Activities of Markéta GREGOROVÁ related to 2019/2209(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation 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 Eastern Partnership, in the run-up to the June 2020 Summit
Amendments (28)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is an important part of the EU Neighbourhood Policy and is aimed at achieving political association, ensuring further economic integration and establishing a platform to address common challenges including sustainable development;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part1 , to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part2 , and to the Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part3 , including Deep And Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs), and the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part, __________________ 1 OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, p. 4. 2 OJ L 260, 30.8.2014, p. 4. 3 OJ L 161, 29.5.2014, p. 3.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that Parliament aims to reinforce the economic integration of the EaP countries and that the common goal remains to create and make use of additional market opportunities, such as business development, increased connectivity and the digital economy;, public procurement and energy; stresses that projects in the energy sector, in particular those involving the EIB, EBRD and other public financial institutions, should meet climate objectives and align with EU environmental legislation, in particular the preservation of biodiversity and protected sites consultations on projects affecting protected areas, biodiversity qan d environmental protection, also taking into account local community views emphasises the need to give high priority to the EaP region under the EU´s Connectivity Strategy, calls on the EaP countries to fund the necessary reforms and to further deepen their relations with the EU on both bilateral and multilateral tracks;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of the deep and comprehensive free trade areas (DCFTAs), the comprehensive economic partnership agreements and the partnership and cooperation agreements between the EaP countries and the EU, and the importance of fully implementing them; calls for the EU to closely monitor and to support their implementation through coordinated assistance, to promote sustainable economic development and to support economic reforms and major reforms of the banking and financial sector aiming to combat money laundering and tax evasion; urges the EU to ensure that the DCFTAs do not contradict the climate objectives and initiatives set out in the framework of the European Green Deal; Recalls that DCFTAs must always include strong, binding and enforceable sustainable development chapters, that fully respect international commitments, in particular the Paris Agreement, and are compliant with WTO rules; Stresses the importance of EU assistance to EaP countries to help them achieve these goals; Expects that deepening trade relations with the EU based on the DCFTA and increased trade flows in the short run will contribute to avoid a sudden economic slowdown in EaP countries and could have favourable long- term effects;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses the importance of economic diversification and of supporting SMEs in order to develop the region’s ability to further innovate indifferent economic sectors and decrease economic migration, including in the ICT sector, and the need for sustainable and credible investments in EaP countries by devising a strategy for long-term engagement;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of conditional EU macro-financial assistance as a contribution to the stabilisation of the neighbourhood and expects further continuity under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. Notes the importance of stable funding for the EaP to avoid unpredictability, which would show negative political signal. Believes that economic reforms and cooperation on migration are not sufficient criteria alone; Calls on the Commission to prioritise political reforms over economic stabilisation and to emphasize democratisation
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises the importance of focused youth programmes in the EaP in order to improve their job market situation, create decent jobs and support mobility and cyclical migration rather than irreversible economic emigration. Notes in this regard that the stronger growth in the ICT sector and ambitious infrastructure projects will encourage the greater connectivity with the EU and amongst the six countries. Stresses the need to support SMEs and to strengthen digital competences and further innovation within the ICT sector in order to address economic emigration challenges in the neighbourhood.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Calls on the Commission to explore increased sectoral cooperation, especially in terms of SME investment and domestic market capitalisation, of education and research, innovation and digitisation as well as environmental and green technologies, in order to share know-how and best practices;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) acknowledge and strive for a continuous transformational impact of EaP policy in order to bring about political, social, economic and legal change in the three associated partner countries;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) prioritise the need for sustainable and credible investments in EaP countries by devising a strategy for long-term engagement, focusing not only on stabilisation but more so on democratisation;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(ab) continue the holistic approach to the EaP by maintaining an open door and support for all partners, while offering enhanced perspectives and tailor-made incentives to the partner countries which implement genuine democratic reforms;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
(ac) acknowledge that any lack of EU presence and inaction vis-a-vis partners in the region will create space for other global players to take up; increase cooperation with like-minded actors to mitigate negative effects of third powers’ rise in the EaP;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
(ad) establish a more coordinated policy towards Russia among EU Member States, in particular in terms of engagement on issues concerning the EaP countries;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) acknowledge that those countries that are undertaking comprehensive reforms and taking action to meet the criteria of Article 49 of the TEU may be eligible for EU membership in the future, through a process of gradual integration;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) ensure the full implementation of the current agreements between the EU and EaP countries as a first step in this gradual integration process;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) acknowledge the associated partnership status of advanced EaP countries, notably the signatories of AAs with DCFTAs, while continuing to engage with all EaP countries, in order to accommodate the mutual need for more venues for political dialogue, further economic cooperation and legislative harmonisation;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) engage further in State building and in strengthening institutions, by making instruments similar to the Support Group for Ukraine available to the associated partners first and foremostand keeping this option open for the other partners; 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 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) acknowledge and encourage initiatives by the governments of EaP countries to step up regional cooperation, with a special focus on associated countries to boost their mutual cooperation; a similar approach should be applied to cooperation amongst all the Eastern European Partners on various issues;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) acknowledge that the implementation of the DCFTAs has been sufficiently successful that itis progressing well and may gradually lead to the opening up of the EU single market in line with the implemented EU standards and requirements;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) extend to other associated partners the approach employed by the EU in its efforts to support the recovery of the Ukrainian economy, including by means of tailored and flexible macro-financial assistance and instruments and engagement and coordination of international financial institutions and donors, and by improving the environment for foreign direct investment (FDI); emphasise the conditionality of macro-financial assistance as it underscores democratisation and reforms that contribute to the stabilisation of the neighbourhood;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
(ra) encourage EaP countries to pursue comprehensive labour policy reforms in order to improve working conditions and workers’ rights;
Amendment 388 #
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 society; encourage EaP countries to increase diversity and inclusion efforts;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(ua) support and assist programmes and reforms with regards to media and information literacy to reflect the current digital age;
Amendment 423 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)
(va) develop a more active role for the EU in the peaceful resolution of ongoing conflicts in its Eastern neighbourhood;
Amendment 475 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(xa) increase cooperation with like- minded civil society groups in the EaP countries to strengthen domestic oversight over democratic reforms in order to add to transparency and sustainability;
Amendment 512 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
(za) reinforce and, where possible, increase the EU’s and EaP countries’ common efforts on people-to-people contacts and exchanges in order to build mutually positive images of each other among the population and to use the pro- European sentiment among the EaP citizenry;
Amendment 525 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point z b (new)
(zb) enhance cooperation on building state and societal resilience to security threats, in particular countering propaganda and disinformation, in the EaP and the EU;