9 Amendments of Tineke STRIK related to 2023/2729(RSP)
Amendment 24 #
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas investigations from April 2021 by Lighthouse Reports show that Frontex prefers to hand over information about distress cases to the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, even though merchant vessels or NGO ships were in closer vicinity; whereas the information is partly passed on via informal WhatsApp communication;
Amendment 29 #
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the need for a strong,n effective and well-functioning European Border and Coast Guard Agency that is able to assist Member States in managing the common external borders of the European Union and in ensuring integrated border management in full compliance with fundamental rights;
Amendment 75 #
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses severe concern regarding the serious and persistent allegations made against Greek authorities in relation to pushbacks and violence against migrants; is convinced that respect for the principles and values of the Union must be the condition sine qua non for Frontex to commit to a joint operation with a Member State; is further convinced that, should a Member State be unable to respect those principles and values, then the Agency should scale down and repurpose its operations towards monitoring activities in the light of Article 46 of its mandate, while maintaining its presence on the ground in order not to leave a vacuum; regrets that the Agency has so far refrained from scaling down or repurposing its operations in Greece; urges the Executive Director to suspend operations in Greece, at least until significant improvements in the area of fundamental rights are made by the Hellenic authorities, in line with FRO recommendations in September 2022;
Amendment 80 #
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Takes note of the own-initiative inquiry launched by the EU ombudsman aimed at clarifying Frontex’s role in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea following the drowning of hundreds of people off the coast of Greece on 14 June; expects the Agency to ensure full cooperation during the inquiry, including access to its assets if requested;
Amendment 81 #
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Is concerned about the number of reports about serious incidents coming from Bulgaria as also highlighted by the FRO in the 36th report to the MB; calls upon the Agency to raise the FRO’s concerns with the Bulgarian authorities, urging for short-term improvement of the situation and the suspension of border management’s support in case no significant changes are shown;
Amendment 101 #
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that Parliament has previously taken the view that a permanent, robust and effective Union response in search and rescue operations at sea is crucial to prevent the death toll of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from escalating12 ; remains convinced that the Agency cshould haveplay a key role to play in a more proactive response by the EU and Member States to search and rescue, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, and to the fight against criminal smugglers and human traffickers, and reiterates its stance that the EU should establish a comprehensive SAR mission, implemented together with the Agency; __________________ 12 European Parliament resolution of 12 April 2016 on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration, OJ C 58, 15.2.2018.
Amendment 110 #
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Exhorts once again the Agency to promptly and proactively transmit information concerning persons in distress at sea, where appropriate, to any vessels in the vicinity that could imminently engage in search and rescue operations and bring those persons to a safe port of disembarkation;
Amendment 115 #
Paragraph 19
19. Notes the conclusions of the fundamental rights officer that Libya cannot be considered a port of safety and the conclusion of the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission to Libya; urges the Agency to cease all of its Aerial Surveillance operations above the Libyan SAR zone, in order to limit contact with the Libyan Coast Guard to the absolute minimum and avoid any form of implied or implicit cooperation, following the conclusions of the UN Independent Fact- Finding Mission, and to ensure in all circumstances that disembarkation takes place only in a place of safety in accordance with relevant international and Union law;
Amendment 120 #
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Expresses concerns on the role played by the Agency in border monitoring in Libya, under the agreement wit EUBAM, including at the Southern border of the country as well as in the Sahel region under the agreement with EUCAP in Niger; calls on the Agency to conduct due diligence procedures and share with the parliament a detailed description of its activities in the region and its assessment of the fundamental rights situation;