Activities of Isabel SANTOS

(g) tailor state-building assistance to the cultural, historical and political context of the relevant country receiving it and continuously update it in response to conditions on the ground through rigorous and detailed political analysis for a common strategic response; stresses that such efforts require communications to be opened and fostered with local stakeholders, including civil society organisations and NGOs;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 2 – point h

(h) ensure that the EU’s conflict Early Warning System is sufficiently proactive and based on forward-looking, comprehensive and robust analysis of risk factors;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

18. Expresses its concern about the deep political polarisation in the media landscape and the pressure being put on the local media market by expanding regional media competition; calls for further efforts in fostering a wide and respectful dialogue between different stakeholders, including civil society, to ensure political stability and reduce the polarisation;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2202(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Welcomes some positive steps, such as the introduction of tougher penalties for attacks and threats against journalists, and the establishment of the ad hoc commission for monitoring violence against the media; reiterates, however, the need for the effective implementation of its findings and recommendations; highlights the need for an environment conducive to investigative journalism; stresses the importance of media freedom, media independence and media transparency as key elements a strong democracy;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2202(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes the country’s multi- ethnic identity and calls for the further promotion of and respect for all languages, cultural heritage and traditions of local communities; regrets the fact that societal polarisation and divisions have intensified; emphasises the need to protect ~~the rights of~~ all of the nationall minorities ~~and urges for strengthened, applied and implemented institutional and legal frameworks in this regard, including a new anti-discrimination law~~’ political, social and economic rights;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2202(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Emphasises the need to protect the rights of all minorities and urges for strengthened, applied and implemented institutional and legal frameworks in this regard, including a new anti- discrimination law; in this regard, recalls the need to implement fully and effectively the 2021-2025 Strategy for the inclusion of Roma and Egyptians; calls for further steps to be taken to promote the wide inclusion of the LGBTIQ+ community, including in the public sector;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2202(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Calls on Montenegro to improve access to justice and to ensure better follow-up and enforcement of rights in proceedings on domestic violence, as well as enhanced protection; demonstrates concern regarding all gender-based violence; in this regard, stresses the need to eradicate all forms of discrimination and to address deeply rooted societal behaviours that discriminate against women;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2202(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Underlines the key role of civil society organisations in functioning democracies; stresses that civil society, together with independent experts and local stakeholders, should be consulted in developing key legislation; notes that funding rules for civil society organisations have been set up, but only a limited number of the ministries have launched calls to award grants to these organisations;

2023/07/06
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)

— having regard to the Dayton Peace Agreement that establishes the mandate of the OSCE Mission in BiH,

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recognizes BiH´s continued dialogue with the OSCE Mission on its goal to promote stability and reconciliation, advance understanding of and respect for human rights and in confidence and security building;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27 a. Notes local authorities’ efforts in the promotion of LGBTI+ friendly environment; calls for practical steps to be taken to promote the inclusion of and to prevent violence against LGBTI+ community;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27 b. Calls for harmonization and implementation of legislation in line with the Istanbul Convention;

2023/04/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Albania is a reliable foreign policy partner, including through its engagement in the UN Security Council, while maintaining its focus on the EU reform agenda;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas it is essential to increase resilience to malign foreign interference aiming to destabilise the region, boost cyber security and cyber defence capabilities and counter espionage and disinformation;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes Albania’s steadfast and unwavering commitment to EU integration, reflecting the consensus among political parties and overwhelming support among citizens; commends its solidarity and consistent, full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy and promotion of the rules-based international order, including its clear-cut response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; commends its supportive commitment to multilateralism under its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. 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, while ensuring a coherent alignment with the EU’s policies; urges decision-makers to work jointly towards meeting the membership criteria by 2030; ~~stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension;~~

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the need to strengthen the transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of the accession process, including its parliamentary dimension, by ensuring inclusive participation and trust of citizens and integrating civil society and media in democratic governance and policy dialogue; underlines the importance of their effective involvement on the EU integration process and other consultative mechanisms, as legitimate partners in the process;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Encourages the Commission to speed up cross-cutting integration with enlargement countries in the fields of economy and single market, energy and transport, social policy, education, digitalisation, research and innovation, agriculture and rural development, justice and home affairs, civil protection, foreign affairs, security and defence, including cybersecurity;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Commends Albania’s commitment to completing its comprehensive justice reform~~; encourages the country to intensify steps aimed at finalising the vetting process~~, strengthening the independence, transparency, efficiency, accountability and public trust in the Albanian justice system; encourages the country to intensify steps aimed at finalising the vetting process, prosecute any criminal conduct in judiciary, fill in vacancies, reduce backlog of court cases and improve the country’s court efficiency under the new judicial map and ensuring universal access to justice through cross-cutting measures; recalls the need for effective mechanisms that enable the prevention and persecution of corruption through accountable, independent and fully functional judicial and governance institutions; 74Or. en

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 ~~engagemen~~interparty and intraparty engagement, mutual respect, inclusive consultations and transparent decision-making; recalls the need to strengthen parliamentary oversight capacities; stresses the need to improve governance and pluralism through increased digitalisation, transparency and equitable access to media;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Albanian authorities to address the outstanding electoral and party financing recommendations well ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections, in line with the OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations, by further improving the accessibility and integrity of elections and preventing vote-buying and the misuse of administrative resources, including through digitalisation, transparency, data protection and equitable access to media;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Insists on adequate funding for and the effective and impartial functioning of independent bodies and agencies; ~~recognises the contribution of independent civil society and the media in the fight against corruption;~~

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 ac~~, including environmental, cyber and trafficking crimes; welcomes tangible results delivered by the strengthened Specialised Structure for Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK); urges to improve cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and collaboration with EU and its Member States’ agencies in the fight against organized crime and elimination of impunity; recognises the count~~able public administra~~ribution of independent civil society and the media in the fight against corruption;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Encourages further police reform, ensuring its integrity, professionalism and full compliance with the international human rights standards;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Calls for further progress in establishing a comprehensive, efficient, soundly coordinated and accountable public administration, for improved monitoring of official’s assets and to eliminate corruption from all domains of public life; establishing a solid track record of corruption cases and continuing seizure, confiscation and recovery of criminal assets resulting from corruption and organised crime offences, including through a legislation targeting unjustified wealth, digitalisation of transactions and extended confiscation and freezing of illicit assets;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Expresses its concern with the~~Underlines that aspects of the ~~draft law~~initiative on fiscal and criminal amnesty and the proposed plan citizenship by investment scheme ~~that~~ are incompatible with EU norms and its visa policy; welcomes the declared suspension of the citizenship by investment scheme; notes the expressed intention to request EU expertise for the drafting of the fiscal amnesty law;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on authorities to focus on modernisation of the fiscal system and tax administration, including asset declaration and compliance, strengthen anti money-laundering controls and setting up of an asset recovery office; invites authorities to prosecute possible instances of crimes against the EU budget under the Working Arrangement on the Cooperation between the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the Prosecutor General's Office of Albania;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. CEncourages Albania to further align its visa policy with the EU’s list of visa-required third countries; 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; urges authorities to strengthen domestic operational and asset recovery capacities;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the authorities’ obligation to ensure transparency and competition in public procurement, government contracts, privatisation, State aid and concession procedures; highlights the need to strengthen safeguards, transparency and conditionality under a strategic foreign investment screening process, and to prosecute incidents of fraud, abuse of office and money laundering, while simultaneously countering tax evasion, illegal construction and the circumvention of sanctions;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 and to accelerate efforts to align its legislation with the EU acquis on personal data protection; stresses the need for an effective implementation and enforcement of the National Cyber Security Strategy;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes the legal steps taken to eliminate discrimination against minorities, and calls for practical steps in order to ensure their inclusion, namely the inclusion of LGBTI+, Roma and Egyptian minorities; recalls the need to combat gender-based violence, step up child protection, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights, strengthen property rights and conduct a population census; underlines the importance of removing barriurges the authorities to tackle the discrimination that these groups face through an effective and comprehensive institutional approach in all spheres ~~to the~~of socioal, economic ~~inclusion of persons with disabilities~~and political life;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Recalls the need to combat gender- based violence, step up child protection and grant equal opportunities of integration for all, adopt and implement legislation on minority rights and conduct a population census; underlines the importance of removing barriers to the socioeconomic inclusion of persons with disabilities;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Stresses the need to strengthen the means to safeguard property rights, complete transitional ownership processes and the registration of property, continue the restitution and compensation for property expropriated;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; condemns all violence against journalists and media organisations; urges the authorities to take immediate action against political and economic interference in the media and intimidation against reporters, undermining media independence and media freedom, its ability to cover issues of public interest and the quality of journalism; welcomes the withdrawal of the draft anti- defamation legislation; urges the government to ensure the independence of the public broadcaster and media regulator and the transparency of media ownership, financing and public advertising;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Urges the authorities and the civil society to work together in order to counter disinformation and manipulative narratives by promoting media literacy, creating an enabling environment for independent media and improving the working conditions of journalists;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Underlines the importance of an inclusive framework for meaningful civil society engagement in decision-making processes, at national and local governmental level;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Recalls the need to complete the process of declassifying communist-era files and making them accessible to researchers and the wider public in order to advance justice and reconciliation and bringing justice to victims, and providing reparations to survivors and their families;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Urges the authorities to continue structural reforms in line with the Economic Reform Program 2023-2025 and that enable sustainable recovery and inclusive growth through improved public finance management and governance, rule of law, digitalisation and accessibility, reduced social exclusion, formalisation of the economy, ~~education,~~improved education and health services; calls for further efforts regarding upskilling, improved labour conditions and social dialogue through meaning dialogue and collective bargaining;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Underlines the importance of empowering the youth and fostering opportunities for the younger Albanian generations; notes the drafting of an action plan for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines the transformative nature of the substantial EU assistance provided under the IPA III and the Western Balkans Investment Framework~~, including the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans~~; recalls that, in line with IPA III conditionality, funding must be reduced or suspended in cases of backtracking or unjustified delays in the reform process, particularly in the fields of democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes steps in accelerating the energy transition and energy diversification towards wind and solar power; applauds, in this regard, the speedy deployment of 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; in line with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans; recalls the importance of the EU investments into the Vau i Dejes solar power plant, the modernization of the Fierza hydropower plant, the renovation of the campus of Tirana University and the new Tirana- Durres railway; urges the authorities to step up efforts in mainstreaming environmental and climate action across the agriculture, energy, transport, and industry sectors; expresses support to Albania’s Presidency in the Office of the Energy Community in advancing region’s integration into the EU Energy market, along with the diversification under the REPowerEU and joint energy purchases under the EU Energy Platform; calls for further progress in the electricity reform;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Calls for thoroughly planned measures on biodiversity, water, air, climate, regional waste management and industrial pollution; stresses the need to strengthen the country’s resilience to the impacts of climate change; ~~notes the initial steps taken to establish a Vjosa National Park~~commends the establishment of the Vjosa Wild River National Park ; urges the government to complete and adopt the river basin management plans as soon as possible; calls for a swift alignment with the EU water acquis and reduction of wastewater pollution;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls for improved transparency, conduct, enforcement and monitoring of environmental and strategic environmental impact assessments, especially on projects with large environmental and socioeconomic repercussions such as the Skavica hydropower plant project; expresses concern with the economic and environmental impact of non-competitive foreign-funded development projects; ~~calls on the authorities to take urgent action to fight environmental crime~~urges the Albanian government to halt any construction work and project that risk violating national and international biodiversity protection norms; calls on the authorities to take urgent action to fight environmental crime, improve and expedite policy and law enforcement for nature and biodiversity protection, particularly in the protected areas;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Welcomes Albania’s full adherence to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; and, as a result, stepping up EU’s significant support to civil emergency preparedness and a coordinated crisis response following earthquakes, floods and wildfires; encourages the country to further modernise its crisis management capacities;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the swift adoption of the national transport strategy, including its action plan for 2021-2025; reiterates that significant efforts are needed for a structural transformation of digital, energy and transport connectivity;

2023/04/03
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the EU has allocated EUR 76 million for the first four years (2021- 2024) of its seven-year Multi-Annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 for Uzbekistan, with an additional EUR 7 million earmarked for supporting human rights and civil society organisations; whereas the EU has contributed over EUR 5.2 million to the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region under the European Green Deal; whereas the EU committed of planting over 27 000 trees in 2022, in cooperation with the Uzbek government's attempts to reclaim the land from the Aralkum desert;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes the ambitious reforms planned under the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, which aims to achieve genuine change in the country in socioeconomic development, efficient administration and respect for human rights; stresses that the constitutional reform is an opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and to give the reforms a solid legal foundation with access to free and open internet and media; calls on the authorities of Uzbekistan to continue this process in consultation with citizens and stakeholders, including the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe , based on international norms and best practices;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. NAcknowledges that there are serious challenges to regional engagement in the current geopolitical climate, particularly with the global non- recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan and the impact of international sanctions on economic plans and connectivity initiatives; 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 and minorities, which are essential conditions for greater international engagement with Afghanistan, including through connectivity to support human rights and prevent the effects of regional radicalisation and conflict-induced migration; 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;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Commends Uzbekistan for hosting refugees from Afghanistan and for the annual international meetings on Afghanistan since 2019, which have seen participation from a diverse range of states, including the Taliban, and provided a forum for constructive discussions on regional stability; urges the Uzbek government to sign and ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and allow more Afghan refugees to seek refuge or to transit the country;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the agreement of 27 January 2023 between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the delimitation of the border between the two countries, which settles the outstanding issues between the two sides and completes a process that lasted three decades; commends Uzbekistan for being able to settle complex issues of water use, delimitation, and border disputes with its neighbours, like Tajikistan; acknowledges Uzbekistan's instrumental role in fostering closer ties with neighbouring countries, including Kazakhstan, through a range of connectivity projects; emphasises the importance of regional stability and urges all parties to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve any potential conflict in a peaceful and diplomatic manner; encourages Uzbekistan, as the leading electricity producer in Central Asia, to prioritize sustainable energy solutions for the region's long-term benefit;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Welcomes the Uzbek government's adoption of the Water Sector Development Strategy 2020-2030 and their efforts to mobilise international support to tackle the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster; welcomes that the EU and other organisations/institutions are involved in the improvement of the environmental, but also of the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea region; calls on the international community to continue supporting Uzbekistan's efforts to address global water problems and to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea tragedy, such as the recently announced Aral Culture Summit project, which will bring together the local and international community and promote sustainable agriculture;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Takes notes of the upcoming constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan, scheduled for 30 April 2023, which aims to bring significant changes to the country's legal framework; is, however, concerned about the motives behind Uzbekistan's proposed constitutional changes, particularly the suspicion that the reform is designed to allow President Mirziyoyev to extend his time in office; urges the government to ensure that any change to term limits is made in a transparent and democratic manner and that it does not undermine the principles of democracy and the rule of law; underlines that the process of Uzbekistan's democratisation should be accelerated with this new constitution, if adopted, given that the country is still far from having a genuinely pluralistic political environment;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines the important role that civil society can play in supporting effective and inclusive reforms and good governance; regrets the barriers to NGO registration and the obligations imposed on NGOs receiving foreign funding by the Regulation on Coordination Between Non- Governmental Non-Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities in the Implementation of International Grant Projects approved by Decree No 328 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan on 13 June 2022, which shrink the space for civil society activities and impede the exercise of the freedom of association; underlines that the barrier to NGO registration will also affect EU-Uzbekistan business relations since EU and Member States’ due diligence legislation will require NGO monitoring capacity; stresses that the EU funding should be conditional on the improvement of the situation of human rights;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. SExpresses deep concern over Uzbekistan's poor record on democracy, media freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, as reported by international human rights organisations; regrets that opposition parties are practically not allowed to function inside the country and that ethnic and religious minorities are often underrepresented in state structures and discriminated against; calls on the Uzbek government to respect the freedom of association both for NGOs and political parties; regrets that despite some improvements in the fight against corruption, bribery, nepotism and extortion are still widespread throughout the public administration; stresses the need to ensure respect for the rights of journalists, independent bloggers, content producers and human rights defenders and their protection against harassment, pressure ~~and~~, threats, torture and to investigate any attacks against them; including the promotion of Uzbek language media and enhanced digital training programs against disinformation also based on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Digital Services Act (DSA); strongly condemns the draft Information Code proposed by Uzbekistan's Information and Mass Communications Agency, which poses a serious threat to freedom of expression and human rights in the country;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the rights of journalists, independent bloggers and human rights defenders and their protection against ~~harassment~~violence, harassment, unfounded detention, pressure and threats and to investigate any attacks against them; underlines that transparency and freedom of media are essential for the consolidation and the safeguarding of democracy;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that despite the adoption of a number of laws, including the Law on Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence of 2019, gender-based violence against women remains widespread; ~~regrets that domestic violence is not defined or specifically criminalised in Uzbekistan’s legislation~~acknowledges the recent legislative measures in Uzbekistan on providing women and children with greater legal protection against gender-based violence; calls on the authorities to ~~take~~continue taking measures to bring Uzbekistan into line with its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, as indicated in the concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Uzbekistan by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; calls on Uzbek authorities to ~~work with civil society organisations and international partners to address these issues~~continue their work with local and international civil society organisations and partners to address these issues; expects the Uzbek authorities to promote gender equality in the education sector, in the workplace and in the whole public administration; calls on the government to decriminalise consensual same-sex sexual conduct and emphasises the need for non-discrimination and protection of the LGBTIQ+ community;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Expects the Uzbek authorities to ensure equal opportunities and access to education for all students in Uzbekistan, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)

10c. Acknowledges ERASMUS+ and the Youth Action Plan in EU external action and highlights the importance of people-to-people contacts, particularly between young people during their education, and calls on the EU and Uzbekistan for more efforts and support for the expansion of these contacts and exchanges between the EU and Uzbekistan, to the benefit of both sides;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2195(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)

10d. Stresses the need to take legal and practical steps to ensure the protection, the non-discrimination and the effective inclusion of minorities; emphasises that the protection of the LGBTI+ community and the registration of NGOs working on sexual diversity issues is not guaranteed by the current legal framework; underlines the importance of freedom of religion and belief;

2023/04/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the right of citizens to vote, to stand for and to be elected in periodic, genuine democratic elections are fundamental, internationally recognised human rights;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas genuine democratic elections are an indispensable aspect of inclusive and accountable governance, as they provide a mandate to the authorities from citizens;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the right to participate in genuine elections is not respected in autocratic and illiberal regimes, which conduct sham elections with the goal of entrenching their power; whereas such elections are not free ~~and~~ fair or transparent, lack real political contestation and place undue restrictions on the right to both vote, to stand for election and be elected;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the severity and scale of attacks against non-partisan election observers –including harassment, defamation, threats, violations of rights and physical violence – have intensified in recent years, creating an environment of uncertainty and insecurity with regard to their important work; ~~whereas the EU considers election observers to be human rights defenders;~~

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas tensions between democracies and authoritarian regimes are becoming more geopolitical; whereas this trend requires the EU to raise its democratic concerns to the highest political level, including by building more strategic alliances for democracy and by considering the promotion and defence of democracy as a strategic interest and as a key part of its geo-economic and trade strategies;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the EU should adopt a systematic approach concerning the right to participate, including by demonstrating its strong link with human rights, democracy and the rule of law; whereas EU actors should not contribute to legitimising leaders of illiberal and autocratic regimes;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) design and implement more decisive and effective EU actions to promote and protect the right to participate, as part of a much broader strategy on human rights and democracy support;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h

(h) recognise the crucial role of civil society in delegitimising and denouncing fake elections in the eyes of local populations; support civil society organisations, human rights defenders and the media, including through capacity building and communications strategies, and by gathering data on violations of the right to participate in genuine elections; support, in particular, local elections observers, whose activities increase people’s belief that their right to participate in genuine elections will be respected; highlights that media financing transparency and a true free and independent media are key to prevent undue influences;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k

(k) ~~giv~~provide more support to initiatives related to election observation training ~~and~~, knowledge building and engagement with local media and civil society organisations;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)

(ka) underlines the need to equip EU election observation missions with appropriate and up-to-date technical expertise on electronic voting and similar systems;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l

(l) explore the possibility of introducing a standing invitation for election observation within the democratic clause in EU agreements, the Generalised Scheme of Preferences and equivalent mechanisms, given the current reluctance of many countries to send election observation invitations to the EU; support Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group and its work, especially in the framework of election observation;

2023/07/28
Committee: AFET

2022/2147(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the outermost regions are especially vulnerable to negative impacts of climate change, like extreme weather events, rising sea levels or heat waves; whereas the outermost regions have an exceptionally high biodiversity value and focus should be put in protecting and restoring ecosystems;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas the decarbonisation of the maritime and aviation sector is necessary to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law, sufficient time to adapt to such a transition should be given to the outermost regions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the outermost regions are highly dependent on transport, especially air and maritime connections, with additional costs with regard to the import and export of goods and the transport of passengers, and that, in the case of archipelagos, double insularity exacerbates these challenges;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the blue economy sector plays a vital role in the economic growth and prosperity of outermost regions, that, due to their insularity, are especially dependent on blue economy-based activities, such as maritime transport, shipping, and tourism, with ports being important hubs for the transport of goods and passengers;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas the tourism sector is highly important for the economies of these regions and that boosting this sector can have positive repercussions in terms of employment levels and economic growth;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic had severe negative impacts in the economies of the outermost regions, in particular sectors related with blue economy, of which outermost regions are highly dependent; whereas coastal and maritime tourism represents 60% of the employment in the blue economy and which needs highly qualified and skilled professionals; whereas the promotion of these “blue jobs” can boost the tourism sector and help in raising employment levels in the outermost regions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas the outermost regions, in the climate and energy transition, have great potential to develop key sectors such as sustainable mobility, renewable energy, and ecotourism;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Reiterates the need to ensure territorial cohesion of all outermost regions through maritime and air transport, which should not be affected by disproportionate high costs whether for passengers or goods;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the mainstreaming of the outermost regions and their specificities in future legislative acts, including, when appropriate, by conducting dedicated impact assessments; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure monitoring and reporting tools on the implementation of legislative measures in the outermost regions to assess their adequacy and tailor-made solutions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. PHighlights that, due to their particularities and needs, outermost regions need additional support to guarantee a just green transition, especially in the policies of the Fit for 55 package; points out that, taking into account the dependence of the outermost regions on air connections, flights ~~from th~~between an aerodrome located in an outermoset region~~s to the mainland of~~ of a Member State and an aerodrome located in anotheir re~~spective Member States should be exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System until 2030,~~gion of the EEA and flights performed between two aerodromes located within the same outermost region should be exempt from the EU Emissions Trading System until 2030; points out that, due to the dependence of these regions on maritime transport, a similar exemption until 2030 should apply to all voyages between a port located in an outermost region of a Member State and a port located in the same Member State, including ports within and between the outermost regions of the same Member State; and calls on the Commission to take into account the regions’ specific characteristics in the revision of all relevant legal acts, including the impacts of lifting such exemptions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Calls on the Commission to establish a specific transport programme of options, similar to the POSEI model, in addition to existing EU programmes, as a supplementary support to the outermost regions to face any potential negative impacts in the sector and increase in the costs of transport of passengers and goods;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to support the development of sustainable mobility in the outermost regions, promoting alternatives to fossil fuels and the modernisation and decarbonisation of port and airport infrastructures, including through an increase in investments;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3 c. Calls on the Commission, Member States and regional authorities to promote and ensure the diversification of transport modes, supporting the establishment of necessary infrastructures, such as bicycle and pedestrian lanes, taking into account outermost regions’ specificities, such as their orography;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Commission to support investments in tourism, to ensure EU funding for its recovery and sustainable development and to provide the sector with information on funding opportunities; recognises, in particular, the potential of ecotourism to reduce the environmental footprint of the sector, ensuring the protection of our climate and biodiversity, while contributing to the socioeconomic development of local communities in the outermost regions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls on the Commission to present an EU common policy on tourism that should ensure the resilience of the sector against the impacts of future pandemics or any kind of events that put in risk tourism activities, such as climate change, and should take into account the particular case of outermost regions;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Member States to unlock the potential of the outermost regions through appropriate investments and reforms and by supporting the green and digital transitions.; highlights that the outermost regions can be important players in these transitions, with the potential of being hubs for green and digital projects, towards an economic model that values sustainability and innovation;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Highlights the need to prepare contingency plans in the outermost regions for the transport sector, with a view to ensuring its resilience, especially in terms of infrastructure and public services, taking into account the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lessons learned, to avoid any future disruptions on essential services for passengers and goods, in particular in the case of sanitary crises, extreme weather events or conflicts such as the one on Ukraine;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2147(INI)

Sara CERDAS, Isabel CARVALHAIS, Carlos ZORRINHO, João ALBUQUERQUE, Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Margarida MARQUES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Highlights that the potential of the outermost regions can only be achieved through the cooperation of different stakeholders, including European, national, regional and local authorities, economic and social agents, the civil society, the academic community and nongovernmental organisations; highlights, in this regard, the positive contribution of the Conference of Presidents of Outermost Regions to identify priorities and challenges faced by these regions and incentivise further action; points out that collaboration between outermost regions is also essential to ensure an holistic approach which answers to their specific needs and the sharing of best practices;

2022/12/05
Committee: TRAN

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5

— having regard to the ~~action plan entitled~~ ‘Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security’, which was a~~pprov~~dopted by the Council on 21 March 2022 and endorsed by the European Council on 25 March 2022,

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8

— having regard to the ~~Response Force of the~~ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force (NRF),

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying multinational missions abroad in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, NATO, international organisations and third countries;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying m~~ultinational miss~~issions and operations abroad in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, international organisations and third countries;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying multinational missions abroad ~~in order~~ to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, and other international organisations and third countries;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas candidate and association countries have also contributed to CSDP missions;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Strategic Compass sets out EU-level action in many of these areas; whereas the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility are EU instruments which have already been deployed and that are designed to improve military capabilities and foster operational cooperation and burden- sharing abroad;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the European Defence Fund is an EU instrument which has already been deployed and is designed to improve military capabilities including regarding the industrial base;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

Hb. whereas the European Peace Facility is another off-budget EU instrument which has already been deployed and that is designed to improve our security architecture through reinforcing our Common Security and Defence Policy, foster operational cooperation and burden-sharing abroad;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the Battlegroup Concept has helped develop multinational defence cooperation and interoperability, as well as transformation for rapid deployment and force modernisation, yet, despite these benefits, the non-use of this asset over a period of 15 years has been politically embarrassing given the EU’s aspirations in this area, and raises questions over the justifiability of its costs;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas problems related to decision making and political will have structurally hampered the deployment of the EU Battlegroups since their creation in 2007;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas in cases when EU battlegroups have not been used, individual EU Member States have often acted outside the EU framework instead, either on their own or with other EU or non-EU states, inevitably constraining, if not undermining, the EU’s stated aspiration for ‘integration’ across policy tools, institutions and actors in pursuit of common interests and values also in foreign policy, and also excluding both formal and informal democratic oversight and scrutiny through the European Parliament;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas in cases when EU bBattlegroups have not been usdeployed, individual EU Member States have o~~ften~~ccasionally acted outside the EU framework instead, either on their own or with other EU or non-EU states;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas there has been confusion about the list of tasks for the Battlegroups;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

Jb. whereas the Battlegroups’ format has appeared insufficient to operate successfully in hostile environments and has also been considered not sufficiently adaptable to meet the variable needs of a range of crisis situations, while also the pace of political decision making and potential deployment have been criticised, particularly when compared with alternative national options to address quickly evolving problems on the ground;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)

Jc. whereas the ‘costs lie were they fall' principle for Battlegroup funding provides no incentive for troop contributing Member States to actually deploy them during their standby period; whereas this has been an underlying reason for vetoes in troop contribution by Member States; whereas the additional costs for the use of a Battlegroup are also not covered largely, if not wholly, by common funding, yet giving further reasons to Member States on why the Battlegroup should not be used during their rotation turn;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J d (new)

Jd. whereas the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Council have formally recognised financing of the Battlegroups as ‘the most significant obstacle; whereas evidence and previous examples suggest that it appeared to be much easier to come to a decision if there are no additional costs for nations involved;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital J e (new)

Je. whereas whenever Member States were unwilling to authorise the use of their Battlegroups despite a clear need, opportunity and feasibility to do so, they were not publicly called out and were allowed to save face; whereas this meant that each time the use of Battlegroups was discussed but did not materialise, a negative precedent was created that undermined the spirit of solidarity and cooperation; whereas instead of creating a virtuous circle whereby the successful use of the Battlegroup in one case would create political incentives and mutual obligations for their future use, a vicious circle emerged that eroded political willingness to use such asset;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital J f (new)

Jf. whereas the early years of the Battlegroups’ existence were marked by declining momentum for EU CSDP, particularly due to defence cuts after the 2008 financial crisis;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital J g (new)

Jg. whereas actual convergence among Member States in terms of threat priorities faced by the European Union and the need to be able to rapidly respond to them remained relatively limited; whereas the Strategic Compass considerably advances in this area through the common threat analysis, significantly addressing this issue;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas the Strategic Compass sets out a clear roadmap for implementing EU- level actions, ~~in particular for transforming the EU battlegroup system,~~by establishing a rRapid dDeployment cCapacity (RDC) building on substantially modified EU Battlegroups and paving the way towards entrusting the implementation of specific CSDP tasks to a group of Member States within the Union framework in accordance with Articles 42(5) and 44 of the TEU;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas the p~~ractical~~ossible implementation of Article 44 of the TEU, as well as the establishment and operation of the EU RDC, should be considered among the main aspects of the CSDP on which the Vice- President of the European Commission / High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) needs to regularly consult Parliament;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

Oa. whereas potential participants in such coalitions of the willing apparently feared that the cost-benefit calculation is not favourable enough to justify the expected loss of control over the key parameters of an operation;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital P

P. whereas, in line with Article 41 of the TEU and previous practice building on the experience of the European security and defence college, the administrative and operating expenditure for the RDC should be charged to the Union budget except for expenditure that is covered by the European Peace Facility, notwithstanding the possibility for participating Member States to make free- of-charge contributions to the RDC;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the VP/HR’s proposal, enshrined in the Strategic Compass, to establish anthe EU RDC; stresses the importance of the EU having the necessary capabilities and structures to take action rapidly and decisively during crises in order to serve and protect the Union’s citizens, interests and values across the world;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

Highlights that the RDC is a key element for the European Union's strategic autonomy and will represent a significant improvement of our capacities in security and defence; Highlights that the establishment of the RDC will create new security synergies and strengthen collective defence also in the relations with our partners;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – introductory part

2. Strongly encourages the VP/HR to propose ~~a Council Decision on~~the establishing an EU RDC to protect the Union’s values and serve its interests along the following lines:

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point a a (new)

(aa) The conceptual planning for the RDC should be focused, but not limited to, on crisis management tasks laid in TEU Article 43, but precepts of Article 42 and Solidarity Clause 222 should not be excluded;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point b

(b) The RDC’s tasks should include, but not be limited to, rescue and evacuation operations, initial entry and initial phase of stabilisation operations, temporary reinforcement of other missions, and acting as a reserve force to secure exit; the Council could assign further tasks as referred to under Article 44 of the TEU, and the duration and scope of the assignments should be consistent with resources allocated to the RDC; notes that flexibility should be introduced in task and scenario planning in order to be prepared to address all possible crisis situations;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point c

(c) The RDC should number at least 5 000 troops, excluding strategic enablers such as air and sea lift personnel, intelligence assets, special operations forces and medical evacuation and care units; the target number for the RDC should be at least between 7 000 and 10 000 troops in total; notes that an exact number of minimum troops can only be given after conceptual planners have analysed the potential scenarios;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d

(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO; further notes that the term ‘non- permissive environment’ can refer to a terrorist or a conventional threat, but could also include all kinds of hybrid threats, such as cyber-attacks, information warfare or even weapons of mass destruction; notes that the RDC is not limited to use in such environment but also in so-called permissive environments if decided to;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d

(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO; notes that the scenarios should cover, among others, two guidelines in the Strategic Compass: a) operations in a ‘non-permissive environment’, and b) the suggested role division with NATO and the related most likely geographical areas for the RDC to focus on;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d

(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises at the strategic, joint forces and tactical level, to be scheduled by the HR/VP, following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d a (new)

(da) The Commander of the RDC should the Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS) or a commanding officer with the same rank and it should be organised according to the common scheme of European multinational joint staffs;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point g

(g) Similarly, its operating expenditure should be funded from the Union budget with the exception of expenditure that is charged to the European Peace Facility; notes that EPF budget rules permit it, ‘if the Council so decides’; encourages the Council to decide positively in such cases;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point g a (new)

(ga) Since the RDC will be constituted of up to 10000 troops that will train and ultimately go into action together, the soldiers should be able to enjoy the same working and social rights;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Member States to transform the EU battlegroup system to match the needs of the RDC; considers that the EU battlegroups should be funded from the Union budget during their stand-up, stand-by and stand-down phases;deleted

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes that the increase in ambition of the RDC compared to Battlegroups is primarily in quality because it solves the shortfall of the Battlegroups, which lacked high readiness air and sea components and strategic enablers; considers that the RDC has great potential to substantially improve on the Battlegroups, strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy, and positively contribute to the EU’s integrated approach to security and peace;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Considers that the EU Battlegroup Concept suffers from structural design flaws as Battlegroup contributor nations on standby are supposed to act in relation to needs on the ground, and to protect the Union’s values and serve its interests as laid down in the EU’s Treaties, EU strategic documents and concrete policies, while in practice, Battlegroup contributor states still undertook national cost-benefit calculations each time a request for deployment was made, and did not hesitate to cast their veto even if they preferred to provide alternative justifications; calls on the Member States to transform the EU Battlegroup System to match the needs of the Capacity; considers that the EU Battlegroups should be funded from the Union budget during their stand-up, stand-by and stand-down phases;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Acknowledges that it is only natural that Member States have their own strategic cultures that may differ in important aspects, like perception of the most salient threats, willingness to use lethal force and accept risks, authorisation requirements and scrutiny by parliaments and public opinion, and attitudes towards key partners, but yet there needs to be further steps towards greater convergence over this issues given the common challenges the EU and its Member States face;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Calls for, insofar the EU RDC relies on rotating units and reformed Battlegroups, the rotation period of six months for Member States be extended to remove incentives on Member States to delay decision making when it is ‘their turn’, keeping in mind that smaller countries may not be able to maintain those long periods and should be allowed to rotate faster;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3e. Points out that more than 50% of the seven years budget of the EPF has already been spent towards assisting Ukraine counter the Russian invasion, with five more years to go, which can significantly frustrate the development and use of the RDC; notes therefore that decisions need to be taken on how to increase the budget in order to come back to the agreed levels for the remaining years while maintaining the necessary assistance to Ukraine;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3f. Calls on the Member States and EEAS to urgently address structural gaps in strategic enablers through utilising the EU Military Committee’s, European Defence Agency’s and EDF’s expertise and capacities in combination with coordinated efforts through the Permanent Structured Cooperation framework; stresses that these strategic enablers need to be tailor-made for the RDC’s needs and will be prioritised for its use; calls on the Commission and the HR/VP to also identify the financial needs to address those gaps;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3g. Highlights that the VP/HR should have a major role in synchronising actions with NATO such that the EU ambition is not frustrated by NATO and vice versa;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers that the bulk of the RDC modules should need to stay at a standard readiness level, except those for high urgency tasks; notes that, depending on the security situation, the MPCC could decide to increase the readiness of modules which might be necessary for a specific mission;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Notes that the EU RDC should also serve as a driver for capability development, in particular with regard to solving European shortfalls in the area of strategic enablers;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Points out that the EU should interact and coordinate with NATO in order to create synergies between the readiness categories of the EU RDC and the NATO Response Force;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Notes that given that the EU RDC deployment depends on the short notice availability of Communication and Information Structures (CIS), development of integrated CIS structures at the European level is advisable, including drawing on the EU's secure connectivity programme;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Considers that the EU Satellite Centre should provide their services and expertise to the EU RDC and calls for the future necessary arrangements to be made, including ensuring that adequate funding is made available to EUSatCen under the relevant headings of the Multiannual Financial Framework;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 f (new)

4f. Recalls that sustained investment in solving Europe’s military shortfalls should be sought by European collaboration also, instead of by only seeking national solutions, as it is a basic requirement to effectively realise the EU RDC and therefore to successfully contributing in developing the EU as a serious and credible geopolitical actor;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 g (new)

4g. Highlights that the aspirations expressed in the SC will only be met if Member States are able to increase their national defence capabilities;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Points out that the RDC should have permanent operational headquarters under the Military Planning and Conduct Capability ~~in order to ensure its effectiveness;~~ (MPCC), to ensure its effectiveness; stresses the need to bring the MPCC to full operational capacity and improve its capabilities through increasing the number of its permanent staff up to 350, relocating it to larger premises jointly with other CSDP-related structures such as the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre and the EUMS, and urgently develop a dedicated communication and information system for its needs; notes that is advisable to keep one or more national ‘High Readiness’ OHQs as a fall-back option to anticipate a scenario in which multiple crises present themselves at the same time;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points out that ultimately, the RDC should build-up on the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) towards a full architecture of Operation Headquarters (OHQ), able to conduct all EU military operations by offering the opportunity to centralise military and strategic command and control in Brussels, and allowing to coordinate also with actors responsible for civilian crisis management as well as having fluid interlocution with the EEAS and the European Commission;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Considers that, in order to avoid the risk of decisions about the creation and design of the RDC becoming disconnected from the core aspirations of the EU’s integrated approach, the HR/VP should regularly inform the European Parliament as stated in TEU Article 36, and the European Parliament should check and demand that all EU actions are sufficiently coordinated to maximise coherence and effectiveness;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for the EU RDC to have the possibility tof be~~ing~~ deployed and act in~~g in~~ case of emergenc~~ies~~y, natural disasters such as floods or wildfires, or other significant civil- protection criseis inside EU territory, where possible, at the proposal of the ~~VP/HR~~HR/VP, in close coordination with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and following the pertinent authorisation procedures;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Highlights the potential of the EU RDC to positively contribute to the Commission's RESCEU approach, especially in matters such as forest fire fighting inside EU territory;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Highlights the positive contribution of the European aerospace industry to our defence and civil protection capabilities, and in particular Airbus’ success in equipping the A400M as a firefighter tank plane, and the future FCAS system led by France, Germany and Spain;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – introductory part

7. Calls on the Member States ~~participating in the RDC~~ to agree to act in the name of the European Union as mandated by the Council under Article 44 of the TEU and to thereby use all the tools in the Treaty to increase credibility, flexibility, and efficiency of the EU’s crisis management:

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Considers that the political and economic incentives need to change in order to improve the prospects for using Article 44; calls for greater access to common funding for additional costs to Member States utilising Article 44 and greater flexibility concerning operational decisions and the drafting of the Crisis Management Concept and Operational Plan; suggests the use of scenarios to simulate potential use of Article 44 in advance and to clarify associated modalities;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Considers that incentives for the use of the RDC need to change in order to allow greater proportion of the costs to be carried from the EU common budget, or at least the costs which cannot be planned for; for the Council to provide more freedom to these coalitions for instance, by letting them write the operating plan, especially in situations when speed is essential; in making oversight requirements for operations proportionate and reasonable, rather than requiring such coalitions to seek a unanimous agreement for every small operational change; and ensuring that Article 44 covers the whole operation, not just parts of it;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Highlights that the use of Article 44 offers significant benefits compared to Member States acting outside the EU framework in situations where troop deployment needs to be rapid to prevent further escalation and where the risks to combat troops are at the higher end;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Highlights that the use of Article 44 offers significant benefits such as speed, flexibility and freedom of action, whilst preserving joint EU action compared to Member States acting outside the EU framework;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2145(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Member States and the RDC to follow the EU’s integrated approach to ensure effective coordination of an EU response throughout the different phases of a crisis or conflict, combining defence and security activities with development and diplomatic actions;

2022/12/01
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas recent years have shown a growing pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing journalists, in particular war correspondents and investigative journalists working to expose corruption; whereas this is a situation that requires urgent action to uphold the essential role of the independent media in ensuring transparency and accountability;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2022, 66 journalists were killed and 64 were reported missing; whereas, in line with the data published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 1,668 journalists have been killed worldwide in connection with their work between 2003 and 2022 and a total of 533 journalists are detained in accordance with RSF’s 2022 annual round-up of violence and abuses against journalists;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital R

R. whereas transparency of media ownership and funding is an absolute precondition for ensuring media pluralism and independent journalism;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital S

S. whereas female journalists face gender-specific forms of violence, such as sexual and online harassment; whereas online harassment and abuse are often highly sexualised, based not on the content of victims’ work, but on their physical traits, cultural backgrounds or private lives; whereas these threats may lead female journalists to self-censor and have a chilling effect on press freedom and freedom of expression; whereas experts have consistently found evidence that women are in the minority across media sectors, particularly in creative roles, and are severely underrepresented at senior decision-making levels; whereas misogyny behaviour and gender-based violence against women journalists online cannot be tolerated or normalised; whereas sexist hate speech is stigmatising, generates fear and shame, as well as psychological, professional and reputational damage, it also raises concerns related to digital privacy and security threats; whereas in extreme cases, online threats that are not criminalised can escalate to physical violence, harassment and abuse in offline contexts;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas in several countries, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are used by political and financial actors for the purpose of silencing critical voices or scaring journalists into halting investigations into corruption and other matters of public interest; whereas this is especially common in countries with defamation or libel laws that are easier to abuse, as well in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital U

U. whereas the spread of misinformation, fake news, propaganda and disinformation creates a climate of global scepticism among the population with regard to information in general, which exposes journalists to distrust and poses a threat to freedom of information, democratic debate and the independence of the media, and has increased the need for high-quality media sources; whereas the public online space of journalistic information needs to be distinguished from other online environments that don’t follow the same legislation, rules and ethics of journalism; whereas the online space should be regulated in order to protect journalists and citizens from propaganda, fake news and disinformation;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates its concern about the lack of specific legal or policy frameworks protecting journalists and media workers from violence, threats and intimidation at global scale; calls on public figures and authority representatives to refrain from denigrating journalists in public, as this undermines trust in the media across society; underlines the important role of journalists in reporting on protests and demonstrations and calls for them to be protected so that they can carry out their jobs without fear; calls on third countries to enact legislation and policies with the objective of preventing, protecting and prosecuting cases of repression of journalists, as well as to involve them in these processes so their experiences and knowledge can be reflected in the outcome;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Deplores the fact that journalists and media workers often work in precarious conditions, as well as temporary and unstable contracts, which compromises their ability to work in a safe and enabling environment; underlines the precarity of employment conditions for journalists, specially in times of conflict, where they are underpaid, overexploited and sent without the necessary protection; stresses that adequate working conditions for journalists and media workers are crucial to fostering high-quality journalism, allowing journalists to fulfil their missions and upholding the right to information and the right to be informed;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Recalls that media organizations worldwide have a duty of care towards journalists employed by them or producing the content these organizations acquire; underlines that journalists should receive the necessary training, particularly safety and first aid, from media organizations; stresses that special attention should be given to freelance and young journalists as this category is particularly increasing and many endure precarious labour and safety conditions;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Calls on media companies operating in third countries to respect due diligence and labour obligations regarding employed journalists, as well as those from which they acquire journalistic content; further stresses the importance of these companies respecting the rights and freedoms of their employees as well as ensuring minimum and dignified working conditions; recalls the importance of the EU corporate sustainability due diligence mechanism and its application to media companies in order to ensure human rights protection in this sector;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls the need to pay particular attention to satire and humour, which are used by press cartoonists to inform, promote democratic values, defend human rights and fundamental freedoms and protest against crime, corruption and abuses of power, and which are used in evidencing and combating censorship;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attempts by public authorities to silence independent media or undermine their freedom and pluralism; warns against practices that indirectly subdue such media by means of financial patronage and condemns, in particular, attempts to control media public service; deplores the adoption by third countries of so-called foreign agents laws which are being used to silence and repress journalism; stresses that the EU must uphold the protection of journalist and freedom of opinion and expression as one of its main priorities, and to this end, lead a pact and work in alliance with other democracies and like- minded partners;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Condemns the use of SLAPPs to silence or intimidate journalists and outlets and to create a climate of fear to suppress their reporting; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission proposal for a directive against SLAPPs targeting journalists in the EU, and asks the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to encourage third countries, principally like-minded partners who have not yet done so, to take similar initiative at national level and to engage on this matter at international level; calls for additional support in legal assistance for journalists being the target of SLAPPs, and for the EU to develop comprehensive guidelines for prosecutors tackling SLAPPs and to provide them and judges with training on the matter;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

~~12.~~ Welcomes actions aiming to raise ~~12.~~ awareness about the full range of EU and other international protection mechanisms and tools that can be urgently deployed in support of journalists in danger that are already available to EU/UN staff, organisations devoted to the protection of journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs); recalls the Member States that the humanitarian visas can be used as a mechanism of protection and safety of journalists in danger under circumstances of war or conflict;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Urges the EU, Member States and international organisations to further promote already-existing protection mechanisms and to ensure that they are known and accessible to journalists and relevant civil society organisations in third countries, paying special attention to those in remote areas;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Welcomes and encourages further projects resembling Reporters Without Borders’ digital vest app, which should be available in other EU languages besides Spanish, or the Hannah Arendt Initiative aiming at protecting journalists in situations of danger by setting-up an emergency program for averting immediate threats to media workers in their countries of origin in a targeted and rapid manner; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to support these sorts of initiatives and develop an early warning mechanism with tailor-made guidelines for journalists to follow when they are at risk;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Insists on enhancing collaboration between online platforms, governments and law enforcement authorities so as to effectively address the spread of messages that incite hatred or instigate violence towards journalists and media workers, taking into account the fact that women are particularly targeted; calls on the need to implement measures to protect journalists from online and gender-based violence on social media and other digital platforms; stresses the importance of promptly removing online comments or reactions that undermine the safety of journalists in order to curb their uncontrolled spread;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Insists on enhancing collaboration between online platforms and law enforcement authorities so as to effectively address the spread of messages that incite hatred or instigate violence towards journalists and media workers, taking into account the fact that women are particularly targeted; stresses the importance of promptly removing online comments or reactions that undermine the safety of journalists in order to curb their uncontrolled spread; urges third countries authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of online harassment and abuse;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the EU delegations and EU Member States’ diplomatic missions to apply the EU human rights guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline in a uniform and consistent manner as they pertain to protecting journalists and defending press freedom; strongly encourage the EEAS and Member States to undertake all efforts to promote, harness and share examples of good practices, especially with EU officials prior to assignments in third countries;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to always weigh the option of voiced public action against silent diplomacy; highlights the importance of building civil society’s understanding of the EU delegations’ modus operandi; encourages, in this regard, the EU delegations to make, to the extent possible, more public statements, both pre-emptively and in response to serious violations of or restrictions on the right to the freedom of opinion and expression; recalls the importance of the EU Delegations in this regard as those implementing the EU mechanism for protection of Human Rights Defenders, which includes journalists, as well as EU dedicated programmes to support independent media and journalists’ safety; highlights the need for the EEAS and the EU Delegations to count with the appropiate financial and personnel resources in order to better tackle the challenges that journalists face worldwide;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to further stregnhten their capacity building suppport by assisting third countries in developing and enacting legal frameworks favourable to the protection of journalists, freedom of expression and freedom of information;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on EU delegations, EU Member State diplomatic missions and like-minded partners to engage in proactive outreach to and support for journalist communities in third countries with a view to supporting their work and working conditions, to make regular assessments of the press freedom environment in each respective third country, including ongoing or emerging risks to journalists, and to seek ways to put in place either measures that could prevent abuses from occurring or protection measures, including providing demonstrable and visible moral support to journalists at risk; calls on both EU Delegations and Member States to provide additional financial and human resources to the protection of journalists;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Urges Member States to lead by example regarding the protection of journalists when performing their duties, and the concomitant observance of the human rights to freedom of expression and information that integrate the basis of democracy;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its entry into force in the EU on 21 January 2011 in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)

— having regard to the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliamentary Research Service European Implementation Assessment of 24 August 2022 of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 39 a (new)

— having regard to the Commission proposal of 14 September 2022 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 41 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 3 July 2018 on violation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the world, including land grabbing,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 43 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 10 March 2021 with recommendations to the Commission on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on global threats to abortion rights: the possible overturning of abortion rights in the US by the Supreme Court,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 b (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 7 July 2022 on the US Supreme Court decision to overturn abortion rights in the United States and the need to safeguard abortion rights and Women’s health in the EU,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 c (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on a new trade instrument to ban products made by forced labour,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 d (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2022 on intersectional discrimination in the European Union: the socio- economic situation of women of African, Middle-Eastern, Latin-American and Asian descent,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas environmental emergencies, including climate change and deforestation give rise to human rights violations not only against the people directly affected, but also against humanity as a whole; whereas it is important to recognise the link between human rights and environmental protection;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Insists that the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be the cornerstone of the Union’s external policy; recalls that the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 should be used as a roadmap of the EU’s priorities concerning human rights and therefore be at the centre of all EU external policies; strongly encourages the Union, to that end, to strive for a continued ambitious commitment to make the protection of human rights a central part of all EU policies in a streamlined manner and to enhance the consistency between the EU’s internal and external policies in this field;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 th~~e Russian armed forces at the EU’s borders~~is conflict; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 and civil society 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 the people seeking support in EU Member States;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Urges the EU and its Member States to intensify their efforts all over the world to support democracy and human rights; calls on the EU and its Member States, in this regard, both individually and in cooperation with like-minded international partners, to thwart unacceptable attempts to weaken democratic institutions and universal human rights, especially those that present authoritarian regimes as superior to democracies and diminish the space for and role of civil society; calls on the EU institutions, including the European External Action Service, to ensure EU and Member States human rights obligations are consistently implemented in the EU’s foreign policy; in this regard, encourages the EU to make use of all diplomatic tools, both privately and publicly, and both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, to raise human rights issues with partner country counterparts, including individual human rights defender cases;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; 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; 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; notes the importance of the project to create an European Diplomatic Academy that would prepare current and future EU diplomats to converge and be prepared to uphold common EU values including the foreign policies for human rights and democracy;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Fully supports the work of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights in defending and advancing human rights in the world through engagement with third countries and cooperation with like-minded partners, and his important role in enhancing the effectiveness of the EU’s human rights policies through efforts to increase their coherence; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EUSR for Human Rights and other EUSRs on countries and regions in order to further improve this consistency, and calls for greater visibility for the role of the EUSR for Human Rights; stresses the importance of placing human rights concerns at the heart of diplomatic relations with all counterparts, in particular with countries considered as strategic partners;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Stresses that, although the European Parliament upholds a degree of informal cooperation with the EEAS enhanced by Council Decision of 26 July 2010 and the “VP/HR's declaration of political accountability of 2010”, is necessary to further strengthen the framework of inter-institutional relations between this Parliament and the EEAS, including its delegations, on human rights issues; calls for a “Framework Agreement on the promotion and defence of human rights and democracy worldwide ”between the European Parliament and the EEAS; highlights the need for the European Parliament and the EEAS to develop together guidance notes for the implementation of EU Human Rights’ instruments, such as the EU Human Rights Guidelines or EU mechanisms on due diligence, fight against corruption, among others, in third countries;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes with 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 call for the Council and the Commission to carry out a prompt, 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, to provide the Special Envoy with adequate resources, and to adequately support the Special Envoy’s institutional mandate, capacity and duties; notes the challenges involved in the positioning of an EU human rights envoy outside the immediate authority of the EEAS, and therefore calls on the EU to consider repositioning the role to fit under the EEAS or, failing that, for an exceptionally close working relationship between the envoy and the EEAS; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6

EU human rights dialogues and other bilateral contacts with third countries

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; is alarmed by reports that open civil society consultations are not always organised ahead of such meetings, or that consultations are held very late in the process, when the EU position is already formed, and without giving proper notice to civil society organisations; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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, including trade policy, 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; urges all EU Delegations to ensure proper implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and systematically raise individual cases with authorities, request visits to detained HRDs, monitor trials, and go out to visit HRDs and their communities when they are based in remote areas outside of the capital city;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls on the EU to ensure that human rights obligations are consistently implemented in the EU’s foreign policy; in this regard, encourages the EU to make use of all diplomatic tools, both privately and publicly, and both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, to raise human rights issues with partner country counterparts, including individual human rights defender cases; stresses the importance of placing human rights concerns at the heart of the EU parliamentary activity, including by upgrading the Subcommittee on Human Rights to a stand-alone committee;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)

EU Delegations’ promotion and defence of human rights worldwide

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls to update the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines in order to provide them with more concrete requirements for action and detailed and concrete steps to protect human rights in the world, as well as more transparency in their implementation; calls to involve the European Parliament in every step of the update of the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines; considers of utmost importance to take every possible action to raise the profile of the abovementioned EU Guidelines in EU Delegations and missions;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. Regrets the cases of different approaches between EU Member States' embassies and EU Delegations on human rights protection and promotion in third countries, which is a shared commitment among EU Member States; underlines that EU Member States´ embassies should have as a priority to play an increasing role in promoting and protecting human rights, as well as supporting civil society in third countries, which should not be conducted only by EU Delegations in general;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11 c. Calls for EU Delegations to establish permanent human rights working groups that brings together Member States’ embassies and EU Delegations, incorporating as well representatives from other international and regional human rights actors in the respective third country;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7

EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime ~~(GHRSR-Magnitsky Act)~~

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the fact that the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime has been increasingly used as an essential tool that strengthens the EU’s role as a global human rights actor through the use of targeted sanctions by the Council; calls for the restrictive measures that have already been adopted to be implemented effectively and in full, and for the adoption of additional measures if necessary; reiterates its request for a legislative proposal to extend the scope of the GHRSR to include acts of corruption or, alternatively, for a proposal for a new thematic sanctions regime against serious acts of corruption in order to effectively target the economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers; reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the Council’s decisions and implementation of sanctions under the GHRSR; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Council to strive to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations for future targeted sanctions, as stipulated in its resolutions and elsewhere; welcomes the listings made in 2021 under the new GHRSR; calls on the European External Action Service and Member States to develop a strategy to improve the interplay between the GHRSR and geographical sanction regimes, in particular through prioritising the use of the global regime to tackle violations that cannot directly be linked to a state;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the fact that the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime has been increasingly used as an essential tool that strengthens the EU’s role as a global human rights actor through the use of targeted sanctions by the Council; calls for the restrictive measures that have already been adopted to be implemented effectively and in full, and for the adoption of additional measures if necessary; reiterates its request for a legislative proposal to extend the scope of the GHRSR to include acts of corruption or, alternatively, for a proposal for a new thematic sanctions regime against serious acts of corruption in order to effectively target the economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers; reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the Council’s decisions and implementation of sanctions under the GHRSR; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Council to strive to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations for future targeted sanctions, as stipulated in its resolutions and elsewhere; calls for the creation of an International Anti- Corruption Court;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Calls for the requirement to ratify the main human, labour rights and environmental conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)) before concluding Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) negotiations, for the respect of these conventions to be elevated to essential elements of FTAs and for dedicated clauses to be agreed; further calls for the substantive clauses of the FTAs to recognize that States Parties must respect, protect and realise human rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, customary law and the international conventions to which they are part; those should also expressly state that investors and companies have to respect international human rights law and domestic law that is not in contradiction to international standards; explicit reference should be made to due diligence in the supply chain;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Calls for the substantial enhancement of the quality of ex-ante and ex-post sustainability impacts assessments (SIA), when deploying impact assessments on human rights, the objective should be to ensure that the agreement being negotiated, in its detailed worded clauses, provides sufficient tools to avoid negative impacts on human rights; civil society organisations should be part of the Steering Committees; assessments should be conducted by human and labour rights experts, with a proven track record, and inputs from civil society should be taken into account;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Highlights that 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of Parliament’s decision to exert political leadership in committing to a major advancement in its democracy support activities, which it has implemented through a Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach since 2014; welcomes, in particular, its support for capacity-building for partner parliaments, mediation and fostering a culture of dialogue and compromise, including among young political leaders, as well as for empowering women parliamentarians, human rights defenders and representatives from civil society organisations and the free media; calls on the Commission to continue to pursue and step up its activities in these areas and to bolster funding and assistance for EU bodies and agencies, as well as other grant-based organisations; underlines that in the current context of heightened global tensions and repression in an increasing number of countries, direct support for civil society and people who express critical and dissenting opinions is of the utmost importance; stresses the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to consider updating the election observation methodology to reflect the developments of the last two decades; stresses the importance of providing the highest level of protection for local electoral observers and calls for enquiring about possible EU action in this respect; reiterates its call for the EU to closely collaborate with domestic and international organizations such as the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the endorsing organizations of the Declaration of Principles for international election observations;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 promoting this way the highest standards on human rights; 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, and to refrain from backwards steps that weaken human rights protections; stresses the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council to address all the grave violations of human rights around the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; highlights in this regard the need for adequate funding for all UN human rights bodies, notably the treaty bodies and special procedures; calls on the UN Secretary- General, to this end, to provide appropriate resources from the UN budget and urges the EU Member States to increase their voluntary contributions; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; considers that several human rights actors are not properly accounted in nowadays’ architecture of international organizations and multilateral fora; calls to move forward towards an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, which would strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to lead efforts in multilateral fora to promote the adoption of a universally- recognised definition of terrorism; further calls them to lead efforts in the context of the 8th UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review in 2023 to insert strong language recognising the negative impact counter-terrorism laws and policies have had on civic space and urging all states to take the necessary steps to reform or repeal their counter-terrorist legislation to ensure it does not negatively impact civil society and human rights defenders; urges the EU and its Member States to lead efforts within UN fora to establish a constructive dialogue with civil society and human rights defenders, and ensure they are meaningfully involved at all stages of the development and implementation of counter-terrorist policies;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Is deeply concerned by growing attacks against the rules-based global order by authoritarian regimes, including undermining the functioning of UN bodies; underlines that the diminished effectiveness of these bodies brings with it real costs in terms of conflicts, lives lost and human suffering, and seriously weakens the general ability of countries to deal with global challenges; calls on the EU Member States and like-minded partners to intensify their efforts to reverse this trend; underlines the need to carry out an impartial, fair and transparent review of the applications for consultative status on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) by non-governmental organisations (NGOs); urges the EU and Member States to participate in the General Debate and urge the ECOSOC members to continue to address the unjustified obstacles for NGOs to obtain their ECOSOC accreditation, in particular those whose applications have been pending for a very long time; Or.

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Strongly condemns authoritarian and illiberal regimes attempts to challenge the universality of human rights; highlights that these regimes seek to undermine human rights by relativize them and claiming them to be a weapon of cultural hegemony deployed by Western countries; stresses that the EU must uphold the defence of the universality of human rights as a main priority, and work in alliance with like- minded partners and human rights defenders worldwide;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

~~19. Strongly condemns and is deeply concerned by the serious violations of international humanitarian law by Russian armed forces in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;~~deleted

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Strongly welcomes the continuous contribution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the fight against impunity; calls for the EU and its Member States to provide the ICC with sufficient support to enable it to carry out its work; reiterates its condemnation of continuous efforts to undermine the legitimacy and work of the ICC by authoritarian and illiberal regimes and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue their efforts to counter them; welcomes the ~~fact that the EU has provided support for the very first time to the ICC’s investigation capacities~~EU and EU Member States unprecedented support for the role of the ICC and calls on EU member states to match this commitment to the~~lp it scale up its investigations into war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine~~ sustainable funding needed to deliver justice in all situations that come before the Court;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Strongly welcomes the continuous contribution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the fight against impunity; calls for the EU and its Member States to provide the ICC with sufficient support to enable it to carry out its work; reiterates its condemnation of continuous efforts to undermine the legitimacy and work of the ICC by authoritarian and illiberal regimes and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue their efforts to counter them, and respond to threats and sanctions against human rights defenders cooperating with the Court; welcomes the fact that the EU has provided support for the very first time to the ICC’s investigation capacities to help it scale up its investigations into war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive EU action plan on fighting impunity, which, among others, should include a chapter on ~~Ukraine~~the important role of civil society organisations in the struggle against impunity and the need for their protection, on all situations that require it and on measures to fight impunity for gender-based and sexual and reproductive rights violations in conflict settings; calls for the EU and its international partners to make full use of all relevant instruments to fight impunity, including support for universal jurisdiction at national level, special tribunals at a national and international level including for the crime of aggression, as well as establishing flexible cooperation and funding mechanisms to swiftly collect and analyse evidence of crimes; calls on the Commission to ensure that these instruments are applied in a coordinated and complementary manner with other relevant EU and Member State instruments; reiterates its commitment to providing all possible assistance to ensure accountability for atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine and provide effective remedies for the damages suffered by Ukrainian civilians;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive EU action plan on fighting impunity, which should include a chapter on Ukraine; notes in this regard the adoption by Parliament and the Council of the pilot project on the European Observatory on the Fight against Impunity; calls for the EU and its international partners to make full use of all relevant instruments to fight impunity, including support for universal jurisdiction at national level, special tribunals at a national and international level including for the crime of aggression, as well as establishing flexible cooperation and funding mechanisms to swiftly collect and analyse evidence of crimes; calls on the Commission to ensure that these instruments are applied in a coordinated and complementary manner with other relevant EU and Member State instruments; reiterates its commitment to providing all possible assistance to ensure accountability for atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine and provide effective remedies for the damages suffered by Ukrainian civilians;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; urges the EU and its Member States to defend abolition in all international forums and advocate for the widest possible support for this position; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; calls for transparency around death sentences and executions in countries which do not disclose these statistics; 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;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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 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; recognises the importance of civil society organisations and human rights defenders in the fight against torture and other forms of ill-treatment;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is deeply concerned about the long- term negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the general state of democracy and human rights worldwide; highlights the disproportionate adverse impact on groups in most vulnerable situations, including women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly, LGBTIQ persons, impoverished people, persons belonging to ethnic, belief and religious minorities, refugees and migrants and persons in prison or detention; is further concerned about delays and barriers in access to health services, among them, sexual and reproductive health services and the consequent increase in unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and maternal and neonatal deaths; praises the role that human rights defenders and journalists have played, sometimes even risking their lives, in reporting or attempting to prevent human rights violations during the pandemic;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is deeply concerned about the long- term negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the general state of democracy and human rights worldwide; highlights the disproportionate adverse impact on groups in most vulnerable situations, including women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly, LGBTIQ persons, impoverished people, persons belonging to ethnic, belief and religious minorities, refugees and migrants and persons in prison or detention; praises the role that human rights defenders and journalists have played, sometimes even risking their lives, in reporting or attempting to prevent human rights violations during the pandemic; regrets the use of the COVID-19 prevention measures as an excuse to deny visits of family members or lawyers to detention facilities and to violate the rights of the detainees;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that personal liberty and freedom of assembly are cornerstones of democracy; is deeply concerned by the growing use of mass surveillance technologies ~~by authoritarian regimes~~ to curtail these freedoms, which increased further under the guise of COVID-19 prevention measures; calls for a strict and effective ban on sales of mass surveillance technologies ~~to authoritarian regimes~~; calls for a greater response to the mass infiltration of disinformation and conspiracy theories within the digital sphere, perpetuated largely but not exclusively by authoritarian regimes;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure full enjoyment of human rights by women and their equal treatment with men, including the right to education, movement and freedom of expression, thought and religion; underlines that women continue to be the main victims in violent crises and that sexual ~~and~~, gender-based and reproductive violence has continued in many places around the world, notably being used in armed conflicts as a weapon of war; calls for more concerted efforts to eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and fight impunity of the perpetrators of such violence; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation; stresses that women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawyers have been particularly targeted, with online harassment and intimidation increasing rapidly jointly with ongoing threats and attacks; highlights the increase in domestic violence and setbacks to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in both developing and developed countries and calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support the right of women to bodily integrity, dignity and autonomous decision-making;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure full enjoyment of human rights by women and their equal treatment with men; underlines that women continue to be the main victims in violent crises and that sexual and gender-based violence has continued in many places around the world, notably being used in armed conflicts as a weapon of war; calls for more concerted efforts to eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and fight impunity of the perpetrators of such violence; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation; stresses that women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawyers have been particularly targeted, with online harassment and intimidation increasing rapidly; highlights the increase in domestic violence and setbacks to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in both developing and developed countries and calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support the right of women to bodily integrity, dignity and autonomous decision-making; reiterates the need for robust action to ensure the full implementation of GAP III and recalls that GAP III specify that 85% of official development assistance (ODA) should go to programmes that have gender equality as a significant or principal objective;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 17 a (new)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Regrets that the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and compliance with international human rights obligations and commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals remains lacking; recalls the need for States to guarantee access to comprehensive SRHR services, including modern contraceptive methods, safe and legal abortion, maternal, prenatal and postnatal healthcare, assisted reproduction, and access to SRHR information and education, including comprehensive sexuality education, without any form of discrimination; acknowledges important progress on SRHR including legislation of access to abortion, victories defeating attempts to pass retrogressive legislation, and praises the important work of civil society and human rights defenders in that regard; strongly condemns roll backs of existing SRHR entitlements in both developing and developed countries, which are contrary to human rights obligations under the principle of non- retrogression; expresses concern regarding laws, policies and practices that continue to deny or restrict SRHR in many countries worldwide; calls for further strengthening of legal rights and protections and removal of barriers to access SRHR globally and in the EU and its Member States and reiterates its call to include the right to safe and legal abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights; stresses the European Parliamentary Research Service European Implementation Assessment of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders which affirms that women human rights defenders working on SRHR represent one of the most dramatically repressed strands of global activism, and as such calls on the EU and its Member States to publicly and privately condemn attacks and threats against human rights defenders working in this area, proactively ensure adequate representation of SRHR defenders in consultations, and financially support their work; calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support and promote SRHR, including access to abortion, in multilateral and bilateral relations in accordance with international human rights law and standards;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights throughout the EU’s external policies; calls for more concerted efforts to protect children’s rights in crisis or emergency situations and welcomes the Council conclusions on this subject; expresses concern that the growing number of such crisis situations around the world, coupled with the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to increasing violations of child rights around the world, including violence, early and forced marriage, sexual abuse including genital mutilation, trafficking, child labour, child forced labour, recruitment as child soldiers, a lack of access to education and healthcare, malnutrition and extreme poverty; highlights the need to create paths of reintegration and reparation to children that have been victims of violations of their rights and that the UN Agenda on Children and Armed Conflict must be streamlined into all of the EU’s external policies; stresses the disproportionate and long-term effects of food insecurity on children, which directly affects not only their health and development but also their education, as well as increasing the outrageous practice of child marriage; stresses that 2021 was the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour and recalls the EU’s zero tolerance policy on this practice;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that the right to education has suffered particular setbacks, with unparalleled disruptions to education due to COVID-19 but also to religious extremism and gender discrimination against girls; recalls that every child has the right to comprehensive sexuality education that is non-discriminatory, evidence-based, scientifically accurate and age-appropriate; calls for the EU to step up its work to provide access to education, including innovative ways to circumvent the obstacles imposed by national authorities; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to step up their support for third countries to help them adapt to the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of education; stresses that support could take the form of an increased funding allocation through NDICI – Global Europe, but could also include providing capacity- building and best practices based on the lessons learned through the EU delegations worldwide;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. ~~Welcomes the adop~~Calls for a systematic implementation of the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021- 2030 ~~as a tool~~ to improve the ~~situation~~rights of persons with disabilities worldwide, particularly poverty and discrimination, but also problems with access to education, healthcare and employment and participation in political life; underlines th~~at the duty of caring for p~~e need for a structured dialogue with Organisations of Persons with dDisabilities ~~is commonly borne by their families and calls for the EU to assist third countries in the development of policies in support of carers for persons with disabilities;~~ (OPDs) in partner countries to ensure a meaningful participation and successful involvement in planning, implementation and monitoring of EU programmes; calls for investment, training, and capacity building of EU delegations to implement the articles 11 (humanitarian action) and 32 (international cooperation) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which the EU ratified in 2011; calls on the Member States to implement legislative measures that safeguard physical integrity, freedom of choice and self-determination with regard to the sexual and reproductive life of persons with disabilities, as directed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Underlines that human rights, a healthy environment and combating climate change are dependent on one another; calls for progress towards the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as laid out in Resolution 48/13 of the UN Human Rights Council, and stresses its appreciation for the peaceful work undertaken by environmental human rights defenders including land defenders and their lawyers, as well as indigenous activists, to preserve and safeguard such an environment despite the threat of violence and the risk to their lives; recognises, moreover, the important role of civil society organisations, including environmental faith-based organisations, as well as indigenous peoples for their invaluable work in the preservation of the environment; stresses that climate change also undermines the enjoyment of other human rights, including the right to food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, health, adequate housing, self-determination, work and development; draws attention, furthermore, to the risks posed by climate change to peace and security, as food insecurity and water scarcity can lead to competition over natural resources and then to instability and conflicts within and between states;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their contribution to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss globally, in particular by ensuring that goods imported by the EU are produced in accordance with human rights protected under international law, including the rights of indigenous people, ~~and do not contribute to deforestation or damage to natural ecosystems~~ethnic minorities and environmental rights defenders, and do not contribute to the destruction or damage of natural ecosystems with actions such as deforestation, pollution or waste spillages; highlights that least developed countries are the most vulnerable to climate change, as they find it hardest to withstand its devastating impacts, despite producing fewer greenhouse gases than richer countries, which are less likely to be as impacted by climate change;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
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; calls for the substantive clauses of the trade agreements to recognize that States Parties must respect, protect and realise human rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, customary law and the international conventions to which they are part; condemns in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights and environmental defenders in countries with which the EU has concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs); highlights that these crackdowns are illustrations of the way these countries’ authorities maintain civil society under threat, in blatant violation of both their human rights international obligations and essential elements of the FTAs and Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) concluded with the EU;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

The head of management and the members of the governing board of public service media providers shall be appointed through a transparent, open and non-discriminatory procedure, aimed at achieving a gender balanced representation, and on the basis of transparent, objective, non- discriminatory and proportionate criteria laid down in advance by national law.

2023/05/09
Committee: LIBE

Pietro BARTOLO, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Isabel SANTOS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – title

Structured ~~dialogue~~cooperation

2023/05/09
Committee: LIBE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Stresses the need to safeguard the rights of minorities and inclusion of vulnerable populations; calls for stronger country-wide human rights and anti- discrimination strategies and the implementation of an independent body to deal with human rights violations and issues; urges the prevention and proactive prosecution of hate crimes, hate speech and disinformation as well as gender-based and sexual violence;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes Albania’s long-standing proven commitment to hosting refugees; recalls the authorities’ obligation to ensure due asylum process and to address the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; calls on the EU to boost its support for humanitarian assistance in the region, to be conducted in full respect of the fundamental rights; notes the continued reduction of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals and the fulfilment of visa liberalisation benchmarks;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

3. Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 and to urgently implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexistence; ~~call~~insists on the ~~Azerbaijani authorities to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric which threatens to undermine the peace process~~urgent need to refrain from any hostile rhetoric or actions that may be perceived as inciting hatred or outright violence or as supporting impunity, or that risk undermining the efforts to establish and promote an atmosphere conducive to trust and reconciliation, cooperation and sustainable peace;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

3a. Urges the governments of both countries to fully engage in the drafting of a peace treaty that should address the security of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of internally displaced persons and refugees and the protection of cultural, religious and historical heritage; welcomes in this regard the meetings of the foreign affairs ministers of both countries;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

A. whereas independent journalism and access to pluralistic information are key pillars of democracy; whereas civil society is essential for any democracy to thrive and the shrinking of the space available for civil society work can negatively impact democracies;

2021/07/15
Committee: JURI LIBE

2021/2036(INI)

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas, in October 2020, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, appealed to the Government of India to safeguard the rights of human rights defenders and NGOs, raising concerns over shrinking space for civil society organizations, detention of human rights defenders and charges against people that simply exercised their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as over the use of laws to stifle dissent, such as Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas restrictions on communications and clampdowns on civil society activists in Indian-administered Kashmir remain of serious concern, while despite recent restoration of 4G access for mobile phones, the communications blockade has seriously hampered civic participation, livelihoods, educations and access to health-care and medical information as reported during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 26 February2021;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

B c. whereas various UN experts have called on India to release students, protest leaders and human rights defenders detained for protesting against changes to Indian laws and policies and raised concerns over use of terrorism charges to silence human rights defenders;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)

B d. whereas Amnesty International was compelled to close its offices in India after its bank accounts were frozen over alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) while the three UN special rapporteurs have called for amending the law in line with India’s rights and obligations under international law;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t

t) address the human rights situation and challenges faced by civil society in particular concerns raised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteurs, in its dialogue with the Indian authorities, including at summit level; encourage India, as the world’s largest democracy, to demonstrate its commitment to respecting and protecting fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, to end attacks against - and to release arbitrarily detained - human rights defenders, students and journalists, including in the Indian- administered part of Kashmir, ~~to repeal laws that may be used to silence dissent, and to ensure accountability for human rights violations;~~

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t a (new)

t a) to put pressure on the Indian government to: - repeal or amend laws used to silence dissent and restrict the ability of civil society organisations to function effectively, including the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, the counterterrorism law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and the sedition and criminal defamation laws and allow civil society organisations and human rights defenders to work freely without fear of reprisals, to unfreeze the accounts of Amnesty International India and to cease all harassment of its staff; - Implement police reform as recommended by the Supreme Court of India, including the establishment of a complaint mechanism to address police abuse, strictly enforcing existing laws and guidelines on arrest and detention; - Ratify and ensure thorough implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; - Take immediate steps to eliminate abuses against Dalits, tribal groups, religious minorities, and other marginalized communities, providing concrete plans to implement laws and government policies to secure their protection, and ensuring development programs reach target groups; - Suspend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, revising the draft bill on data protection to ensure it is line with international standards on safeguarding the right to privacy of users and other human rights, and is accompanied by surveillance reform; - End the use of blanket internet shutdowns and enhancing transparency on the way shutdown orders are issued and extended; - Reinstate the death penalty moratorium with a view to permanent abolition of capital punishment; - Institute an effective monitoring mechanism that oversees the implementation of laws dealing with sexual violence against women and children, including failures in police accountability; - Ratify and implement the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment,2019, No. 190, taking steps toward effective prevention measures, including special attention to sectors with heightened risk of violence and harassment, such as domestic work;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/2023(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Tonino PICULA, Katarina BARLEY, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)

u a) to urge India to develop a National Action Plan on business and human rights in order to fully implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, recalling the responsibilities for all companies to respect human rights in their value chains, and to encourage India to participate actively for a UN binding treaty for corporate responsibility on human rights;

2021/03/22
Committee: AFET

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2

(2) The Union continues to be concerned with the rise in environmental criminal offences and their effects, which undermine the effectiveness of Union environmental legislation. These offences are moreover increasingly extending beyond the borders of the Member States in which the offences are committed. Such offences pose a threat to the environment as well as to the human health and, therefore, call for an appropriate ~~and~~, effective and timely response.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16 a (new)

(16 a) Where the crimes are of such nature that cause a serious damage to the environment, such acts amount to the crime of ecocide, which has been defined as unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused. Member States should, therefore, take the necessary measures to introduce in their national legislations a definition of the crime of ecocide.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 21

(21) Member States should define the scope of administrative and criminal law enforcement clearly with regard to environmental offences according to their national law. In the application of national law transposing this Directive, Member States should ensure that the imposition of criminal sanctions and of administrative sanctions respects the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the pr~~ohibition~~inciple of ne bis in idem.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25 a (new)

(25 a) The protection of the environment is also carried out by environmental defenders, who play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change and fighting against biodiversity loss. For their actions, they face threats, harassment, and violent attacks. Member States have, therefore, an obligation to protect their rights and ensure accountability for such attacks.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 29

(29) To ensure successful enforcement, Member States should make available effective investigative tools for environmental offences such as those which exist in their national law for combating organised crime or other serious crimes. These tools should include among others the interception of communications, covert surveillance including electronic surveillance, controlled deliveries, the monitoring of bank accounts and other financial investigation tools. These tools should be applied in line with the principle of proportionality and in full respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including with the right to the respect for private and family life, and the protection of personal data. In accordance with national law, the nature and gravity of the offences under investigation should justify the use of these investigative tools. ~~The right to the protection of personal data must be respected.~~

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 30 a (new)

(30 a) Considering the financial relevance and cross-border nature of environmental crimes, the EPPO would be the best placed body for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment the perpetrators of such crimes. To this end, the Commission should produce a report, assessing the possibility to extend its mandate, as provided for in Article 86 (4) TFEU, in order to include serious environmental crimes that are detrimental to the interests of the Union or affect the consistent application of EU policies related to the protection of the environment.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point r a (new)

(r a) any other unlawful acts or omissions, committed by natural or legal persons, that cause or are likely to cause a substantial damage to the environment.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)

(e a) monetary value of the damage.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point d a (new)

(d a) the financial benefit gained by committing the offence.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 a (new)

Article 3 a Ecocide Member States shall take the necessary measures to introduce in their national legislation a definition of the crime of ecocide, which shall be defined as unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4

4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) ~~points (a) to (j), (n), (q), (r)~~ are punishable by fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 512% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. The maximum limit of fines shall be extended to 25% in cases of offences with aggravating circumstances as referred to in Article 8, and in the case of ecocide.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5

5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) points (k), (l), (m), (o), (p) are punishable by fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 3% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision.deleted

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0422(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ~~ensure that protection granted~~provide for early warning mechanisms aimed at identifying high risk situations, as well as to ensure protection to natural persons and to their families under Directive (EU) 2019/1937, ~~is applicable to~~and to legal persons reporting criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive.

2022/11/08
Committee: LIBE

2021/0297(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) The Commission and where appropriate the European External Action Service should monitor the status of ratification of the international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance and their effective implementation, by examining the relevant information, in particular where available the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies established under those conventions. Every t~~hree~~wo years, the Commission should present to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the status of ratification of the respective conventions, the compliance of the beneficiary countries with any reporting obligations under those conventions, and the status of the implementation of the conventions in practice.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 11 a (new)

(11 a) "human rights due diligence obligations" refers to the responsibility of business enterprises to respect human rights and to protect against human rights abuse by business as set in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in 2011. The responsibility of business enterprises to respect human rights refers to internationally recognized human rights – understood, at a minimum, as those expressed in the International Bill of Human Rights and the principles concerning fundamental rights set out in the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)

The plan of action referred to in paragraph 1 point d) shall: (a) contain a schedule for the implementation of Article 12 (the ‘tariff suspension schedule’), based on benchmarks against which the progress in the implementation of the relevant conventions is assessed; (b) be jointly agreed with the Commission for a period of two years; (c) serve as a basis for the report referred to in Article 14; (d) be publicy available.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1

1. The Common Customs Tariff ad valorem duties on all products listed in Annex III and Annex VII, which originate in a GSP+ beneficiary country, shall be suspended according to the tariff suspension schedule referred to in Article 9(2).

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1

1. By 1 January 2027, and every t~~hree~~wo years thereafter, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the status of ratification of the relevant conventions, the compliance of the GSP+ beneficiary countries with any reporting obligations under those conventions and the status of the effective implementation thereof.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3

3. WAt the request of the European Parliament or where, either on the basis of the conclusions of the report referred to in Article 14 or on the basis of the evidence available, including evidence submitted through a complaint, the Commission has a reasonable doubt that a particular GSP+ beneficiary country does not respect its binding undertakings as referred to in Article 9, points (d), (e) and (f), or has formulated a reservation which is prohibited by any of the relevant conventions or which is incompatible with the object and purpose of that convention as established in Article 9, point (c), it shall, in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2), adopt an implementing act to initiate the procedure for the temporary withdrawal of the tariff preferences provided under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council thereof.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. 1. The preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2) may be withdrawn temporarily, fully or partially, in respect of all or of certain products, or of economic sectors, originating in a beneficiary country, for any of the following reasons:

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)

(a a) the beneficiary country fails to show effective implementation of the plan of action ;

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

(b a) When the Commission, acting upon a complaint or on its own initiative, considers that there may be sufficient grounds justifying temporary withdrawal of the tariff preferences provided under any preferential arrangement referred to in Article1(2) on the basis of the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 19 a) or b), the Commission may before publishing the notice referred § 4 art 19 enhance its engagement with the partner country and negotiate a dedicated and timebound action plan to remedy the violations including through a full cooperation with the UN human rights and labour rights monitoring mechanisms.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point b b (new)

(b b) when the Commission decides to withdraw a preferential arrangement to a beneficiary country in a particular economic sector, in application of article 19 (a and b) the commission may publish a list of companies, EU importers and local suppliers, that may still benefit from preferences. This list should be established based on the evidences provided by companies that they fully implemented their human rights due diligence obligations and that they have a supply chain free from human rights violations. The companies should agree on having the evidences and informations published for public scrutiny and civil society consultation.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3

3. WAt the request of the European Parliament or where the Commission, acting upon a complaint or on its own initiative, considers that there armay be sufficient grounds justifying temporary withdrawal of the tariff preferences provided under any preferential arrangement referred to in Article 1(2) on the basis of the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article it shall adopt an implementing act to initiate the procedure for temporary withdrawal in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the adoption of that implementing act.

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 10

10. Where the Commission considers that the findings justify temporary withdrawal for the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 36, to amend Annex I and Annex II, in order to temporarily withdraw the tariff preferences provided under the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). ~~In adopting the delegated act the Commission may, where appropriate, consider the socio-economic effect of the temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences in the beneficiary country.~~

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Article 40 – paragraph 1

By 1 January 2027 and every t~~hree~~wo years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the effects of the scheme covering the most recent t~~hree-~~ wo-year period and all of the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2).

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0297(COD)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Giuliano PISAPIA

Proposal for a regulation
Annex VI – paragraph 1 – point a (new)

(a) First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

2021/12/15
Committee: AFET

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) The Schengen area without border control at internal borders relies on the effective and efficient application by the Member States of the Schengen acquis. That acquis comprises measures in the area of external borders, compensatory measures for the absence of controls at internal borders and a strong monitoring framework, which together ~~facilitat~~ensure free movement and ~~ensures~~ a high level of security, justice and protection of fundamental rights, including the protection of personal data.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) The identification of a serious deficiency requires a thorough case-by- case assessment on the basis of clear criteria regarding the nature, scale and potential impact of the problems, which may be different for each policy area. Different key elements for the effective implementation of the Schengen acquis and different combination of factors could lead to the classification of a finding as a serious deficiency. However, if it is considered that a shortcoming identified is or in a short-term has the potential of putting the overall functioning of the area without internal border control at risk, or have a significant negative impact on fundamental rights or the rights of individuals, such shortcoming is to be regarded as a serious deficiency. Where a serious deficiency in the carrying out of external border control is identified in an evaluation report, Articles 21 and 29 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council37 may apply. _________________ 37 Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ L 77, 23.3.2016, p. 1).

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28

(28) The classification status of the evaluation and revisit reports should be determined in accordance with the applicable security rules set out in Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/44438 . The evaluated Member State should ~~nevertheless~~in exceptional cases only retain the possibility to request the classification of all or parts of the report in accordance with the applicable security rules. _________________ 38 Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444 of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53).

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

1. This Regulation establishes an evaluation and monitoring mechanism for the purpose of ensuring that Member States apply the Schengen acquis effectively, ~~thereby contributing to~~in order to ensure a well-functioning area without internal border controls, in full respect for fundamental rights.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 3

3. Evaluations may cover all aspects of the Schengen acquis ~~and~~, shall always include a fundamental rights assessment, and may take into account the functioning of the authorities that apply the Schengen acquis.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d

(d) ‘unannounced evaluation’ means an evaluation, which is not included in the multiannual and annual evaluation programmes, and which is carried out without any prior notice, to verify the application of the Schengen acquis by one or more Member States in one or more policy fields;

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

(d a) "evaluation on short-notice" means an evaluation, which is not included in the multiannual and annual evaluation programmes, to verify the application of the Schengen acquis by one or more Member States in one or more policy field, and in respect of which the Member State or Member States in question receive a maximum of 24 hours advance notice.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point i

(i) ‘serious deficiency’ means one or more deficiencies which concern the effective application of key elements of the Schengen acquis, including upholding the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and which individually or in combination, have, or risk to have over time, a significant negative impact on freedom of movement, the rights of individuals, or on the functioning of the Schengen area;

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point k a (new)

(k a) 'Union observer' means an expert designated by a Union institution, body, office or Agency to participate, as an observer, in an evaluation of a Member State, a visit or revisit of a Member State

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3

3. The Member States and the Commission shall cooperate fully at all stages of evaluations in order to ensure the effective implementation of this Regulation, while ensuring that the European Parliament is kept fully informed of all substantive developments.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

They shall ensure that the Commission and the teams carrying out evaluation and monitoring activities are able to perform their tasks effectively, in particular by granting the possibility to the Commission and the teams to address individually and directly relevant persons and by providing full and unimpeded access to all areas, premises and documents to which access has been requested, including national and internal guidelines and instructions, also classified ones.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(c a) Evaluations at short-notice

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a

(a) to evaluate practices at internal borders, in particular where internal border controls have been in place for longer than four months;

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) when it has grounds to consider that a Member State is seriously neglecting its obligations under the Schengen acquis, in~~cluding~~ particular allegations of serious fundamental rights violations at the external borders.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. When it has received or is aware of multiple reports from external sources regarding allegations of fundamental rights violations at the external borders of a Member State, the Commission shall organise an unannounced evaluation of that Member State.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Evaluations may cover any aspect of the Schengen acquis, including the effective and efficient application by the Member States of accompanying measures in the areas of external borders, visa policy, the Schengen Information System, data protection, police cooperation, judicial cooperation, as well as the absence of border control at internal borders. All evaluations shall comprise an assessment of compliance with fundamental rights in the context of the aspects covered.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1

Evaluations and monitoring activities referred to in Articles 4 and 5 may be carried out by means of announced or unannounced visits, or visits at short- notice, and questionnaires or other remote methods where physical visits are not feasible or are unnecessary.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1

1. By 31 August each year, Frontex shall submit to the Commission ~~and~~, the Member States, and the European Parliament a risk analysis in view to the annual evaluation programme referred to in Article 13 of this Regulation.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

2. The risk analysis referred to in paragraph 1 shall cover all ~~relevant aspects related to~~aspects of European integrated border management, as laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896, and include a fundamental rights component, and it shall also contain recommendations for unannounced visits in the following year, irrespective of the order of Member States to be evaluated each year, as established in the multiannual evaluation programme in accordance with Article 12.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)

Article 9 a Cooperation with the Fundamental Rights Agency In accordance with Article 4(1)(a) and (d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007, the Fundamental Rights Agency shall submit, by 31 August each year, conclusions on its overall fundamental rights assessment in relation to the implementation of the Schengen acquis with a view to providing to the Commission when drawing up the annual evaluation programme referred to in Article 13.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall use the results of relevant mechanisms and instruments, including evaluation and monitoring activities of Union bodies, offices and agencies which are involved in the implementation of the Schengen acquis and of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights as well as of independent national monitoring mechanisms and bodies and other national quality control mechanisms in preparing the evaluation and monitoring activities, in determining the need for unannounced evaluation or evaluations at short-notice, to improve awareness on the functioning of the Schengen area and to avoid the duplication of efforts and conflicting measures.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1

In the programming and implementation of the evaluations and monitoring activities, in particular in determining the need for unannounced evaluations in accordance with Article 4(2) and Article 4(2a), the Commission shall take into account information provided by third parties, including independent authorities, non- governmental organisations and international organisations.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part

3. The multiannual evaluation programme shall identify ~~the specific priority area~~, in accordance with Article 4(2b), those aspects of the Schengen Acquis to be covered by the periodic evaluations and shall include a provisional time-schedule of those evaluations.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

The Commission shall make the replies available to the other Member States and to the European Parliament.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. The Member States and the Commission, in cooperation with relevant Union bodies, offices or agencies, shall ensure that Member State experts and Commission representatives receive adequate training to become Schengen evaluators. Completion of this training shall be mandatory for all experts participating in a team carrying out an evaluation in accordance with Article 18.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall establish every year a pool of experts whose professional background cover those aspec~~ific priority areas set out in~~ts of the Schengen acquis to be covered in accordance with the multiannual evaluation programme.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2

2. In parallel to the establishment of the annual evaluation programme in accordance with Article 13(1), on the invitation of the Commission, Member States shall designate at least one qualified expert per each specific a~~rea determined~~spect of the Schengen acquis to be evaluated as laid down in the multiannual evaluation programme for next year’s pool of experts.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 11

11. The Commission shall keep the list of experts of the pool up to date and inform Member States and the European Parliament about the number of experts and their profiles designated per Member State.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission shall define the number of Member State experts and Commission representatives participating in a team based on the particularities and needs of the evaluation or monitoring activity. The Commission shall select experts from the pool of experts to become members of a team. All members of athe team, with the exception of observers or Union observers, shall have undergone the training in accordance with Article 16(1).

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

2. In selecting experts, the Commission shall have regard to the profiles needed for a particular evaluation or monitoring activity taking account of the need to ensure geographical balance, gender balance, balance as regards professional experience and the capacity of national administrations.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Member State experts shall not participate in a team carrying out an evaluation or monitoring activity of the Member State where they are employed. Moreover, where the activities of an Union body, office or agency present in the Member State are being evaluated as part of that Member State's evaluation, no expert or observer from that Union body, office or agency shall participate in the evaluation.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 4

4. In the case of unannounced visits, or visits at short-notice, the Commission shall send the invitations no later than two weeks before the visit is scheduled to commence. Experts shall respond within 72 hours of receiving the invitation, in agreement with their designating authorities.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. In the case of revisits, the Commission shall invite a representative of the European Parliament to participate as a Union observer.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall designate a Commission lead expert and propose the Member State lead expert. The Member State lead expert shall be appointed by the members of the team as soon as possible after the team has been set up. The Commission shall also designate an expert responsible for the fundamental rights elements of the visit or evaluation.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – introductory part

4. Unannounced visits shall take place without prior notification to the Member State concerned. By way of exception, the Commission may notify the Member State concerned at least 24 hours before such visit is to take place when the main purpose of the unannounced visit is a random verification of the implementation of the Schengen acquis.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, may establish guidelines for conducting evaluation and monitoring activities by questionnaire or other remote methods. Remote methods shall be used only where physical visits are not feasible or unnecessary.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 7 – introductory part

7. To verify the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations related to the serious deficiency, the Commission shall organise a revisit that is to take place no later than ~~one year~~six months from the date of the evaluation activity.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 10

10. If the serious deficiency is deemed to constitute a serious threat to public policy or internal security within the area without internal border controls, or a serious and systematic fundamental rights violation, the Commission, on its own initiative or at the request of the European Parliament or of a Member State, shall immediately inform ~~thereof~~ the European Parliament and the Council thereof including information on infringement proceedings that are underway or will be brought against the evaluated Member State .

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2

2. The classification status of the reports shall be determined in accordance with Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444. ~~They~~In exceptional cases, parts of the reports may also be classified as ‘EU RESTRICTED/RESTREINT UE’ on a duly justified request of the evaluated Member State.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0140(CNS)

Bettina VOLLATH, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS, Tanja FAJON

Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1

The Commission shall undertake a review of the application of this Regulation and submit a report to the Council within six months of the adoption of all evaluation reports regarding the evaluations covered by the first multiannual evaluation programme adopted in accordance with this Regulation. Such review shall cover all the elements of this Regulation, including the functioning of the procedures for adopting acts under the evaluation mechanism. The Commission shall submit that report to the European Parliament without delay.

2022/02/02
Committee: LIBE

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
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 un~~and small and medium-sized undertakings operating in high-risk economic sectors, to report derta~~kings of large groups should prepare sustainability reporting at group level~~iled sustainability information.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16

(16) The requirement that also large non-listed undertakings and small and medium-sized undertakings operating in high-risk economic sectors should disclose information on sustainability matters is mainly driven by concerns about the impacts and accountability of such undertakings, including through their value chain. In this respect, all large undertakings , and small and medium-sized undertakings operating in high-risk economic sectors should be subject to the same requirements to report sustainability information publicly. In addition, financial market participants also need information from those large non-listed undertakings.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18 a (new)

(18 a) Environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery matters are not contingent on the size of an undertaking. Therefore, SMEs which are operating in economic sectors determined to be high risk should also be required to disclose information on sustainability matters, irrespective of whether or not they are listed on regulated markets.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 27

(27) To ensure consistency with international instruments such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, the due diligence disclosure requirements should be specified in greater detail than is the case in Article 19a(1), point (b), and Article 29a(1), point (b) of Directive 2013/34/EU. The disclosure requirements related to the due diligence requirements in this Directive will need to be adapted once the upcoming directive on sustainable corporate governance and due diligence has been adopted so that the requirements in this Directive are aligned with those in the upcoming directive. Due diligence is the process that undertakings carry out to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate the ~~principal~~ actual and potential adverse impacts connected with their activities and identifies how they address those adverse impacts. Impacts connected with an undertaking’s activities include impacts directly caused by the undertaking, impacts to which the undertaking contributes, and impacts which are otherwise linked to the undertaking’s value chain. The due diligence process concerns the whole value chain of the undertaking including its own operations, its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chains. In alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, an actual or potential adverse impact is to be considered principal where it measures among the greatest impacts connected with the undertaking’s activities based on: the gravity of the impact on people or the environment; the number of individuals that are or could be affected, or the scale of damage to the environment; and the ease with which the harm could be remediated, restoring the environment or affected people to their prior state.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 37 a (new)

(37 a) The Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to establish and amend the list of high-risk sectors of economic activity set out in Article 2, point 20a. That list should take into account the work of the Platform on Sustainable Finance established in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, including for mining, quarrying, extractive industries, agriculture, forestry, construction, transportation, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, clothing and footwear, finance and international shipping, and health, social, elder cares. The list of sectors taken into account in this definition should take account of correspondence with the NACE classification1a. _________________ 1aStatistical classification of economic activities in the European Union, NACE Rev. 2.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
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 United Nation Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the fundamental conventions and governance conventions of the International Labour Organisation, particularly on child and forced labour and freedom of association and collective bargaining, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), European Social Charter, the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 29a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e – point i

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7

Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 29a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e – point iii a (new)

(iii a) the structure of the undertaking’s value chain including through a disaggregated mapping of its own operations, subsidiaries, suppliers and business relationships;

2021/12/16
Committee: AFET

2021/0104(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Sylvie GUILLAUME

25a. Calls on the Member states to ensure strong child protection measures, presumption of childhood and child age assessment, the protection before and during criminal proceedings, access to unconditional assistance, compensation, non-punishment, assistance and support to the family member of a child victim as well as prevention;

2020/11/12
Committee: LIBE FEMM

Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights that the security and defence policies of the European Union and its Member States are guided by the principles enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and those of the United Nations Charter, and by a common understanding of the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, of freedom, of democracy, of equality and of the rule of law; highlights that all defence- related efforts within the Union framework must respect these universal values whilst promoting peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresseds that all AI-systems in defence must have a concrete and well- defined domain of use ~~and must be endowed with~~whereby humans retain the a~~bilit~~gency to detect ~~and~~, disengage or diseactivate deployed systems should they move from their domain of use or engage in any escalatory or unintended action;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that the entire responsibility for the decision to design, develop, deploy and use AI-systems must rest on human operators ~~and~~, as there must be meaningful human control over any weapons system and human intent in the decision to use force; underlines that the human-in- the-loop principle must also be applied to the command and control of AI- enabled systems; stresses that AI-enabled systems must allow the military leadership to assume its full responsibility and ~~exercise the necessary level of judgment~~accountability for the use of lethal force and exercise the necessary level of judgment, which cannot be endowed to machines as it must be based on distinction, proportionality and precaution, for taking lethal or large-scale destructive action bey means of such systems; recalls in this respect its position on a ban on the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons systems enabling strikes to be carried out without meaningful human intervention;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the EU must take the lead in promoting the establishment of international norms regarding the ethical and legal parameters of the development and use of fully autonomous, semi- autonomous and remotely operated lethal weapons systems; Member States should develop national strategies for the definition, status and use of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) towards a comprehensive strategy on the EU level;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Andrea COZZOLINO, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Jytte GUTELAND, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)

- having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, aiming at the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development 14a _________________ 14a https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg 16

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Jytte GUTELAND, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Juozas OLEKAS, Javi LÓPEZ, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas in an increasingly unstable multipolar world, where nationalist, xenophobic and anti- democratic forces are on the rise, it is vital for the European Union to become an influential player on the world stage and to keep its leading role as a global “soft power” committed to the disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons, investing in conflict prevention, crisis management and mediation before military options are considered;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas arms policy is not a tool of economic policy but a matter of security and foreign policy, which must be closely linked to a stronger commitment to international disarmament and the defence of human rights; armaments are not a normal commercial product that can be exported on economic grounds;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Condemns the increasing arms race in the world and calls on the world major military powers, largest producers and exporters of weapons to foster dialogue, multilateralism and disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Jytte GUTELAND, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Sven MIKSER, Juozas OLEKAS, Javi LÓPEZ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Recalls the EU ambition to be a global actor for peace; therefore calls for the EU to play an active role in the areas of non-proliferation of arms and global disarmament, thus striving for the maintenance of international peace and security and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria as they take precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Emphasises that arms exports must not be carried out for economic reasons but for foreign and security policy objectives. Respect for human rights, good governance and the prohibition on supplying arms to conflict regions are essential in the case of granting export licences. Arms exports have to be assessed against the sustainable development of a country;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point c a (new)

c a) to extend the post-shipment controls to all arms exports, including large military equipment; Member States are to submit a regular post-shipment report;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
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 EU 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 control~~risk assessments, end-use controls and post-shipment verifications; calls on the EEAS and COARM to report on iTrace any identified diversion of EU- origin goods as part of the annual report;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Believes that the increasing Europeanisation of arms production, the recent Council conclusions on convergence in arms exports and the establishment of the EPF should be complemented by a mechanism for EU-level monitoring and control based on strict compliance with the eight criteria; calls on steps to be taken for the setting-up of an EU mechanism of sanctions for Member States infringing the Common Position;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

2020/2003(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Miroslav ČÍŽ, Robert HAJŠEL, Andrea COZZOLINO, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Believes that “pooling and sharing” and more cooperation in arms policy and procurement policy are only possible if strict export controls, mutual information and regular parliamentary scrutiny, as well as strong sanction mechanisms in the event of non- compliance with common rules, are binding. Further demands that the European Parliament - alongside the national parliaments - be able to guarantee parliamentary control over the EU’s common security and defence policy and its budget;

2020/05/06
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) The combination of those features of gatekeepers is likely to lead in many cases to serious imbalances in bargaining power and, consequently, to unfair practices and conditions for business users as well as end users of core platform services provided by gatekeepers, to the detriment of prices, quality, privacy and security standards, choice and innovation therein.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) Gatekeepers have a significant impact on the internal market, providing gateways for a large number of business users, to reach end users, everywhere in the Union and on different markets. The adverse impact of unfair practices on the internal market and particularly weak contestability of core platform services, including their negative societal and economic implications, have led national legislators and sectoral regulators to act. A number of ~~national~~ regulatory solutions at national level have already been adopted or proposed to address unfair practices and the contestability of digital services or at least with regard to some of them. This has created a risk of divergent regulatory solutions and thereby fragmentation of the internal market, thus raising the risk of increased compliance costs due to different sets of national regulatory requirements.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Marc ANGEL, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Sylvie GUILLAUME

(8) By approximating diverging national laws, obstacles to the freedom to provide and receive services, including retail services, within the internal market should be eliminated. A targeted set of harmonised ~~mandatory rule~~legal obligations should therefore be established at Union level to ensure contestable and fair digital markets featuring the presence of gatekeepers within the internal market.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) A fragmentation of the internal market can only be effectively averted if Member States are prevented from applying national rules which are specific to the types of undertakings and services covered by this Regulation. At the same time, since this Regulation aims at complementing the enforcement of competition law, it should be specified that this Regulation is without prejudice to Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, to the corresponding national competition rules and to other national competition rules regarding unilateral behaviour that are based on an individualised assessment of market positions and behaviour, including its likely effects and the precise scope of the prohibited behaviour, and which provide for the possibility of undertakings to make efficiency and objective justification arguments for the behaviour in question. However, the application of the latter rules should not affect the obligations and prohibitions imposed on gatekeepers under this Regulation and their uniform and effective application in the internal market.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10

(10) Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and the corresponding national competition rules concerning anticompetitive multilateral and unilateral conduct as well as merger control have as their objective the protection of undistorted competition on the market. This Regulation pursues an objective that is complementary to, but different from that of protecting undistorted competition on any given market, as defined in competition-law terms, which is to ensure that markets where gatekeepers are present are and remain contestable and fair, and to protect the respective rights of business users and end users, independently from the actual, likely or presumed effects of the conduct of a given gatekeeper covered by this Regulation on competition on a given market. This Regulation therefore aims at protecting a different legal interest from those rules and should be without prejudice to their application.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point h

(h) provide effective portability of data generated through the activity of a business user or end user and shall, in particular, provide tools for end users to facilitate the exercise of such data portability, ~~in line with Regulation EU 2016/679,~~ including by the provision of continuous and real- time access ;

2021/07/28
Committee: LIBE

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 57

(57) ~~In particular gatekeepers which provide access to software application store~~Core platform services offered by gatekeepers serve as an important gateway for business users that seek to reach end users. In view of the imbalance in bargaining power between those gatekeepers and business users ~~of their software application stores~~, those gatekeepers should not be allowed to impose general conditions, including pricing conditions, that would be unfair or lead to unjustified differentiation. Pricing or other general access conditions should be considered unfair if they lead to an imbalance of rights and obligations imposed on business users or confer an advantage on the gatekeeper which is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business users or lead to a disadvantage for business users in providing the same or similar services as the gatekeeper. The following benchmarks can serve as a yardstick to determine the fairness of general access conditions: prices charged or conditions imposed for the same or similar services by other providers of ~~software application stores~~the relevant core platform service; prices charged or conditions imposed by the ~~provider of the software application store~~gatekeeper for different related or similar services or to different types of end users; prices charged or conditions imposed by the provider of the software application store for the same service in different geographic regions; prices charged or conditions imposed by the ~~provider of the software application store~~gatekeeper for the same service the gatekeeper offers to itself. This obligation should not establish an access right and it should be without prejudice to the ability of providers ~~of software application stores~~ to take the required responsibility in the fight against illegal and unwanted content as set out in Regulation [Digital Services Act]. This obligation shall ensure that access conditions to core platform services are also fair and non-discriminatory for end- users.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 62

(62) In order to ensure the full and lasting achievement of the objectives of this Regulation, the Commission should be able to assess whether a provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper without meeting the quantitative thresholds laid down in this Regulation; whether systematic non- compliance by a gatekeeper warrants imposing additional remedies; and whether the list of obligations addressing unfair practices by gatekeepers should be reviewed and additional practices that are similarly unfair and limiting the contestability of digital markets should be identified. Such assessment should be based on market investigations to be run in an appropriate timeframe, by using clear procedures and legally binding deadlines, in order to support the ex ante effect of this Regulation on contestability and fairness in the digital sector, and to provide the requisite degree of legal certainty.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 64

(64) The Commission should investigate and assess whether additional behavioural, or, where appropriate, structural remedies are justified, in order to ensure that the gatekeeper cannot frustrate the objectives of this Regulation by systematic non- compliance with one or several of the obligations laid down in this Regulation, which has further strengthened its gatekeeper position. This would be the case of systematic buy of growing companies, if the gatekeeper’s size in the internal market has further increased, economic dependency of business users and end users on the gatekeeper’s core platform services has further strengthened as their number has further increased and the gatekeeper benefits from increased entrenchment of its position. The Commission should therefore in such cases have the power to impose any remedy, whether behavioural or structural, having due regard to the principle of proportionality. Structural remedies, such as legal, functional or structural separation, including the divestiture of a business, or parts of it, should only be imposed either where there is no equally effective behavioural remedy or where any equally effective behavioural remedy would be more burdensome for the undertaking concerned than the structural remedy. Changes to the structure of an undertaking as it existed before the systematic non- compliance was established would only be proportionate where there is a substantial risk that this systematic non-compliance results from the very structure of the undertaking concerned. The Commission should be entitled to require changes to the imposed remedies if, following an investigation, it finds that the remedies are not effective to ensure compliance by the gatekeeper with its obligations laid down in Articles 5 or 6.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 65

(65) The services and practices in core platform services and markets in which these intervene can change quickly and to a significant extent. To ensure that this Regulation remains up to date and constitutes an effective and holistic regulatory response to the problems posed by gatekeepers, it is important to provide for a regular review of the lists of core platform services as well as of the obligations provided for in this Regulation. This is particularly important to ensure that behaviour that may limit the contestability of core platform services or is unfair is identified. While it is important to conduct a review on a regular basis, given the dynamically changing nature of the digital sector, in order to ensure legal certainty as to the regulatory conditions, any reviews should be conducted within a reasonable and appropriate time-frame. Market investigations should also ensure that the Commission has a solid evidentiary basis on which it can assess whether it should propose to amend this Regulation in order to expand, or further detail, the lists of core platform services. They should equally ensure that the Commission has a solid evidentiary basis on which it can assess whether it should propose to a~~mend the obligations laid down in this Regul~~dopt a delegated act updating such obligations. Such an update should only enable the Commission to add new obligations or ~~whether it should adopt a delegated act updating such obliga~~prohibitions to this Regulation but not to eliminate current obligations or prohibitions.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 66

(66) In the event that gatekeepers engage in behaviour that is unfair or that limits the contestability of the core platform services ~~that are already designated under this Regulation~~ but without these behaviours being explicitly covered by the obligations, the Commission should be able to update this Regulation through delegated acts. Such updates by way of delegated act should be subject to the same investigatory standard and therefore following a market investigation. The Commission should also apply a predefined standard in identifying such behaviours. This legal standard should ensure that the type of obligations that gatekeepers may at any time face under this Regulation are sufficiently predictable.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 67

(67) Where, in the course of a proceeding into non-compliance or an investigation into systemic non- compliance, a gatekeeper offers commitments to the Commission, the latter should be able to adopt a decision making these commitments binding on the gatekeeper concerned, where it finds that the commitments ensure effective compliance with the obligations of this Regulation. This decision should also find that there are no longer grounds for action by the Commission. If following an investigation, the commitments prove ineffective, the Commission shall be entitled to propose changes to the commitments to ensure its effectiveness.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

1. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules ensuring contestable and fair markets for both business users and end users, in the digital sector across the Union where gatekeepers are present.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 6

6. This Regulation is without prejudice to the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. It is also without prejudice to the application of: national rules prohibiting anticompetitive agreements, decisions by associations of undertakings, concerted practices and abuses of dominant positions; national competition rules prohibiting other forms of unilateral conduct insofar as they are applied to undertakings other than gatekeepers or amount to imposing additional obligations on gatekeepers; Council Regulation (EC) No 139/200438 and national rules concerning merger control; Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 and Regulation (EU) …./.. of the European Parliament and of the Council39 . It is as well without prejudice to Regulation (EU) 2019/1150; Regulation (EU) 2016/679; Directive 2002/58 and Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 93/13/EEC. _________________ 38Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation) (OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1). 39Regulation (EU) …/.. of the European Parliament and of the Council – proposal on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d a (new)

(d a) voice assistants;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d b (new)

(d b) mobile payment services;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point g

(g) software as a service including cloud computing services;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

4. The Commission shall, without undue delay and at the latest 60 days after receiving the complete information referred to in paragraph 3, designate the provider of core platform services that meets all the thresholds of paragraph 2 as a gatekeeper, unless that provider, with its notification, presents sufficiently substantiated arguments to demonstrate that, in the circumstances in which the relevant core platform service operates, and taking into account the elements listed in paragraph 6, the provider does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1. Where the gatekeeper presents such sufficiently substantiated arguments to demonstrate that it does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1, the Commission shall apply paragraph 6 to assess whether the criteria in paragraph 1 are met.deleted

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Where the gatekeeper presents such sufficiently substantiated arguments to demonstrate that it does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1, the Commission shall apply paragraph 6 to assess whether the criteria in paragraph 1 are met.deleted

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Josianne CUTAJAR, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point a

(a) the size, including turnover and market capitalisation, operations and position of the provider of core platform services as well as the market share in the relevant market;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 – point e

(e) entrenched lack of choice, business user or end user dependency or lock-in;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 7

7. For each gatekeeper ~~identified~~ pursuant to paragraph 41 or identified pursuant to paragraph 6, the Commission shall identify the relevant undertaking to which it belongs and list the relevant core platform services that are provided within that same undertaking and which individually serve as an important gateway for business users to reach end users as referred to in paragraph 1(b).

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 8

8. The gatekeeper shall comply with the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 ~~within six~~as soon as possible, and in any case no later than two months after a core platform service has been included in the list pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article. If a gatekeeper fails to comply with the obligations within these 2 months, Articles 25 and 26 are applicable.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g

(g) provide advertisers and publishers to which it supplies advertising services, upon their request, with complete information concerning the price ~~paid by the advertiser and publisher,~~-setting mechanisms and schemes for the calculation of the fees as well as the price and fees paid by the advertiser and publisher, including any deductions and surcharges as well as the amount or remuneration paid to the publisher, for the publishing of a given ad and for each of the relevant advertising services provided by the gatekeeper.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Josianne CUTAJAR, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Brando BENIFEI, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

(g a) not use, any data that has been generated in the relationship between business users and end users, and that is not also available to the business user itself; this includes not using such data to launch products or services that compete with the products or services offered by their business users;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) allow end users to un-install any pre-installed software applications on its core platform service without prejudice to the possibility for a gatekeeper to restrict such un-installation in relation to software applications that are essential for the functioning of the operating system or of the device and which cannot technically be offered on a standalone basis by third-parties;deleted

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Paul TANG, Maria GRAPINI, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) allow the installation, default setting by business users and end users and effective use of third party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, operating systems of that gatekeeper and allow these software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the core platform services of that gatekeeper. The end user shall be required to decide which application or application store should become the default. The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking proportionate measures to ensure that third party software applications or software application stores do not endanger the integrity of the hardware or operating system provided by the gatekeeper provided that the gatekeeper can prove that such measures are necessary, proportionate and justified to safeguard the integrity of the hardware or operating system;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Josianne CUTAJAR, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ, Paul TANG, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d

(d) ~~refrain from~~not treat~~ing~~ more favourably ~~in ranking~~ services ~~and~~, products and settings offered by the gatekeeper itself or by any third party ~~belonging to the same undertaking~~ compared to similar services or products of third party and apply transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions to such ~~ranking~~third party services and products;

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission may, on a reasoned request by the gatekeeper, exceptionally suspend, in whole or in part, a specific obligation laid down in Articles 5 and 6 for a core platform service by decision adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4), where the gatekeeper demonstrates that compliance with that specific obligation would endanger, due to exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the gatekeeper, the economic viability of the operation of the gatekeeper in the Union, and only to the extent necessary to address such threat to its viability. The Commission shall aim to adopt the suspension decision without delay and at the latest 3 months following receipt of a complete reasoned request and accompany this by a reasoned statement explaining the grounds for the suspension.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission may, acting on a reasoned request by a gatekeeper or on its own initiative, by decision adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4), exempt it, in whole or in part, from a specific obligation laid down in Articles 5 and 6 in relation to an individual core platform service identified pursuant to Article 3(7), where such exemption is justified on the grounds set out in paragraph 2 of this Article. The Commission shall adopt the exemption decision at the latest 3 months after receiving a complete reasoned request and accompany by a reasoned statement explaining the grounds for the suspension.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 34 to update the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 where, based on a market investigation pursuant to Article 17, it has identified the need for new additional obligations addressing practices that limit the contestability of core platform services or are unfair in the same way as the practices addressed by the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6. Suchan update should only enable the Commission to add new obligations or prohibitions to this Regulation but not to eliminate current obligations or prohibitions.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1

1. A gatekeeper shall ensure that the obligations of Articles 5 and 6 are fully and effectively complied with by the gatekeeper themselves as well as undertakings which they belong. While the obligations of Articles 5 and 6 apply in respect of core platform services designated pursuant to Article 3, their implementation shall not be undermined by any behaviour of the undertaking to which the gatekeeper belongs, regardless of whether this behaviour is of a contractual, commercial, technical or any other nature.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – title

~~Obligation to inform about c~~Concentrations

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. A gatekeeper shall ~~inform~~notify the Commission of any intended concentration within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 ~~involving another provider of core platform services or of any other services provided in the digital sector~~ irrespective of whether it is notifiable to a Union competition authority under Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 or to a competent national competition authority under national merger rules.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

A gatekeeper shall ~~inform~~notify the Commission of such a concentration prior to its implementation and following the conclusion of the agreement, the announcement of the public bid, or the acquisition of a controlling interest, in accordance with the procedure set out in Regulation (EC) No 139/2004.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2

2. The notification pursuant to paragraph 1 shall at least describe for the acquisition targets their EEA and worldwide annual turnover, for any relevant core platform services their respective EEA annual turnover, their number of yearly active business users and the number of monthly active end users, as well as the rationale of the intended concentration, and its potential impact on the rights and interests of business users and end users.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. If an undertaking is to be considered a gatekeeper according to Article 3 of this Regulation for longer than 2 years, any concentration shall be forbidden, unless it is compatible with the internal market because it does not impede effective competition; the burden of proof for compatibility with the internal market lies on the gatekeeper.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1

Within six months after its designation pursuant to Article 3, a gatekeeper shall submit to the Commission an d Data Protection Authorities an independently audited description of any techniques for profiling of consumers that the gatekeeper applies to ~~or across its core~~any platform services identified pursuant to Article 3 and make them publicly available. This description shall be updated at least annually.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission ~~may~~shall conduct a market investigation for the purpose of examining whether a provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper pursuant to Article 3(6), or in order to identify core platform services for a gatekeeper pursuant to Article 3(7). It shall ~~endeavour to~~ conclude its investigation by adopting a decision in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 32(4) within twelve months from the opening of the market investigation.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3

3. A gatekeeper shall be deemed to have engaged in a systematic non- compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6, where the Commission has issued ~~at least three~~two non-compliance or fining decisions pursuant to Articles 25 and 26 respectively against a gatekeeper in relation to any of its core platform services ~~within a period of five years~~ prior to the adoption of the decision opening a market investigation in view of the possible adoption of a decision pursuant to this Article.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4

4. A gatekeeper shall be deemed to have further strengthened or extended its gatekeeper position in relation to the characteristics under Article 3(1), where its impact on the internal market has further increased, its importance as a gateway for business users to reach end users has further increased or the gatekeeper enjoys a further entrenched and durable position in its operations.deleted

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. In order to ensure effective compliance by the gatekeeper with its obligations laid down in Articles 5 or 6, the Commission shall regularly review the remedies imposed in accordance with paragraph 1 or commitments accepted in accordance with paragraph 6. The Commission shall be entitled to require changes to the imposed remedies if, following an investigation, it finds that the remedies are not effective.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 4

4. The gatekeeper shall provide the Commission with the description of the measures it took to ensure compliance with the decision adopted pursuant to paragraph 1. If the Commission, following an investigation, finds that the measures are not effective to ensure compliance by the gatekeeper with its obligations under Articles 5 and 6, the Commission shall be entitled to require changes to these measures.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Evelyne GEBHARDT, Josianne CUTAJAR, Paul TANG, Petra KAMMEREVERT, Maria GRAPINI, Marc ANGEL, Monika BEŇOVÁ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Isabel SANTOS, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES

Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – title

Request for a market investigation and non-compliance proceedings

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

2020/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1

1. When ~~thre~~one or more designated authorities of the Member States request the Commission to open an investigation pursuant to Article 15, 16 or 17 because they consider that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a provider of core platform services should be designated as a gatekeeper that there are new core platform services and practices to be added, or that there is a situation of (systemic) non-compliance, the Commission shall within ~~four~~three months examine whether there are reasonable grounds to open such an investigation. If the Commission decides not to open an investigation, the Commission shall publish the respective reasons.

2021/07/09
Committee: IMCO

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Da. whereas some of the flaws are inherent in the design of the Regulation and cannot be solved through better implementation alone;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

Incorporating the principle of solidarity into the ~~management of asylum seekers~~Dublin Regulation

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that the Dublin system places a significant burden on a minority of Member States, in particular when influxes of migrants occur; takes the view that the EU therefore needs a solidarity mechanism which makes for fair sharing of burdens and responsibility among Member States, including through relocation on the basis of objective criteria of asylum seekers who are manifestly eligible for asylum;deleted

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that the Dublin System, and in particular the first country of irregular entry criterion places a significant burden on a minority of Member states;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Urges the EU to establish an automatic, permanent and mandatory relocation mechanism ensuring the full respect of the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility enshrined in art.80 of TFEU; including for those rescued at sea;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that ad hoc agreements are no substitute for a harmonised and sustainable ~~policy at EU level~~Common European and Asylum System; deplores the fact that efforts to overhaul the Dublin III Regulation have been blocked in the Council;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the crisis management tool provided for in Article 33 did not provide effective support to the Member States, nor did it offer a response to the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis; considers that a solidarity-based crisis management mechanism, endowed with a financial instrument managed by the Commission,mechanism for early warning, preparedness and crisis management as set out in Article 33 has not been applied to date, considers that a solidarity-based mechanism in the EU should be established to ensure continuity of the right of asylum in the EU uand~~er the best possible conditions~~ not to hinder arrivals and deflect responsibility; emphasizes that the protection of fundamental rights of asylum applicants should always remain at the centre of this mechanism; also notes that the provisions set out in the Temporary Protection Directive has yet to be invoked;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Considers that such a mechanism should allow for the participation of civil society organization providing professional assistance to people in need of international protection during the assessment of their asylum application, particularly of legal nature;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Member States to ~~mak~~expand the use of the discretionary clause in Article 17 ~~when exceptional~~, to address challenging situations and humanitarian circumstances ~~so warrant,~~, as for example to relocate and provide decent reception conditions to asylum seekers currently living in ~~the Greek~~ hotspots in ~~an atmosphere of extreme tension and to provide decent reception~~inhumane, degrading, unsanitary and unsafe conditions;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Takes the view that provisions on family unity, which are the first in the hierarchy of criteria, should be efficiently implemented, and that provisions on dependent persons (article 16) and the discretionary clauses (article 17) should be used more widely to support family unity;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. In the absence of a permanent solidarity mechanism, supports the expanded use of discretionary clauses of Article 17 as a solidarity tool for responsibility sharing in particular in situations of large number of spontaneous arrivals and in the specific context of sea arrivals and disembarkation procedures;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
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;deleted

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Highlights the significant operational ~~backing for Dublin procedures~~and technical support provided by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) ~~in the hotspot~~to Member States; calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate the work of EASO staff ~~by allowing interviews in a language other than that of the country in which they are conducted~~and the Commission to increase assistance to Member States, especially those at the border of the EU; calls for the establishment of a European Asylum Agency, with sufficient financial and human resources, supporting Member States with Dublin procedures;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to monitor that interviews are conducted in the language of the asylum seeker or in a language that the applicant is reasonably supposed to understand;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. PDeplores that the rights of asylum seekers, including that to legal assistance, are often neglected when implementing the Dublin III Regulation, points out that the protection of fundamental rights must be at the heart of ~~the measures taken to implement~~EU asylum policies and of the implementation process of the Dublin III Regulation, including the protection of ~~children~~minors, victims of trafficking, victims of torture, and the most vulnerable;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls that asylum seekers have the right to be fully informed on the procedures; regrets that the level of information provided to asylum seekers differs consistently from one Member state to another; urges the Member states to guarantee that minors have tailored, child-friendly information and specific support; stresses that providing legal assistance and interpretation are key to ensure applicants' right to information;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Points out that transfers of asylum seekers, and in particular vulnerable people, minors and families can result in violations of their human rights; urges Member states to properly assess the risks to which applicants would be exposed in the Member States of destination; stresses in particular that transfers must be carried out in a way that under no circumstances exposes individuals to a risk of refoulement, irrespective of whether the asylum system of return is affected by systemic deficiencies;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to monitor compliance with the hierarchy of criteria more closely; regards it as essential to ~~clarify the conditions for applying the family reunification criterion and to~~enable a better use of the family provisions, including by harmoniseing the standards of proof ~~required; call~~across Member states oin the ~~Member States and the Commission to protect the best interests of children and to clarify the criteria for keeping children in detention~~direction of less stringent and more achievable standards; calls the Commission and the Member states to speed up family reunification procedures including through an immediate transfer to a country in which the applicant has family;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Regrets that Member states do not proactively contribute to the identification and verification of the family links; deplores that the burden of proof is almost entirely left to the applicants;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure an adequate verification of the best interest of the child, avoiding that the complexity of the procedures results in the failure to implement this principle, in particular for the unaccompanied minors of age between 16 and 18;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)

8d. Regrets that Member states apply different interpretation of the best interest of the child; calls therefore the Commission to clarify the definition in line with EU legislation and to identify which family reunification possibilities, security and safety considerations, background information should be taken into consideration;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)

8e. Urges the Member States and the Commission to clarify that detention is never in the best interest of the child and that a minor should never be detained because of the migratory status of their family; calls to expand the sources used for the monitoring and identification of unlawful practices to include information provided by international and non- governmental organizations where it is reliable, up-to-date and specific;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that the number of transfer procedures has increased significantly, generating considerable human, material and financial costs; deplores, however, the fact that in only 11% of cases are transfers actually carried out, a further factor in the permanent overloading of asylum systems; stresses the lack of cooperation and information-sharing between Member States; ~~regards efforts to combat sec~~encourages Member states to apply the discretiondary ~~movements as essential in order to reduce the number of transfer requests; proposes that~~clause more swiftly in cases where it becomes evident that transfers cannot be carried out, or where the coindi~~tions which trigger transfer procedures be clarified and harmonised~~vidual situation of the applicant requires so;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Considers ~~that in some cases the rules on transfer of responsibility under Dublin III undermine the efficiency of asylum procedures and the carrying-out of transfers and~~, according to the evidence, that in many cases asylum seekers remain outside of the system due to disproportionate use of the criterion of the first countr~~ibute to the increase in the number of secondary movements by encouraging asylum-seekers to remain outside the system~~y of irregular entry and the insufficient consideration of the meaningful links and the particular needs of the applicants; calls on the Commission to revise the rules, in order to ~~give Member States sufficient time to carry out transfers and do away with transfer of responsibility in cases where an~~increase trust between Member States and between them and the asylum seeker ~~abscond~~s;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that providing asylum seekers with legal assistance in connection with Dublin procedures~~, in particular in the hotspots, would simplify the process of obtaining asylum~~ would enhance rights-compliant procedures, simplify Dublin procedures and improve decision- making; calls on the Member States to improve the information made available to asylum seekers on the complex Dublin procedures, to ensure that it is clear and accessible to everyone;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the Member States to increase the resources necessary to make Dublin III operational, particularly the number of asylum officers; calls on the European Commission to increase the funds available for the provision of legal assistance, especially funding for civil society professionals offering legal assistance to people in need of international protection during the Dublin procedure;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4

A ~~single~~rights-centred asylum application in the EU

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that the principle of a single asylum application in the EU is consistently flouted, a state of affairs at odds with the very purpose of the Dublin III Regulation; ~~consider~~notes that the competent national authorities should share their relevant information on a European database such as Eurodac, in order to speed up procedures and prevent multiple asylum applications, while protecting personal datare are multiple reasons for submission of additional asylum applications;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that the rate of protection for asylum seekers varies greatly between Member States for certain nationalities; considers that a common list of safe countries and a shared country-risk analysis, or at least greater convergence, would reduce these disparities, and thus also the number of secondary movements; stresses that the return of persons not eligible for asylum is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of the Dublin III Regulation and this can contribute to onward movement; considers that accounting for individual needs of the applicant in the Dublin procedures would reduce secondary movements; calls for the inclusion of a relocation criteria considering the "genuine links" with a particular Member state as an efficient approach to reduce secondary movements;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes that some two-thirds of asylum applications are submitted by nationals of safe countries who have arrived in the EU on a visa or visa waiver; considers that these manifestly unfounded applications contribute to the overloading of asylum systems; calls on the Commission and the Member States to make asylum and visa policies more consistent;deleted

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Urges the Commission and the Council to work towards convergence in the ~~bilateral agreements concluded between Member States and with third~~implementation of the Dublin III Regulation by taking stock of the elements countri~~es, in order to optimise implementation of the Dublin III Regu~~buting to greater efficiency, and compliance with human rights legislation;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Caterina CHINNICI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Franco ROBERTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Urges the Council to find a sustainable solution and take the necessary steps to adopt a position on the Dublin Recast Regulation by qualified majority;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2206(INI)

Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Tudor CIUHODARU, Petar VITANOV, Sylwia SPUREK, Bettina VOLLATH, Elena YONCHEVA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Proposes that a fairer system of allocation be a priority for any reform of the Dublin system while keeping the protection of fundamental rights of applicants at the centre of the functioning of the solidarity mechanism;

2020/07/08
Committee: LIBE

2019/2200(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Reminds the importance of full continued cooperation with the International Criminal Court and calls upon the government of Georgia to ensure comprehensive accountability alongside the cases pursued by the International Criminal Court;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Maria ARENA, Dietmar KÖSTER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Georgian authorities to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate all incidents of excessive use of force by law enforcement officers and attacks against peaceful protesters and journalists in June 2019 and to ensure that perpetrators are held to account;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls on the Georgian authorities to pursue comprehensive labour policy reform to ensure better regulation of working hours, weekly rest, night work, payment of overtime hours and work on public holidays, in order to bring the legislation in line with the international labour standards and the EU directives, and broaden the mandate of the Labour Inspectorate to explicitly monitor labour rights and systematically verify any workplace hazards;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the Declaration of 5 July 2009 of Western Balkans partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process, known as the Poznan Declaration,

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13

- having regard to its resolution of 9 July 2015 on the Srebrenica Commemoration1 , of 15 January 2009 on Srebrenica and of 7 July 2005 on the Western Balkans 10 years after Srebrenica, __________________ 1 OJ C 265, 11.8.2017, p. 142.

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)

- having regard to the Report of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia of 1 July 2017,

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)

- having regard to the Progress Report of the Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals of 19 May 2020,

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 c (new)

- having regard to the 58th Report of the High Representative (HR) for Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina,

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the country continues to face numerous challenges related to the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, governance, accountability, freedom of expression and media freedom, and a functioning market economy;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas BiH is a migrant transit route, and reception capacities remain insufficient for hosting migrants and asylum seekers present in the country, despite the availability of EU funded and ready-made solutions;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas serious human rights concerns remain over the rights of people in transit in BiH;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas the EU approach to the external dimension of migration has led the EU to cooperate with BiH in the field of border control and migration management; whereas the externalisation of EU border management and migration control is of serious concern in light of violations of human rights standards; whereas it is the EU's duty to conduct a humane border procedure and migration approach that aims at protecting the fundamental rights of persons in need of international protection in countries of transit such as BiH;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the path towards the EU depends on sustainable peace, lasting stability, social cohesion and genuine reconciliation warranting the democratic and multicultural character of BiH; urges the country to expedite effective prosecution of war crimes under the revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy, and calls for impartial and effective investigations into these crimes; condemns any kind of historical revisionism, or opposition to ICTY judgements, secessionist rhetoric and related acts, denial or glorification of war crimes committed during the 1990’s war;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that over 7 200 BiH citizens are still missing, and urges the authorities to intensify cooperation and data sharing between regional, national and international stakeholders alike, on issues related to missing persons, redress to civilian victims of war, including victims of sexual violence, and to ensure the safe and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced people; through reconstruction assistance, job creation measures, education rights and the proper implementation of property laws;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the rapid adoption of a law banning Holocaust denial, genocide and war crimes; encourages the High Representative in BiH (OHR) to use his powers to make the law banning Holocaust denial, genocide and war crimes an integral part of BiH legislation;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the authorities to ensure inclusive and non-discriminatory education for all children, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, or personal background, notably by abolishing the two-schools-under-one- roof practice ruled as discriminatory and as ethnic segregation by the Supreme Court of Federation of BiH, by enabling Bosniak children in Republika Srpska to name their mother tongue as Bosnian language and by increasing the enrolment and completion rate of Roma pupils;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Urgently calls on BiH to remedy the unequal access to remote schooling, resulting in many children being deprived of their right to education throughout the pandemic;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Urges all BiH political leaders and institutions to significantly accelerate work and co-operation to fully comply with the 14 key priorities~~; calls on the authorities to maintain the political will for enhanced co-operation demonstrated at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis~~, especially through developing and adopting a national programme for the adoption of the EU acquis; guaranteeing legal certainty by establishing a judicial body entrusted with ensuring the consistent interpretation of the law throughout BiH; ensuring that veto rights in all administrative bodies entrusted with implementing the acquis are eliminated; strengthening the prevention and fight against corruption and organised crime; ensuring the implementation of the legislation on non- discrimination and on gender equality; enabling environment for civil society by upholding European standards on freedom of association and freedom of assembly;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that the effective organisation and independent functioning of institutions is an essential feature of a viable democracy and a prerequisite for advancing the EU integration process, including obtaining candidate status; warns that ethno-nationalistic divisive rhetoric and attempts to obstruct the functioning of institutions undermine unity, lasting stability and country-wide co- ordination and decision-making on key policies and reforms;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Commends the adoption of the amendments to the BiH Election Law that allowed Mostar citizens to vote in the 2020 local elections; welcomes the Parliamentary Assembly’s vote of 22 July 2020 on the Rules of Procedure governing the meetings of Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC), paving the way for their formal adoption by the 2nd EU-BiH SAPC as soon as possible and for a fruitful parliamentary cooperation;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7d. Calls on the EC and the EEAS to step up their mediation activities in BiH, in order to strengthen political dialogues and reconciliation, which is central to the future development of BiH, and to provide a framework for dealing with the legacies from the past and for overcoming the divisions in the society;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines the urgent need to address shortcomings in the constitutional framework ~~and~~including through harmonisation of laws on cantonal and federal level and expanding the state’s jurisdiction, as well as to make progress on reforms that would transform BiH into a fully functional and inclusive state by implementing the Sejdic-Finci case group; stresses that institutional reforms depend on the will and commitment of political leaders and institutions in the country; urges the international community to facilitate the conditions for constitutional dialogue within BiH institutions and among elected representatives in BiH under the leadership of the EU, in particular Parliament, and in consultation with civil society;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Regrets the lack of progress on reforms in the judiciary; reiterates the urgent need to resolve the mounting backlog of cases pending trial, to strengthen the professionalism and accountability of the judiciary ~~and~~, to ensure its independence from undue influence by adopting new legislation on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and on the Courts of BiH in line with EU standards;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for immediate steps to tackle corruption and impunity in the public sphere in order to rebuild citizens’ trust in the institutions; by adopting and implementing legislation on conflict of interest and whistle-blowers’ protection; ensuring the effective functioning and coordination of anti-corruption bodies; align the legislation and strengthen capacities on public procurement; ensuring transparency of privatisation processes; in particular, calls for the authorities to duly investigate and resolve the lack of effective prosecutions for high- profile corruption cases; insists that the persistent lack of transparency shown by political actors and public institutions alike needs to be addressed;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Regrets the lack of progress on addressing the EU’s Opinion priority n. 11 on ensuring an enabling environment for civil society by upholding European standards on freedom of association and freedom of assembly; underlines the importance of protecting and promoting freedom of association and deplores that the exercise of freedom of assembly remains restricted; regrets that activists, in particular those dealing with sensitive issues in Republika Srpska have been subject to threats, intimidation, fines and judicial prosecution; calls on the authorities to develop a strategic framework of cooperation with civil society and to ensure meaningful consultations as part of inclusive policy dialogues;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Stresses the need to make the European integration process as inclusive and open as possible; notes the insufficient involvement of civil society organisations which can make substantial contributions to the EU integration process; notes that this involvement is of paramount importance for the participation of citizens in the democratic life of the country and in the enlargement process;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Expresses concern over the fundamental rights situation, specifically, the persisting discrimination and hate speech faced by the LGBTIQ+ community, migrants and asylum seekers, as well as ethnic and religious minorities, and calls for more effective and comprehensive countrywide hHuman rRights and anti- discrimination strategies, ~~as well as~~including an action plan on child protection, an action plan on LGBTIQ+ people and measures against interfaith and interethnic intolerance; stresses the need to duly prevent and prosecute the proliferation of hate speech, hate crimes and violence targeting minorities, LGBTIQ+ persons and women, and to promote social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable populations, including the Roma, in line with the 2019 Poznan Declaration on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ persons, migrants and asylum seekers, as well as displaced persons and refugees;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines that the enlargement process needs to deliver for women and all gender of BiH; urges the authorities to harmonise legislation on gender equality across the country and fully implement it; expresses concern about the high ratio of gender-based violence, increased domestic violence under COVID restrictions, and about abuses against women’s rights defenders, and the insufficient institutional response to tackle this phenomenon; stresses the need to ensure that reparation, access to specialised services, victims support, legal aid and safe accommodation for survivors of violence are guaranteed across the country and that women’s civil society organisations providing these services are supported;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Recalls the need for specific earmarked funding on gender equality in all EU external financing instruments, and for reduced administrative constraints to allow access to funding for local and small civil society organisations (CSOs) and especially women civil society organisations (WCSOs);

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Terry REINTKE, Marc ANGEL, Liesje SCHREINEMACHER, Maria WALSH, Tineke STRIK, Michal ŠIMEČKA, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marisa MATIAS, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Dietmar KÖSTER, Ernest URTASUN, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Stresses that the situation of LGBTI persons can be significantly improved by new legal measures and modifications such as legalising same-sex partnerships, the explicit protection of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics against hate speech and violence in the Criminal Code, quick, transparent and accessible procedures for legal gender recognition based on self- determination,1a and ensuring legal guarantees for the bodily integrity, autonomy, self-determination and informed consent of intersex persons, in line with its position on the matter;1b __________________ 1a In line with Council of Europe guidelines: Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers Recommendation to Member States on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, available, CM/Rec(2010)5, available on http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref- XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=21736. 1b Texts adopted, P8_TA(2019)0128.

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Commends the decision of the Constitutional Court of 4 October 2019 to repeal Article 11 of the Constitution of the Republika Srpska entity, thus abolishing capital punishment across BiH; regrets that the Republika Srpska entity parliament did not amend the Constitution on this matter prior to the Court decision;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Regrets BiH’s continued inability to comply with anti-discrimination rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR); notes the continuing shortcomings in the election process, and reiterates the need to address discriminatory ethnicity and residency- based restrictions on the right to stand for election through the required constitutional changes; regrets the inability to ensure that elections are conducted in line with European standards by implementing OSCE/ODIHR and relevant Venice Commission recommendations, as well as to ensure transparency of political party financing;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls for thorough investigations into alleged electoral irregularities, including identity theft, barriers to independent electoral observation and political pressure on voters and the BiH Central Election Commission (CEC) itself and other irregularities, during of the 2020 municipal elections;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Regrets continued political and financial pressure and instrumentalisation of the media, ~~undermining freedom of expression and media pluralis~~which has especially deteriorated during the covid-19 pandemic, thus undermining freedom of expression and media pluralism, especially due to the lack of financial sustainability of the public broadcasting system; expresses its concern at the hostile environment for independent media, and urges the authorities to effectively investigate and prosecute verbal and physical threats and attacks against journalists ~~and media personnel;~~ , including female journalists, and media personnel; calls for the regulation of transparency of media ownership;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Insists that BiH itself must increase proactive information-sharing on the pandemic, clarification of preventive measures and instructions for citizens, as well as data on infections and vaccinations through official channels;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Notes the increased migratory pressure on the country; calls for effective inter-institutional and inter-governmental coordination of migration ~~and border management~~ in the face of a mounting humanitarian crisis; ~~calls for equitable burden-sharing and adequate support for local communities hosting temporary reception centres; underlines the need to ensure appropriate reception condi~~urges the BiH authorities to quickly scale up actions to address the grave humanitarian situations and ~~to boost capacity for processing incoming migrants and asylum-seekers; urges BiH to conclude an agreement with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO); call~~provide immediate assistance and secure basic living conditions to all the migrants and refugees oin the ~~EU to step up its support to BiH’s authorities, namely with regard to operational assistance~~temporary reception centres;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Insists that it has to be ensured that humanitarian operations can reach migrants and refugees with humanitarian assistance;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. calls for equitable burden-sharing and adequate support for local communities hosting temporary reception centres; stresses the need to ensure appropriate reception conditions and to boost capacity for processing incoming migrants and asylum-seekers; urges BiH to conclude an agreement with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO); calls on the EU to step up its support to BiH’s authorities, namely with regard to operational assistance;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)

19c. calls on the EU to investigate and report on the financial assistance given to BiH authorities and international organizations in BiH for handling the migrant situation in order to ensure transparency and increase the credibility of the EU; calls on a prompt assessment of the EU financial assistance, both by DG ECHO and under IPA, given to BiH authorities and international organizations in BiH for handling the migrant situation in order to ensure transparency;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)

19d. Calls on the BiH authorities to improve the efficiency of the asylum system;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)

19e. Calls on the EU and the BiH’s authorities to work on long term sustainable solutions for people in transit in BiH;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)

19f. Expresses great concern regarding the number of unaccompanied or separated children among refugees and migrants left without access to adequate accommodation and child protection services; calls for effectively facilitating fast-track asylum applications from vulnerable children and families and to recognise them as a priority group in any of the national health, education and protection strategies;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)

19g. Expresses concern for BiH’s increasing cooperation with neighbouring countries in terms of migration policies, inter alia resulting in violent pushbacks in violation of international treaties BiH is a party to, and abuse of migrants at the country’s borders; calls on the EU and EU member states to stop illegal pushbacks notably by Croatian authorities which make the crisis in border areas even bigger; calls in this regard for the establishment of an EU-wide mechanism that shall include in its investigation reports or testimonies of victims of border violence, allowing for the independent investigation of alleged violations of European law at the borders to put an end to the fundamental and human rights violations;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 h (new)

19h. Calls for safe and legal pathways for refugees and migrants into the EU and for an EU migration and asylum policy based on solidarity amongst the Member States;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Urges BiH to step up its efforts ~~against cross-border crime, especially human trafficking~~to fight against drug and human smugglers, and to ensure swift conclusion of the status agreement with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) that wshould aim at facilitateing a better ~~protection of borders in~~and humane border approach fully respect ~~for~~ing fundamental rights, while helping fight cross-border crime;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls for the resignation of the Executive Director of FRONTEX, in view of the alleged involvement of the Agency in violations of fundamental rights; demands a parliamentary inquiry to investigate FRONTEX’ alleged illegal practices;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls for a timely co-ordinated, strategic, transparent and publicly accessible countrywide response to the ongoing health emergency and post- pandemic recovery measures~~; recalls COVID-related EU support to address the acute situation in the country; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to~~ , taking into account the different impact of the crisis on different genders, that must reach all individuals affected by the crisis; recalls COVID-related EU support to address the acute situation in the country needs to address the specific needs of women and of minority and vulnerable groups; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Balkan countries and support their vaccination preparedness; welcomes in this respect the package that will allow BiH and other Western Balkan ~~countrie~~s partners to finally benefit from the EU Advance Purchase Agreements; underlines that the much needed COVID-19 mitigation measures should not lead to further marginalization or stigmatization of vulnerable groups, including refugees and migrants;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Terry REINTKE, Marc ANGEL, Liesje SCHREINEMACHER, Maria WALSH, Tineke STRIK, Michal ŠIMEČKA, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marisa MATIAS, Paulo RANGEL, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Dietmar KÖSTER, Ernest URTASUN, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Calls for a co-ordinated, strategic countrywide response to the ongoing health emergency and post-pandemic recovery measures in full respect of the principle of non discrimination; recalls COVID-related EU support to address the acute situation in the country; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to allocate a sufficient number of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Balkan countries;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Condemns the authorities’ poor management of the covid-19 crisis, including selective enforcement of the ban on assemblies - resulting in the ban of the route of 2020 Sarajevo Pride march -, curtailment of freedom of expression by excluding the media from press conferences, public procurement irregularities and by not offering solutions to meet the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Terry REINTKE, Marc ANGEL, Liesje SCHREINEMACHER, Maria WALSH, Tineke STRIK, Michal ŠIMEČKA, Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Dietmar KÖSTER, Ernest URTASUN, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Stresses the need for the Bosnian authorities to find a better balance between fundamental rights and freedoms and necessary restrictions due to the pandemic; regrets the selective enforcement of the ban on assemblies, which resulted in the ban of the route of the 2020 Sarajevo Pride march;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Calls on BiH to step up active labour market measures aimed at reducing long-term ~~and~~unemployment, including youth unemployment, contributing to the most acute brain drain in the region by investing more in the education sector – from pre- school to higher education - in order to achieve better and equal opportunities for all including vulnerable groups; recalls BiH commitment to increase the employment rate of Roma people;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Recalls that the unemployment of women, who make up 60 % of the working age inactive persons, is of particular concern;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Welcomes the continued participation of BiH in the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens Programmes; stresses that educational and cultural exchanges and joint projects are an essential part of bringing the citizens of BiH and of the EU closer;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Calls on the authorities to harmonise the legislation on maternity and paternity leave across entities and cantons;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)

23d. Underlines that social cohesion is an essential element of a sustainable and united future for BiH; therefore stresses the importance for the EU to support the strengthening of the welfare system of BiH, so as to boost a policy of social justice, of reduction of social inequalities, which will contribute to strengthening social cohesion; regrets that serious challenges remain to be addressed as regards to poverty reduction and calls for access to public health coverage for all; recalls that BiH is a signatory to all ILO fundamental and governance Conventions and as such calls for enhanced social dialogue and social protection;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Urges the authorities to prioritise measures aimed at boosting economic diversification, digitalisation and tackling the informal economy, while developing effective and transparent mechanisms for energy market, transport infrastructure, sustainable tourism and support for SMEs; calls on the authorities to foster the social-economic dialogue among social partners on all socio-economic matters;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Recommends focusing on sustainable and inclusive growth- enhancing public investment and infrastructure projects, making full use of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans; which can contribute to facilitating a social development and long-term recovery following the pandemic; stresses however the need to ensure that EU funds contain both incentives and conditionality and shall effectively contribute to protecting and strengthening democracy, good governance, the rule of law and fundamental rights for all people in BiH;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Urges BiH’s authorities to ensure alignment with EU standards and policy objectives on climate protection and energy, facilitating the green and digital transition, and calls for the prioritisation of measures reducing ecological degradation and environmental risks to health by banning the building of small hydropower plants, combating illegal construction, and increasing inspection oversight on ecological issues; welcomes the adoption of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which shall incentivize the transition to a circular economy and the adoption of the necessary measures to preserve and protect environmentally sensitive areas;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Welcomes the continued presence of EUFOR’s Operation Althea in the country and the extension of EUFOR’s mandate until November 2021; commends that BiH contributes troops to EU CSDP training missions; welcomes the signature of a joint roadmap for action on the G7 partnership for Women, Peace and Security;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2171(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Norbert NEUSER, Petar VITANOV, Andreas SCHIEDER, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Reaffirms its position that government and civil society representatives of the Western Balkan countries should be engaged in the Conference on the Future of Europe;

2021/02/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the rule of law is a key benchmark for assessing the progress towards the EU accession;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the ongoing pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the EU and the Western Balkans must continue tackling common challenges together;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the country has to recover from the widespread damage caused by the 26 November 2019 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic; boost preparedness for civil protection and disaster response and advance preparations for joining the Union Civil Protection Mechanism;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the EU has mobilised grants worth €115 million for the post- earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction within the €400 million European support pledge;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas the EU mobilised €51million to assist Albania in tackling COVID-19 and made available up to €180 million in macro-financial assistance;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas the EU is Albania’s biggest trading partner and the largest donor, and the country has benefited from €1.25 billion in EU pre-accession funding since 2007;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)

Dg. whereas the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans will facilitate a long-term recovery, following the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the economic development and reforms in the region;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D h (new)

Dh. whereas Albanian citizens enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen area since December 2010;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D i (new)

Di. whereas since 2015 Albanian citizens participate in student, academic and youth exchanges under Erasmus+;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D j (new)

Dj. whereas the EU remains fully committed to supporting Albania’s strategic choice for European integration, based on the rule of law and good neighbourly relations;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Recital D k (new)

Dk. whereas Albania remains a trustworthy foreign policy partner, advancing regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers the appointment of the Chief Negotiator and the negotiating team, along with the adoption of the action plan to address the conditions and priorities set by Council’s conclusions of March 2020, to be a sign of a clear political commitment to advance the EU integration process;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages political leaders to create a climate of confidence by increasing transparency and overcoming the lack of dialogue and expresses its serious concern about the polarised political climate and lack of sustainable cross-party cooperation that continue to hamper the democratic process;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on public institutions to be proactive and make information publicly and timely available to civil society, media and the general public, particularly when related to issues of high public interest;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses the importance of ensuring that preparations for the 2021 parliamentary elections take place in a transparent and inclusive manner;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Notes that all political forces, state bodies, civil society and the media have a joint duty to ensure a transparent, credible and objective election campaign, free from disinformation, intimidation and false accusations;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Urges Albania to improve intra- governmental co-ordination, decentralisation under the territorial administrative reform, to advance public consultations at local level and advance with public administration reform;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls the paramount importance of safeguarding the rule of law through implementation of judicial overhaul and a steady and consistent prosecution of high- level corruption;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Encourages Albania to complete the relevant steps towards re-establishing the Constitutional Court’s ability to function fully and efficiently, as well as to make sure the Appeals Court does not stop operating and urges all involved to swiftly conclude the appointment process;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the fact that the High Court has 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 and to develop a plan to recover its backlog;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recalls the need to improve transparency and control of political party funding under the amended Law on Political Party Financing;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Notes the importance of effectively implement the recommendations of the Albanian Supreme State Audit Institution;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
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 their further intensification, in line with the principles of judicial independence, due process and fair trial;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Underlines the importance of the continuing efforts and systemic improvements in tackling human, firearms and counterfeit goods’ trafficking, along with the cyber-crime and terrorist threats;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Expresses its support for inclusive policies and calls for progress to be made in adopting measures to effectively protect the fundamental freedoms and rights of all citizens, with a special focus on women, children, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ persons;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Notes that the National Action Plan for LGBTI Issues 2016-2020 has expired; Calls on the government to develop the new action plan in a transparent and inclusive process in consultation with civil society and ensure appropriate resources are assigned for its implementation;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Welcomes the decision to eliminate the unacceptable "conversion therapy", strengthening the right to gender identity and gender expression;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Calls for the creation of an effective mechanism for the prevention of gender- based and domestic violence and harassment, exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic, and for protection and support to be given to its victims, combined with the effective and efficient prosecution of its perpetrators;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
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 conditions of Roma and other ethnic minorities; welcomes the 2019 Poznan Declaration on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process, urges the authorities to advance Roma integration policies in line with the EU Roma strategic framework;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Reminds Albania of its calls ~~for~~to ensure non-discriminatory access to public services and further improvements to be made in the education and health, and the employment rates and living conditions of Roma and other ethnic minorities;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
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 conditions of Roma, Egyptians and other ethnic minorities;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls the importance of measures ensuring the protection of national minorities, including self-identification, the use of languages and property rights; Welcomes in this context the adoption of the law on the population census;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Encourages Albania to make further progress on measures consolidating property registration, restitution and compensation rights, implementing the law on transitional ownership, and completing the comprehensive land sector reform;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Welcomes Albania’s efforts in promoting tolerance, inter-religious harmony and addressing prejudice and discrimination, including antisemitism, as affirmed by the parliamentary approval of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Calls on the authorities to ensure that the right to peaceful assembly is respected, and during state of emergency or state of natural disaster the restrictions to public gatherings are applied fairly;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Recalls the authorities’ obligation to ensure due process for asylum seekers in compliance with Albania’s international obligations, and to properly address the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, while increasing preparedness for potential increases in migratory flows; calls for increased capacities to process asylum requests and investigations into the reported cases of breaches of the return procedures;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
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 conducted in full respect for fundamental rights, enshrined in applicable international and regional laws and principles;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes the ongoing efforts being made and urges the authorities to take a robust approach in preventing, investigating, prosecuting and punishing human trafficking and the exploitation of its victims, who include children and other vulnerable groups, to increase reintegration services and ensure witness protection;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the ongoing measures and calls for further progress to be made in considerably reducing the number of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals, including the arrivals of unaccompanied minors, in the EU Member States; notes that Albania continues to fulfil visa liberalisation benchmarks;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30a. Notes the importance of addressing allegations of police misconduct and to eradicate ill-treatment of suspects and prisoners;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Underlines the need to improve the climate for the functioning of civil society and urges the authorities to ensure meaningful, timely and representative consultations~~, and to enhance~~ throughout the decision- making at different governance levels and to enhance the legal and fiscal framework, improving the financial sustainability of the non-governmental sector;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31a. Stresses the importance of consultation and participation of civil society organizations on the regular function of society; Notes that this involvement is of paramount importance to the participation of citizens in the life of the country;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Recalls the importance of ensuring quality journalism and media literacy for the functioning of democracy and in tackling disinformation, hate speech and fake-news; stresses the importance of increasing the levels of media literacy in Albania;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33a. Underlines the need to strengthen self-regulation, ethics, independence, impartiality, financial sustainability and reporting quality of public and private media outlets and to enhance transparency of the media ownership, funding and public advertising; notes the need to improve labour and social conditions of the media professionals in order to ensure quality journalism;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
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 publicly shared in a consultation process with civil society, journalists and media organisations and assessed as being fully in line with the Venice Commission’s recommendations;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Encourages the Albanian Government to prioritise measures aimed at mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular consideration for marginalised and vulnerable groups such as Roma, Egyptians and the LGBTQI+ community, while taking further steps to enhance the representativeness of the social dialogue and to tackle the widespread informal economy;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Encourages the Albanian Government to prioritise measures aimed at mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while taking further steps to improve diversification, competitiveness, and digitalisation, enhance the representativeness of the social dialogue and to tackle the widespread informal economy;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Stresses the need to substantially strengthen social care coverage and improve access to social and healthcare services in order to reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Calls for the measures addressing the demographic decline and the brain drain to be stepped up through active labour market policies that address skills mismatches and reduce long-term unemployment, as well as by addressing problems relating to housing and access to education;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Calls for the measures addressing the demographic decline and the brain drain to be stepped up through active labour market policies that address skills mismatches and reduce long-term unemployment, particularly among the youth and the most excluded/marginalised groups;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Welcomes the positive trends in women’s participation in politics, and calls for additional steps to address ~~the~~gender imbalances, gender pay gap and workplace discrimination;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Recalls that sustainable growth depends on eradication of endemic corruption, improved transparency, legal certainty and efficiency, fair competition and reduction of bureaucracy;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)

40b. Calls for adequate co-financing and further improvements in transparency and visibility of the EU funding;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)

40b. Stresses that the EU Investment Plan for the Western Balkans should play an important role on the fight against the demographic decline and the brain drain, developing tools to address this problem;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)

41b. Underlines that planning and construction of eco-sensitive projects, including hydropower, industrial and tourist sites, must be conducted under a broad country-wide stakeholder consultation with the civil society and local communities and must comply with international and EU norms on impact assessments and environmental protection;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42a. Recalls the need to overhaul the Fierza Hydro Power Plant and construct the Skavica Hydro Power Plant;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Urges the authorities to ensure full compliance with the Energy Community Treaty; underlines the contribution of the newly launched trans-Adriatic pipeline, and upcoming connection of the converted Vlora thermal plant, to regional energy security;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Calls for continuing progress in strengthening strategic transport networks in line with the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) regulatory framework and advance work on the Albanian sections of the “Blue Highway“;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44a. Recalls the need to complete the railway sector reforms and advance the Tirana-Podgorica-Durrës rail connection;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44a. Recalls the need to complete the electricity market reform and put in place Bitola-Elbasan electricity interconnector with North Macedonia;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44a. Recalls the need to prioritise setting up of an integrated regional waste management system, promote recycling, close hazardous dumpsites, address deforestation, step-up water quality monitoring and wastewater treatment capacities and strengthen the capacities of the agencies on environment and protected areas;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47a. Recalls that regional cooperation should be underpinned by respect for fundamental European values and a common future in the EU;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)

48a. Calls upon all political leaders to take urgent steps to set up the Regional Commission tasked with establishing the facts about all victims of war crimes and other serious human rights violations committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia (RECOM), building upon the significant work carried out by the Coalition for RECOM;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2170(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Bettina VOLLATH, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Dietmar KÖSTER, Andreas SCHIEDER, Tonino PICULA, Tanja FAJON

Motion for a resolution
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; urges Albania to comply with the EU position on the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court;

2020/12/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the EU Member States to systematically integrate gender mainstreaming and an intersectional perspective into the EU’s foreign and security policy; and to make gender equality an explicit goal of the EU external action; calls for the experiences of women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalization - based on their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio- economic and legal status, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity - to be put at the heart of policy-making, and draw on their unique and diverse experiences;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the EU Member States to systematically integrate gender mainstreaming into the EU’s foreign and security policy; calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to implement gender budgeting;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the need of implementation of the “EEAS Strategy on Gender and Equal Opportunities for the period 2018-2023”;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the VP/HR to make substantial and highly visible progress on gender equality in terms of leadership and management, staffing, training, financial resources and organisational hierarchy; calls in this regard for mandatory training on gender equality; calls for better gender balancing when it comes to the EU external representation, in particular calls for gender equality to be taken into consideration for the nomination of future Heads of EU Delegations and EU Special Representatives;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the VP/HR to make substantial and highly visible progress on gender equality in terms of leadership and management, staffing, training, financial resources and organisational hierarchy; calls in this regard for mandatory training on gender equality; underlines the need of incorporating gender-related aspects in the training of staff of the EU diplomatic services;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls for the annual budgetary procedures applied for the upcoming MFF, including external financing through and the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) III to integrate a gender-responsive perspective; calls for gender-responsive budgeting and obligatory requirements for gender impact assessments in the NDICI and IPA III regulations, as part of a general ex-ante conditionality to inform programming, in accordance with European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) guidance, the EU Gender Action Plan and OECD DAC criteria requirements;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the VP/HR to ensure that the Heads of EU Delegations abroad have a formal responsibility to ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed throughout all aspects of the Delegation’s work and are required to report on it; further calls on the VP/HR to ensure that there is one full-time gender focal point in the EU Delegations; deplores the fact that there are no women among the new Deputy Secretaries- General appointed by VP/HR;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the VP/HR to ensure that the Heads of EU Delegations abroad have a formal responsibility to ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed throughout all aspects of the Delegation’s work and that gender equality issues are regularly raised in political dialogues with government counterparts, and are required to report on it; further calls on the VP/HR to ensure that there is one full-time gender ~~focal point~~advisor in the EU Delegations;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Reiterates that only 22 out of 176 employees in the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) are female, of which 12 serve as secretaries or assistants;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Recalls that the European Commission announced in its Gender Equality Strategy 2020-20251a its objective to reach gender balance of 50% at all levels of its management by the end of 2024; urges the VP/HR to start implementing Commission’s recommendations in this regard; __________________ 1ahttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2020%3 A152%3AFIN

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that not a single one of the 12 civilian CSDP missions is headed by a woman; calls on the VP/HR to draw up a gender equality strategy for CSDP missions with specific targets, for both leadership and personnel;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Regrets that not a single one of the 12 civilian CSDP missions is headed by a woman; calls on the VP/HR to draw up a gender equality strategy for CSDP missions with specific targets;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that developing and using gender analysis and the systematic integration of a gender perspective constitutes one of the foundations of effective and lasting conflict prevention and resolution; stresses for the recognition of the significant role women and girls play in achieving sustainable peace; calls for the safe, meaningful and inclusive participation of women and girls from the grassroots level to peacebuilding, post- conflict reconstruction, governance and institution building actions;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on Member States to be fully compliant with the Common Position on Arms Exports, specifically calls on Member States to take into account the risk of exported materials being used for, or facilitating, gender-based violence or violence against women or children; emphasises that a gender-sensitive approach means a human centred security approach, aiming at improving securities of women, including economic, social and health security;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the eradication of female genital mutilation and the eradication of gender-based violence to be systematically addressed in the EU political dialogues with third countries; stresses that gender- based violence against women and girls must keep being a political priority for the EU in its external action; urges the EU to exercise all possible leverage for the perpetrators of mass rapes in warfare to be reported, identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with international criminal law;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Regrets that no explicit reference to gender equality and women’s rights is made in the European Commission’s joint communication on an EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020- 2024; calls for the revision and update of the EU Guidelines on violence against women and girls and combatting all forms of discrimination against them;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Calls on the EU to put the ratification of the Istanbul Convention high on the agenda of its Political Dialogue with the Council of Europe (CoE) partner countries; welcomes the invitation from the Committee of Ministers of the CoE to Kazakhstan and Tunisia to accede to the Convention as the first non-member states, encouraging other countries to express their interest to accede too;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses that the EU needs to take decisive action to counter the global backlash against women’s rights and gender equality; calls on all external funds and programmes to have a significant share earmarked for gender equality purposes; calls in particular for financial support to female human rights defenders and to women’s civil society organisations, especially for capacity- building actions;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Acknowledges the key role of civil society organisations and in particular women’s rights organisations and women human rights defenders in supporting the implementation of the EU Gender Action Plan and the EU Strategic Approach to Women Peace and Security and its Action Plan; calls on the European Commission to strengthen the involvement of civil society organisations in the formulation of the third Gender Action Plan and in its implementation in partner countries;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Urges the VP/HR and the EU Member States to include references to UNSC resolution 1325 and follow-up resolutions in CSDP-related Council decisions and mission mandates, and to make sure that all CSDP missions and operations have an annual action plan on how to implement the objectives of GAP III and the EU Action Plan on WPS; calls for gender analysis to be put in place for new CSDP instruments, including the European Defence Fund and the proposed European Peace Facility;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls for specific earmarked funding on gender equality in the framework of the proposed NDICI regulation and the IPA III regulation, and for reduced administrative constraints to allow access to funding for local and small CSOs and especially WCSOs;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Robert BIEDROŃ, Tanja FAJON, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Katarina BARLEY, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Maria ARENA, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines the necessity of ensuring that automated decision-making methods, including AI algorithms in the area of EU’s foreign and security policy, are void of profiling biases, especially based on gender;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the European Commission and the EEAS to use the accession negotiations as a leverage to foster gender equality in the candidate countries;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the EEAS that its development cooperation policy and humanitarian aid action supports women’s economic empowerment and women and girls’ rights in partner countries; calls for the improvement of the reporting of EU funding for gender equality allocated and disbursed in partner countries through the EU GAP III;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)

9c. Calls on particular attention to be paid to the situation of women and girls on the move, on migration routes or camps, specifically calls for their access to WASH, SRHR and maternal health;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2167(INI)

Katarina BARLEY, Andreas SCHIEDER, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Evin INCIR, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 d (new)

9d. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the EEAS to promote and support the inclusion of a specific gender chapter in all EU trade and investment agreements, and to ensure that it specifically foresees the commitment to promote gender equality and women empowerment; calls as well for provisions to be included in these trade agreements ensuring that their institutional structures guarantee periodical compliance reviews, substantial discussions and the exchange of information and best practices on gender equality and trade, through among others, the inclusion of women and experts on gender equality at all levels of the administrations concerned, including trade negotiating teams, joint committees, expert groups, domestic advisory groups, joint consultative committees and dispute settlement bodies;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)

– having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the outcome document of 25 September 2014 of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples,

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)

– having regard to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the UN Human Rights Council of 8 August 20171a, __________________ 1a https://undocs.org/A/HRC/36/46/Add.2

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

– having regard to the 2016 European Economic and Social Committee's Communication 'Lives in Dignity: From Aid-dependence to Self- reliance' and subsequent 2016 Council Conclusions on the EU approach to forced displacement and development,

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of July 2018 on violation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the world, including land grabbing (2017/2206(INI)),

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas promoting international peace and security is part of the EU’s raison d’être, recognised by the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, and is central to the Lisbon Treaty;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas the EU is committed to acting on the international scene in the name of the principles that inspired its creation, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and in favour of the principles of the UN Charter and international law;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas there is an urgent need for the international community and in particular the EU to actively address the fight against impunity and to step up its efforts to monitor and respond to persistent and emerging conflicts throughout the globe that might lead to human rights abuses;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas many indigenous peoples continue to be victims of murder, extrajudicial executions, mutilation, torture, rape, arbitrary detentions, physical assault, harassment and intimidation for defending the right to their ancestral territories and natural resources, including their access to water and food, and to their spiritual sites and sacred burial grounds;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that the number of persons forcibly displaced in 2018 exceededs 70 million, of whom 26 million were refugees~~3 ; takes the view that wars, conflicts, political oppression, poverty and food insecurity,~~; 41 million internally displaced and 3.5 million were asylum seekers; in addition 12 million people globally are stateless; takes the view that the drivers of displacement - wars, conflicts, political oppression, persecution and violence – will intensify through uneven economic development conditions and the adverse effects of climate change on the world’s poorest countries in particular~~, fuel the risks of triggering new conflicts and the further displacement of populations~~; __________________ 3UNHCR – Global Trends 2018 report (19 June 2019).

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Recalls the EU’s commitment to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with non-EU countries; stresses, therefore, that the objective of advancing human rights and democracy around the world requires it to be mainstreamed in all EU policies which have an external dimension; stresses that the EU should, therefore, put in place measures to ensure EU engagement does not inadvertently reinforce authoritarian regimes;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Underscores the importance of human rights to be promoted and mainstreamed across all external policy of the EU; takes note of the works on such important issues being currently carried out under the status of a subcommittee in Parliament; reiterates its call to upgrade this into a full committee;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Strongly recommends that the Commission enhances its engagement with Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights to enable it to contribute actively to the upcoming EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to inform, consult and work closely with Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, when revising and/or adopting EU policy documents for the conduct and monitoring of EU human rights foreign policy;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Strongly supports the work and efforts of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) in protecting and promoting human rights in the world; underlines the important objective within the mandate of the EUSR to enhance the Union’s effectiveness in this area; calls on the EUSR to act upon its mandate to contribute to enhancing the EU’s contribution to strengthening democracy;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses the link between the increase in human rights violations and widespread impunity and the lack of accountability in regions and countries devastated by conflicts or marked by politically motivated intimidation, discrimination, harassment and assault, a~~bduction, violent policing, arbitrary arrests and cases of torture~~rbitrary arrests, cases of torture and killings; calls to support actions aimed at combating impunity and promote accountability especially in those regions where the dynamics of impunity reward those who bear the greatest responsibility and disempower victims;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses the link between the increase in human rights violations and widespread impunity and the lack of accountability in regions and countries devastated by conflicts or marked by politically motivated intimidation, discrimination, harassment and assault, abduction, violent policing, arbitrary arrests and cases of torture; stresses also that in conflicts, minorities and marginalised groups are often particularly severely impacted;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Strongly believes that the impunity challenge has clearly emerged as a central issue and calls therefore on the EEAS and the Commission to include an ambitious strategy on that respect within the 3rd EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; in that spirit, highly recommends the setting up of an European Observatory on Prevention, accountability, and combating impunity that would serve the purpose of connecting existing accountability mechanisms (e.g. EU early warning systems, preventing genocide, implementing the Responsibility to Protect, accountability processes and post- conflict transitional justices), following- up of the resolutions of Parliament on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (known as urgency resolutions, in accordance with Rule 144, formerly Rule 135, of its Rules of Procedure), raising awareness about unreported situations and human rights violations, including the most sensitive issues (e.g. extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances), bridging the gap between mechanisms and victims, and contributing to implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions and further raise the profile and visibility of the EU engagement on this matter;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Strongly believes that the impunity challenge has clearly emerged as a central issue and calls therefore on the EEAS and the Commission to include an ambitious strategy on that respect within the 3rd EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; in that spirit, highly recommends the setting up of an European Observatory on Prevention, accountability, and combating impunity that would serve the purpose of connecting existing accountability mechanisms like the EU early warning systems, preventing genocide, implementing the Responsibility to Protect, accountability processes and post- conflict transitional justices; this could also serve to raise awareness about unreported situations and human rights violations, including the most sensitive issues as extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, bridging the gap between mechanisms and victims, and contributing to implement the Sustainable Development Goal number 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. The European Observatory on Prevention, accountability, and combating impunity could further raise the profile and visibility of the EU engagement on this matter;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Welcomes the initial discussions within the Council regarding the establishment of an EU human rights sanctions mechanism, ~~the so-called ‘Magnitsky List’,~~ allowing for targeted sanctions against individuals complicit in serious human rights violations;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Stresses the invaluable and essential role that HRDs play at the risk of their lives, in particular women’s human rights defenders; recommends strengthening cooperation between the EU institutions and the Member States, enabling them to provide continuous support to HRDs; values the ‘ProtectDefenders.eu’ mechanism established to protect HRDs at grave risk; calls on the Council and the Commission to establish a specific coordinated procedure for awarding visas to HRDs; calls on the Commission ~~to make full use of the financial capac~~and Member States to ensure sufficient funding for the protection of HRDs in the relevant Thematic Programmes of the next NDICI and to ensure its accessibility ofby th~~e European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to support HRDs~~ose most in need who are the most marginalised; calls on the Commission to make full use of this instrument in the future;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Andrea COZZOLINO, Giuliano PISAPIA, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Urges the EU and its Member States to continue working to ensure physical integrity and legal assistance for indigenous, environmental, intellectual property and land rights defenders, namely through reinforcement of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and various existing instruments and mechanisms such as protectdefendeurs.eu, in order to protect human rights and environmental activists, with a dedicated emphasis on women human rights defenders and increased involvement in the initiatives proposed by international organisations such as the UN;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)

20e. Highlights that 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of the UN declaration on Human Rights Defenders; welcomes the first ever European Parliament Human Rights Week, which offered a platform for an exchange with HRDs; encourages the EU institutions to retain this practice on a regular basis;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Urges the EU and its Member States to actively seek full recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples; calls on countries to ratify the provisions of ILO Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Calls on all states, particularly the EU and the Member States, to include Indigenous Peoples and rural communities in the decision-making process with regard to strategies for tackling climate change, which should also cover the case of irreparable damage resulting from climate change that can force them to migrate and lead to their double discrimination as environmentally displaced and indigenous people;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows such as wars, conflicts, persecution, networks of illegal migration, trafficking, smuggling and climate change; calls for the external dimension of the refugee crisis to be addressed, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts through building cooperation and partnerships with the third countries concerned; insists that the implementation of the Global Compacts on migration and refugees must therefore go hand in hke genuine steps, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees; (a) to ease the pressures on host countries and communities; (b) to enhance refugee self-reliance; (c) to expand access to third-country solutions; (d) to support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity; (e) calls for the EU and its Member States to increase humanitarian assistance for forcibly displaced; (f) calls for the EU and wit~~h the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda as set out in the Strategic Development Goals, as well as with increased in~~s Member States to provide support to refugee hosting communities over and above st~~ment in~~andard develop~~ing countries~~ment programming;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Calls on the EU to use partnerships with third countries to comply with international law and to ensure respect for human rights with clear reference to situations of internal displacement, to increase its engagement in conflict prevention as well as to support the UNHCR initiative to end statelessness by 2024 inside and outside the EU;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions, political parties, independent media, parliaments and civil society in their efforts to promote democratisation; positively notes, in this context, the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods of the EU to promote democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms; recalls that the experience gained and the lessons learned from transitions to democracy in the framework of the enlargement and neighbourhood policies could make a positive contribution to the identification of best practices that could be used to support and consolidate other democratisation processes worldwide; welcomes the Council’s discussions on conclusions on democracy as the start of updating and strengthening the EU’s approach to strengthen democracy;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Reiterates its positive view of the EU’s continued support for electoral processes and its provision of electoral assistance and support to domestic observers; welcomes and fully supports, in this context, the work of the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group; recalls the importance of proper follow-up to the reports and recommendations of the election observation missions as a way of enhancing their impact and strengthening the EU’s support for democratic standards in the countries concerned; stresses the need to support democracy throughout the electoral cycle through long-term and flexible programmes that reflect the nature of democratic change;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes with concern the decrease of over EUR 1 billion in commitment appropriations for Heading 4 (Global Europe), which would result in a budget for external action lower than during any of the three preceding years; believes that in the current international context, the EU needs to assume more, not less responsibility and that it must be endowed with the necessary financial resources in ~~order to be able to do so~~view of the numerous challenges in the EU’s neighbourhood and further afield; calls for the margin of over EUR 200 million in Heading 4 to be allocated;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that a further increase in funding for the Western Balkan countries under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) is needed; the Commission recommended opening accession negations with Albania and North Macedonia, which the European Council approved; it is important to keep that promise and start accession negotiations already in 2019; in this regard, disapproves of the proposed reduction of the funds dedicated to supporting political reforms and alignment with the acquis in the Western Balkans and asks for a substantial increase instead;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the allocations for Turkey remain at a reduced level and believes that this is justified by the serious and persistent deficits in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey; welcomes the increased focus on support for civil society, democracy and rule of law, and the continuing shift toward direct management and encourages the Commission to further expedite this rebalancing;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the allocations for Turkey remain at a reduced level and believes that this is justified by the serious and persistent deficits in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey; at the same time, it is crucial to keep bridges with the citizens of Turkey; welcomes the increased focus on support for civil society and the continuing shift toward direct management and encourages the Commission to further expedite this rebalancing;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for reversing the proposed budget cuts for the countries in the Southern Neighbourhood under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI); reiterates that contributions from ENI to the Syria pledge and the EU Trust Fund for Africa must not come at the expense of the ENI core priorities and calls for these additional commitments to be fully offset by reinforcements; calls for providing increased funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in 2020 to preserve uninterrupted basic services to millions of Palestine refugees, in line with EU Global Strategy and priorities in the Middle East;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

2019/2028(BUD)

Petar VITANOV, Maria GRAPINI, Isabel SANTOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. C~~alls~~ountries in the Southern neighbourhood are facing enormous pressure as a result of tumultuous developments in the region, including conflicts in Syria and Libya, rise of extremism and related refugee and migrant waves; calls, therefore, for reversing the proposed budget cuts for the countries in the Southern Neighbourhood under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI); reiterates that contributions from ENI to the Syria pledge and the EU Trust Fund for Africa must not come at the expense of the ENI core priorities and calls for these additional commitments to be fully offset by reinforcements;

2062/01/08
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – introductory part

(5) in Article 7, paragraph 57 is replaced by the following:

2020/10/02
Committee: LIBE

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria NOICHL, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Jytte GUTELAND, Isabel SANTOS, Andrea COZZOLINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Underlines that economic development and multilateralism are important tools to improve people’s lives; points out that one of the objectives of the IPA is to strengthen the economic, trade and investment relationship between the EU and Viet Nam in accordance with the objective of sustainable development, and to promote trade and investment in ~~a manner that is mindful of high levels of~~full compliance with human rights, environmental and labour ~~protection and relevant~~ internationally recognised standards and agreements;

2019/11/14
Committee: AFET

2018/0358M(NLE)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria NOICHL, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Andrea COZZOLINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the enhanced political dialogue between the EU and Viet Nam and the ~~upgraded potential~~possibility to address human rights concerns in the framework of the institutional mechanisms established under Article 35 of the PCA and Article 13 of the FTA; ~~believes that those articles provide the necessary tools to address human rights concerns related to the IPA~~takes note that even if a Party may unilaterally take appropriate measures when it considers that the other Party has committed a material breach of the PCA, these measures are in full discretion of the parties and have been used in very exceptional circumstances;

2019/11/14
Committee: AFET

2018/0358M(NLE)

Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Maria NOICHL, Maria ARENA, Bettina VOLLATH, Isabel SANTOS, Andrea COZZOLINO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that under Article 35 of the PCA, the Parties agree to cooperate in the promotion and protection of human rights, including with regard to the implementation of international human rights instruments to which they are parties; notes with concern that it has proved to be insufficient as serious human rights violations have continued since the entry into force of the PCA;

2019/11/14
Committee: AFET

Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Isabel SANTOS, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Pietro BARTOLO, Sylwia SPUREK, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Bettina VOLLATH, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Dietmar KÖSTER, Katarina BARLEY, Kati PIRI, Łukasz KOHUT, Robert BIEDROŃ

Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Isabel SANTOS, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Pietro BARTOLO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Reiterates its call on the Polish government to respect the right of freedom of assembly by removing from the current act of 24 July 2015 on public assemblies, as amended on 13 December 2016, the provisions prioritising government- approved ‘cyclical’ assemblies48 ; urges the authorities to refrain from applying criminal sanctions to people who participate in peaceful assemblies or counter-demonstrations and to drop criminal charges against peaceful protesters; urges the authorities moreover to adequately protect peaceful assemblies; is concerned about the current ban on public assemblies without the introduction of a state of natural disaster due to the COVID-19 pandemic and insists on the need to apply the principle of proportionality when restricting the right to assembly during the COVID-19 crisis; _________________ 48 See as well the Communication of 23 April 2018 by UN Experts to urge Poland to ensure free and full participation at climate talks.

2020/05/29
Committee: LIBE

7. Where requested by the Member State concerned, the biometric data may, under reasoned grounds, also be taken and transmitted on behalf of that Member State by members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams or experts of the asylum support teams when exercising powers and performing their tasks in accordance with Regulation(EU) 2019/1896 and Regulation (EU) XXX/XXX [EU Agency for Asylum Regulation].

2021/04/29
Committee: LIBE