasing needs on the ground; welcome the Commission’s firm commitment to fighting anti-semitism and engaging with the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA to promote quality education for Palestinian children and ensure full adherence to UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, co- existence, and non- violence in Palestinian textbooks; call therefore on the Commission to establish a clear conditionality in the fight against antisemitism in order to gain access to EU funds;
Amendment 339 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) ensure continued and additional financial support to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA to meet the increasing needs on the ground while making sure that the financial support is being used to activities reflecting the EU values;
Amendment 344 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(u a) make sure that all education curricula funded by the EU are in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, co-existence and non-violence and strongly condemns the hate speech, violence and antisemitism that continue to be found in Palestinian Authority education curricula;
Amendment 345 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(u a) express concern for the mounting violence that has characterised the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2022 and the potential for this to further escalate; note in this context that Israel suffered in January 2023, its most deadly Palestinian terrorist attack since 2008;
Amendment 348 #
2021/2207(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u b (new)
(u b) work to fully designate Hezbollah and the IRGC as terrorist organizations, which would strengthen the EU’s calls on the PA to end its links with those entities;
Amendment 94 #
2021/2206(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) support all diplomatic efforts devoted to ending the ongoing conflict within Ethiopia, both at national level and in the forums provided by the African Union, in order to agree on a permanent ceasefire and, facilitate internal reconciliation and support actions to hold the perpetrators accountable for the serious human rights and humanitarian rights violations that they have committed;
Amendment 2 #
2021/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
— Having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief of 24 June 2013, in those aspects where the Guidelines address support for and engagement with human rights defenders on behalf of religious groups, philosophical, non-confessional or other civil society organisations,
Amendment 6 #
2021/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas restrictive government policies, negative discourse and intimidation or violence are common manifestations of threats to HRDs; whereas these factors are often interlinked;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. Whereas corruption and the harassment, intimidation and discrimination towards HRDs are often interlinked;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the new EU global human rights sanctions regime allows the EU to target serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide; whereas the use of this tool could be enhanced by making it subject to qualified majority voting;
Amendment 93 #
2021/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – indent 2 a (new)
Paragraph 18 – indent 2 a (new)
- increased support to international mechanisms fighting impunity;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the human right to water is linked to the right to education; whereas children, in most cases girls, have to walk miles every day to fetch water, which prevents them from attending school; whereas girls are also forced to drop out of school when they are unable to access gender-appropriate toilets and manage their menstruation in a dignified manner; whereas children with disabilities are often prevented from attending school due to lack of accessible toilets; whereas UNESCO1a reports that more than 90% of all children with disabilities do not attend school, and girls with disabilities are far more likely to drop out of school than boys with disabilities; whereas the discontinuation from school by girls with disabilities lies in their inability to gain access to regular school bathrooms and close the door behind them; _________________ 1a https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ Water/Contributionsstigma/others/WHOj ournalWaterHealth2011_Groce_9_4_617 _627.pdf
Amendment 41 #
2021/2187(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the disadvantages faced by women and girls with regard to water, sanitation and hygiene manifest themselves in multiple ways that impact on their overall health, well-being and dignity, reproductive health, education, nutrition, security, and economic and political participation; whereas mainly mothers to children with disabilities are forced out of work life to manage their children’s toileting activities when schools lack accessible toilets;
Amendment 98 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the launch of the work on the Strategic Compass, which should be completed in March 2022; stresses that it is a beginning, not an end, and that it constitutes a major step towards a European Defence Unionmore effective and deeper defence partnership;
Amendment 619 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Notes with serious concern the recent display of force and escalating tensions in the regional hotspots such as South and East China Sea and Taiwan Strait; underlines that the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific regions is of great importance for the EU and its Member States; expresses grave concern over China’s continued military manoeuvers in the Taiwan Strait, including those aimed at Taiwan or taking place in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone; calls on the PRC to stop such military sabre-rattling that pose serious threats to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo- Pacific region; reiterates that the relationship between China and Taiwan should be developed constructively through dialogues, without coercion or destabilizing tactics by either side; stresses the opposition to any unilateral action that may undermine the status quo of the Taiwan Strait and that any change to cross-strait relations must not be made against the will of Taiwan’s citizens;
Amendment 625 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Recalls that China, together with other non-democratic countries, also remains a major threat to democracies in Europe through disinformation campaigns, in which they exploit the openness and freedom of expression to propose an authoritarian alternative to the democratic system; note that cooperation in the fight against disinformation is therefore in the interest of both the EU and Taiwan;
Amendment 627 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 c (new)
Paragraph 45 c (new)
45c. Encourages the EU and the Member States to deepen cooperation with Taiwan in confronting disinformation from malign third countries, including the sharing of best practices, joint approaches to fostering media freedom and journalism, deepening cooperation on cybersecurity and cyber-threats, raising citizens’ awareness and improving overall digital literacy among the population in order to strengthen the resilience of our democratic systems; support intensified cooperation between relevant European and Taiwanese government agencies, NGOs and think tanks in this field;
Amendment 260 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for the EU to ensurincrease its strategic sovereignty in specific areas that are fundamental to the Union’s existence on the global scene, such as economics, security and technology, and to establish a European Defence Unionintensify and streamline defence cooperation, for example on issues relating to defence equipment;
Amendment 275 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that EU sovereignty in the field of security and defence means the development, coordination and deployment of strategic capabilities, an efficient division of labour between the Member States and the EU’s ability to decide and act autonomously, in line with its own interests, principles and values; stresses that this approach reinforces cooperation with partners, in particular within the framework of NATO; welcomes in this regard the Commission President’s announcement that the EU and NATO will present a joint declaration on cooperation by the end of 2021; welcomes the discussion on an ‘initial entry force’ as presented by the VP/HRstresses, in this regard, how important it is that the EU does not develop structures in parallel to NATO;
Amendment 376 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to support the implementation and extension of the Abraham Accords as an important framework for achieving durable peace in the Middle East;
Amendment 468 #
2021/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Notes with serious concern the recent display of force and escalating tensions in the regional hotspots such as South and East China Sea and Taiwan Strait; underlines that the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific regions is of great importance for the EU and its Member States; expresses grave concern over China’s continued military manoeuvers in the Taiwan Strait, including those aimed at Taiwan or taking place in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone; calls on the PRC to stop such military sabre-rattling that pose serious threats to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo- Pacific region; reiterates that the relationship between China and Taiwan should be developed constructively through dialogues, without coercion or destabilizing tactics by either side; stresses the opposition to any unilateral action that may undermine the status quo of the Taiwan Strait and that any change to cross-strait relations must not be made against the will of Taiwan’s citizens;
Amendment 481 #
2021/2182(INI)
33. Welcomes the Commission President’s announcement of plans to present a new joint communication on a partnership with the Gulf region; calls for the EU to present a coherent strategy for balanced EU engagement in the region, with the promotion of regional security and cooperation as a key strategic objective; reiterates that the EU’s priority is to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a matter of security for Europe and the region and the only way to stop Iran’s worrying nuclear activities; notes, however, the need to address and counter Iran's wider malign and destabilising activities across the Middle East and beyond, including on the territory of EU Member States;
Amendment 194 #
2021/2181(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the linterdependenckage between human rights, a healthy environment and combating climate change, and welcomes the UN’s call for global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; underlines the vital role played by environmental human rights defenders and local and indigenous populations in preserving such an environment, despite the threats of violence that they often face from those responsible for, and profiting from, environmentally harmful practices; eEncourages the EU and the Member States to promote the recognition of ecocide as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the ICC, and requests that the Commission study the relevance of ecocide to EU law and EU diplomacytake bold initiatives to fight the impunity of environmental crimes at the global level;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2115(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the remaining gender and geographical imbalances within the EEAS staff, despite slightly positive trends in previous years; reiterates the importance of ensurpromoting a balanced distribution of staff in terms of gender and geographical origin within different categories and grades, particularly at middle and senior management levels; points also to a remaining overrepresentation of some Member States’ diplomats among the Heads of Delegation and calls for further efforts to address those imbalances;
Amendment 18 #
2021/2115(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the ECA’s Special Report on Disinformation affecting the Union and calls for implementing the ECA recommendations in the Union’s action plan against disinformation; stresses the continuous need to fight foreign propaganda and expose disinformation, espionage and malicious foreign influence; underlines the importance of the EEAS Strategic Communication Task Force, which are increasingly used to undermine the democratic order in the Union and in countries in the Union’s vicinity; underlines the importance of the EEAS Strategic Communication Task Force and calls for the broadening of its mandate, including in relation to state sponsored disinformation originating in China and the Middle East, particularly Iran, and calls for providing it with the necessary financial and personnel resources;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the Union in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic secured financial support for partner countries and fragile populations amounting to more than EUR 40 billion; stresses the need to improve visibility and communication concerning the substantial support EU has provided in partner countries during the COVID- pandemics; welcomes Team Europe efforts in addressing the immediate effects of the health crisis and the resulting humanitarian needs in the partner countries, as well as its contribution to the COVAX Facility which provides fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in low- and middle- income countries;
Amendment 17 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its deep concerns regarding the situation concerning the rule of law in a number of Member States, which is deeply worrying in its own right and may ultimately lead to serious losses for the Union budget and underlines its requests to the Commission to use all available tools to limit the risk of such losses. This should include the immediate and full application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget; insists that the Commission ensures that the delivery of external aid is subject to the rule of law and respect for human rights in recipients countries; stresses, in particular, the need to guarantee that no Union funds, by third parties and/or natural person are allocated or linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalization;
Amendment 220 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 100 a (new)
Paragraph 100 a (new)
100 a. Immediately freeze and place part of the Union funds in a reserve in the event that an irregularity is discovered by the EU with regard to any eligible entity, affiliate and/or natural person being linked to any cause or form of terrorismand/or religious and political radicalization, and only release these Unionfunds from the reserve when sufficient evidence has been gathered by the EU to ensure compliance with EU regulations;
Amendment 221 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 100 b (new)
Paragraph 100 b (new)
100 b. Provide increased disclosure and transparency on any investigations it or its entities like the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF)conducts following irregularities with regard to Union funding, in particular when such investigation concerns Union funding being linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalization;
Amendment 224 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 a (new)
Paragraph 103 a (new)
Amendment 240 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 108 – point h a (new)
Paragraph 108 – point h a (new)
h a. step up its engagement with the PA, with the aim of ensuring additional curriculum reform to address the highly problematic issues identified in school material in the shortest possible time frame; insists that all EU funding must be made conditional on educational materialand course content complies with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; suggest the Commission to partly withhold funding to the UNRWA and the PA, the reserve should only be released if substantive positive changes are made in the PA curriculum- should there be no change, appropriations in the reserve shall be used for funding Palestinian NGOs with a proven track record of promoting educational initiatives fostering tolerance and coexistence;
Amendment 285 #
2021/2066(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ak
Paragraph 1 – point ak
(ak) protect environmental HRDs and land defenders, particularly women and indigenous HRDs, who face the greatest risk of discrimination, harassment, intimidation and violence;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is a blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter and the principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, and seriously undermines European and global security and stability; whereas fighting impunity amongst the high-ranking officials in Russia and other actors who have contributed to the war of aggression in Ukraine is vital;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) continue efforts to enable the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice in the UN and other multilateral fora; reiterates that the Parliament takes the view that, in order to uphold its objectives and interests, the EU should seek to arrive at common positions on issues before the Security Council through coordination within the Council and among EU institutions;
Amendment 128 #
2021/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(i a) strengthen the visibility of EU action and assistance in all multilateral forums and on the ground, such as the ‘Team Europe’ programme that addressed the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis in partner countries and regions, particularly in Africa;
Amendment 131 #
2021/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) increase the EU’s visibility and urgently equip the EEAS and, in particular, EU delegations with the tools to develop their strategic communication capabilities, which will enable them to communicate more effectively with both decision-makers and the general public in third countries, including in particular the task of countering disinformation, and propaganda; stresses the increasing need to fight espionage and malicious foreign influence, which are increasingly used to undermine the democratic order in the Union and in countries in the Union’s vicinity; clarify the role of delegations and the role of headquarters in achieving this goal;
Amendment 101 #
2021/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. strongly encourage the Libyan authorities to increase its efforts to protect and promote human rights and to prevent any violations or abuses, in particular against women and children;
Amendment 284 #
2021/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) actively support the renewal of the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya; and urge the Libyan authorities to continue to cooperate and engage with the fact-finding mission, including by granting it access without delay;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)
Citation 29 a (new)
— having regard to its resolutions of 18 April 2019, 19 December 2019 and 17 December 2020 on the situation of religious and ethnic minorities in China,
Amendment 21 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 a (new)
Citation 32 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2020 on the foreign policy consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak,
Amendment 24 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32 a (new)
Citation 32 a (new)
— having regard to its recommendation of 9 June 2021 to the Council on the 75th and 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly,
Amendment 75 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the Commission appointed on 4 May 2021, Mr Christos Stylianides as Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU;
Amendment 103 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is deeply concerned about the rise over the last decade of violence against people belonging to minorities on the grounds of their belief or religion as a global phenomenon, which is intensifying and affecting more and more countries; notes that it affects many religious communities, namely Christians (including Copts, Assyrians and Syrians), Jews, Muslims (including Uyghurs, Ahmadis and Alevis), Buddhists, Hindus and smaller religious groups, such as Baha’is, Sikhs and Zoroastrians, as well as groups of people who are atheists, humanists, agnostics or do not identify with any religion;
Amendment 170 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with particular concern that the Middle East and North Africa present the highest regional levels of anti-Semitic attitudes, and that Holocaust denial is prevalent among certain segments in society and even at state level, such as in Iran; therefore, reiterates its call for the European External Action Service (EEAS) to further strengthen its capacities to counter disinformation, hybrid warfare and propaganda, including through the creation of a dedicated StratCom Task Force focused on the Middle East, and Iran in particular;
Amendment 203 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the crimes against Muslim communities in Asia, including the past and current human rights abuses against the Muslim Rohingya population; recognises the ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, China; condemns in the strongest possible terms China’s crimes against humanity;
Amendment 214 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is concerned about the situation of Buddhists; takes special note of the difficult situation faced by Buddhists in Vietnam and Tibet; condemns the intensified surveillance and control of the Tibetan monastic community as well as Chinese government interferences in Tibetan Buddhism’s unique culture;
Amendment 255 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the paramount importance of holding accountable perpetrators of human rights abuses against persons belonging to religious minorities; calls on the EU and Member States to urgently work towards the establishment of UN mechanisms and committees to investigate current human rights violations against religious minorities around the world; therefore, reiterates its call for immediate actions to address the growing human rights crisis in Xinjiang, at least to investigate the reported ethnic and religious persecution across the region; calls in this regard for the establishment of an independent UN monitoring mechanism on human rights in China, which could include a UN Special Rapporteur, a HRC Panel of Experts or a Special Envoy; supports calls for the UNHRC to hold a special session on the crisis;
Amendment 264 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Council and EU Member States to apply more sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for or involved in systematic violations of the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, as provided for bymore efficiently using the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime;
Amendment 288 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Condemns the use by authoritarian regimes of legislation on security, sedition and the fight against terrorism and extremism as an instrument to persecute persons belonging to religious minorities, to outlaw the practise or expression of their religion and gatherings of believers, and to deter the registration of or finding pretexts for the closure of religious associations; calls on the Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) to monitor carefully the implementation of such legislation, and to consistently raise this issue in bilateral dialogues with the governments concerned; urges EU Member States to reject any request by foreign authorities for judicial and police cooperation in individual judicial cases if they are based on such legislation;
Amendment 319 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the recent appointment of Mr Christos Stylianides as the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief; calls on the Commission to include objectives for the fight against persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion as important part of his mandate; recommends that the Special Envoy works closely with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM), and reiterates its calls on the Council and the Commission to adequately support the Special Envoy’s institutional mandate, capacity and duties; regrets that the Special Envoy position was left vacant for more than a year before the appointment of Mr Christos Stylianides; believes that the position should always be renewed as soon as possible;
Amendment 333 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Commission and EEAS to closer scrutinise the human rights situations of religious minorities in third countries and the implementation of related commitments under bilateral agreements of those countries with the EU;
Amendment 337 #
2021/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Calls on the Commission to especially review the eligibility of third countries under the generalized scheme of preferences in this regard; advocates a system that gradually grants preferences to a country based on its compliance to human rights commitments, in order to better be able to provide incentives and sanctions;
Amendment 187 #
2021/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the EU strategy on Russia should work in the security interest of the EU and additionally offer Russia a constructive dialogue aimed at promoting the values of human rights and democracy;
Amendment 255 #
2021/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the EU must have a clear goal and plans on how to cut its dependency on Russian gas and oil, at least while President Putin is in power; in this regard the Nord Stream 2 project should be terminated immediately;
Amendment 290 #
2021/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) the EU should build upon the fruitful cooperation between authorities in the Eastern Partnership, such as the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, and the European Defence Agency (EDA), and promote its enrichment; the EU and our Eastern partners should boost cooperation in the sphere of cyber security and counter disinformation operations, as the post-Soviet countries possess unique experiences and knowledge of Russia’s cyber strategy and modus operandi, which is of great value to the EU and its Member States;
Amendment 392 #
2021/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the EU should increase its ability to prepare and adopt sanctions against the Russian authorities and oligarchs for their systemic repression of democratic forces in Russia and to centralise EU decision- making by making the triggering of sanctions automatic in cases of corruption or violation of human rights, including by updating the EU global sanctions mechanism (EU Magnitsky Act) to address cases of corruption and by using the rule of qualified majority voting in the Council when adopting sanctions in case of human rights abuses;
Amendment 434 #
2021/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) the EU should strengthen its support to Russian dissidents, non- governmental organisations, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and independent media outlets;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) prepares an impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise on a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with Taiwan before the end of 2021 in preparation for negotiations to deepen bilateral economic ties;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) realises that as China violates the law of the sea in the South China Sea, it lacks credibility when claiming that it wants to protect international law in the Arctic, for instance; declares that China’s actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea will have consequences for EU-China relations;
Amendment 76 #
2021/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) further promotes tourism and youth exchanges with Taiwan through initiatives such as working holiday or, the Erasmus programmes or the Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship and to explore opportunities of cooperation in higher education and other areas;
Amendment 90 #
2021/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(ra) encourages the EU and its Member States to enhance cooperation with Taiwan on the Global Cooperation & Training Framework (GCTF);
Amendment 6 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 26 November 2020 on the EU Trade Policy Review,
Amendment 62 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the Uyghur population is a victim of the Chinese Government’s efforts to eradicate their unique identity and the right to existence as a population through torture, enforced disappearance, mass surveillance, cultural and religious erasure, the forced sterilisation of women, sexual violence, violations of reproductive rights, and family separation; whereas since the launch of the Chinese Government’s ‘Strike hard against violent terrorism’ campaign in 2014, which mainly targets Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang, more than one million people have been imprisoned in detention camps, called ‘political re-education’ or ‘training’ centres, which constitutes the largest mass incarceration system in the world; whereas human rights organisations have assessed that these offences could constitute crimes against humanity or genocide under international law;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas credible reports document a large-scale mandatory “vocational training” program in the Tibet Autonomous Region that pushed more than half a million rural Tibetans off their land and into military-style training centres in 2020;
Amendment 74 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas China has adopted sanctions on five MEPs, the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, three MPs from EU Member States, the Political and Security Committee of the Council of the EU, two European scholars, two think tanks in Germany and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation in Denmark for ‘severely harming China’s sovereignty and interests and maliciously spreading lies and disinformation’; whereas China’s sanctions lack any legal justification, are entirely unsubstantiated and arbitrary and target the criticism of human rights violations; whereas the sanctions are clearly an attempt to deter the EU from continuing its work and action against human rights abuses in China; whereas the Chinese measures constitute an attack against the European Union and its Parliament as a whole, the heart of European democracy and values, as well as an attack against freedom of research;
Amendment 75 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas in December 2020 the EU and China agreed in principle to the EU- China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI); whereas the ability of the European Parliament to duly analyse the CAI is significantly hindered by the Chinese sanctions, which prevent, at least, the Subcommittee on Human Rights from working with Chinese experts; whereas it is not acceptable to separate trade and investment relations from the general context of human rights issues and the broader political relations;
Amendment 76 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas the European Parliament has called on the Commission to start the scoping exercise and impact assessment in order to formally commence the negotiations with Taiwan as soon as possible;
Amendment 77 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
C d. whereas the Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, remains illegally incarcerated in spite of Parliament’s numerous calls for his immediate release; whereas Gui Minhai has been in detention in mainland China without legal assistance or consular access, since he was abducted from Thailand in 2015;
Amendment 136 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underscores the importance of capitalising on China’s commitment to tackling climate change by reinforcing partnership in this field and emphasises the need to ensure that China commits to peak its emissions before 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement by implementing a carbon border adjustment mechanism;
Amendment 142 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for Human Rights Dialogues to be held regularly and calls for a solid benchmarking of the progress made in bilateral dialogues more generally; asks for the results regarding the benchmarks and the progress, stagnation or deterioration to be discussed in a transparent manner;
Amendment 170 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Remains outraged at the continuing detention of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai, and urges robust and steady intervention by the EU and the Member States at the highest level to secure his immediate and unconditional release;
Amendment 234 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. States its support forCalls on the UN to carry out legal investigations into alleged genocide and crimes against humanity taking place in the Xinjiang region and into the forced labour programs in Tibet;
Amendment 266 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that the future EU strategy on China should provide the necessary tools and data to analyseddress the political, economic, social and technological threats stemming from China, its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and 17+1 policies, its investment strategy and their implications for the Union’s strategic autonomy and the liberal order;
Amendment 321 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that the bilateral and uncoordinated engagement of some Member States with China, and the failure to inform the Commission when signing Memoranda of Understanding with third countries, ismight be counterproductive;
Amendment 350 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is concerned by the assertive and, at times, aggressive diplomatic pressure from the Chinese authorities; underlines that EU institutions can in no way bow to pressure or censorship from Chinese channels;
Amendment 366 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Expresses grave concern over China’s expansionist policies in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, especially China’s continued military provocation aimed at Taiwan, with Chinese military aircraft intruding Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone on regular basis; underlines that the status quo across Taiwan Strait, freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region are of critical importance to the EU and its Member States; reiterates strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine the status quo; encourages that cross- strait relations should be developed constructively, without destabilising initiatives or coercion by either side, and that any change to cross-strait relations must not be made against the will of Taiwan’s citizens;
Amendment 369 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Urges the Commission to come up with concrete proposals and action to facilitate Taiwan’s full participation as an observer in the meetings, mechanism and activities of the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);
Amendment 436 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it necessary to conclude a Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan in parallel with the CAI and in line with the EU's One China policy, which would ensure that stability is safeguarded in the region and the right to Taiwan’s democratic existence is reaffirmed;
Amendment 439 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. urges the Commission to move forward with the Bilateral Investment Agreement with Taiwan and start the impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise with Taiwan before the end of 2021;
Amendment 480 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Believes that the Conference on the Future of Europe should be used to give the VP/HR a stronger mandate to act on behalf of the EU and take the necessary steps to introduce qualitied majority voting in certain areas of foreign affairs, as well as to create a European Defence Unionsuch as issues relating to the protection of human rights;
Amendment 493 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls for defence cooperation among the Member States to be strengthened and for the Member States to invest in stronger cooperation with other democratic players such as Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and, New Zealand and Taiwan;
Amendment 495 #
2021/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Points out the need to equip the European External Action Service with a mandate and the necessary resources to study and counter Chinese disinformation operations, including the creation of a dedicated far-East StratCom Task Force focused on the disinformation emanating from China;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the rule of law is an essential precondition for compliance with the principle of sound financial management, as enshrined in Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and for the protection of the Union’s financial interests, which can only be ensured if public authorities act in accordance with the law, if cases of fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest or other breaches of the law are pursued effectively by investigative and prosecution services, if national courts are independent, and if the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union are respected;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines the importance of the protection of the financial interests of the Union and the respect for the rule of law; expresses its concern over the potentially growing risk of misusing the Union’s budget as means to deteriorate the rule of law by some Member States;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the Rule of Law Report serves as one of the most important, but not only, source for investigating potential cases of breaches of the rule of law;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Believes that the situation as regards the respect of the principles of the rule of law in some Member States demands urgent attention; urges the Commission to make full use of its power of investigation for each case of a potential breach of the principles of the rule of law by a Member State which could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the Union budget in a sufficiently direct way;
Amendment 59 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Emphasises the clear relationship between the respect for the rule of law and the efficient implementation of the Union budget in accordance with the principles of sound financial management as laid down in the Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Reminds that the revised OLAF Regulation strengthens the way OLAF can conduct its own investigations, notably by reinforcing rules on the anti- fraud coordination services in the Member States and on the cooperation between OLAF and national competent authorities before, during and after an investigation;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2025(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Calls for a systemic and structural mechanism for the Parliament to introduce its findings to the Commission concerning deficits and breaches as regards the rule of law in the Member States; suggests such a mechanism to be proposed to the Commission by the Parliament at the earliest convenience;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
h) emphasise the need for closer thematic coordination of international security policies and for action in areas such as nuclear security and the non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, mitigation of chemical, biological and radiological weapons, the promotion of regional conflict prevention and peacebuilding, counter-piracy, maritime security, countering terrorism, violent extremism, as well as cybersecurity, hybrid threats and outer space;
Amendment 133 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
o) take note ofshare India’s security concerns as regards the expansive policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC); support the resolution of disputes and the upholding of international law on the India-PRC border;
Amendment 143 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
p) recognise India’s commitment to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through its contribution to peacekeeping missions; strengthen their mutual commitment to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, including the development of National Action Plans with appropriate budgetary allocations for effective implementation; underline that the credible commitment to the WPS agenda must be paired with policies promoting women’s rights in Indian society;
Amendment 195 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point t a (new)
t a) encourage India to ensure full protection of minorities, in particular religious and ethnic ones; deplore that religious freedom in India continues to deteriorate, despite the fact that the right to freedom of religion and belief is clearly recognised in the Constitution of India; address the potentially discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), which will amend the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955;
Amendment 199 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point t b (new)
t b) recall its long-standing opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances; reiterate its call on India to adopt legislation for an immediate and permanent moratorium on executions in India, with the objective of abolishing the death penalty in the near future;
Amendment 208 #
2021/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
u a) encourage India to step up the fight against corruption, as corruption allegations undermines the public’s trust in the government, and democratic institutions more generally;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the EU Gender Action Plan III (GAP III) and its ambitious and comprehensive objectives, and insists on its full implementation, policy coherence and institutional capacity across all areas of EU external action and the institutional structures of the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS);
Amendment 21 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States to use GAP III as a basis to enhance the gender mainstreamingperspective in their external action, to put its gender-transformative, rights- based, intersectional approach into practice, and to adopt a feminist foreign policyfocus their foreign policy programs on fundamental freedoms and human rights;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Emphasises that the EU should lead the way amongst the international community, in stepping up efforts to eradicate the use of sexual violence as a weapon in armed conflict;
Amendment 50 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Considers that women's right to sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) should be a priority in the EU’s development policy;
Amendment 63 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the systematic implementation of rigorous gender analysis, gender-disaggregated data collection, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments, as well as for mandatory training on gender equalityand relevant impact assessments;
Amendment 73 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the need to tackle the shrinking space for civil society and to closely consult with organisations fighting, in particular, for the rights of women, girls and marginalised groups; In this regard, proposes that the European Commission should facilitate input by civil society actors regarding proposing human rights violation cases applicable for EU sanctions, such as the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions regime (EU Magnitsky Act);
Amendment 100 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the introduction of country-level implementation plans; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to take full ownership of gendercontext-sensitive country reporting and gender mainstreaming;
Amendment 116 #
2021/2003(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expects specific and measurable baselines and targets to be added to the joint staff working document on the objectives and indicators to frame the implementation of the GAP III (SWD(2020)0284), as well as road maps and timelines for all objectives, and sanctions in case of non-fulfilment.
Amendment 9 #
2021/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas corruption and organised crime remain a serious concern across the Western Balkan region; notes for instance “In Albania, corruption is the second- largest source of IFFs after narcotics trafficking. The World Bank Enterprise Survey 2019 shows that 36.1% of companies in Albania received at least one bribe request in 2019".2a __________________ 2ahttps://globalinitiative.net/iffs-western- balkans/
Amendment 467 #
2021/0414(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. This Directive lays down minimum rights that apply to every person performing platform work in the Union who has, or who based on an assessment of facts may be deemed to have, an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements or practice in force in theeach Member States with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice. This Directive shall be without prejudice to the full respect of the autonomy of social partners, including their right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements.
Amendment 549 #
2021/0414(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall have appropriate procedures in place to verify and ensure the correct determination of the employment status of persons performing platform work, with a view to ascertaining the existence of an employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements or practice in force in the Member States with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice, and ensuring that they enjoy the rights deriving from Union law applicable to workers.
Amendment 1013 #
2021/0414(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1
Article 20 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive shall not constitute valid grounds for reducing the general level of protection already afforded to workers within Member States without affecting the freedom of the social partners to negotiate and conclude collective agreements.
Amendment 1017 #
2021/0414(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive shall not affect the Member States’ prerogative to apply or to introduce laws, regulations or administrative provisions which are more favourable to platform workers, or to encourage or permit the application of collective agreements which are more favourable to platform workers, in line with the objectives of this Directive. As regards persons performing platform work who are not in an employment relationship, this paragraph shall only apply insofar as such national rules are compatible with the rules on the functioning of the internal market.
Amendment 1021 #
2021/0414(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20a Collective bargaining and action 1. This Directive shall not affect in any way the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements in accordance with national law or practice. 2. In accordance with national law and practice, Member States may allow for the social partners to maintain, negotiate, conclude and enforce collective agreements which deviate from the directive, provided that the overall results sought by this Directive are ensured.
Amendment 17 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The modern interconnected world economy creates an increased risk of, and opportunity for, economic coercion, as it provides countries, especially non- democratic regimes, with enhanced, including hybrid, direct or indirect, means to deploy such coercion. It is desirable that the Union contribute to the creation, development and clarification of international frameworks for the prevention and elimination of situations of economic coercion.
Amendment 19 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5 a) Non-democratic regimes, such as the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China or the Islamic Republic of Iran, continue to undermine the international rules-based order, threaten the Union's and the Member States' democratic governance and security, and degrade our economic competitiveness.
Amendment 22 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Whilst always acting within the framework of international law, it is essential that the Union possess an appropriate instrument to deter and counteract economic coercion by third countries in order to safeguard its rights and interests and those of its Member States. This is particularly the case where third countries take measures affecting trade or investment that interfere in the legitimate sovereign choices of the Union or a Member State by seeking, including its governmental and judicial actions and decisions, by seeking, directly or indirectly, to prevent or obtain the cessation, modification or adoption of a particular act by the Union or a Member State. Such measures affecting trade or investment may include not only actions taken on, and having effects within, the territory of the third country, but also actions taken by the third country, including through entities controlled or directed by the third country and present in the Union, that cause harm to economic activities in the Union.
Amendment 23 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6 a) The economic coercion by the People's Republic of China against Lithuania, a Member State of the Union, undermines the basic principles of the Union's Single Market and requires joint response.
Amendment 25 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The objectives of this Regulation, in particular counteracting third countries’ economic coercion of the Union or a Member State, cannot be sufficiently achieved by Member States acting on their own. This is because Member States as distinct actors under international law may not be entitled under international law to respond to economic coercion directed against the Union. Additionally, because of the exclusive competence conferred on the Union by Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States are prevented from taking common commercial policy measures as a response to economic coercion. Therefore, those objectives can bare achieved with greater effectiveness at Union level, and in the spirit of unity and solidarity.
Amendment 32 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Union should support and cooperate with third countries affected by the same or similar measures of economic coercion or other interested third countries, in particular, like minded democratic partners. The Union should participate in international coordination in bilateral, plurilateral or multilateral fora that are geared towards the prevention or elimination of the economic coercion.
Amendment 34 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Union should only impose countermeasures when other means such as negotiations, mediation or adjudication do not lead to the prompt and effective cessation of the economic coercion and to reparation of the injury it has caused to the Union or its Member States, and where action is necessary to protect the interests and rights of the Union and its Member States and it is in the Union’s interest. It is appropriate that the Regulation sets out the applicable rules and procedures for the imposition and application of Union response measures and permits expeditious action where necessary to preserve the effectiveness of any Union response measures.
Amendment 35 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Union response measures adopted in accordance with this Regulation should be selected and designed on the basis of objective criteria, including: the effectiveness of the measures in inducing the cessation of coercion by the third country; their potential to provide relief to economic operators within the Union affected by the third-country measures of economic coercion; the aim of avoiding or minimising negative economic and other effects on the Union; and the avoidance of disproportionate administrative complexity and costs; and strategic communication of Union's actions to ensure that they are not misrepresented or manipulated by third country through misinformation, disinformation or propaganda. It is also essential that the selection and design of Union response measures take account of the Union’s interest. Union response measures should be selected from a wide array of options in order to allow the adoption of the most suitable measures in any given case.
Amendment 49 #
2021/0406(COD)
— interferes in the legitimate sovereign choices of the Union or a Member State, including its governmental and judicial actions and decisions, by seeking to prevent or obtain the cessation, modification or adoption of a particular act by the Union or a Member State
Amendment 50 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2
— by applying or threatening to apply measures affectingundermining the economic security, trade or, investment. or competitiveness
Amendment 52 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 a (new)
- circumvents or assists another third country to circumvent restrictive measures imposed by the Union
Amendment 55 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) whether the third country is engaging in a pattern of interference seeking to obtain from the Union or from Member States or other countries particular acts, or to hinder the Union's or the Member States' capacity to act;
Amendment 56 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(b a) the broader context, including, whether the third country's coercive measures are part of a wider pattern of behaviour that undermine the Union or Member States' interests, security, or capacity to act;
Amendment 77 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
The Commission shall enter into consultations or cooperation, on behalf of the Union, with any other country affected by the same or similar measures of economic coercion or with any interested third country, with a view to obtaining the cessation of the coercion. This mayshould involve, where appropriate, coordination in relevant international fora and coordination with like-minded democratic partners in response to the coercion.
Amendment 81 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) action is necessary to protect the security, interests and rights of the Union and its Member States in that particular case, and
Amendment 86 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall, upon adoption of the implementing act, notify the third country concerned of the Union response measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 1. In the notification, the Commission shall, on behalf of the Union, call on the third country concerned to promptly cease the economic coercion, offer to negotiate a diplomatic solution, and inform the third country concerned that the Union response measure will apply, unless the economic coercion ceases.
Amendment 91 #
2021/0406(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. Any Union response measure shall not exceed the level that is commensurate with the injury suffered by the Union or a Member State due to the third country’s measures of economic coercion, taking into account the gravity of the third country’s measures and the rights in question, as well as the impact of the measures on the Union or a Member State.
Amendment 1 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Insists that the budget for the Common Foreign and Security Policy should focus on priority areas, both geographically and thematically, and on areas where EU action can bring most added value;
Amendment 35 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that the protection and promotion of human rights globally continues to be of core interest for external actions of the Union; highlights that the EU should strictly refrain from budget support as a modality to provide assistance in countries that grossly fail to meet international standards in the field of human rights and democracy, or that fail to demonstrate their commitment to fighting corruption; highlights the importance of election observation missions, notably by local civil society groups, and calls for an appropriate level of funding;
Amendment 61 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls for further funding for strategic communication actions to counter malicious interference, including foreign disinformation, espionage, and propaganda, which are increasingly used to undermine the democratic order in the Union and in countries in the Union’s vicinity; calls for the European External Action Service (EEAS) to further strengthen its capacities to counter disinformation, hybrid warfare, propaganda and espionage, including the creation of dedicated StratCom Task Forces on interference emanating from China and the Middle East, in particular from Iran, and providing them with further necessary financial and human resources;
Amendment 66 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Stresses the need to improve the visibility and communication concerning EU aid and Union financing in third countries, particularly candidate and partner countries; calls upon the Commission to put greater focus on dissemination of the successfully implemented projects, and their positive impact and benefits in order to strengthen the impact of funding and enhance EU public diplomacy;
Amendment 67 #
2021/0227(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9 c. Welcomes the statement of the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, on the Commission’s firm commitment to fighting anti-semitism and engaging with the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA to promote quality education for Palestinian children and ensure full adherence to UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, co- existence, and non-violence in Palestinian textbooks; agrees with the stance that the conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered; insists that the Commission must guarantee that no Union funds are allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation;
Amendment 52 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Articles 19a and 29a of Directive 2013/34/EU apply to large undertakings that are public-interest entities with an average number of employees in excess of 500, and to public-interest entities that are parent undertakings of a large group with an average number of employees in excess of 500 on a consolidated basis, respectively. In view of the growth of users’ needs for sustainability information, additional categories of undertakings should be required to report such information. It is therefore appropriate to require all large undertakings and all undertakings listed on regulated markets, except micro undertakings, to report detailed sustainability information. In addition, all undertakings that are parent undertakings of large groups should prepare sustainability reporting at group level.
Amendment 60 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) No existing standard or framework satisfies the Union’s needs for detailed sustainability reporting by itselfFor the development of its own sustainability reporting standards, the Union must ensure consistency with equivalent global standards. Information required by Directive 2013/34/EU needs to cover information relevant from each of the materiality perspectives, and needs to cover all sustainability matters and needs to be aligned. To avoid duplication of obligations and inconsistencies in definitions, scope and objectives of applicable requirements sustainability information need to be consistent, where appropriate, with other obligations under Union law to disclose sustainability information, including obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and Regulation (EU) 2019/2088. In addition, mandatory sustainability reporting standards for Union undertakings must be commensurate with the level of ambition of the European Green Deal and the Union’s climate-neutrality objective for 2050. It is therefore necessary to empower the Commission to adopt Union sustainability reporting standards in light of the development of international standards, enabling their rapid adoption and ensuring that the content of sustainability reporting standards are consistent with the Union’s needs.
Amendment 63 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) Sustainability reporting standards should be proportionate, and should not impose unnecessary administrative burden on companies that are required to use them. In order to minimise disruption for undertakings that already report sustainability information, sustainability reporting standards should take account ofensure consistency with existing standards and frameworks for sustainability reporting and accounting where appropriate. Those include the Global Reporting Initiative, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, the International Integrated Reporting Council, the International Accounting Standards Board, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, the Carbon Disclosure Standards Board, and CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project). Standards of the European Union should take account of any sustainability reporting standards developed under the auspices of International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation. To avoid unnecessary regulatory fragmentation that may have negative consequences for undertakings operating globally, European standards should contribute to the process of convergence ofbe based on, as far as possible, global equivalent sustainabilityle reporting standards at global level.
Amendment 68 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 43
Recital 43
(43) Sustainability reporting standards should specify the information that undertakings should disclose on social factors, including employee factors and human rights. Such information should cover the impacts of undertakings on people, including on human health. The information that undertakings disclose about human rights should include information about forced labour in their value chains where relevant. Reporting standards that address social factors should specify the information that undertakings should disclose with regard to the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights that are relevant to businesses, including equal opportunities for all and working conditions. The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan adopted in March 2021 calls for stronger requirements on undertakings to report on social issues. The reporting standards should also specify the information that undertakings should disclose with regard to the human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and standards established in the International Bill of Human Rights and other core UN human rights conventions, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Amendment 71 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) To meet the information needs from users in a timely manner, and in particular given the urgency to meet the information needs of financial market participants subject to the requirements laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 4, paragraphs 6 and 7 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, the Commission should adopt a first set of reporting standards by 31 October 20223. That set of reporting standards should specify the information that undertakings should disclose with regard to all reporting areas and sustainability matters, and that financial market participants need to comply with the disclosure obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088. The Commission should adopt a second set of reporting standards at the latest by 31 October 20234, specifying complementary information that undertakings should disclose about sustainability matters and reporting areas where necessary, and information that is specific to the sector in which an undertaking operates. The Commission should review the standards every 35 years to take account of relevant developments, including. The Commission should amend, when necessary, the standards to align them with the development of international standards.
Amendment 149 #
Amendment 203 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The gender pay gap is caused by various factors, part of which can be attributed to direct and indirect gender pay discrimination. A general lack of transparency about pay levels within organisations maintains a situation where gender-based pay discrimination and bias can go undetected or, where suspected, are difficult to prove. Binding mMeasures are therefore needed to improve pay transparency, encourage organisations to review their pay structures to ensure equal pay for women and men doing the same work or work of equal value, and enable victims of discrimination to enforce their right to equal pay. This needs to be complemented by provisions clarifying existing legal concepts (such as the concept of ‘pay’ and ‘work of equal value’) and measures improving enforcement mechanisms and access to justice, while fully respecting the different labour market models in the Member States.
Amendment 223 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) This Directive should apply to all workers, including part-time workers, fixed-term contract workers or persons with a contract of employment or employment relationship with a temporary agency, who have an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements and/or practice in force in each Member State, taking into account the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘the Court’). In its case law, the Court established criteria for determining the status of a worker47 . Provided that they fulfil those criteria, domestic workers, on- demand workers, intermittent workers, voucher based-workers, platform workers, trainees and apprentices should fall within the scope of this Directive. The determination of the existence of an employment relationship should be guided by the facts relating to the actual performance of the work and not by the parties’ description of the relationship. _________________ 47 Case C-66/85, Deborah Lawrie-Blum v Land Baden-Württemberg, ECLI:EU:C:1986:284; Case C-428/09, Union Syndicale Solidaires Isère v Premier ministre and Others, ECLI:EU:C:2010:612; Case C-229/14, Ender Balkaya v Kiesel Abbruch- und Recycling Technik GmbH, ECLI:EU:C:2015:455; Case C-413/13, FNV Kunsten Informatie en Media v Staat der Nederlanden, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2411; Case C-216/15, Betriebsrat der Ruhrlandklinik gGmbH v Ruhrlandklinik gGmbH, ECLI:EU:C:2016:883; Case C- 658/18, UX v Governo della Repubblica italiana, ECLI:EU:C:2020:572.
Amendment 227 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
Amendment 233 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value for women and men should be respected with regard to wage or salary and any other consideration, whether in cash or in kind, which the workers receive directly or indirectly, in respect of their employment from their employer. In line with the case-law of the Court48 , the concept of ‘pay’ should comprise not only salary, but also additional benefits such as bonuses, overtime compensation, travel facilities (including cars provided by the employer and travel cards), housing allowances, compensation for attending training, payments in case of dismissal, statutory sick pay, statutory required compensation and occupational pensions. It should include all elements of remuneration due by law or collective agreement. _________________ 48 For example, Case C-58/81, Commission of the European Communities v Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ECLI:EU:C:1982:215; Case C-171/88 Rinner-Kulhn v FWW Spezial- Gebaudereinigung GmbH, ECLI:EU:C:1989:328; Case C-147/02 Alabaster v Woolwhich plc and Secretary of State for Social Security, ECLI:EU:C:2004:192; Case C-342/93 - Gillespie and Others ECLI:EU:C:1996:46; Case C-278/93 Freers and Speckmann v Deutsche Bundepost, ECLI:EU:C:1996:83; Case C-12/81, Eileen Garland v British Rail Engineering Limited, ECLI:EU:C:1982:44; Case C-360/90, Arbeiterwohlfahrt der Stadt Berlin e.V. v Monika Bötel, ECLI:EU:C:1992:246; Case C-33/89, Maria Kowalska v Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, ECLI: EU:C:1990:265.
Amendment 247 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to respect the right to equal pay between men and women, employers must have pay setting mechanisms or pay structures in place ensuring that there are no pay differences between male and female workers doing the same work or work of equal value that are not justified by objective and gender-neutral factors. Such pay structures should allow for the comparison of the value of different jobs within the same organisational structure. In line with the case law of the Court, the value of work should be assessed and compared based on objective criteria, such as educational, professional and training requirements, skills, effort and responsibility, work undertaken and the nature of the tasks involved.49 _________________ 49 For example, Case C-400/93, Royal Copenhagen, ECLI:EU:C:1995:155; Case C-309/97, Angestelltenbetriebsrat der Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse, ECLI:EU:C:1999:241; Case C-381/99, Brunnhofer, ECLI:EU:C:2001:358; Case C-427/11, Margaret Kenny and Others v Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Others [2013] ECLI:EU:C:2013:122, paragraph 28.
Amendment 256 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
Amendment 266 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
Amendment 299 #
2021/0050(COD)
Amendment 315 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Employers should make accessible to workers a description of the criteria used to determine pay levels and career progression. The employer should have flexibility in the way it complies with this obligation taking into account the size of the organisation.
Amendment 328 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Employers with at least 2500 workers should regularly report on pay, in a suitable and transparent manner, such as including the information in their management report. Companies subject to the requirements of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council52 may also choose to report on pay alongside other worker-related matters in their management report. _________________ 52 Directive 2013/34/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 as regards disclosure of non- financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups (OJ L 330, 15.11.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 364 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) Joint pay assessments should trigger the review and revision of pay structures in organisations with at least 2500 workers that show pay inequalities. The joint pay assessment should be carried out by employers in cooperation with workers’ representatives; if workers’ representatives are absent, they should be designated for this purpose. Joint pay assessments should lead to the elimination of gender discrimination in pay.
Amendment 405 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) Following the case law of the Court55 , Directive 2006/54/EC established provisions to ensure that the burden of proof shifts to the defendant when there is a prima facie case of discrimination. Member States should not be prevented from introducing, at any appropriate stage of the proceedings, rules of evidence which are more favourable to workers making a claim. In any legal or administrative proceedings concerning direct or indirect discrimination, in case the employer did not comply with the pay transparency obligations set out by the Directive, the burden of proof should be automatically shifted to the defendant, irrespective of the worker showing a prima facie case of pay discrimination. _________________ 55 Case C-109/88, Handels- og Kontorfunktionærernes Forbund I Danmark v Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening, acting on behalf of Danfoss, ECLI:EU:C:1989:383.
Amendment 406 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Recital 39
Amendment 410 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In accordance with the case-law of the Court, nNational rules on time limits for the enforcement of rights under this Directive should be such that they cannot be regarded as capable of rendering virtually impossible or excessively difficult the exercise of those rights. Limitation periods create specific obstacles for victims of gender pay discrimination. For that purpose, common minimum standards should be established. Those standards should determine when the limitation period begins to run, the duration thereof and the circumstances under which it is interrupted or suspended and provide that the limitation period for bringing claims is at least three years.
Amendment 419 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) Litigation costs create a serious disincentive for victims of gender pay discrimination to claim their right to equal pay, leading to insufficient protection and enforcement of the right to equal pay. In order to remove this strong procedural obstacle to justice, successful claimants should be allowed to recover their procedural costs from the defendant. On the other hand, claimants should not be liable for successful defendant’s proceedings costs unless the claim was brought in bad faith, was clearly frivolous or if the non-recovery by the defendant would be considered unreasonable by the courts or other competent authorities under the specific circumstances of the case, for instance having regard to the financial situation of micro-enterprises.
Amendment 437 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) This Directive lays down minimum requirementsa framework, thus respecting the Member States’ prerogative to introduce and maintain more favourable provisions. Rights acquired under the existing legal framework should continue to apply, unless more favourable provisions are introduced by this Directive. The implementation of this Directive cannot be used to reduce existing rights set out in existing Union or national law in this field, nor can it constitute valid grounds for reducing the rights of workers in regard to equal pay between men and women for the same work or work of equal value.
Amendment 447 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) This Directive aims at a better and more effective implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work to which equal value is attributed between men and women through the establishment of common minimum requirementsa framework which should apply to all undertakings and organisations across the European Union. Since this objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and should therefore be achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive, which limits itself to setting minimum standards, does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.
Amendment 464 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive lays down minimum requirementsa framework to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay between men and women for equal work or work of equal value enshrined in Article 157 TFEU and the prohibition of discrimination laid down in Article 4 of Directive 2006/54/EC, in particular through pay transparency and reinforced enforcement mechanisms.
Amendment 480 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. This Directive applies to all workers who have an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by law, collective agreements and/or practice in force in each Member State with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice.
Amendment 482 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States with labour market models where autonomous labour market parties are responsible for wage formation shall have the option not to apply this Directive, either totally or in part, provided that there is, in the view of the Member State, sufficient support for this among representative social partners at national level.
Amendment 487 #
2021/0050(COD)
Amendment 492 #
2021/0050(COD)
Amendment 493 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 496 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Amendment 504 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) ‘category of workers’ means workers performing the same work or work of equal value grouped by the workers’ employer based on criteria as laid down in Article 4 of this Directive and specified bygrouped by their respective employers in accordance with national law, collective bargaining agreements, and other relevant practices in the Memployer concerned;ber State.
Amendment 527 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Amendment 539 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that employers have pay structures in place ensuring that women and men are paid equally for the same work or work of equal value performed for the same employer.
Amendment 553 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures ensuring that tools or methodologies are establishedguidance to assess and compare the value of work in line with the criteria set out in this Article. These tools or methodologiesis guidance may include gender-neutral job evaluation and classification systems.
Amendment 566 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The tools or methodologiesAn overall assessment according to this guidance shall allow assessing, in regard to the value of work, whether workers are in a comparable situation, on the basis of objective criteria which shallmay include educational, professional and training requirements, skills, effort and responsibility, work undertaken and the nature of the tasks involved and similar criteria defined in national law and collective bargaining agreements. They shall not contain or be based on criteria which are based, whether directly or indirectly, on workers’ sex.
Amendment 571 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Amendment 594 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Amendment 605 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Amendment 621 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
The employer shall make easily accessible to its workers a description of the criteria used to determine pay levels and career progression for workers. These criteria shall be gender-neutral and in accordance with national law and practices.
Amendment 640 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Workers shall have the right to receive information on their individual pay level and the average pay levels, broken down by sexpay differences and differences in median pay, broken down by sex in the pay statistics, for categories of workers doing the same work as them or work of equal value to theirs for the same employer, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4.
Amendment 674 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Employers with at least 250 workers shall provide the following information concerning their organisation, in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3, and 5:Member States shall, with regard to their respective labour market models and traditions, take appropriate measures to ensure that employers with at least 500 workers map the pay gap between men and women in the different categories of workers.
Amendment 689 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 696 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 701 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 708 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point d
Amendment 712 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 714 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point f
Amendment 717 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 735 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Amendment 739 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Amendment 752 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Amendment 762 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 5
Article 8 – paragraph 5
5. The employer shall provide the information referred to in paragraph 1, point (g) to all workers and, their trade union representatives, as well as to the monitoring body referred to in paragraph 6. It shall provide it to the labour inspectorate and the equality body upon their request. T or the trade union with which the employer has struck a collective bargaining agreement. The employer shall, upon request, provide the information fromto the previous four years,monitoring body appointed ifn available, shall also be provided upon requestccordance with article 26 of this directive.
Amendment 773 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Amendment 781 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 7
Article 8 – paragraph 7
7. Workers and their representatives, labour inspectThose entitled to informates and equality bodiesion from the employer pursuant to article 2 shall have the right to ask the employer for additional clarifications and details regarding any of the data provided, including explanations concerning any gender pay differences. The employer shall respond to such request within a reasonable time by providing a substantiated reply. Where gender pay differences are not justified by objective and gender-neutral factors, the employer shall remedy the situation in close cooperation with the workers’ representatives, the labour inspectorate and/or the equality bodytake appropriate measures.
Amendment 794 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Amendment 823 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Amendment 841 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Amendment 847 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Amendment 915 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Amendment 918 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Amendment 922 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Amendment 926 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 5
Article 16 – paragraph 5
Amendment 935 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Amendment 939 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Amendment 948 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 4
Article 18 – paragraph 4
Amendment 953 #
2021/0050(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Amendment 14 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the degradation of ecosystems and the stress on them caused by climate change is leading to the extinction of species and the loss of biodiversity at unprecedented rates and is threatening the human rights of current and future generations, such as the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation, as well as the rights of the most vulnerable people, including women and children, children and disabled people, the rights of indigenous peoples and the rights of rural and natural- resource-dependent communities; also emphasises that the degradation of and stress on ecosystems is undermining progress towards the achievement of most of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the objectives of ending poverty and hunger, achieving food security and ensuring healthy lives;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the intention of the Commission to develop a new European biodiversity governance framework and to follow an inclusive approach involving civil society in a compliance watchdog role to monitor the implementation of EU environmental legislation; also welcomes its aim to put forward a new initiative in 2021 on sustainable corporate governance to address human rights and environmental due diligence across economic valuesupply chains; insists in this regard on the need to elaborate EU legislation for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for EU companies, EU-domiciled companies and third-country companies operating in the internal market, imposing legal obligations to identify, cease, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts throughout their supply chains and establishing effective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the representatives of the EU and the Member States who will participate in the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) in May 2021 in Kunming, China, to advocate for biodiversity and ensure that global action on biodiversity and related objectives are linked to respect for the rights to life, health, food and water, as well as the human rights of women and children, children and disabled people; strongly supports, in this regard, the integration of human rights in the COP 15 post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and calls for the establishment of nature conservation objectives at global and national level, building on the right to a clean, healthy, safe and sustainable environment;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2273(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the commitment of the EU heads of state and governments under the ‘Leaders’ Pledge for Nature’ to end environmental crimes, and with this aim, to ensure effective and dissuasive legal frameworks; urges, in this regard, the EU and the Member States to redouble their efforts to honour their obligations relating to environmental crimes and to promote an international approach to environmental criminal lawsuch crimes; calls for the setting up of legal frameworks to ensure access to effective remedies in cases of loss and degradation of biodiversity; encourages the EU and the Member States to pursue new initiatives in order to make ‘ecocide’ a crime recognised under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; recommends that the scope of the serious human rights violations covered by the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime be extended to include environmental crimes.
Amendment 214 #
2020/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the important cooperation between the EU and NATO in the Western Balkans, notably through the EUFOR Althea mission; believes that the EU and NATO should enhance support to the Western Balkans countries in countering malicious foreign interference from countries such as Russia, China and Iran;
Amendment 336 #
2020/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is convinced that the Member States must increase their efforts to improve the EU’s ability to act with a more capable, deployable, interoperable and sustainable set of military capabilities and forces, which would give the EU the capacity to contribute more equitably to transatlantic security, enable it to achieve more strategic autonomy, and further pave the way to progressively frame more of a European Defence Union (EDU) in line with Article 42 of the TEU; stresses that strategic autonomy strengthens transatlantic security, and by no means aims to decouple from or weaken NATO; underlines at the same time that strategic autonomy not only entails defence capability development but also the institutional capacity enabling the EU to act, where possible with partners, and independently if necessary; believes that these increased European military efforts will allow the EU to take greater responsibility for European security, and to better promote common EU-NATO interests and values, in particular in the European neighbourhood;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that a common cyber defence policy and a substantial cyber defence capability are core elements for the development of thedeepened and enhanced European Defence Uncooperation; stresses the urgent need to strengthen EU and the Member State cyber defence capabilities;
Amendment 185 #
2020/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the Commission’s Action Plan On Synergies between civil, defence and space industries, and recalls the close interdependence of these three sectors in cyber defence; notes that, differently from other military domains, cyber space is mainly owned by commercial entities based mostly outside the EU, which leads to industrial and technological dependencies on third parties; strongly believes that the EU needs to increasevaluate its technological sovereignty and boost innovation, investing in the use of new technologies in security and defence such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing;
Amendment 197 #
2020/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for enhanced mutual operational assistance between Member States; strongly emphasises the importance of further exercises and scenario-based policy discussions on crisis management, including on the mutual assistance clause (Article 42(7) of the TEU) in a hypothetical cyber attack scenario; calls for increased coordination with NATO in this matter through participation in cyber exercises and joint training, such as the parallel and coordinated exercises (PACE); calls for such initiatives to strengthen the common understanding on the implementation procedures for mutual assistance and/or solidarity in line with Article 42(7) of the TEU and Article 222 of the TFEU, including with a specific objective of operationalising these procedures for cyber-attacks on the EU institutions or Member States; expresses its embarrassment and serious concerns about the security of confidential EU meetings, as a Dutch journalist managed to access a confidential videoconference at the level of EU defence ministers last year. Underlines that such weaknesses in the EU institutions security practices have adverse effects on the credibility of EU cyber defence capabilities;
Amendment 117 #
2020/2246(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Recalls the importance of supporting and strengthening cooperation among the EU institutions, the EPPO, OLAF, the EU agencies, in particular Europol and Eurojust, and national authorities, in order to detect and tackle fraud and corruption more effectively; reiterates its call to ensure adequate resources for the EPPO, OLAF and relevant EU agencies in this regard, especially in view of the increased workload arising from the adoption of the EU’s new long-term budget, NextGenerationEU and other cost-driven projects;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. WelcomNotes the Energy Lending Policy agreed by the EIB Board of Directors in November 2019 and in particular the decision to end financing for fossil fuel energy projects; notes however that gas infrastructure projects included in the 4th list of Projects of Common Interest and gas projects already under appraisal by 14 November 2019 are not excluded from EIB financing until the end of 2021; points to the Ombudsman Decision in case 1991/2019/KR, including the observation that the sustainability of gas on the PCI List wereas not properly assessed; expresses its concern that in 2019 the EIB provided EUR 604 million euro of financing to oil and natural gas transmission and distribution; stresses that these projects are at risk of contributing to a lock-in of carbon intensive infrastructure and stranded assets; calls on the EIB to assess and address these risks;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Energy Lending Policy agreedRejects the decision taken by the EIB Board of Directors in November 2019 and in particular the decision to end financing for fossil fuel energy projects; notes however that gas infrastructure projects included in the 4th list of Projects of Common Interest and gas projects already under appraisal by 14 November 2019 are not excluded from EIB financing until the end of 2021; points to the Ombudsman Decision in case 1991/2019/KR including the observation that the sustainability of gas on the PCI List were not properly assessed; expresses its concern that in 2019 the EIB provided 604 million euro of financing to oil and natural gas transmission and distribution; stresses that these projects are at risk of contributing to a lock-in of carbon intensive infrastructure and stranded assets; calls on the EIB to to end financing for nuclear power projects; points out that nuclear power is a green source of energy and that its place in the green transition is indispensable; points out that public spending on civilian nuclear power will make the EU less dependent on natural gas for its energy supply; points out that the fact that the EU imports natural gas from third countries has sess and address these riskcurity policy implications;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2245(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for all EU funding of the Nord Stream II gas project to be stopped immediately;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2149(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the need to fight foreign propaganda and to expose disinformation and malicious foreign influence; underlines the importance of the EEAS Strategic Communication Task Force and calls for the broadening of its mandate, including in relation to state sponsored disinformation originating in China and the Middle East, particularly Iran, and providing it with further necessary financial and human resources;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2149(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Stresses the need to communicate strategically, to fight malicious interference, including foreign disinformation, espionage, and propaganda; underlines the importance of the EEAS Strategic Communication Task Force, and calls for the creation of dedicated Strategic Communication Task Forces on interference emanating from China and the Middle East, in particular from Iran, and providing them with further necessary financial and human resources;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Notes the severely limited possibility for Members to take parental leave; calls for the introduction of measures to facilitate the possibility for substitutes to replace Members - women and men alike - while on parental leave;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Welcomes the idea that Parliament is committed to undertaking the necessary adaptation and renovation of its buildings in order to create an environment accessible to all users in line with Union standards and national legal frameworks; stresses that works to improve the accessibility for persons with disabilities and those with reduced mobility has already started in Strasbourg and that the projects will continue in both Brussels and Strasbourg, but also in six European Parliament liaison offices; askinsists that such renovations be continued in all other buildings of Parliament by committing to the functional accessibility requirements for the built environment laid down in Annex III to the Directive (EU) 2019/8829 , and by referring to relevant international and European standards to fulfil those requirements in procurement procedures so Members, staff and visitors with disabilities and those with reduced mobility can access the buildings and make use of its facilities on an equal basis with others in line with the obligations set by the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; underlines that funds should efficiently cover these measures/expenses; _________________ 9Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70.)
Amendment 205 #
2020/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 98 a (new)
Paragraph 98 a (new)
98 a. Notes the environmental impact of Parliament's recurrent relocation to Strasbourg;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the new corporate Anti- Fraud Strategy, adopted by the Commission in April 2019, on OLAF’s initiative, with the objective of enhancing the Commission’s knowledge about fraud and its analytical capability to steer anti- fraud action, to ensure cooperation among departments and executive agencies in fighting fraud, and to strengthen the corporate oversight of the fight against fraud; and notes at the same time that the increasing use of financial mechanisms to deliver Union policies in third countries alongside the Union budget risks undermining the accountability and transparency of Union action and spending; insists that the Commission ensures that the delivery of external aid is subject to the rule of law and respect for human rights in recipient countries; stresses, in particular, the need to guarantee that no Union funds are allocated or linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation;
Amendment 277 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84
Paragraph 84
84. Finds it worrydeeply concerning that on basis of the 236 transactions examined, 29 errors had not been detected by audit authorities and 64 errors had previously been found by audit authorities and corrections applied by programme authorities (amounting to a total of EUR 334 million for both programming periods taken together), the Court estimates the level of error to be 4,4 %;
Amendment 494 #
2020/2140(DEC)
b. in its latest AMPR, the Commission considers it an achievement that 79 % of the Union’s total agricultural area was subject to at least one greening obligation in 2018. However, the Court found substantial evidence12 that greening had had little measurable effect on farming practices and the environment. It had led to changes in farming practices on around 5 % of all Union farmland and tended to minimise disturbance to established farming practices. Greening remained essentially an income-support scheme; _________________ 12 Special report No 21/2017 – Greening.
Amendment 638 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 156 a (new)
Paragraph 156 a (new)
156 a. Is concerned about the hate speech and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks and used in schools by UNRWA; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; requests that all school material, which is not in compliance with these standards will be removed immediately and requests UNRWA to put in place a coherent control system to review and modify curriculums; underlines that one way of ensuring transparency and conformity of school materials is to publish in an open- source platform all its educational materials for teachers, pupils and students as well as its reviews of host country textbooks to allow review by third parties;
Amendment 641 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 156 a (new)
Paragraph 156 a (new)
156 a. Is concerned about the effectiveness of UNRWA's mechanisms of adherence to UN values in educational materials used and taught by UNRWA staff in its schools, which contain hate speech and incitement to violence. Insists that UNRWA acts in full transparency and publishes in an open-source platform all its educational materials for teachers and students, as well as its reviews of host country textbooks used to ensure that content adheres to UN values and does not encourage hatred. Insists that EU funded educational material must reflect standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence, as was decided upon by Union education ministers in Paris on 17 March 2015.
Amendment 653 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 157
Paragraph 157
157. Regrets that the Union is still practicing budget support to third Countries which is regulated by legal provisions of a broad scope creating a risk of loose interpretation by the Commission regarding the meeting of general conditions; that the Court ‘cannot cover what happens beyond the moment the Commission pays aid to the recipient country, since these funds then merge with that country’s own budget resources’22 ; notes that this risks undermining the level of accountability and transparency of Union action and spending; insists that the Commission ensures that the delivery of external aid is subject to the rule of law and respect for human rights in recipients countries; stresses, in particular, the need to guarantee that no Union funds, by the recipient country and third parties and/or natural persons, are allocated or linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; _________________ 22 P.211
Amendment 666 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163 – indent 6 a (new)
Paragraph 163 – indent 6 a (new)
- thoroughly verify the use of Union funds by third entities, their affiliates, and/or natural persons to ensure that no funds are allocated or linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; and to ensure that these Union funds are proactively recovered, and recipients involved are excluded from future Union funding.
Amendment 694 #
2020/2140(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 170 – indent 5 a (new)
Paragraph 170 – indent 5 a (new)
- thoroughly verify the use of Union funds by third entities, their affiliates and/or natural persons to ensure that no funds are allocated or linked to any cause or form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; and to ensure that these Union funds are proactively recovered, and recipients involved are excluded from future Union funding.
Amendment 229 #
2020/2116(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that the EU must take a leading role in supporting policy and normative developments in relation to the rights of migrants in multilateral fora; calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide financial and political support for the relevant international and regional bodies, including NGOs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNRWA, as well the OHCHR and the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the increasing positions of strength by illiberal third countries in multilateral fora and international organisations, such as the UN, notably in the UN Human Rights Council, including through a strong presence as regards the management and decision-making processes of relevant international organisations and multilateral fora, can lead to asymmetric and less effective, if not biased, policy responses, absent the level playing field for all members of the international community, and to a much weaker commitment by the international community to the defence of universal values and universal rights; whereas individual agendas, unilateral actions and a lack of engagement and support for multilateral solutions can further undermine multilateralism as an essential organising principle to tackle transnational challenges; whereas, in this context, it is essential to reaffirm the value of rules- based governance, international cooperation, a commitment to fundamental rights and a true level playing field for all members of the international community; whereas relevant international organisations and multilateral fora will be key to achieving these objectives; whereas these objectives will not only allow a more effective positive policy impact on global challenges, but will also curb and prevent the risk of conflict;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Praises the ability of the EU and its Member States to work in a coherent and synergic fashion and to present unified positions in the UN system, with particular regard to the UN General Assembly, UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council; praises, in this regard, the valuable coordination efforts by the EU delegations to the UN in New York and Geneva; believes that this unified, synergic approach should be replicated for every UN body, agency or other international organisation, so that the EU can act and deliver as one across the board in multilateral fora; laments that the Security Council is not as reactive to crises like the ones in Syria, Ethiopia and Sudan as it has been to other crises in the past and that this has had a negative impact on preventing, managing and resolving these crises due to the extensive veto right; emphasises that it is indefensible that one state can stop efforts when genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes are committed; points to the fact that in 2022, only two EU Member States will be on the Security Council; considers that the EU should promote reflecting on the terms of a reform of the Security Council that can restore its ability to address crises in a timely and effective manner, thoroughly limit the right to veto and change the composition of the Security Council to reflect today’s world better; reiterates its view, in this regard, that the EU and its Member States should find a broad consensus on reforming the Security Council, inter alia, through the provision of a permanent seat for the EU, in addition to the already existing seats held by EU Member States;
Amendment 196 #
2020/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Rejects the anti-Israel bias in the Human Rights Council that has led to more than 100 resolutions against the democratic state of Israel, whilst only a few resolutions on dictatorships like Iran and China;
Amendment 197 #
2020/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Welcomes the statement of the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, on the Commission’s firm commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and engaging with the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA to promote quality education for Palestinian children and ensure full adherence to UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, co- existence, and non-violence in Palestinian textbooks; insists that the UN requires quid pro quo to further finance UNRWA; insists the Commission must guarantee that EU-funds are not allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation;
Amendment 247 #
2020/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the need for further multilateral action in economic governance, especially in regards to taxation; celebranotes the direction set up by the G20 in their latest proposal for establishing a minimum corporate tax rate of 15 %; encourages the international community to further integration in this area in order to avoid disloyal practices and abuses; calls for the enlargement of international standards and norms in this policy area; recalls the key importance of the World Trade Organization in regulating and facilitating world trade;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the influence and role of different EU Member States in the region is very unequal, with strategies and agreements in the field of stability and security sometimes differing or promoting conflicting priorities; whereas all EU Member States share the common objective of security and stability, as well as promoting human rights and democracy;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the summit of 27 to 28 March 2022 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Morocco aiming to create a security alliance, which was also attended by the US Secretary of State, paved the way for a new regional approach to security and confirmed the countries’ intention to divide the region into blocksimprove regional security and the commitment to further expand economic and diplomatic cooperation;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 65 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas countries in the region are key trading partners for the EU and there are important economic ties between the two sides; whereas the ongoing global energy crisis has led to increased contact with Qatar and other countrnew, promising trade agreements are currently being negotiated, signed and ratifiesd in the region on the import of energy resources into the EU; whereas there is potential for stronger cooperation in other areas such as the green transition, better governance and human rightsMiddle East region, for instance the historic free trade deal between the UAE and Israel, ratified in June 2022;
Amendment 69 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas increased contact with the partners in the region is needed against the backdrop of the ongoing global energy crisis and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas there is potential for stronger cooperation in other areas such as the green transition, better governance and human rights;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas problems associated with governance ands well as breaches of the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region are aworrying and are significant sources of instability; whereas the imprisonment or torture of political opposition figures and social activists across the region is paving the way for further conflict;
Amendment 90 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the EU Human Rights guidelines, including EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality should be at the core of its strategy for the region; whereas women’s human rights are being systematically violated and women’s rights activists continue to be detained and imprisoned in the region;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas anti-Semitism is still a major problem in the Middle East region, that needs to be more seriously addressed; whereas there are high levels of persecution, coercion, discrimination, harassment, violence and repression against Christians in the region;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the current situation in the broader Middle East region is characterised by ongoing conflicts with a regional dimensiona crippling proxy conflict; stresses that the presence of foreign forces such as Iranian proxies in these conflicts is contributing to maintaining them and to further regional instability; notes that as well as ongoing conflicts, there are latent ones which the EU must take into consideration when defining its long-term strategy to tackle the underlying causes of instability in the region;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the EU has its own interests in the region, as EU security is interdependent with security in the Middle East; highlights that EU funding instruments directed at the region should make an important contribution to stability and prosperity;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the region is becoming increasingly polarised into blocks; considcalls on the EU to enhance its partners thips counterproductive for the EU’s goals in the area of stability and security; calls on the EU to enhance its bilateral discussions with all the different stakeholderswith all those stakeholders that are seriously committed towards bringing peace and stability in the region;
Amendment 158 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that any form of cooperation must be based on a human security approach as defined by the UN General Assembly resolution entitled ‘Follow-up to paragraph 143 on human security of the 2005 World Summit Outcome’well as respect for international law, rule-based world order and the shared objectives of promoting human rights and democracy;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the countries in the region to refrain from exporting arms or combatants or intervening militarily in other countries in conflict, as such interventions are some of the main causes of regional destabilisation; firmly opposes the use of drones in extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings of terror suspects and demands a ban on the use of drones for this purpose;
Amendment 192 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Expresses deep concern about a potential nuclear race in the region and calls on the EU to activate all diplomatic efforts to avoid it; calls on Israel to ratify the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weaponsn to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); deplores that Iran is halting the JCPOA negotiations due to its requirement for the USA to abolish the sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) which is considered a terrorist group in the US;
Amendment 207 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. WelcomesAcknowledges that the negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as aCPOA are necessary steps towards achieving regional stability; calls on the US and Irandeplores that Iran is not attempting to pursue meaningful negotiations with a view to returning to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action by removing IAEA cameras from its nuclear sites;
Amendment 216 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the need to diversify the EU’s sources of energy due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and calls for an assessment of the security implications of any agreement to import oil, gas or hydrogen into the EU;
Amendment 229 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the EEAS to create a StratCom Task Force on interference emanating from the Middle East, in particular from Iran to analyse, assess, and prevent the threats from Iran and its proxies in the region and on the European continent;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Applauds the historical Abraham Accords and calls on the VP/HR and the Commission to support the normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab States and recognise that the implementation and extension of the Abraham Accords is a key component to peace and stability in the region; commends the role that the United States has played in facilitating the Abraham Accords and calls on the VP/HR to become involved in this process and support the positive developments;
Amendment 239 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Regrets that people-to-people contacts are being hindered by education material containing hate speech, antisemitism and incitement to violence in Palestinian schools, sponsored by the UNRWA; reiterates its position that all school material supported by the Union funds must be in line with the UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; urges the Palestinian Authority to immediately remove all school material which is not in compliance with the UNESCO standards and ensure full transparency and work in good faith with the aim to move forward in reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; insists that the Commission must guarantee that no Union funds are allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; therefore, reiterates its call for conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector;
Amendment 245 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 264 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the EU to promote tolerance and freedom of religion in the region;
Amendment 216 #
2020/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that China violates the law of the sea in the South China Sea, and therefore lacks credibility when claiming that it wants to protect international law in the Arctic; highlights that China's interest in Arctic research, investments in infrastructure, and investments in new icebreakers are reminiscent of how the country operates in other parts of the world;
Amendment 229 #
2020/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Insists that it is crucial that the right of innocent passage of foreign ships through territorial seas be preserved and regretcondemns all efforts made by the Russian Federation aimed at closing its navigable Arctic routes;
Amendment 396 #
2020/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls for the aims of the new Arctic Strategy to be reflected in the EU’s programmes, projects, finances and relevant legislation, as well as in the work of the relevant EU agencies; asks for increased visibility of, and communication concerning EU projects covering Arctic matters;
Amendment 223 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the strengthening of the People’s Republic of China’s worldwide diplomatic efforts following the COVID- 19 outbreak, seeking to position itself as the dominant global player; condemns the repeated attacks by Chinese representatives on democratically elected politicians in the EU, such as the Czech Senate President and Sweden’s Minister for Culture;
Amendment 238 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the emergency contributions provided by China, and praises the aid provided by the Taiwanese authorities, to fight the virus; also recognises, however, a clear geopolitical and geo-economic dimension, bolstered by ‘virus and wolf warrior diplomacy’ and the politicisation of humanitarian assistance, which is demonstrated by China’s isolation of Taiwan in WHO;
Amendment 283 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Condemns that the Chinese regime used the momentum of the pandemic outbreak to impose the national security law in Hong Kong, and to quell the pro- democracy protests;
Amendment 284 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Considers China’s secrecy and misinformation regarding the pandemic outbreak yet another reason why the world can no longer accept the isolation of Tibet; stresses the need for free access to Tibet, including for diplomats, journalists, tourists and Tibetans themselves;
Amendment 426 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the important role of the armed forces during the COVID-19 pandemic and believes that a more in-depth joint operation and coordination of member states’ armed forces within existing frameworks - such as the European Medical Command - or within new frameworks - such as military hospital trains - could lead to greater efficiency and contribute to the EU’s preparedness to fight pandemics; recognises the need to review the EU’s security and defence strategies to develop strategic autonomy, to become better prepared and more resilient to the new and hybrid threats and technologies that have made the nature of warfare less conventional and challenge the traditional role of the military, as well as for a future in which Russia and China are becoming more assertive; stresses that the future Strategic Compass on security and defence should reflect these developments and take account of the broader geopolitical implications of COVID-19; believes that, given the new political balance and a potential worsening of the international security environment following COVID-19, the EU defence budgets in general, and the military mobility budget in particular, must not be cut;
Amendment 448 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the expansion and modernisation of EU communication strategies so that EU action is sufficiently visible both within and beyond the EU; urges the European External Action Service (EEAS) to further strengthen its capacities to counter disinformation, hybrid warfare, propaganda and espionage including the creation of a dedicated far- East StratCom Task Forces focused on the disinformation emanating from a) China and b) the Middle East, particularly Iran, and imposing costs on countries that deliberately spread disinformation to divide and harm the EU and its Member States, as well as partners and neighbours covered by ENP; points out that not only Russia and China, but also Iran conducts extensive intelligence operations in Europe;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Amendment 246 #
2020/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) insist that the upcoming constitutional reform is a crucial opportunity to introduce genuine changes which would address the weaknessdemocratic changes of the current political system and to enable the Belarusian people to participate more activelin a fully democratic way in political life;
Amendment 257 #
2020/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) to instruct the European External Action Service (EEAS) to prepare restrictive measures against persons who - directly or indirectly - contribute towards repressive action against the population before or during the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus;
Amendment 295 #
2020/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) condemn the discrimination across Belarus; stress that the Republic of Belarus ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in accordance with which national legislation must guarantee all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any grounds: race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other beliefs, national or social origin, property status, and birth or other circumstances; express concern that awareness and knowledge about the Covenant among government officials, judges, prosecutors, and lawyers remains limited; call on the Belarusian government to improve the education system and spread information in the media aimed at creating a tolerant attitude towards vulnerable groups;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 74 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas PESCO creates a binding framework between the pMS, which committed themselves to jointly investing, planning, developing and operating defence capabilities within Union framework in a permanent and structured manner by subscribing to 20 binding commitments in five areas set by the TEU; whereas these commitments should constitute a move from mere defence cooperation towards the integration of Member States’ defence forces; whereas despite these binding commitments, no effective compliance mechanism for PESCO is in place;
Amendment 140 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas interactions between Member States’ national priorities, EU priorities and NATO priorities should be synchronised at the earliest possible convenience; whereas PESCO can be an effective tool in order to achieve EU and NATO targets simultaneously;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Z
Recital Z
Amendment 211 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) encourage the pMS to switch from a strictly national focus on defence to a European one and to undertake structured efforts to increase the use of European collaborative approach as a priority, as no individual pMS alone has the potential to address identified capacity shortfalls;
Amendment 322 #
2020/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) establish an EU Council on Defence based on the existing EDA ministerial Steering Board and the PESCO format of EU Defence Ministers, in order to guarantee the prioritisation of resources, and the effective cooperation and integration among the Member States;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the need to create such trust funds is partly a consequence of the EU budget being structurally underfinanced and lacking possibilities to finance unexpected needs;
Amendment 19 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Insists on the need to ensure that the objectives of the FRT are consistent with the EU’s general principles, policies and objectives, including democracy, the rule of law and human rights; underlines the need to ensure that these objectives are met;
Amendment 39 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the need to make sure strict monitoring exercises and audits are carried out to ensure compliance with the Financial Regulation; invites the Commission to scale up reporting on the FRT and asks it to ensure that these funds reach the right beneficiaries, specifically targeting refugee projects, and are not used for any other purposes;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to implement a strategy for the transition from humanitarian to developmentassess the current orientation of the humanitarian assistance provided and to improve the efficiency of cash assistance projects;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Commission to convey the need for the working environment for international NGOs to be improved to the Turkish authorities;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls on the Commission to take action against all attempts by Turkey to use the facility as leverage against the EU.
Amendment 192 #
2020/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reiterates its request that Turkey respect the principle of non-refoulement, in particular on the Syrian border, and that it notdemands it to never use the flows of refugees against the EU; in this regard, calls on the Commission to take action against all attempts by Turkey to use the facility as leverage against the EU;
Amendment 203 #
2020/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Calls on the Commission to call upon the Turkish authorities to improve the working environment for international NGOs;
Amendment 204 #
2020/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Stresses that the actions under each strand of the FRT will be more sustainable and efficient if they are part of an integrated approach; in this regard, points out that the EU must review its Turkey policies and develop an integrated approach, which should include the termination of accession negotiations with Turkey;
Amendment 122 #
2020/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the EU is among the first to bear the costs of all destructive policies employed against African nations, while other players, especially China and Russia, are focused only on their own benefits at the expense ofdestructive policies employed against African states inevitably have negative impacts on the EU too, and on our security, more particularly; stresses that actions by other players, especially China and Russia, jeopardise African sovereignty and European security;
Amendment 28 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights the importance of exploring and developing synergies between civilian and military AI research and applications, particularly from a total defence perspective;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Considers, while ethical and moral considerations must be examined while developing artificial intelligence, it is important to highlight and communicate the economic and societal benefits that could be generated by AI;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Endorses the key principle “ethics- by-design”, by which ethical principles are embedded into AI products and services from the outset of the design process;
Amendment 110 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Expresses concern about the risk of creating digital echo chambers in which people only receive information corresponding to their opinions; in this regard, expresses concern about the risk of increasing extremism and the fuelling of terrorism;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes there are no sanction mechanisms in place, should a Member State engage in exports that are clearly not compatible with the eight criteria;
Amendment 96 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1560 and the relevant conclusions of 16 September 2019 have the potential to ensure thatprovide EU citizens are furnished with better information about the strategic choices made by their governments in an area which directly affects their security and their countries’ adherence to values and norms;
Amendment 230 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WelcomNotes the decision to transform the annual report into an interactive and searchable online database and expects it to be up and running before publication of the export data for 2019; calls on the EEAS to inform Parliament about the precise date on which this database will go online; urges COARM to choose a solution that enables data to be exported in a safe and structured format;
Amendment 277 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that effective end-use controls are crucial for a responsible export policy and for lowering the risk of diversion in particular; calls on the Council, the Member States, the EEAS and the Commission to set up a large-scale training and capacity-building programme for national and EU officials on arms export controls; stresses the need to use EUprovide sufficient funding to ensure that sufficient staff resources are available at national and EU levels and at delegations and embassies in importing countries for the purposes of implementing viable end- use controls; calls on the EEAS and COARM to report on iTrace any identified diversion of EU- origin goods as part of the annual report;
Amendment 303 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that regular consultations with national parliaments, arms export control authorities, industry associations and civil society are central to meaningful transparency; calls on COARM to enhance dialogue with civil society and consultations with Parliament and arms export control authorities; encourages civil society and academia to exercise independent scrutiny of the arms tradeexports of defence technology and equipment and calls on the Member States and the EEAS to support such activities, including by financial means;
Amendment 7 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Declaration of the European Council and the heads of the member states of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) made at the summit of 28 April 2020,
Amendment 57 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean in the east, Africa is struggling to contend with challenges, such as historical underdevelopment compounded by the destruction of the traditional agro- pastoral economy as a result of climate change, population growth and deforestation; whereas another major challenge is the emergence of new forms of mafia economy, including human and drug trafficking and the uncontrolled export of gold deposits, which, combined with the abandonment, inefficiency and corruption of the administration, is producing a hybridisation between terrorist groups, traffickers and traditional community and regional conflicts, with the unacceptable phenomenon of jihadist religious extremism appearing as a false response forin the societies concerned;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the EU and G5 Sahel leaders express their deep concern about the increase in terrorism and the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel region; whereas terrorism is putting heightened pressure on the G5 Sahel countries and their neighbourhood; whereas terrorism is exacerbating local political, ethnical and religious tensions, and is fuelled by criminal and fundamentalist groupings, socio- economic grievances, weak governance, and, in some cases, of security and defence forces;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas terrorist and criminal attacks tend to target civilian populations, state representatives, security and defence forces, and socio-economic infrastructure, and thereby undermine social and community cohesion and integration;
Amendment 168 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1 Believes, in light of the upcoming EU-Africa summit in October 2020, that the EU and Africa must place human rights at the core of all their relations and related policies;
Amendment 169 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a Believes that the formulation and implementation of security and counter- terrorism policies must be permeated by a genuine respect for and adherence to universal human rights, freedoms and liberties; considers that the objective should be to reach a balance between human security and traditional security concerns, acknowledging that the former cannot be sacrificed on behalf of the latter;
Amendment 188 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the European Union’s development and security missions and programmes should be coordinated by the VP/HR under the authority of the Council in accordance with Article 43(2) of the TEU and that a centralisedpool of doctrine centreexperts should be establishedconsidered to covering the Military Planning and Conduct Capability and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability training missions, and projects supporting or reforming the security sector;
Amendment 213 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 387 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. StatBelieves that there can be noa truly efficient security strategy withoutrequires joint development action;
Amendment 406 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a
Paragraph 25 – point a
a) consolidating democracy by ensuring a real parliamentary system, guaranteeing all civil society libertiesfreedoms, rights and liberties, as well as an independent judiciary;
Amendment 440 #
Amendment 479 #
2020/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recommends that the EU, together with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, intervenes on aprovides financial aid and financial levelexpertise to help control debt and the payment of interest;
Amendment 129 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Responsible and diligent behaviour by providers of intermediary services is essential for a safe, predictable and trusted online environment and for allowing Union citizens and other persons to exercise their fundamental rights guaranteed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘Charter’), in particular the freedom of expression and information and the freedom to conduct a business, and the right to non-discrimination. Children have specific rights enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UNCRC General comment No. 25 on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment formally sets out how these rights apply to the digital world.
Amendment 187 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Responsible and diligent behaviour by providers of intermediary services is essential for a safe, predictable and trusted online environment and for allowing Union citizens and other persons to exercise their fundamental rights guaranteed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘Charter’), in particular the freedom of expression and information and the freedom to conduct a business, and the right to non-discrimination. Children have specific rights enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. As such, the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration in all matters affecting them. The UNCRC General comment No. 25 on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment formally sets out how these rights apply to the digital world.
Amendment 345 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) In order to achieve the objectives of this Regulation, and in particular to improve the functioning of the internal market and ensure a safe and transparent online environment, it is necessary to establish a clear and balanced set of harmonised due diligence obligations for providers of intermediary services. Those obligations should aim in particular to guarantee different public policy objectives such as health – including mental health, the safety and trust of the recipients of the service, including minors and vulnerable users, protect the relevant fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter, to ensure meaningful accountability of those providers and to empower recipients and other affected parties, whilst facilitating the necessary oversight by competent authorities.
Amendment 412 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12 a Child impact assesment 1. All providers must assess whether their services are accessed by, likely to be accessed by or impact on children, defined as persons under the age of 18. Providers of services likely to be accessed by or impact on children shall identify, analyse and assess, during the design and development of new services and at least once a year thereafter, any systemic risks stemming from the functioning and use made of their services in the Union by children. These risk impact assessments shall be specific to their services, meet the highest European or International standards detailed in Article 34, and shall consider all known content, contact, conduct or commercial risks included in the contract. Assessments should also include the following systemic risks: a. the dissemination of illegal content or behaviour enabled, manifested on or as a result of their services; b. any negative effects for the exercise of the rights of the child, as enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and detailed in the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child General comment No. 25 as regards the digital environment; c. any intended or unintended consequences resulting from the operation or intentional manipulation of their service, including by means of inauthentic use or automated exploitation of the service, with an actual or foreseeable negative effect on the protection or rights of children; 2. When conducting child impact assessments, providers of intermediary services likely to impact children shall take into account, in particular, how their terms and conditions, content moderation systems, recommender systems and systems for selecting and displaying advertisement influence any of the systemic risks referred to in paragraph 1, including the potentially rapid and wide dissemination of illegal content and of information that is incompatible with their terms and conditions or with the rights of the child.
Amendment 414 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12 b Mitigation of risks to children Providers of intermediary services likely to impact children shall put in place reasonable, proportionate and effective mitigation measures, tailored to the specific systemic risks identified pursuant to Article 13 (12 a new). Such measures shall include, where applicable: a. implementing mitigation measures identified in Article 27 with regard for children’s best interests; b. adapting or removing system design features that expose children to content, contact, conduct and contract risks, as identified in the process of conducting child impact assessments; c. implementing proportionate and privacy preserving age assurance, meeting the standard outlined in Article 34; d. adapting content moderation or recommender systems, their decision- making processes, the features or functioning of their services, or their terms and conditions to ensure they prioritise the best interests of the child; e. ensuring the highest levels of privacy, safety, and security by design and default for users under the age of 18; f. preventing profiling, including for commercial purposes like targeted advertising; g. ensuring published terms are age appropriate and uphold children’s rights; h. providing child-friendly mechanisms for remedy and redress, including easy access to expert advice and support;
Amendment 422 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the number of complaints received through the internal complaint-handling system referred to in Article 17, the age of complainants (if minors), the basis for those complaints, decisions taken in respect of those complaints, the average time needed for taking those decisions and the number of instances where those decisions were reversed.
Amendment 427 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Providers of intermediary services that impact on children shall publish, at least once a year: a. child impact assessments to identify known harms, unintended consequences and emerging risk, pursuant to Article 13 (Art. 12 a new).The child impact assessments must comply with the standards outlined in Article 34; b. clear, easily comprehensible and detailed reports outlining the child risk mitigation measures undertaken pursuant to Article 14, their efficacy and any outstanding actions required. These reports must comply with the standards outlined in Article 34, including as regards age assurance and age verification, in line with a child-centred design. The content of these reports must be verifiable by independent audit; data sets and source code must be made available at the request of the regulator.
Amendment 666 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) ‘child’ means any natural person under the age of 18;
Amendment 772 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 34 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. 2 (new).The Commission shall support and promote the development and implementation of industry standards set by relevant European and international standardisation bodies for the protection and promotion of the rights of the child, observance of which, once adopted, will be mandatory, at least for the following: a. age assurance and age verification pursuant to Articles 12 a (new) and 12 b (new) and 13; b. child impact assessments pursuant to Articles 12 a (new) and 13; c. age-appropriate terms and conditions pursuant to Article 12; d. child-centred design pursuant to Articles 12 b (new) and 13.
Amendment 937 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Providers of intermediary services shall ensure their terms and conditions are age-appropriate and meet the highest European or International standards, pursuant to Article 34.
Amendment 968 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12 a (new)
Article 12a Child impact assessment 1. All providers must assess whether their services are accessed by, likely to be accessed by or impact on children. Providers of services likely to be accessed by or impact on children shall identify, analyse and assess, during the design and development of new services, on an ongoing basis and at least once a year thereafter, any systemic risks stemming from the functioning and use made of their services in the Union by children. These risk impact assessments shall be specific to their services, meet the highest European or International standards detailed in Article 34, and shall consider all known content, contact, conduct or commercial risks included in the contract. Assessments should also include the following systemic risks: (a) the dissemination of illegal content or behaviour enabled, manifested on or as a result of their services; (b) any negative effects for the exercise of the rights of the child, as enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and detailed in the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child General comment No.25 as regards the digital environment; (c) any intended or unintended consequences resulting from the operation or intentional manipulation of their service, including by means of inauthentic use or automated exploitation of the service, with an actual or foreseeable negative effect on the protection or rights of children; 2. When conducting child impact assessments, providers of intermediary services likely to impact children shall take into account, in particular, how their terms and conditions, content moderation systems, recommender systems and systems for selecting and displaying advertisement influence any of the systemic risks referred to in paragraph 1, including the potentially rapid and wide dissemination of illegal content and of information that is incompatible with their terms and conditions or with the rights of the child.
Amendment 973 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12 b (new)
Article 12b Mitigation of risks to children Providers of intermediary services likely to impact children shall put in place reasonable, proportionate and effective mitigation measures, tailored to the specific systemic risks identified pursuant to Article 13 (12 a new). Such measures shall include, where applicable: (a) implementing mitigation measures identified in Article 27 with regard for children’s best interests; (b) adapting or removing system design features that expose children to content, contact, conduct and contract risks, as identified in the process of conducting child impact assessments; (c) implementing proportionate and privacy preserving age assurance, meeting the standard outlined in Article 34; (d) adapting content moderation or recommender systems, their decision- making processes, the features or functioning of their services, or their terms and conditions to ensure they prioritise the best interests of the child; (e) ensuring the highest levels of privacy, safety, and security by design and default for users under the age of 18; (f) preventing profiling, including for commercial purposes like targeted advertising; (g) ensuring published terms are age appropriate and uphold children’s rights; (h) providing child-friendly mechanisms for remedy and redress, including easy access to expert advice and support;
Amendment 992 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the number of complaints received through the internal complaint-handling system referred to in Article 17, the age of complainants (if children), the basis for those complaints, decisions taken in respect of those complaints, the average time needed for taking those decisions and the number of instances where those decisions were reversed.
Amendment 997 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Providers of intermediary services that impact on children shall publish, at least once a year: (a) child impact assessments to identify known harms, unintended consequences and emerging risk. The child impact assessments must comply with the standards outlined in Article 34; (b) clear, easily comprehensible and detailed reports outlining the child risk mitigation measures undertaken, their efficacy and any outstanding actions required. These reports must comply with the standards outlined in Article 34, including as regards age assurance and age verification, in line with a child- centred design.
Amendment 1178 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. Online platforms shall ensure that their internal complaint-handling and redress systems are easy to access, and user-friendly, including for children, and enable and facilitate the submission of sufficiently precise and adequately substantiated complaints.
Amendment 1509 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
2. The profiling of children for commercial purposes, including targeted or pernolised advertising, is prohibited in compliance with the industry-standards laid down in Article 34 and Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
Amendment 1839 #
2020/0361(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 34 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall support and promote the development and implementation of industry standards set by relevant European and international standardisation bodies for the protection and promotion of the rights of the child, observance of which, once adopted, will be mandatory, at least for the following: (a) age assurance and age verification pursuant to Article 13; (b) child impact assessments pursuant to Article 13; (c) age-appropriate terms and conditions pursuant to Article 12; (d) child-centred design pursuant to Article 13.
Amendment 81 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
–
–
— The European Parliament rejects [the Commission proposal].
Amendment 90 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Title 1
Title 1
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on a framework for adequate minimum wages in the European Union
Amendment 239 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) This Directive should apply to workers who have an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by the law, collective agreements or practice in force in each Member State, with consideration to the criteria established by the Court of Justice of the European Union for determining the status of a worker. Provided that they fulfil those criteria, domestic workers, on-demand workers, intermittent workers, voucher based-workers, bogus self-employed, platform workers, trainees and apprentices could fall within the scope of this Directive. Genuinely self-employed persons do not fall within the scope of this Directive since they do not fulfil those criteria. The abuse of the status of self- employed persons, as defined in national law, either at national level or in cross- border situations, is a form of falsely declared work that is frequently associated with undeclared work. Bogus self- employment occurs when a person is declared to be self-employed while fulfilling the conditions characteristic of an employment relationship, in order to avoid certain legal or fiscal obligations. Such persons should fall within the scope of this Directive. The determination of the existence of an employment relationship should be guided by the facts relating to the actual performance of the work and not by the parties' description of the relationship.
Amendment 270 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In a context of declining collective bargaining coverage, it is essential that the Member States promote collective bargaining to enhance workers’ access to minimum wage protection provided by collective agreements. This applies in particular to Member States with a low collective bargaining coverage. Member States with a high collective bargaining coverage tend to have a low share of low- wage workers and high minimum wages. Member States with a small share of low wage earners have a collective bargaining coverage rate above 70%. Similarly, the majority of the Member States with high levels of minimum wages relative to the median wage have a collective bargaining coverage above 70%. While all Member States should be encouraged to promote collective bargaining, those who do not reach this level of coverage should, in consultation and/or agreement with the social partners, provide for or, where it already exists, strengthen a framework of facilitative procedures and institutional arrangements enabling the conditions for collective bargaining. Such framework shouldmay be established by law or by tripartite agreement..
Amendment 312 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Minimum wages are considered adequate if they are fair in relation to the wage distribution in the country and if they provide a decent standard of living. The adequacy of statutory minimum wages is determined in view of the national socio- economic conditions, including employment growth, competitiveness as well as regional and sectoral developments. Their adequacy should be assessed at least in relation to their purchasing power, to the productivity developments and to their relation to the gross wage levels, distribution and growth. The use of indicators commonly used at international level, such as 60% of the gross median wage and 50% of the gross average wage,in each Member State and that are in accordance with their national laws and practices can help guide the assessment of minimum wage adequacy in relation to the gross level of wages.
Amendment 375 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29 a) The general level of protection afforded to workers in Denmark and Sweden is significantly higher than that provided for in this Directive. Average wage levels are among the highest in the Union and minimum wage protection is provided for effectively by collective bargaining models. It would therefore be wholly disproportionate to require Denmark and Sweden to transpose and implement this Directive.
Amendment 378 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) In implementing this Directive Member States should avoid imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints in a way which would hold back the creation and development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Member States are therefore invited to assess the impact of their transposition act on small and medium-sized enterprises in order to ensure that they are not disproportionatnegatively affected, giving specific attention to micro- enterprises and to the administrative burden, and to publish the results of such assessments. If found that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are disproportionatnegatively affected, Member States should consider introducing measures to support these enterprises to adjust their remuneration structures to the new requirementbe able to decide not to apply this Directive with regard to those enterprises.
Amendment 394 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. With a view to improving working and living conditions in the Union, this Directive establishes a framework for promoting:
Amendment 429 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Member States where there are no statuary minimum wages or systems for declaring collective agreements generally binding, where minimum wage protection is provided exclusively by collective bargaining between autonomous social partners, shall have the option not to apply this Directive, either totally or in part, provided that there is, in the view of the Member State, sufficient support for this among representative social partners at national level.
Amendment 438 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
This Directive applies to workers in the Union who have an employment contract or employment relationship as defined by law, collective agreements or practice in force in each Member State, with consideration to the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Amendment 456 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘collective bargaining’ means all negotiations which take place in each Member State in accordance with their national law and practices between an employer, a group of employers or one or more employers’ organisations, on the one hand, and one or more workers’ organisations, on the other, for determining working conditions and terms of employment; and/or regulating relations between employers and workers; and/or regulating relations between employers or their organisations and a worker organisation or worker organisations;
Amendment 466 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘collective agreement’ means all agreements in each Member State in accordance with their national laws and practices in writing regarding working conditions and terms of employment concluded by the social partners as an outcome of collective bargaining;
Amendment 478 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 5
(5) ‘collective bargaining coverage’ means the share of workers at national levelin each Member State in accordance with their national laws and practices to whom a collective agreement applies;
Amendment 492 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. With the aim to increaseof promoting the collective bargaining coverage, Member States shall take, in consult, in accordance with national law and practice and in cooperation with the social partners, at leastundertake the following measures:
Amendment 536 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States where overall collective bargaining coverage is less than 70% of the workers defined within the meaning of Article 2 shallmay in addition provide for a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining, either by law after consultation of the social partners or by agreement with them, and shallmay establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining. The action plan shallmay then be made public and shall be notified to the European Commission.
Amendment 537 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States where collective bargaining coverage is less than 70% of the workers defined within the meaning of Article 2 shallmay in addition provide for a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining, either by law after consultation of the social partners or by agreement with them, and shallmay establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining. The action plan shallmay be made public and shall be notified to the European Commission.
Amendment 643 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the regular and timely updates of statutory minimum wages in order to preservomote their adequacy.
Amendment 700 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensurfacilitate that the social partners are involved in a timely and effective manner in statutory minimum wage setting and updating, including through participation in consultative bodies referred to in Article 5(5) and notably as concerns:
Amendment 704 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure thatable the social partners arto be involved in a timely and effective manner in statutory minimum wage setting and updating, including through participation in consultative bodies referred to in Article 5(5) and notably as concerns:
Amendment 732 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Member States shall, where appropriate, in cooperation with social partners, take the following measures to enhance the access of workers to statutory minimum wage protection as appropriate:
Amendment 864 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that,in accordance with their national laws and practices, and without prejudice to specific forms of redress and dispute resolution provided for, and where applicable, ensure that in collective agreements, workers, including those whose employment relationship has ended, have access to effective and impartial dispute resolution and a right to redress, including adequate compensation, in the case of infringements of their rights relating to statutory minimum wages or minimum wage protection provided by collective agreements.
Amendment 876 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall in accordance with their national laws and practices, and where applicable take the measures necessary to protect workers, including those who are workers’ representatives, from any adverse treatment by the employer and from any adverse consequences resulting from a complaint lodged with the employer or resulting from any proceedings initiated with the aim of enforcing compliance with the rights relating to statutory minimum wages or minimum wage protection provided by collective agreements.
Amendment 890 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Amendment 910 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
3. This Directive is without prejudice to any other rights conferred on workers by other legal acts of the Union.
Amendment 917 #
2020/0310(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
This Directive is addressed to the Member States except Denmark and Sweden.
Amendment 5 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 2
— having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, particularly to Articles 3, 15, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 2647 thereof,
Amendment 25 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 5
— having regard to the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD Committee) of 2 October 2015 on the initial report of the European Union, including those on the European Union institutions’ compliance with the Convention as public administration,
Amendment 28 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the General Comments of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as the authoritative guidance on the implementation of the UN CRPD,
Amendment 42 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 20 a (new)
- having regard to the exploratory opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee requested by the European Parliament on the situation of disabled women,
Amendment 47 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 21 a (new)
- having regard to the study of the European Parliament Policy Department C of 2016 on European Structural and Investent Funds and people with disabilities in the European Union,
Amendment 48 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 22
— having regard to the Annual Report 2018 of the European Ombudsman, and specifically her strategic inquiries into how the European Commission ensures that disabled people can access its websites (OI/6/2017/EA), how the European Commission treats disabled people under the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme for EU staff (OI/4/2016/EA), and the Decision in the joint inquiry in cases 1337/2017/EA and 1338/2017/EA on the accessibility for visually impaired candidates of selection procedures to recruit EU civil servants, organised by the European Personnel Selection Office,
Amendment 59 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Citation 28 a (new)
- having regard to the Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provision on the European Structural and Investments Funds, particularly to articles 4, 6 and 7 12
Amendment 74 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Recital A
A. whereas, as full citizens, all persons with disabilitiedisabled persons have equal rights in all fields of life and are entitled to inalienable dignity, equal treatment, independent living, autonomy and full participation in society;
Amendment 88 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Recital F a (new)
Amendment 93 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas article 19 of the UN CRPD states that "States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community";
Amendment 109 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas a considerable proportion of the four million people experiencing homelessness every year have disability, having been largely overlooked as a target group of the UNCRPD and the EU Disability Strategy;
Amendment 168 #
Amendment 177 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 4 a (new)
- reflecting the guidance and interpretation of the UNCRPD given by the General Comments of the UNCRPD Committee, including definitions of the key terms,
Amendment 180 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 5
- mainstreaming the rights of the children with disabilities into all areas, disabled elders, women and children into all areas; regarding children making sure that the educational institutions are fully inclusive and there will be measures against the Member States that fail to fully include them in their educational systems,
Amendment 196 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 5 a (new)
Amendment 200 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 5 b (new)
- recognising and addressing the multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination they may face, and in particular the challenges faced by women, girls, children, older and LGBTI disabled people, as well as persons from racial and ethnic minorities.
Amendment 202 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 5 c (new)
- setting new rules for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in order to protect the rights of the disabled passengers concerning the safety of the integrity of both their body and equipment when transferred, and the recognition of the need for extra seats in cases of a personal assistant or laying,
Amendment 203 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 5 c (new)
- regarding the accessibility of buildings, transportation and media;
Amendment 205 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 2 – indent 6 a (new)
- by creating mechanisms for the coordination of portability and adaptability of benefits and services for the disabled people between Member States inside the EU;
Amendment 235 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the post -2020 Strategy should be based on a cross-cutting, comprehensive review of all EU legislation and policy in order to ensure full harmonisation with the provisions of the UNCRPD; insists that it should include a revised declaration of competences including all policy areas in which the EU has legislated or adopted soft law measures that have an impact on persons with disabilitiesdisabled people;
Amendment 253 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to prepare the post-2020 Strategy with the close and systematic involvement of persons with disabilitiesdisabled people and of their representative organisations, and to ensure their accessible and meaningful participation in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the post-2020 Strategy also through funding their capacity-building;
Amendment 274 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need for continuous monitoring of the implementation of the UNCRPD; calls for the collection of robust, disaggregated, comparable data on the situation of persons with disabilities to facilitate proper monitoring of progress; urges the Commission to provide adequate resources to the EU CRPD Framework to enable it to perform its functions independently and adequately;For that purpose, calls for:
Amendment 282 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 6 – indent 1 (new)
- the collection of robust, disaggregated, comparable data on the situation of disabled people to facilitate proper monitoring of progress,
Amendment 285 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 6 – indent 3 (new)
- a flexible mechanism that can provide incentives for the optimal implementation of the CRPD. To that extent, commends initiatives like the Access City Awards and calls for relevant initiatives on the national level;
Amendment 300 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to systematically mainstream the rights of persons with disabilitiesdisabled people in all the relevant EU laws, policies and programmes;
Amendment 318 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to safeguard the UNCRPD-compliant use of EU funds and to ensure that EU funds, in a specific time period of five years, will not contribute to the construction or refurbishment of institutional care settings or any other kind of settings that could easily turn into an institution;
Amendment 327 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls on the Commission to examine the possibility of legislative and non-legislative proposals regarding the Independent Living strategy that reflects the European Way of Life for the disabled people, by mainstreaming best practices - concerning Independent Living and Personal Assistance, - regarding the assistance for starting a family, - in the field of employment, - in removing all barriers (physical, intellectual, psychological, financial), that prevent disabled people from accessing quality and affordable healthcare services, and provide information in accessible formats, especially for people with lifelong disabilities, - in familiarising disabled and non- disabled people with the social model of disability and combating all stereotypes, like in the area of sexuality, through the development of campaigns and cooperation with the creative industries;
Amendment 364 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive campaign in accessible format to raise awareness of the UN CRPD among the persons with disabilitiesdisabled people and the society in general, and promote, coordinate and create educational material that can be used by the national systems;
Amendment 371 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the EU Disability Strategy post-2020 includes the end of acts of gender-based violence, such as forced sterilisation and forced institutionalisation;
Amendment 387 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Member States to re- affirm their commitment to promoting, protecting and ensuring the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, including the right to free movement and residence, by all disabled people, and to promoting respect for their inherent dignity also by implementing the post-2020 Strategy and to allocate adequate human and financial resources to its implementation;
Amendment 395 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the post-2020 Strategy will specially promote guaranteed access to employment, trainings, inclusive education, to affordable quality healthcare services, to digital services, to sport activities for disabled people;
Amendment 424 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the European Commission and all Member States to ratify the Optional Protocol of the UNCRPD;
Amendment 429 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the term 'disabled people' rather than persons with disabilities and replace it in official documents and websites;
Amendment 446 #
2019/2975(RSP)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Member States to grant voting rights to every disabled person regardless of intelligence impairments or their ability capacity and facilitate them in the voting process;
Amendment 76 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the EU’s Eastern European Partners are still imperilled by unresolved regional conflicts, in which Russia's involvement must not be underestimated;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
j) engage further in State building and in strengthening institutions, such as the judiciary and civil and military security sectors, by making instruments similar to the Support Group for Ukraine available to the associated partners first and foremost; strong, independent and efficient institutions at a central and local level are key to democratic accountability, deoligarchisation, and the fight against corruption and State capture;
Amendment 366 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
r) address the EU’s qualified labour shortages inter alia by increasing labour mobility from the EaP countries and providing social guarantees;
Amendment 383 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
t) strengthen intra-EaP academic cooperation by launching an EaP university focuthe EaP’s work to combat inadequate governance and corruption by encouraging the countries’ universities to offer more courseds on good governance and public administration;
Amendment 395 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
u) ensure that all EU support programmes include a gender-equality dimension and target the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of societythe most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of society are addressed in all EU support programmes for the EaP countries;
Amendment 412 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
v) acknowledge the importance of security and stability for the future development of EaP members by boosting cooperation in security and defence and devoting particular attention to regional conflicts, in which Russia’s role must not be underestimated;
Amendment 434 #
2019/2209(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w
Paragraph 1 – point w
w) acknowledge the unique experience and expertise of EaP countries, in particular in connection with cyber defence, disinformation management and hybrid warfare; recognise the contribution of the associated partners to common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions; deepen cooperation in EU- related defence policies;
Amendment 24 #
2019/2206(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas children account for almost half of the asylum requests filed in the EU;
Amendment 97 #
2019/2206(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that relocation of children, in particular of unaccompanied children, should be accelerated and prioritised to ensure children have access to education, healthcare and appropriate accommodation; unaccompanied children should benefit of appropriate protection measures such as effective guardianship
Amendment 142 #
2019/2206(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the introduction, in accordance with international law, of fast- track Dublin procedures at the main points of irregular arrival in the EU, in European reception centres, in order to process asylum applications swiftly, assess their merits, determine the Member State responsible and, where appropriate, return asylum seekers without an unnecessarily prolonged detention period; Stresses that children shall not be detained for immigration purposes in line with the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrant of 19 September 2016 and calls on the EU Member States to work out alternatives to detention, such as community-based placements for children;
Amendment 160 #
2019/2206(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that the protection of fundamental rights must be at the heart of the measures taken to implement the Dublin III Regulation, including the protection of children, victims of trafficking and the most vulnerable; Calls on Member States to improve cross- border cooperation among law- enforcement authorities to prevent child trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, as well as to prevent the risk of absconding of children, ensuring a zero tolerance policy against missing children in migration;
Amendment 93 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the European Commission to develop a mechanismcontinue to monitor the concrete implementation of reforms, including clear benchmarks;
Amendment 119 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the progress achieved on the reform of public administration and public financial management, but encourages further steps to increase transparency and combat widespread corruption;
Amendment 130 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is concerned by the high level of concentration and politicisation of the media and advertising sectors, leading to a low level of public confidence in the media; regrets that journalists and media outlets often feel compelled to practice self-censorship; urges the Moldovan authorities to refrain from exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to adopt measures curtailing freedom of speech and limiting the media’s ability to report facts in an independent and unbiased way;
Amendment 201 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is concerned by the very high level of disapproval of the judiciary, and therefore calls on the Moldovan authorities to ensure that the Prosecutor General, his staff, and public prosecutors in general, work independently and abide by the highest standards of professionalism and integrity; in this regard, points out that a lack of resources and a lack of knowledge about good governance, the rule of law and human rights is permeating and adversely affecting the effective functioning of the Moldovan administration;
Amendment 218 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is concerned by the very high level of perceived corruption in Moldova, and therefore urges the Government to step up the fight against it, as well as money laundering, arms smuggling and organised crime such as human trafficking; calls on the Moldovan Government to adopt concrete measures to reinforce the independence and integrity of the National Anticorruption Centre’s Office and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office;
Amendment 241 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for further efforts to address discrimination across Moldova, and particularly the one affecting women, linguistic and sexual minorities and people with disabilities; stresses that LGBT persons are openly discriminated in society; calls upon civil society and all religious communities to help fostering a climate of tolerance;
Amendment 248 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the authorities to guarantee the right to a fair trial and the respect of human rights in detention facilities, as well aand correctional facilities; in this regard stresses the need to provide a safe environment for prisoners; additionally calls for measures to avoid selective and politically motivated justice;
Amendment 250 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Is deeply concerned about the human trafficking of women and girls run by both Moldovan and international criminal networks that trade women for prostitution abroad; calls for increased cooperation between the judicial authorities and the enforcement agencies of Moldova and the Member States, in order to reduce cross-border crime, particularly human trafficking and trafficking in illegal drugs;
Amendment 279 #
2019/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Praises the regulatory approximation with the EU acquis, and encourages the Commission to provide technical and financial help for this endeavour to the Moldovan institutions and public administration; stresses that such aid should be used to increase knowledge of human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 35 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that Georgian citizens have made 900 000 visa-free visits to Schengen and Schengen-associated countries since March 2017; is concerned by the increasing number of unfounded asylum requests by Georgian citizens; calls on all the Member States that have not already done so to recognise Georgia as a safe country of origin in order to speed up thn this regard, stresses the importance of stepping up the cooperation between the judicial authorities and the enforcement agencies of Georgia and the EU Member States to reduce pcrocessing of such requests; stresses the importance of continuous implementation of the visa liberalisation benchmarkss-border crime; is concerned by the increasing number of unfounded asylum requests by Georgian citizens;
Amendment 118 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines that gender equality is a key precondition to sustainable and inclusive development; commends the work of the Georgian Parliament’s Gender Equality Council and its efforts to identify sexual harassment as a form of discrimination; is satisfied with the fact that discrimination against women, LGBT people and religious minorities is forbidden by law; notes with concern, discrimination against women, LGBT people and religious minorities are still widely widespread, and that investigations of violent crimes against LGBT people and religious minorities rarely lead to prosecution;
Amendment 60 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 3 May 2018 on the protection of children in migration1a, __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0201
Amendment 97 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 40 a (new)
Citation 40 a (new)
– having regard to the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of October 2014 on the alternatives to immigration detention of children (RES 2020),
Amendment 113 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Whereas women and children are at higher risk of being trafficked, exploited and sexually abused, both online and offline, including at the hands of traffickers and therefore there is a need for Member States to build and strengthen child protection systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children;
Amendment 260 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the importance for the EU and its Member States to work out specific programmes aimed at ending child poverty;
Amendment 261 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Acknowledges the importance for Member States to adopt laws to safeguard and strengthen maternity and paternity rights in order to provide a healthy, stable environment for children, in particular during the first months of their lives;
Amendment 397 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Takes the view that Member States should put in place an intersectional approach to combat all forms of discrimination affecting children, taking into in consideration their vulnerabilities, in particular - but not limited to - those of children with disabilities, migrant children, children of migrant background, children from minorities and religious groups, LGBTI children, children of LGBTI parents and stateless or undocumented children, who are disproportionately exposed to discrimination on multiple grounds and therefore require a specialised approach to address their specific needs;
Amendment 499 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that children of LGBTI families, as well as their parents, are victims of human rights violations in the EU and are subject to restrictions of their freedom of movement in the EU, as a result of the refusal of some Member States to recognise same-sex parenthood; urges therefore the Member States and the Commission to adopt laws that recognise the free movement of public documents and mutual recognition of the effects of civil status records in the European Union;
Amendment 547 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates that immigration detention of children is never in the child’s best interest in line with the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, that children shall not be detained in the context of migration, and therefore calls on Member States to work out community-based alternatives to detention, as well as prioritising integration, education and psychological support;
Amendment 557 #
2019/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Stresses the importance for Member States to put in place specific measures to grant all migrant children, swiftly after their arrival, access to education, language learning, healthcare, good living conditions and, when unaccompanied or separated, to have a guardian;
Amendment 245 #
2019/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Deeply regrets that this repressive form of rule has now become a deliberate, relentless, systematic state policy, which extends to any critical activities, such as peaceful protests, Kurdish activism, or even to events that took place prior to the attempted coup, such as the Gezi protests;
Amendment 336 #
2019/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Turkey to effectively investigate allegations of torture and ill- treatment in police custody and in prison, as well as allegations of enforced disappearances;
Amendment 488 #
2019/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls the laudableimportant role played by Turkey in responding to the migration crisis resulting from the war in Syria; takes the view that the EU should continue to give the necessary support to Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey; supports an objective assessment of the EU-Turkey Statement and underlines the importance of both parties’ compliance with their respective commitments;
Amendment 564 #
2019/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Condemns the partial reopening of Varosha beach, which undermines mutual trust and therefore the prospect of the resumption of direct talks on the comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus issue; calls on Turkey to reverse this action; regrets that the Turkish authorities, President Erdoğan included, have endorsed a two-state solution, and urges Turkey to commit concretely to the UN Secretary-General’s call; reiterates its support for a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi- communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality;
Amendment 577 #
2019/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. calls on the European Council to maintain its unified position vis-à-vis unilateral and illegal actions by Turkey, to take action and impose tangible sanctions in response to Turkey’s illegal actions; recalls that further sanctions can only be avoided through dialogue, sincere and mutual cooperation, and concrete progress on the ground;
Amendment 125 #
2019/2174(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Welcomes the national action plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and that the national coordination body for implementing the Convention meets regularly. Emphasises the need for the body to systematically communicate and engage with organisations supporting persons with disabilities; underlines the need for deinstitutionalisation and to repeal provisions allowing involuntary deprivation of liberty; stresses the need for adequate resources and infrastructure to uphold necessary social protection and ensure decent living conditions for people with disabilities in North Macedonia;
Amendment 123 #
2019/2171(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UEncourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop and adopt a new action plan on child protection. The authorities ought to collect consistent data on child poverty rates and violence against all children; urges the authorities to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory education for all children;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2171(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that measures targeting gender-based violence must be improved, including protective measures, victim support, legal aid, and safe accommodation; calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to accelerate the prosecution of crimes of sexual violence, provide rehabilitation to women who are victims of war crimes, and secure witness protection;
Amendment 136 #
2019/2171(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Encourages Bosnia and Hercegovina to step up its work to protect people with disabilities, and develop and adopt a strategy on deinstitutionalisation, ensuring people with disabilities a dignified life; condemns that the law allows persons with disabilities to be deprived of their legal capacity, which is a clear violation of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, of which the country is signatory; underlines that it is unacceptable that the support provided is differentiated and depends on the type of disability, such as the fact that persons with war-related disabilities (war veterans and civilian victims of war) are prioritised over other persons with disabilities;
Amendment 1 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 a (new)
Citation -1 a (new)
- having regard to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Agreement,
Amendment 2 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19-20 June 2003 and the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans,
Amendment 15 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 c (new)
Citation 12 c (new)
- having regard to its recommendation of 19 June 2020 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Western Balkans, following the 2020 summit (2019/2210(INI)),
Amendment 18 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas enlargement is one of the EU’s most effective foreign policy instruments contributing to extending the reach of the Union’s fundamental values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, fostering peace and respect for human rights;
Amendment 20 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Albania has continued making sustained efforts on its path towards the EU, partly meeting the conditions for holding the first intergovernmental conference;
Amendment 25 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the merit-based prospect of full EU membership is in the Union's own political, security and economic interests, the quality and dedication to the necessary reforms determine the timetable for accession; whereas consistent efforts on the key reforms require the joint engagement of all stakeholders;
Amendment 51 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises the importance of the integration process as a catalyst for reforms, and welcomes the support which this process enjoys among the Albanian people;
Amendment 53 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses the need to improve the visibility and communication concerning EU aid and Union financing in Albania; in this regard, reminds of the performance reward under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to North Macedonia and Albania and notably the substantial support the EU has provided to the Western Balkans to fight the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 58 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the convening of the first intergovernmental conference without further delay once all conditions set by the Council are fulfilled and, following the adoption of the negotiating framework by the Council;
Amendment 64 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that progress in accession under the revised enlargement methodology depends on lasting, in-depth and irreversible reforms across fundamental areas, in particularstarting with the rule of law and, the fight agaunctioning of democratic institutions and public administ corruptionration as well as the economy of the candidate country;
Amendment 80 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the general elections of 25 April 2021 will be key for the country’s democratic consolidation; reminds that free and fair elections are a fundamental prerequisite for EU integration;
Amendment 84 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the importance of implementing the electoral reform measures codified in July 2020, which are in line with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) ) and Council of Europe recommendations; welcomstresses the commitmentimportance to implement the forthcoming Venice Commission opinion regarding the amendments to the Electoral Code adopted in October 2020; deplores the breach of the 5 June 2020 agreement, and that the Albanian Parliament passed the disputed legislation, despite repeated calls by the international community to await the opinion of the Venice Commission;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for the most pressing recommendations of the Venice Commission to be adopted and implemented in due time before the upcoming general elections;
Amendment 96 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recalls that the prosecution of vote riggers was a condition set by the Council that Albania need to fulfil prior to opening accession negotiations; is concerned about impunity, as alleged cases have not reached court and no arrests have yet been made;
Amendment 102 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. EncouraUrges Albania to swiftly complete the relevant steps towards re-establishing the Constitutional Court’s ability to function fully and efficiently, and urges all involved to swiftly conclude the appointment process;
Amendment 107 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the fact that the High Court has partly regained its ability to function and that it has been reviewing more than a thousand cases, and encourages it to make further progress in the appointment of additional judges; underlines the need to support the effective functioning of these institutions by means of adequate human resources and funding;
Amendment 117 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the creation of anti- corruption bodies and the fact that sustained investigations are being carried out by the newlysuch as the established Special Anti- Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK), and indictments are being handed down by the Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Courts, and; now calls for the courts to be operational and to effectively and proactively address high-level corruption; therefore stresses the need of adequate resources and cooperation between these new structures and with other prosecution and judicial entities; underlines the need to maintain their independence and effectiveness in fighting impunity;
Amendment 120 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Deplores that the overall resources of law enforcement authorities are insufficient;
Amendment 121 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Is concerned about the current practice that the State Police may receive private donations and sponsorship; calls for adequate evaluation and strict regulations to limit the risks of corruption or conflicts of interest;
Amendment 123 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Calls for concrete integrity plans to be swiftly adopted and implemented within all ministries, as foreseen in the Inter-Sectorial Strategy against corruption and the Action Plan for its implementation;
Amendment 125 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the increase in proactive investigations, prosecutions and final convictions targeting illicit wealth and money laundering, leading to the systematic freezing and seizure of criminal assets, and calls for furtheir further intensificationprosecution and final court convictions of these cases; underlines the extensive money laundering problems notably in the construction and real estate sector;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the efforts to dismantle local and international criminal networks, and to eliminate drug production and trafficking, to be intensified further, building on the significant efforts of recent years; welcomes the increased cooperation with Europol and the law enforcement institutions of EU Member States, and encourages the Albanian authorities to swiftly finalise the posting of an Albanian liaison prosecutor to the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust); recommends Albania to adopt a new strategy and action plan on drugs, including to fill-in the legislative gap on drug precursors;
Amendment 143 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses the need for sufficient human, technical and financial resources to relevant actors, such as the Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD), and their work on human rights promotion and protection;
Amendment 145 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for the creation of an effective mechanism for the prevention of gender- based and domestic violence including violence against children, and for protection and support to be given to its victims, combined with the effective and efficient prosecution of its perpetrators;
Amendment 151 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reminds Albania of its calls for further improvements to be made in the education and health, and the employment rates and living and health conditions of Roma and other ethnicpeople with disabilities and other ethnic minorities, notably the Roma minority - as one of the most marginalized minorities;
Amendment 167 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes Albania’s efforts in promoting tolerance, inter-religious harmony and addressing prejudice and discrimination, including antisemitism; especially commends the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, being the first Muslim-majority country to accept the formulation;
Amendment 178 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that border protection and the prevention of cross-border crime, including in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), must be a priority and conducted in full respect for fundamental rights;
Amendment 183 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes the ongoing measures and calls for further progress to be made in considerably reducing irregular migration and the number of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, including the arrivals of unaccompanied minors, in the EU Member States;
Amendment 191 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls the importance of ensuring quality journalism and media literacy for the functioning of democracy and in tackling disinformation; is very concerned about the nefarious allegations that disinformation is a common bludgeon deployed against investigative journalists, civil society activists and others seeking to hold powerful interests to account;
Amendment 201 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Expresses grave concern about the proposed measures under the draft media law and welcomes the commitment to adopt amendments only if they are assessed as being fully in line with the Venice Commission’s recommendations; regrets, however, that the Venice Commission recommendations are not yet adopted;
Amendment 208 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses the need to substantiallyEncourages the Albanian authorities to strengthen social care coverage and improve access to social and healthcare services especially for vulnerable communities;
Amendment 226 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Encourages the diversification of energy production, moving fromensuring environmentally sound investments in hydropower towards, wind and solar sources; urges the authorities to minimise the impact on biodiversity by restricting hydropower development in protected areas; underlines the need to improve both environmental and impact assessments across eco- sensitive sectors and boost the prosecution of environmental crimes;
Amendment 253 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes Albania’s unremittongoing efforts in promoting good neighbourly relations and regional integration;
Amendment 262 #
2019/2170(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Welcomes Albania’s ongoing full alignment with the common foreign and security policy decisions and declarations since 2012 and its active contribution to the EU crisis management missions and operations; commends Albania’s active participation in military crisis management missions under the common security and defence policy, as well as its active contribution to NATO missions of strategic importance to the EU;
Amendment 121 #
2019/2167(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 178 #
2019/2136(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that the European Union can only deliver its full potential when speaking with one voice and when decision-making is shifted step by step from the national to the supranational level, taking full advantage of the possibilities offered by the EU institutions and their procedures; stresses that the European Union should use all available means to achieve this goal, including those offered by parliamentary diplomacyfaces a host of foreign- and security- policy challenges that can only be resolved by means of closer cooperation among Member States; points out that the EU should therefore step up coordination of the common foreign and security policy; points out, at the same time, that this should not be at the expense of the Member States’ right to decide for themselves on their foreign and security policy, which must remain a matter for the Member States;