Activities of Vangelis MEIMARAKIS related to 2021/2023(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU-India relations (continuation of debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning EU-India relations
Amendments (25)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the EU and India are the world’s two largest democracies, that share values of freedom, rule of law and human rights, but have not reached its full potential and require permanent strong political engagement; whereas the EU and India share a strong conviction of the need to preserve the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas the India Ocean is an expanse of strategic importance for global trade, e.g. in energy, which is characterised by the existence of several chokepoints that can be of detrimental influence on trade routes; whereas uninterrupted navigation through the choke points (Strait of Hormuz, Bab el- Mandeb, Strait of Malacca, Mozambique Channel) is of vital economic and strategic interest for both the EU and India;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
B d. whereas connectivity should constitute an important element of a mutual EU - India strategic agenda in- line with the EU-Asia Connectivity Strategy; whereas the comprehensiveness of connectivity is not only limited to physical infrastructure such as roads and railways, but also maritime routes, digital as well as environmental, with particular emphasis on the EU Green Deal; whereas it has geopolitical and transformative role as well as a sustainable vehicle of growth and jobs;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
B e. whereas India is one of the most hard hit countries by the novel COVID-19 pandemic, with over 11 million confirmed cases and more than 150 thousand deaths and the Indian Government has undertaken an initiative to donate millions of vaccines to countries in its immediate neighbourhood and key partner nations in the Indian Ocean;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
a a) unleash the full potential of the bilateral relationship between the world’s two biggest democracies, that have a fundamental role to play to preserve the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism as well promote pluralism, freedom, rule of law and human rights, as a successful EU-India relationship will set a positive example for the need to strengthen cooperation among democracies in a period of a volatile international environment;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
c a) consolidate the EU’s public diplomacy efforts to improve mutual understanding between the EU, its Member States and India and help address the knowledge deficit on both sides, involving academia, think-tanks and representatives from across the EU and India;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
f) ensure the active and regular consultation and involvement of EU and Indian civil society in the development, implementation and monitoring of EU- India relations; seek the establishment of an EU-India Civil Society Platform for that purpose and a EU-India Youth Summit as a side event of future EU-India Summits, in order to strengthen relations between the young generations;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
k) coordinate positions and initiatives in multilateral fora, notably the UN, by pushing for joint objectives along shared international values and standards, increasing dialogue and effectively aligning positions; support India’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
l) draw on India’s vision and its own understanding of regional dynamics as well as the EU Member States’ existing approaches for the Indo-Pacific region in order to develop a comprehensive European Indo-Pacific strategy based on EU principles and valuesinternational norms and values, to equip the EU to leverage its economic power and defend its interests in the region and emerge as a promoter of an open, rules- based international order; seek coordination of EU and Indian policies towards the Indo-Pacific region;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
n) underline that preserving peace, stability and the freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region remains of critical importance to the interests of the EU and its Member States; intensify cooperation in maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, in order to preserve the security and freedom of navigation along the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC); remind that cooperation with countries of the Indo-Pacific region should follow principles of openness, prosperity,inclusiveness, sustainability, transparency, reciprocity and viability;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
n a) promote deeper cooperation between the EU and India in regard to Afghanistan, in order to achieve sustainable peace resulting from a meaningful and inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process; reiterates that a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan free from terrorism is a cornerstone for its own stability and development, as well as that of the entire region;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
n b) renew efforts for rapprochement and restoration of good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan through a comprehensive dialogue and possibly a step-by-step approach starting with confidence-building measures; in this light welcome the India-Pakistan Joint Statement on Ceasefire from 25 February; underline the importance of the bilateral dimension in working towards the establishment of lasting peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan, which would positively contribute to the security and economic development of the region; underline the responsibility towards peace incumbent on both states as nuclear powers; encourage and support the reconciliation process between India and Pakistan;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
o) take note of India’s security concerns as regards the expansive policy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC); particularly in view of the latter’s assertive policy in the South China Sea, substantial military modernisation and strategic relationship with Pakistan; support the resolution of disputes and the upholding of international law on the India-PRC border;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
r) place human rights at the hearts a central theme of the EU’s engagement with India, thereby enabling an open and calmonstructive dialogue; develop a strategy to address human rights issues in collaboration with India and to integrate human rights considerations across the wider EU-India partnership; welcome the foreseen bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, first in 8 years;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r a (new)
r a) encourage India to continue its tradition of granting protection to persons fleeing violence and persecution until conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary return are possible, and to take all measures needed to eliminate risks of statelessness for communities in India;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
s a) encourage India to abide by Article 25 of its Constitution, which enshrines the right to freely practice and propagate the religion of one’s choice; recognize that Muslims, Christians and other religious minorities are equal in dignity and rights before the law;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point s b (new)
s b) work to eliminate and deter hate speech that incites discrimination or violence, which leads to a toxic environment where intolerance and violence against religious minorities can occur with impunity;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
t) address the human rights situation and challenges faced by civil society 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 the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, to end attacks against - and to release arbitrarily detained - human rights defender and freedom of religion or belief, to end attacks against human rights defenders, members of religious minorities 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;
Amendment 196 #
t a) express concern about the effects on freedom of expression and association of the current Indian law on foreign participation in the funding of NGO’s (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act);
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y
Paragraph 1 – point y
y) finalise negotiations on a connectivity partnership with India; and explore synergies between their cooperation and that with countries of South Asia and coordination of various connectivity strategies;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point aa a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point aa a (new)
aa a) call on the Indian government to leverage its capacity as a major manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, generic drugs and vaccines to contribute to improving relations with these countries, while addressing the global health crisis as well as the current level of regional hostility as a global vaccine distributer;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ad
Paragraph 1 – point ad
ad) strive for co-leadership in setting and advancing international standards in the digital economy grounded in sustainable and responsible digitalisation and a rule of law-based and human- centred ICT environment, while addressing cybersecurity threats and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms, including the protection of personal data;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ae
Paragraph 1 – point ae
ae) step up the EU’s ambitions for digital connectivity with India in the context of the EU’s digital transformation strategy; work together with India and other like-minded partners in the region in the development and use of critical technologies, including AI and 5G, keeping in mind the great strategic and security implications that such revolutionary technologies carry; invest in a partnership in digital services and the development of responsible artificial intelligence; continue to support data protection reform in India;