28 Amendments of Hermann TERTSCH related to 2020/2111(INI)
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU has a responsibility to act as a global player and adjust its priorities and policy, including its foreign policy, in line with the fight againsthealth, social and economic crisis caused by COVID-19;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas COVID-19 originated in the People’s Republic of China and, on 31 December 2020, Taiwan warned the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the pandemic through its Ministry of Health, which could have prevented the virus from spreading around the world and from infecting and killing many people;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Affirms that the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is a game changer in the international environment and a catalyst of change in theturning point at global orderlevel;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the lack of capacity, global leadership and coordinated international response infrom the initial phasesWHO in the management of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as tendencies to opt for isolationist solutions,; deplores the withholding by the WHO of critical information, the rise of authoritarian nationalism, state- sponsored disinformation campaigns and provided on 31 December by Taiwan, its collusion with China in disinformation and obfuscation campaigns and those involving the promotion of false narratives, which create distrust and undermine international cooperationhas undoubtedly contributed to the excessive and uncontrolled spread of the virus worldwide, and to major distrust in that agency, further undermining the already- compromised effectiveness of international cooperation organisations and bodies;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Deplores the lack of outwards credibility that has resulted from the EU’s tardy, ineffective and uncoordinated management of the coronavirus crisis, and its inability to require transparency of governments of Member States, including of Spain’s socialist-communist government, whose withholding of vital information and failure to take swift action (communication with the public, purchasing of equipment, preventing mass demonstrations, etc.) has led to the death of more than 50 000 people, putting the country fifth in the global death rankings, causing many countries to classify Spain as a maximum-risk country and banning travel to it, all of which has led to Spain experiencing the biggest fall in GDP in the EU and unimaginable levels of social and economic ruin;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to reviewject the 2016 Global Strategy, reflecting these geopolitical shifts and ensuring that the EU plays its part in defending the rules-based multilateral world order that was created after the Second World Warfalse data and news on the European External Action Service’s EUvsDisinfo.eu website disseminated by radical left-wing governments such as Spain, Cuba, Venezuela and China;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the geopolitical competition and tensions following the COVID-19 outbreak, and recognises that the European Union still has to position itself in the new world order in which, alongside the EU, the US, China and Russimust rethink its work, policies and misguided omnivorous intentions towards the sovereignty of its Member States if it still wants to play an important role in the new world order in which the US and China play a leading role;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is worried about the decision of the US to withdraw funding fromDeplores the WHO’s lack of transparency and credibility during the management of the pandemic, which has led the US – the Wworld Health Organization (WHO) and’s biggest financial backer of the ageneral tendency of its Presidentcy, providing 20% of its budget – to withdraw the USfunding from the multilateral oWorld Health Organiszations that were created to establish a rules-based world order (WHO);
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the need to find a new method of cooperboost the relationship between the EU and US, based on mutual respect and a joint agenda to defend multilateralism, the rule of law and human rightsthe US, which has historically been based on mutual respect and on an alignment of interests, on the one hand, and on a number of cultural and ideological similarities, respect for the rule of law and human rights , on the other, which, coupled with a number of geostrategic and economic factors such as the rise of China, the multi-polarity of increasingly relevant economic players and the current economic crisis on both sides of the Atlantic, make it more necessary than ever;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Acknowledges and appreciates the decision of US President Donald Trump, who, in the light of the shortage of equipment to deal with the pandemic in Spain, France and Italy, sent medical equipment and vitally important supplies in the fight against the virus;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the strengtheningattitude of the People’s Republic of China’s worldwide diplomatic efforts following the COVID- 19 outbreak, seeking to position itself as thcommunist regime of silence, obfuscation and reprisals for Chinese doctors and dissidents, along with the complaints from international human rights organisations, and US and European leaders’ firm condemnation of the communist authorities, and calls on the EU – in view of the authoritarian and despotic ideology of the Chinese dcominant global playermunists – for a new group of nations and a new alliance of western democracies;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the emergency contributions provided by China toat China’s unwillingness and lack of contributions to controlling and fighting the virus has led to myriad infections and deaths worldwide; also recognises, however, a clear geopand repeated violiatical and geo-economic dimension, bolstered by ‘virus and wolf warrior diplomacy’ and the politicisation of humanitarian assistanceon of human rights by the Chinese communist Government, and stresses the need to review and rethink EU-China relations and to consider taking sanctions and bringing action before different judicial courts, such as the International Criminal Court, for China’s possible commission of crimes against humanity;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is concerned about the potential ‘debt trap’ that might affect African countries as a result of COVID-19, since the economic downturn will make it difficult for them to reimburse Chinese loans that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative‘debt trap’ Chinese loans given to some African countries;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Chinese regime to fully cooperate withStresses that an independent investigation must be carried out into the origins of COVID- 19, and calls on the Member States to present a united front towards a rising China, which is leading a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and has threatened to annex Taiwan; calls on the Member States to advocate Taiwan’s membership of the WHO;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Ibero-America
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 b (new)
Subheading 3 b (new)
Criticises the statements by EP members requesting the withdrawal of sanctions against totalitarian, authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, invoking the crisis caused by coronavirus; takes the view that the strategy of pressuring government members of regimes that systematically violate human rights should not stop during the pandemic;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 b (new)
Subheading 3 b (new)
Expresses its profound regret at the attitude of narco-dictatorships such as Cuba and Venezuela whose systematic violation and deterioration of the human rights situation in their countries has further worsened the effects of the pandemic on their severely suffering populations;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the important role of the armed forces during the COVID-19 pandemic and believes that a more in- depth joint operation and coordination of member states’ armed forces within existing frameworks - such as the European Medical Command - or within new frameworks - such as military hospital trains - could lead to greater efficiency and contribute to the EU’s preparedness to fight pandemics; recognises the need to review the EU’s security and defence strategies to develop strategic autonomy, to become better prepared and more resilient to the new and hybrid threats and technologies that have made the nature of warfare less conventional and challenge the traditional role of the military, as well as for a future in which Russia and China are becoming more assertive; stresses that the future Strategic Compass on security and defence should reflect these developments and take account of the broader geopolitical implications of COVID-19; believes that, given the new political balance and a potential worsening of the international security environment following COVID-19, the EU defence budgets must not be cutand appreciates the important role of the states’ security bodies and forces during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 470 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that its biggest global consumer market of almost 500 million people gives the EU leverage on the world stage, and believes that a geopoliticalthe Commission should ustake this leverage wheninto account when it deals with other countries that are not prepared toupholding human rights or complying with the rule of law or international treaties;
Amendment 540 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that Chinese investment in Africa resulting from the COVID-19 crisis could further destabilise countries in Africa which often have a fragile health infrastructure and high debtswhose fragility causes a rise in the massive flow of illegal immigrants to the north, which, in turn, mafia groups use to their advantage; calls for the EU presence in Africa to be strengthened, for financial assistance and recovery plans to be fostered and for an alternative to Chinese investmentshuman trafficking mafia groups such as the NGO Open Arms, among others, to be providersecuted;
Amendment 564 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 580 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is of the opinion that the COVID- 19 crisis has highlighted certain weaknesses of our Union and has shown the urgent need for an effective and efficient Unionthe EU’s immense weakness; believes that the Conferencany debate on the Ffuture of Europe will provide a good platform to move forward in constructing more efficient decision making in EU external policies; is therefore determined to start the Conference as soon as possibleshould reassess whether to repatriate powers to the Member States, strictly apply the subsidiarity principle and fully respect the sovereignty of nation states;