Activities of Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the nature of EU enlargement is a win-win process, which has always been a very effective and successful instrument of boosting necessary reforms both inside the EU and outside, in particular for the EU applicant countries, as the EU history of enlargements has proved – since there is not a single example on the European continent that any country, which went through the democratic transformation, was able to create its own success of democratic prosperity without integration towards the EU;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas the new EU strategy of enlargement should take into account the lessons learned in the ongoing process with the Eastern Partnership countries and the accession negotiations, especially with the Western Balkan countries;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas the new EU strategy of enlargement should be strictly based on the principle of each country being able to choose freely its own path; the EU needs to be ready to defend the freedom of these countries to choose their own future with the EU;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

B c. whereas the new EU strategy of enlargement first of all shall address the issue of a lacking political will over the last decade on EU side and a lack of geopolitical ambitions by the EU to embrace the European aspirations of the neighbouring countries and their peoples;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. REmphasises the necessity for the EU to upgrade its enlargement strategy and recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy submits the corresponding proposals as soon as possible, starting with 2022, to address the following actions:

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(a a) the EU should see the enlargement as an existential necessity for the EU, because this is the way how democracy, prosperity, stability and peace can be spread to all the European continent;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(b a) the new EU enlargement strategy should encourage the EU to implement the very much delayed reforms of EU institutions and decision-making; this will have a positive effect on the functioning of EU, in particular for a more effective decision-making which may be achieved with a full use of the qualified majority voting, which in its turn will increase a geopolitical power of the EU in the region and globally;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(b b) the next wave of EU enlargement will have a positive long-term effect on the EU relations with its neighbours, including Russia, as the success of Ukraine or the Western Balkan countries can be created through the enlargement process, which at the end will serve as an inspiration for the people in the neighbouring countries to follow the example of Ukraine or the Western Balkan countries;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b c (new)

(b c) the next wave of EU enlargement in the new strategy will have the same positive effects both for the Western Balkans applicant countries under the stabilisation and association process, as well as for the Eastern Partnership applicant countries under the association process with the EU;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(d a) the new EU enlargement strategy should be able to address the specific situations of particular candidate countries and allow to adjust the sequence of opening and closing of the negotiating chapters in areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights which can be directly affected by the martial law provisions

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(f a) the new EU enlargement strategy should clearly state that use of bilateral issues by the Member States for their own benefit is a vis the candidate countries is contrary to the spirit of the EU Treaties and therefore may be addressed by appropriate EU measures towards those Member States

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 1 a (new)

2022 Enlargement Package

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(g a) the new EU enlargement strategy should address the following important questions: 1) why Ukraine in 2014 was left in a geopolitical grey zone and was not offered the European perspective by the EU; 2) why the EU enlargement into the Western Balkans has become a total impasse totally different from the big bang enlargement in 2004; 3) how not to allow the enlargement process to be trapped again on the EU side by the lack of EU institutional reforms; 4) how to ensure that bilateral disagreements should not become an obstacle to the whole process of enlargement; 5) how not to allow third parties to blackmail and threaten the EU by claiming that the EU enlargement as a violation of their interests;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

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

(g b) the new EU strategy should have the same geopolitical ambition as the EU Enlargement strategy (combining the big bang and regatta principles) adopted in 1993 by the European Council in Copenhagen and should involve the swift opening of accession negotiations with a block of candidate countries in accordance with the European Commission recommendations;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(g c) for the new EU strategy to remain meaningful, the next wave of EU enlargement should be defined by the target dates for accession, which could begin in 2025 for the Western Balkan applicant countries and remain in a similar range, but not later than 2029 for the Eastern Partnership applicant countries, if these countries will meet the necessary EU benchmarks, will successfully transpose them and where appropriate will be ready to implement effectively the EU acquis through administrative and judicial structures; if some countries of this block are not yet ready or unwilling, they should be kept engaged by the EU and offered a new target date of accession in the next wave of EU enlargement

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)

(g d) the new EU enlargement strategy will involve an enhanced methodology for the accession negotiations, which would grand immediate benefits to the applicant countries once they will close provisionally the key clusters of EU acquis, such as the EU Single Market or the Green Growth Agenda; the Ukrainian Relief and Reconstruction programme can be also linked to new EU strategy for enlargement as a powerful engine of economic growth and transformation in the EU neighbourhood;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g d (new)

(g e) the new EU enlargement strategy should provide for a clear system of benefits under each of the negotiating clusters, in particular for key cluster of the Single Market which would involve policy, budgetary and institutional benefits for the candidate countries;

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2064(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g e (new)

(g f) the new EU enlargement strategy should foresee effective means to unlock the EU enlargement process which currently is stalled and jeopardised and to delegate powers to the EU Chief Negotiators (e.g. Michel Barnier method) to do a practical work of negotiations in line with a broad negotiating mandate given jointly by the European Commission, the EEAS and the Council

2022/07/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 35 a (new)

— having regard to the fact that Belarus has become an accomplice to Russia‘s war against Ukraine,

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas ~~Europe is facing the most complex combination of both military and non-military threats since the end of the Cold War accentuated by Russia’s unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine~~Russia wages war not only against Ukraine, but also against the NATO and the EU and collective democracies as such; whereas Europe is facing the most complex combination of both military and non-military threats since the end of the Cold War; whereas Ukraine defends not only its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also European common values of democracy; whereas this requires the EU to enhance the effectiveness of its security and defence policy to defend its interests and values; whereas the Strategic Compass aims to equip the EU with the necessary tools to make it an effective security provider and an assertive global actor; whereas there is a new urgency to boosting EU security and defence capabilities, including building on the unprecedented support for Ukraine and including the use of the EPF;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Highlights the dramatic de~~Remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territor~~ation in Europe~~ial integrity and s~~ecurity accelerated by Russia’s unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine; stresses that this situation demands that the EU step up its defence capacities and show greater willingness to act~~ overeignty; calls on the EU to increase its efforts and provide Ukraine with all necessary financial, humanitarian and military aid; calls on the EU together with other partners in the democratic world to come up with a clear plan for systemic financing o~~rder to deliver the security expected by the EU’s citizens; underlines the unprecedented and united EU response~~f weapons deliveries for Ukraine, which would allow Ukraine to win the war against Russia; calls for a large-scale lend-lease military assistance facility for Ukraine, which would match the level of military deliveries from the US; calls on Member States to Rumassi~~a’s w~~vely accelerate their military a~~gainst~~ssistance to Ukraine, in~~cluding~~ particular the provision of ~~milit~~weapons in response to clearly equipment through the EPF; remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territorial integrity and sovereignty; calls on the EU to sustain its efforts and provide Ukraine with all necessary financial, humanitarian and military aid; identified needs and in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for individual and collective self-defence; calls on the EU to urgently launch CSDP military assistance mission to enhancing Ukraine's ability to regenerate its forces and effectively conduct operations with an aim to help Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity and effectively exercise its sovereignty, protect the civilians in Ukraine and be able to deter and respond to possible future military offensives by Russia; calls on Member States to increase intelligence cooperation with Ukraine regarding the ongoing war and to share satellite images through SatCen and other satellite systems; insists on the need for the EU to step up their cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine; calls for full use of the EU cyber sanctions regime against individuals, entities and bodies responsible or involved in the various cyber-attacks targeting Ukraine;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights th~~e dramatic deterioration in European security accelerated by Russia’s unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine~~at Russia’s war of aggression is the biggest geopolitical challenge and threat to European security the dramatic deterioration in European security; stresses that this situation demands that the EU step up its defence capacities and show greater willingness to act in order to deliver the security expected by the EU’s citizens; underlines the unprecedented and united EU response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, including the provision of military equipment through the EPF; remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territorial integrity and sovereignty; calls on the EU to sustain its efforts and provide Ukraine with all necessary financial, humanitarian and military aid;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the EU’s ambition to strengthen its military and civilian capabilities; reiterates its call for the Member States to increase defence spending and ensure more effective capabilities; stresses the need to make full use of EU capability-development initiatives and budgets, notably the EDIRPA, EDF, PESCO, the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and Military Mobility, in order to fill critical capability gaps, reduce fragmentation in the defence-procurement sector, achieve full interoperability of our forces and strengthen a resilient, competitive and innovative European defence technological and industrial base, in order to strengthen the European pillar within NATO; calls for ensuring maximum consistency between these initiatives;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Calls on Members states to act in simplifying and harmonizing procedures for military mobility and shorten the timelines of granting permissions to enable the EU Member States to act faster and increase the efficiency of response, in line with their defence needs and responsibilities, both in the context of Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations, as well as national and multinational activities (e.g.in the framework of NATO); calls for renewal of the Action Plan on Military Mobility;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. CStresses the need to increase weapons production by the EU military industries; considers it important to fill the identified defence investment gaps such as replenishing stockpiles, replacing Soviet- era systems, reinforcing air and missile defence systems, expanding existing main battle tank capabilities and armoured vehicles, strengthening naval forces and improving satellite-based secure connectivity; strongly calls on Member States to commit to a significant increase in funding for EU procurement mechanisms and to take swift and thorough action in this crucial field;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Reiterates the language set in the Strategic Compass that “a stronger and more capable EU in security and defence will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO, which remains the foundation of collective defence for its members. These two go hand in hand.”

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Considers synergies and coherence with the implementation of NATO’s Strategic Concept essential, particularly in the areas of countering ~~Russian~~ aggression of Russia and its accomplice Belarus, cyber defence, hybrid warfare and support to strategic partners;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. In the context of the increasing tensions and recurrent outbreaks of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, welcomes European Council President Michel's efforts to mediate with both countries to seek for a sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote a South Caucasus that is a secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous region; notes that with the aim of further involving the EU in the search for sustainable peace would be to set up the EU CSDP mission;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Miriam LEXMANN, David LEGA, Anna FOTYGA, Charlie WEIMERS, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. expresses grave concern at Chinese government’s position indicated at the CCP’s 20th Party Congress that China will never renounce the right to use force over Taiwan; reiterates that the status quo of the Taiwan Strait should not be unilaterally altered against the will of the Taiwanese people; is of the view that the dispute between Taiwan and China should be solved through peaceful dialogues without any preconditions;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Miriam LEXMANN, David LEGA, Anna FOTYGA, Charlie WEIMERS, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Underlines that Taiwan is a key EU partner and democratic ally in the Indo-Pacific region, one that contributes to maintaining a rules-based international order and upholds fundamental values; strongly urges the EU and its Member States to intensify cooperation and pursue a comprehensive enhanced partnership with Taiwan, notably essential cooperation on critical supply chain resilience, and countering disinformation and foreign interference.

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Miriam LEXMANN, David LEGA, Anna FOTYGA, Charlie WEIMERS, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Strongly advocate Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in the meetings, mechanism and activities of the World Health Organization, UNFCCC, International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/0032(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) Given the globalised nature of the semiconductor supply chain, international cooperation with third countries is an important element to achieve a resilience of the Union’s semiconductor ecosystem. Trade and partnership agreements with third countries must remain a priority element of the Union’s strategy to address chip shortages. Such agreements are instrumental to bolstering the resilience of global supply chains and must be reached preferentially with like-minded third countries that have advantages in the semiconductor industry, to meet the growing demand for semiconductors. The actions taken under this Regulation should also enable the Union to play a stronger role, as a centre of excellence, in a better functioning global, interdependent semiconductors ecosystem. The Commission, assisted by the European Semiconductor Board, should cooperate and build partnerships with third countries with a view to seeking solutions to address, to the extent possible, disruptions of the semiconductor supply chain.

2022/10/19
Committee: ITRE

2022/0000(INI)

Proposal for a recommendation
Recital M

~~M. whereas the functioning of the Union is founded on representative democracy and whereas EU citizens are directly represented at Union level in Parliament;~~deleted

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Proposal for a recommendation
Recital S a (new)

Sa. whereas EU Common Foreign and Security policy is defined and implemented by the European Council and the Council acting unanimously, except where the Treaties provide otherwise, as provided for in the Article 24 TEU and whereas Member States are represented by their Heads of State or Government in the European Council and by their Governments in the Council, who are themselves democratically accountable either to their national Parliaments or to their citizens and whereas the functioning of the Union is founded on representative democracy and European citizens are directly represented at the Union level by the European Parliament and whereas every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union as provided for in the Article 10 TEU;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Proposal for a recommendation
Recital S b (new)

Sb. whereas the European Parliament, as a direct representation at the Union level of the citizens, has a unique obligation to guarantee to the citizens of EU the right to be informed about the actions or inactions of the European Council and the Council and their individual members, which were made in order to define and to implement EU Common Foreign and Security Policy;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)

(sa) involve the European Parliament in the scrutiny of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy implementation and create proper procedures for the Parliament to execute an obligation to guarantee to the citizens of EU the right to be informed about the actions or inactions of the European Council and the Council and their individual members, which were made in order to define and to implement EU Common Foreign and Security Policy; create proper parliamentary procedures for individual members of the European Council and the Council to inform the Parliament about their position, which they take during the process of definition and implementation of EU Common Foreign and Security Policy;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

— having regard to the National Regional Development Strategy (SNDR) for2022-2028 adopted by the Government of the Republic of Moldova,

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)

— having regard to New Government Action Plan for 2020 – 2023,

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the historic results of the presidential election in 2020 and the parliamentary elections in 2021, whereby the people of the Republic of Moldova gave a ~~strong mandate~~n overwhelming majority to pro- reform and pro-European forces, which are now fully responsible for the state; fur~~ges the~~ther encourages the EU institutions and political leadership of the Republic of Moldova to seize this unique opportunity to work together for the implementation of long-overdue reforms and to advance Moldova's European integration based on commonly shared values of democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. CWelcomes the intensified High Level Political Dialogue with the Moldovan authorities and calls on the Commission to increase its engagement with its Moldovan counterparts and to maximise its political, technical and financial support to the Republic of Moldova during this crucial time in order to give further impetus to progress and to ensure adequate absorption capacity for EU assistance;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the EU to reach the agreement with the pro-reform Moldovan government and sign a similar kind of State-building Contract like in the case of Ukraine, which will increase the EU staff presence in Moldova and allow the extending to Moldova of the SGUA-type assistance, which is foreseen in the original mandate of the SGUA; recalls that these actions should lead to embracing Moldova’s European choice;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Notes, in this context, the importance of providing EU assistance of the necessary top-ups of the salaries of civil servants in Moldova's government, working in key areas of European integration reforms;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls to the European Commission and other EU Institutions to actively engage in providing multifaceted assistance to the Republic of Moldova within the framework of SGUA-like arrangement, addressing different aspects of public governance, including exchange of good practices and cooperation on public administration reform and expertise on high, medium and low level of public management;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Proposes to consider, among others, a joint project of the EU and the Republic of Moldova on setting up a higher-education institution that could serve with a proper training for new cohort of human resources for Moldovan public administration and could ensure maximum transparency of the selection and promotion procedure;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Invites the EU to provide an investment planning platform for Moldova to implement a large-scale infrastructure connectivity agenda, in particular by increasing Moldova's absorption capacity and providing the necessary technical assistance, as this is done for the Western Balkan countries under the WBIF, which is a capacity assistance platform administered by the European Commission;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Invites the EU to assess the reform progress of Moldova using the same methodology, that is applied to the Western Balkan countries; this entails preparing an annual progress report on the progress achieved by Moldova;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 g (new)

2g. Invites the EU to work on proposing to Moldova, as well as to remaining countries of the Associated Trio, an intermediate EU integration status, which could reflect the status of Norway vis-a-vis the EU, that of membership in the EU Single Market;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the decisive action by the EU and its Member States as ‘Team Europe’ in mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccine donations and financial support; stresses that the Economic Recovery Plan for the Republic of Moldova, worth up to EUR 600 million, is a key element in the Republic of Moldova’s recovery, which presents a unique opportunity to accelerate structural reforms, restructure the economy and to prepare it for future challenges; welcomes the first disbursement of a EUR 36.4 million grant for the Republic of Moldova, as part of the Economic Recovery Package, to continue supporting country's fight against COVID-19 and police reform;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the unprecedented, ambitious reform agenda of the government of Natalia Gavriliţa and the tangible progress already achieved in its implementation, in particular on the fight against corruption, judicial reform, improving the living standards of the most vulnerable population groups and improving the business climate in the country; reiterates that sufficient progress in implementing agreed reforms is a key condition for continued EU financial support and the application of the ‘more for more’ principle;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Welcomes the new economic reform program of the Republic of Moldova approved by the International Monetary Fund in December, opening the path for a new Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) from the European Union; welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a MFA operation of up to EUR 150 million; calls for an adoption without delay of the new MFA by the European Parliament and Council; calls on the Commission to ensure that technical assistance is available to the Moldovan authorities to adequately implement the agreed reforms in the context of the macro-financial assistance;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the inadmissibility of the weaponisation of the gas supply in order to put political pressure on the Republic of Moldova to change its geopolitical orientation; urges the Commission to continue providing the Republic of Moldova with the financial and technical support necessary to ensure its resilience against such external interference and increase energy independence; calls on the Moldovan authorities in the long-term perspective to maintain the country’s commitment as a member of the Energy Community to implementing the EU’s Third Energy Package, in particular the unbundling of gas and electricity transmission and distribution;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Urges the Commission, in this context, to work closely with EU Members States to upgrade existing and create new infrastructure and rules of gas supply to Moldova and other Eastern Partnership countries; underscores the importance to implement without delay all necessary investments and maintenance of the European energy infrastructure so that EU Member States’ storages facilities and interconnectors enable a proper scale of gas transmission from the EU to partner countries;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls for the Republic of Moldova and the EU to advance work on the Moldovan sections of the trans-European extended transport network for EaP (TEN-T), to support the railway sector reforms and to explore together with Member States and International Financial Institutions possibilities for upgrading the EU-Republic of Moldova rail connections, while ensuring environmental sustainability; encourages the Republic of Moldova to advance in implementing the relevant acquis; and calls for increased cooperation and the gradually integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU Transport Market and Transport Community;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines the important role that free media and professional journalism play in a healthy public life; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the media sector in the Republic of Moldova, support independent media and journalists; make sure that all citizens of the Republic of Moldova have access to reliable source of information about EU policies towards their country;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Deplores the fact that the investigation into the bank fraud exposed in 2014 has still not yielded significant results in terms of bringing those responsible to justice and recovering lost assets; stresses that this lack of progress has a serious negative effect on the credibility of the justice system in the eyes not only of the people of the Republic of Moldova, but also of the country’s international partners; calls for a strengthened cooperation between EU Member States and Moldovan authorities in investigating the bank fraud, to ensure the timely recovery of stolen assets;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Welcomes the commitment of President Maia Sandu and the government of Natalia Gavriliţa to base their policies with accordance to rulings of the Moldovan Constitutional Court; supports the efforts of the executive institutions of the Republic of Moldova to strengthen independence of judges, judiciary system and all institutions that play a role in the constitutional order of the country;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Underlines an important role of regional cooperation in modernizing the country, increasing capacities in AA’s implementation efforts; calls for enhancement of regional cooperation, both between different regions of the Republic of Moldova and between Moldovan regions and the EU regions; calls on the Commission and respective EU agencies to facilitate this process in strong cooperation with the Moldovan government;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Supports the non-governmental sector in the Republic of Moldova and underlines the added-value that different organisations provide on important issues of public interest in the Republic of Moldova;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Stresses the importance of SMEs and their role in economic development of a country; EU tailor made programmes should be assisting SMEs in the Republic of Moldova, including Transnistrian region and provide support of technical and financial nature;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Encourages the expansion of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to the Republic of Moldova once it has met all of the necessary requirements;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses the importance of fighting disinformation, including anti-EU disinformation, fake news and propaganda, in particular through strategic communication; hopes that the reconstituted Television and Radio Broadcasting Council will effectively carry out its tasks as a media watchdog and address the long-standing shortcomings of the media landscape; calls for a better cooperation between all EU institutions, the Member States and Moldovan authorities when communicating the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and of EU assistance to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls for deepening structural cooperation between members of the European Parliament and members of the Parliament of Moldova, in the upcoming period, on domains that represent priorities both for the European Union and for the Republic of Moldova;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Andrzej HALICKI, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Stresses good cooperation with the current Moldovan parliament and MPs involved in bilateral and regional parliamentary cooperation with the EU, in particular within the framework of the EuroNest ParliamentaryAssembly and the EU - Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia, in particular, that of 8 June 2022 on violations of media freedom and the safety of journalists and that of 16 September 2020 on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia,

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the Joint Staff Working Document on Economic and Investment Plan for Eastern Partnership,

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

— having regard to Reporters' Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index 2022,

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Georgia submitted its application for EU membership on 3 March 2022 in the context of continued strong public support for Georgia's European aspirations as well as Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas freedom of expression, freedom of media and the safety of journalists are a cornerstone of a functioning democracy;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the 19 April 2021 Agreement, mediated by the President of the European Council, underlined the need to address politicised justice through judicial reform in order to increase the independence, transparency and accountability of the judicial system;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the media environment of Georgia continues to deteriorate and, in the recent years, an unprecedented high number of violent physical attacks against journalists have occurred in Georgia; whereas in 2022 Georgia fell in the World Press Freedom Index from 60th to 89th place out of 180;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas selective investigations and prosecutions targeting those critical of the current government undermine public trust not only in judicial institutions, but also in the Georgian authorities;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Radosław SIKORSKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas former President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose health has been constantly deteriorating, continues to be incarcerated;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)

Df. whereas Nika Gvaramia, the director of the TV channel Mtavari, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison on dubious charges of money laundering, bribery and document forgery;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)

Dg. whereas 20% of Georgian territory continues to be occupied by the Russian Federation;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D h (new)

Dh. whereas Russia continues to employ disinformation, cyber attacks and other hybrid methods to undermine Georgia's societal and institutional resilience;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Recital D i (new)

Di. whereas the Russian Federation has intensified the annexation of Georgia’s occupied territories, including through the intentions of holding the so- called 'referendum' in the Tskhinvali/South Ossetia region on the matter of 'joining' the Russian Federation, transfer of the “Bichvinta” property complex and the surrounding area to the Russian Federation, as well as the incorporation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia in military, economic, justice, social and other spheres of the Russian Federation;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its international obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, notably to withdraw all its military and security from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow establishment of international security mechanisms therein, to allow the EUMM unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia pursuant to its mandate;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

11b. Condemns the increasing number of cases of intimidation, threats and violence against the persecution of journalists, including an increasing number of criminal investigations into media workers and owners;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, David LEGA, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Notes continued Russian disinformation campaigns targeting the Georgian society, including in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine; calls on the EU institutions and Member States to continue strengthening cooperation with relevant Georgian institutions to address Russian disinformation and its consequences;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Condemns the sentencing of Nika Gvaramia, the director of the independent TV channel Mtavari, on 16 May 2022; notes that the postponement of Nika Gvaramia's appeal process is unacceptable and reiterates its call for a review of Gvaramia's conviction;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Reiterates the importance of independent oversight of Georgia’s state institutions; regrets, in this respect, the dismantling of State Inspector’s Service against ODIHR recommendations; highlights the positive role of the public defender of Georgia in protecting human rights, promoting good governance and strengthening the rule of law; calls for an inclusive process of selecting the new Public Defender;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Radosław SIKORSKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on the Georgian authorities to release former president Mikheil Saakashvili from prison on humanitarian grounds in order to allow him to undergo proper medical treatment abroad;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Deplores the erection of new Stalin statues in Georgia, including in the city of Zestofani in 2020; stresses that the glorification of Stalin and other totalitarian communist leaders not only distorts the bloody and cruel legacy of communism, but is first and foremost an affront to its millions of victims;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Notes that, according to expert evaluations, the DCFTA has had a positive impact on legislative approximation and institutional development, but it only had a modest impact on trade between the EU and Georgia; calls on the Commission to review the DCFTA's potential to increase trade volumes between the EU and Georgia;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Calls on the Commission to support the full implementation of the DCFTA through coordinated assistance, with a focus on support for SMEs and structural reforms, including development of quality infrastructure to facilitate efficient implementation of the approximated legislation;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Regrets the continued delays in the development of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port following the Georgian Government's cancellation of the project contract with the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) in 2020; is deeply concerned by the Panama Papers revelations concerning Bidzina Ivanishvili's investment in the rival Poti port project and the impact of vested interests on key projects as well as overall investors' confidence in Georgia;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls on the Commission to extend “Roam-like-at-home” Regulation to Georgia, which has the potential to bring significant benefits for EU and Georgian businesses and citizens;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Calls on the Commission to support creation of a common roaming space between Georgia and the EU through coordinated assistance with a focus on gradual reduction of international roaming tariffs between Georgia and the EU in line with the EU regulations thus protecting consumers’ rights, as well as assisting gradual approximation of Georgia to the EU acquis and contributing to Georgia’s European integration process;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Underlines Georgia's role as a significant contributor to the EU crisis management (CSDP) operations;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15d. Calls for an increased assistance and enhanced partnership in the area of security and defence with Georgia as declared in the EU Strategic Compass, including through the European Peace Facility; welcomes EU’s commitment and determination to support Georgia in countering hybrid threats;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)

15e. Calls on the Council and the EEAS to further engage with Georgia on the CSDP, particularly in view of Georgia’s interest in discussing the possibility of participating in PESCO projects and in developing cooperation with the relevant EU agencies, with a view to enhancing Georgia’s resilience;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)

15e. Reiterates support to the human capital development, strengthening private sector role in Vocational education system management and addressing skills mismatch for better employment possibilities;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)

15f. Welcomes Georgia’s strong commitment to starting the process of becoming the Third Country Associated to Erasmus+ Programme and encourages Georgia’s participation in the new Horizon Europe Program in order to make use of the opportunities for the Georgian scientific and innovation community;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 g (new)

15g. Calls the European Commission and Georgia to consider increasing the number of Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) projects in Georgia in order to increase EU-Georgia connectivity;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 h (new)

15h. Encourages European Commission, ENTSO-E and Georgia to start working on synchronization of Georgian electricity grid with the European Continental Grid and on the inclusion of Georgia in Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA);

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Welcomes the signing of the Jean Monnet Dialogue between the European Parliament and the Georgian Parliament; regrets the delays in implementing the JMD; reiterates the European Parliament's commitment and calls on the Georgian Parliament to start the process as soon as possible;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Deplores and condemns the personal attacks against Members of the European Parliament by representatives of the Georgian Dream party; considers these attacks unacceptable and damaging to the mutual relationship between Georgia and the European Union;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrzej HALICKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas NATO has reconfirmed its Open Door Policy;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrzej HALICKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

G b. whereas integration of Ukraine to the European Union is as important as integration of Ukraine to NATO;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrzej HALICKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)

G c. whereas the Commission, the EEAS and EU Member States should be responding to Kremlin`s threats not only with NATO-led hard security instruments, but also with the EU`s soft power of the European integration, which is central to economic and political success, as well as security of Ukraine;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Siegfried MUREŞAN, Andrzej HALICKI, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Invites the EU institutions to provide a more ambitious integration agenda for Ukraine, as well as for the Association Trio, which could include the practical steps to the first intermediate stage of Ukraine`s accelerated full integration into the EU`s Single Market;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

Developing an EU ~~defence doctrine~~security defence policy using the Strategic Compass to drive strategic autonomy

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Notes the EEAS’s needs assessment report regarding the Professional Military Education (PME) sector in Ukraine and welcomes the ongoing work in scoping a possible EU engagement in Ukraine on its basis, and complementing Ukraine’s and international partners’ efforts in reforming professional military education in Ukraine;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Calls for an integrated approach to the EU security and defence by strengthening not only conventional (military) but also other dimensions of security such as information, cyber, economic, energy, infrastructure, value chains in strategic sectors and other areas of security of the EU;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Considers weaponised migration flows through the eastern EU’s external border coupled with a disinformation campaign as a combined hybrid warfare aimed at intimidating and destabilising the EU; calls on the Union to develop relevant legislative means providing necessary safeguards to effectively react and respond to instrumentalisation of migration for political purposes by third countries, to ensure an effective protection of the EU’s external border and provide measures to prevent irregular crossings;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 – introductory part

38. Welcomes the fact that the PESCO strategic review has led into ~~a reduction in the number of projects~~making projects more efficient and an increase in its political monitoring; laments the fact that Parliament has been excluded from the monitoring of its implementation; considers that the Strategic Compass should aim to:

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Underlines the geopolitical importance of the Union in taking lead responsibility for its regional stability, security and prosperity and preventing destabilising processes in the EU neighbourhood, both East and South as well as the Arctic;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)

41b. Is concerned that Russian Federation military forces continue to occupy large parts of Ukraine and Georgia in violation of international law, that they are still present in the Republic of Moldova, and that Russia continues to destabilise peace and security in the region as well as actively use hybrid measures against democracies in Europe; continues to condemn Russia’s military intervention and illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the keeping of the frozen conflict in Moldova; stresses the need to speak with one voice on the EUs policy in that context;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Welcomes the establishment of an EU-US strategic dialogue on security and defence; stresses the operational dimension of the partnership and the importance of ensuring that the Union maintains its strategic autonomy~~, in particular a~~ and assumes gre~~gards the United States’ International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)~~ater responsibility in the transatlantic alliance; welcomes, in this regard, the involvement of third countries in the EDA on the basis of administrative agreements, provided that it is accompanied by legally binding counterparts and safeguards to protect the defence and security interests of the Union and its Member States;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2183(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Calls for a stronger NATO supported by a stronger European Union, and wishes to see very tangible development in the EU-NATO partnership; calls, in this context, for coherence between NATO’s new strategic concept ~~to be coherent with~~and the EU’s Strategic Compass;

2021/10/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas recent international developments and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic ~~and the recent~~, the rapid collapse of the state structures of Afghanistan and recent hybrid actions against the EU and its Member States aimed at challenging our democratic foundations, have accelerated existing trends affecting key aspects of the EU’s CFSP;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. To achieve the strategic objective of developing its global leadership role, the EU should shape its CFSP on the basis of the following ~~five~~six actions:

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 3

- achieving European sovereignty by interlinking the EU’s external actions, and assuming greater responsibility in the transatlantic alliance,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

- engaging in a comprehensive strategic dialogue with democratic partners worldwide and coordinating common actions of shared interest;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the EU to promote alliances of democracies worldwide; insists on the need to pool resources and exchange best practices between democracies, including as regards countering malign interference and disinformation by authoritarian states and ~~organisation~~their proxies; believes that, for this to be successful, the EU should promote on the global stage a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to counter hybrid threats;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights the need for the EU to strengthen its ability to act efficiently and to shape the EU’s response to ongoing and upcoming challenges; therefore welcomes the ongoing Strategic Compass process as the starting point for the development of a common strategic culture respecting the specific character of the security and defence policies of the Member States and expects that it will help shape a shared vision for EU security and defence; stresses that the outcome should be reflected in a revised version of the 2016 EU Global Strategy;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reaffirms its unwavering support to the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular as regards their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognised borders; condemns Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in armed conflicts, occupations and military build-ups inside the region or on its borders with the region; urges the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular those that have chosen to pursue the path of European integration, to ensure that fundamental freedoms are upheld and to continue implementing the necessary reforms; reiterates that the EU’s support is conditional upon concrete progress on those reforms; supports the EU Associated Trio format of countries most advanced on the European path; reminds that success of the EaP countries can be demonstrated and consolidated only through EU integration process, and it can show also to the Russian people what socio-economic benefits European-type reforms can bring;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to use the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit to develop an ambitious agenda for advancing reforms and democratic governance in the Eastern Partnership and thus support the CFSP goals;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24 b. Reiterates its position of non- recognition of the illegitimate Lukashenka regime in Belarus; stands in solidarity with the EU Member States who are facing hybrid threats from the Lukashenka regime and the Kremlin; stresses its unwavering support for democratic Belarus, and calls on the Lukashenka regime to immediately cease all repressions and release all political prisoners; expresses its support for additional targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible or enabling the repression of the Belarusian people;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Is gravely concerned by the developments in Russia and reiterates the EU’s interest in maintaining freedom, stability and peace on the European continent and beyond; believes that the EU should deter Russia from carrying out destabilising and subversive actions in Europe and from repressing its own citizens; underlines that closer coordination, cooperation and unity among the EU Member States are necessary in order to maintain a constructive dialogue with the Russian authorities based on the five guiding principles, which is only possible if both parties are genuinely interested in it; urges the EU to engage more closely with the people of Russia, including by developing a clearly defined ‘engagement’ objective, which should focus not only on traditional selective engagement with the Kremlin, but also on ‘strategic’ engagement with Russian civil societyregrets that Russian Federation military forces continue to occupy parts of Ukraine and Georgia in violation of international law, that they are still present in the Republic of Moldova, and that Russia continues to destabilise peace and security in the region as well as actively use hybrid measures against democracies in Europe; condemns Russia’s military intervention and illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the keeping of the frozen conflict in Moldova; stresses the need to speak with one voice on the EUs policy in that context;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30 a. Underlines that European Parliament has recommended the EU to review, together with the Member States, the EU policy vis-à-vis Russia, including the five guiding principles, and to develop a comprehensive EU strategy towards Russia; urges the EU to engage more closely with the people of Russia, including by developing a strategy on future EU relations with a democratic Russia, which would demonstrate clearly for the people of Russia the benefits such relations could bring; reiterates that the EU has to make it clear that if Russia continues its current policy on Belarus, the EU will have to introduce additional containment and deterrence measures on Russia;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Reiterates, as underlined in its resolution of 16 September 2021 on a new EU-China strategy4 , its call for the EU to develop a more assertive, comprehensive, and consistent EU-China strategy that unites all Member States and shapes relations with China in the interest of the EU as a whole by engaging China in a structured and systematic format of 27+1; emphasises that this strategy should promote a rules-based multilateral order, have the defence of EU values at its core and should be based on the three principles of cooperating where possible, competing where needed, and confronting where necessary; strongly advocates for Taiwan’s full participation as an observer in meetings, mechanisms and activities of international organisations; _________________ 4 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0382.

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Denounces the Chinese Communist Party's coercion against Lithuania and other EU Member States and partners, and calls for greater solidarity with countries coerced by the CCP, including by collaborating with our democratic allies in opening our markets to economies suffering under the CCP's economic coercion;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is deeply concerned by increasing number of illiberal democracies and autocratic regimes, which are in the majority for the first time in 20 years; calls for the EU and the Member States to make full use of the tools at their disposal to support good governance, democratic institutions and space for civil society worldwide; Calls on the EU to intensify cooperation with democracies worldwide and adopt new international tools and instruments for defending democracy, such as preventive sanctions for authoritarian leaders who intend to ‘steal’ elections and for oligarchs who finance these regimes, uncovering and freezing ‘dark’ money of vast corruption, and application of universal jurisdiction in cases of gross human rights violations;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that the EU should not recognise the voting which took place in Russia on 17-19 September 2021, as the opposition candidates were not allowed to run, free media was persecuted, international observers from the OSCE/ODHIR were not allowed to come and observe the elections, electronic voting was marred and there were numerous instances of voting irregularities and electoral fraud;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls on the Russian Government to immediately release Alexei Navalny, who survived state-sponsored assassination attempt by military grade chemical weapon, but was detained in Russia, sentenced under trumped up charges and imprisoned for political reasons; reminds that there are over 400 political prisoners in Russia, and 685 political prisoners in Belarus and the number of political prisoners in both countries continues to grow;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. Condemns instrumentalisation of illegal migration, a hybrid attack aimed to destabilize Europe by Lukashenko regime in Belarus, who devised a scheme ferrying migrants from Iraq and Turkey to Minsk and with the help of Belarusian border guards facilitating their illegal crossing into the European Union; calls on the European Commission to prepare relevant legislative proposals providing Member States necessary safeguards to effectively react and respond to instrumentalisation of migration by hostile third countries aimed at intimidating and destabilising the EU;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Points out that authoritarian Russia is an aggressive power that poses a threat to Europe’s peace and security; reminds that Russia is responsible for waging a war in Europe, in Donbas, for occupation of territories of neighbouring countries and for illegal annexation of Crimea;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2181(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)

46a. Reminds that in the authoritarian states the internet and cyber space often remains the sole area free of state control and censorship for human rights defenders, free media and pro-democratic opposition and it must be defended; deplores the fact that Apple and Google have removed jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s smart voting application from the iOS and Android stores under pressure from the Russian government;

2021/10/13
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Bernard GUETTA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to the joint communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social committee and the committee of the Regions - Tackling Covid-19 disinformation -Getting the facts right (JOIN/2020/8 final),

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas Russia is an integral part of Europe and the biggest neighbour of European Union and the developments in Russia, its policies and character of its authorities are directly affecting EU’s immediate neighbourhood;

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Bernard GUETTA

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)

-Aa. whereas the main interest of the EU is to keep stability and peace on the European continent, which is being threatened by aggressive external policies of the Russian authorities;

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)

-Ab. whereas the EU believes in a different future that Russia can have, with its people aspiring to the universal values of freedom and democracy;

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A c (new)

-Ac. whereas the EU strategy towards Russia needs to combine two major objectives: first, to stop the Kremlin’s external and domestic aggressiveness and second, to engage with the people of Russia and assist them in building a different future for Russia, which would benefit all the people on the European continent including the Russian;

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

2021/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A d (new)

-Ad. whereas the Kremlin authority can be described as a stagnating authoritarian kleptocracy led by a president-for-life surrounded by a circle of oligarchs, who has started wars against his neighbours, assassinates opponents inside and outside Russia, interferes in the US’ and European elections, and acts as an anti- Western spoiler at every opportunity;

2021/06/02
Committee: AFET

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 2(10), 2(114), 18(3) and 27(5) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time.

2021/12/16
Committee: INTA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls the role that greenewable and low carbon hydrogen can play in balancing grids by using any ~~surplus~~electricity; notes the need to develop the hydrogen-storing technologies and capacities and the role that renewable hydrogen and electrolysers can play in providing more flexibility to the grids and integrating the increasing share of renewable electricity production;

2020/12/11
Committee: ITRE

2020/2217(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reminds the Commission and the Member States to respect Open Data Directive objectives when negotiating the implementing act on high-value data sets; calls for these data sets to include inter alia a list of company ~~and~~, business registers, public procurement and other data sets pertinent to well functioning of the EU;

2020/11/12
Committee: ITRE

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the higher turnout ~~was ultimately linked to~~should not divert our attention from the gains ~~by E~~of eurosceptics, ~~which should be considered as a warning for European integration, especially in several founding Member States where far-right extremists and anti-European forces won the elections~~populist and nationalist movements; whereas many of these radical forces from left to right are against the EU integration project;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the higher turnout is also a sign that EU citizens want the EU to act swiftly and effectively ~~on important matters such as climate change, migration, protection of fundamental rights and democratisation~~;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. Whereas we need to be more efficient and proactive in taking advantage of all means of communication, including digital technology, to foster a strong link between European political decisions and constituents’ sense of connection to EU institutions;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the ~~amended~~Parliament should pursue its proposals for amendments to the Electoral Act, still pending ratification by some Member States, ~~already requires further improvements (i.e. regarding parental leave for MEPs)~~with renewed vigour and to push for unified European electoral rules;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the 2019 elections failed to culminate in the choice of a Commission President from among the various Spitzenkandidaten~~, resulting in a backward step from the process which was established in 2014~~;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the Spitzenkandidaten process has yet to be fully developed; whereas it lacks, among other things, the possibility for Spitzenkandidaten to stand as official candidates in all Member States on transnational lists, allowing all European voters to choose and vote for their preferred Spitzenkandidatimproved, allowing all European voters to know who are the candidates to the presidency of the European Commission and how they were chosen by European political parties; whereas Parliament raised this issue in its decision of 7 February 2018 on the revision of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission15 ; ; _________________ 15 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0030.

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the Spitzenkandidaten system needs to be ~~improved and formalised in the EU’s primary law after an in-depth institutional reflection~~addressed and reflected upon in the Conference for the Future of Europe; whereas this reflection should also include the de facto political role of the Commission and its President and any related changes to the decision-making process of the Union;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas institutional improvements such as transnational lists, as acknowledged by Parliament in its resolution of 7 February 2018 on the composition of the European Parliament, or the transformation of the Council into a second legislative chamber of the Union, as proposed in its resolution of 16 February 2017 on possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union, would radically transform the European elections into one true European election,are needed in order to achieve a true European political sphere as opposed to the collection of 27 separate national ~~election~~debates that it is today;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)

M a. Whereas proposal such as the "transnational lists" or the transformation of the Council into a second legislative chamber are still under discussion; whereas none of them count currently with a majority support; Whereas the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe provides a true opportunity to discuss these issues and other institutional reforms; Whereas the success of the Conference will crucially depend on the agenda, the involvement of the citizens and the European Council's willingness to implement results;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Recital Q

Q. whereas European political parties and foundations are the primary facilitators of a successful European political debate, both during and beyond European elections and should be rendered more visible;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note of the higher turnout in the 2019 European elections; considers that this shows that an increasing proportion of citizens consider the EU to be the appropriate level at which to address the challenges of our time ~~such as climate change and environmental concerns, social and gender inequalities, sustainable growth, and geopolitical concerns such as migration and foreign policy~~as economy and sustainable growth, public health, climate change and environmental protection, digital revolution, the promotion of freedom, human rights and democracy, social and gender inequalities, migration and demography, security and the role of the EU in the world; urges all the European institutions, therefore, to take responsibility and to act upon the mandate they have been given, directly or indirectly, by the citizens; ~~regrets both the lack of decisiveness by the Council and the lack of clear intent to achieve solutions based on a common approach;~~

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Deplor~~Welcomes the fact that the ~~outcome of the elections did not lead to~~gender balance in Parliament has improved over the last elections; Stresses however that there is still room for further improvements in order to achieve a genuine gender -balance ind Parliament; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with Parliament and other bodies such as the Venice Commission, to formulate recommendations to Member States with a view to increasing the representation of women in the European Parliament;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Is of the opinion that the reason why~~Acknowledges that the Spitzenkandidaten process failed to produce a President of the European Commission after the 2019 elections ~~is because no improvements were made to it following the experience of 2014~~; intends to strengthen the democratic process for choosing the Commission President before the next European elections of 2024;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes the up-coming~~Calls for the swift adoption of the joint declaration of the three European institutions on the Conference on the Future of Europe~~, recalls the commitment by the Commission President to address the issue of transnational lists and the Spitzenkandidaten process as the priority institutional issues during the Conference~~;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that the election of the Commission President depends on a majority of Parliament’s members, which de facto requires the formation of a coalition; recommends that the election procedure be reversed so that Parliament proposes and elects the President of the Commission, after obtaining the consent of the European CouncilRecalls the commitment by the Commission President to address the issue of the Spitzenkandidaten process and transnational lists in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe; Stresses that the election of the Commission President depends on a majority of Parliament’s members, which de facto requires the formation of a coalition, as shown in the election of July 2019 of the von der Leyen Commission;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Considers that the outcome of the European elections has reinforced the political dimension of the election of the European Commission, and therefore the need for more accurate and objective scrutiny of the declarations of interests of the Commissioners-designate; calls for the ~~creation of an independent body, endowed with the appropriate means, to have this scrutiny included in its responsibilities~~strengthening of this scrutiny before, during and after the mandate of the Commissioners-designate by reinforcing the role of the already existing Independent Ethical Committee;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

~~9. Regrets that the attribution of portfolios in the Commission follows solely a logic where national interests take priority over the European common interest;~~deleted

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Insists that all European voters should be allowed ~~to vote for their preferred~~be allowed to know who the candidate ~~for~~s to the Ppresidentcy of the European Commission are, giving them the choice to vote for his or her political party; reiterates~~, therefore~~, that the Spitzenkandidaten should ~~be able to~~ stand as official candidates atin the ~~next elections in a joint European constituency across all Member State~~European Elections;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Believes that granting European voters a second vote for transnational lists in a joint European constituency, drawn up by European political parties and movements, would elevate the European elections above purely national campaigns based on national interests, particularly if such lists were headed by the respective Spitzenkandidaten;deleted

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points out that the proposed changes to the EU’s primary law within this report, which reflect the increased political role of the Commission within the EU framework, should also include the individual and collective responsibility of the Commission towards Parliament and the Council, as well as the transformation of the Council into a second legislative chamber of the Union;deleted

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Acknowledges that despite the fact that the agreed reform of the Electoral Law has not yet been ratified by some Member States, further improvements ~~are required, such as provisions for remote voting operations in defined or exceptional circumstances, as well as on the elections in the joint European constituency~~should be addressed at the Conference on the Future of Europe;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

~~14. Takes note of~~Commends the efforts by the ~~14.~~ Commission and other institutions to tackle foreign interference during the electoral campaign; points out, nevertheless, that the financial and human resources needed to counter these attacks on European democracy, including at national level, are many times superior to the combined designated European resources; urges the Commission and the Member States to raise significantly the financing they make available for the fight against foreign interference;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Urges the Commission and the Council to ~~consider, in accordanc~~fully engage with the ~~work of~~ Parliament’s new Special Committee on Foreign interference and Disinformation~~, the urge~~ and take into c~~reation of a European organisation dedicated to the fight against foreign interference~~onsideration the outcome of its work; encourages the Commission and the Council to work much more closely with Parliament on these matters, as the protection of our democratic institutions is a core competence of the European Parliament;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Luděk NIEDERMAYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Considers European political parties' manifestos should be known before the elections, which requires clear and transparent rules on campaigning; underlines the European election rules shall promote European party democracy, including by making obligatory for parties running in European elections and the European party logo appear (next to the national one) on the ballot sheet;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Paulo RANGEL, Vladimír BILČÍK, Roberta METSOLA, Vangelis MEIMARAKIS, József SZÁJER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Karlo RESSLER, Brice HORTEFEUX, Sven SIMON, Mairead McGUINNESS, Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN, Ivan ŠTEFANEC, László TRÓCSÁNYI, Danuta Maria HÜBNER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Is of the opinion that the introduction of an annual European Week taking place simultaneously in all national parliaments, with debates between MPs, European Commissioners, MEPs and representatives of civil society on the Commission Work Programme would support the emergence of connected inter-parliamentary public spheres as well as improving the communication of European actions at national level;

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2088(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Considers that the outcome of the European elections ~~is a clear signal for an in-depth institutional reflection that will allow citizens, civil society and their representatives to shape~~presents an opportunity for an in-depth reflection about the future of the Union; calls, therefore, on all institutional partners to assume their responsibility and deliver an ambitious, interactive and inclusive Conference on the Future of Europe; open to citizens, civil society and their representatives, and which can strengthen representative democracy as well as EU's resilience by delivering tangible results for its citizens, including on health protection and security

2020/07/20
Committee: AFCO

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

— having regard to the statement of the President of the European Parliament of 13 August and the leaders of the five political groups of 17 August on the situation in Belarus following the presidential election of 9 August,

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)

— having regard to the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council 14 August and European Council on 19 August on the situation in Belarus following the presidential election of 9 August,

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

~~C. whereas the 2020 presidential elections have thus far followed the same pattern as the parliamentary elections;~~deleted

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Paulo RANGEL, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the presidential election campaign was marred by widespread bureaucratic interference favouring the incumbent, intimidation and repression towards other candidates, their families and supporters, denial of registration of candidates who collected sufficient number of signatures, multiple arrests, attempts to silence independent journalists, bloggers and take down dissident websites on the internet;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Andrzej HALICKI, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Michael GAHLER, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas independent platforms established by civil society organisations of Belarus (such as Golos - Belarus2020.org) conducted independent exit polls and analysed protocols of more than 200 precinct electoral commissions, which released genuine results, that clearly point to the fact that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya received an absolute majority of votes (in the range of 71.1% to 97.6%);

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)

Gc. whereas the Central Election Committee announced Alexander Lukashenko as the winner of the election allegedly receiving 80.10% and his main opponent Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya 10.12%, irregularities during the polling days were reported constantly, people were often denied their right to vote, protocols from polling precincts were falsified;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI

Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)

Gd. whereas the Belarusian authorities did not comply with minimum international standards for a credible, transparent, free and fair presidential election process;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G e (new)

Ge. whereas peaceful protests expressing a desire for democratic change and freedom started already on the night of Sunday 9 August in Minsk and many other cities around the country, the scale of protests is unprecedented in the history of Belarus going into the hundreds of thousands;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G f (new)

Gf. whereas the authorities responded to peaceful protests with disproportionate brute force, heavy use of tear gas, batons, flash grenades and water cannons, several thousand protestors were detained, there have been reports of torture, rape, missing persons, several people have been found dead so far;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Andrzej HALICKI, David MCALLISTER, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Michael GAHLER, Paulo RANGEL, Janina OCHOJSKA, Isabel WISELER-LIMA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G g (new)

Gg. whereas Lukashenko and his regime have approved these criminal actions and pogroms by OMON of innocent people and whereas more than 7000 Belarusians were detained, more than 400 hospitalised, 5 confirmed dead and dozens still missing, while further arrests and harassment of activists, including journalists, are still taking place all over Belarus;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE

Motion for a resolution
Recital G h (new)

Gh. whereas the European Union and its Member States did not recognise the results of the presidential election due to substantial doubt about the fairness of the election, condemned the disproportionate, unacceptable use of force against peaceful protestors and supported the right of the people of Belarus to determine their future;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Recital G i (new)

Gi. whereas the European Council decided to impose sanctions against a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression and the falsification of the election results in Belarus prohibiting them from entering into the EU and freezing their financial assets in the EU;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Radosław SIKORSKI, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Andrzej HALICKI, David MCALLISTER, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Miriam LEXMANN, Michael GAHLER, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Željana ZOVKO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) insist that any EU macro-financial support for mitigating the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is conditional on strict political criteria, notably those linked to democracy and human rights, nuclear safety concerns voiced by some of the EU Member States and threats posed by Belarus-Russia military cooperation, and that adequate measures are taken to combat the virus and protect the population;deleted

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Paulo RANGEL, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) pay close attention to the fallout of the presidential election ~~campaign~~ and insist that ~~a lack of progress in~~not conducting new elections in accord~~ing to~~ance with international standards and further crackdowns against the opposition will have direct adverse effects on relations with the EU;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Andrzej HALICKI, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Michael GAHLER, Isabel WISELER-LIMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f

(f) ~~insist that the upcoming constitutional reform is a cru~~supports the initiative of the Belarusian People's Coordination Councial ~~opportunity to introduce genuine changes which would address the weaknesses of the current political system and enable the Belarusian people to participate more actively in political life~~to immediately reintroduce the Constitution of 1994, which can be done through a national referendum;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Vladimír BILČÍK, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 1 a (new)

Post-election situation in Belarus

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, David MCALLISTER, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI

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

(ga) strongly support the decision to not recognise the election results as announced by the Belarusian Central Electoral Committee, not to recognise Alexander Lukashenko as president of the country once his current term of office expires; note that the current presidential term in Belarus ends at the latest on 5 November 2020 and after that date a position of the President of Belarus will be vacant. According to the article 81 of the Constitution of Belarus in this case new election of President has to be held not earlier than 30 days and not later than 70 days;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(gb) recommend to recognise Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as president elect by the people, until new elections have taken place;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)

(gc) demand that new elections take place as soon as possible under international supervision led by OSCE/ODIHR in the presence of international observers, guaranteeing that the election is conducted in accordance with internationally recognised standards;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g d (new)

(gd) recommend to recognise the Belarusian People's Coordination Council as the legitimate representative of the people demanding democratic change and freedom in Belarus;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Janina OCHOJSKA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g e (new)

(ge) welcome the efforts of the Belarusian People's Coordination Council for a peaceful and democratic transition of power as a result of an inclusive national dialogue;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g f (new)

(gf) urge to prepare a comprehensive review of its policy towards Belarus, taking into account different scenarios of developments in the country, that also include a substantially increased financial and technical commitment from the EU;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER, Janina OCHOJSKA

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

(gg) urge the EU to organise a donors conference for democratic Belarus, which would bring together international financial institutions, G-7 countries, EU member states and institutions, and others willing to pledge a multi-billion euro financial package to support the future reform efforts and restructuring of the economy;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g h (new)

(gh) call on the Russian Federation to refrain from any interference, covert or overt, in the peaceful democratic revolution in Belarus;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g i (new)

(gi) as long as the political situation in Belarus does not change reconsider any ongoing disbursements of the EU financial assistance and adjust it accordingly, so that it reaches the end- recipients and circumvents the authorities;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g j (new)

(gj) encourage Member States to facilitate and accelerate the procedure for obtaining visas for those who flee Belarus for political reasons;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

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

(gk) call for a full EU/international investigation of crimes against the people of Belarus committed by law enforcement authorities of Lukashenko regime against peaceful protesters demanding transparent, free and fair Presidential elections, stopping current repressions and immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Andrzej HALICKI, Vladimír BILČÍK, Michael GAHLER, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g l (new)

(gl) call to establish in the European Parliament an inquiry committee (or another proper body of the European Parliament) on the investigation of crimes committed in Belarus, which would periodically report on its findings to the plenary sessions of the European Parliament;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Paulo RANGEL, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, Ivan DAVID

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g m (new)

(gm) condemn the suppression of internet and media, road blockades, and intimidation of journalists in order to stop the flow of information about the situation in the country - the people have the right to access information; condemn the crackdown on international journalists and media limiting their ability to report on the democratic revolution in a free, fair and balanced way;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, Michael GAHLER, Isabel WISELER-LIMA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g n (new)

(gn) propose to appoint an EU special representative for Belarus in order to support the process of a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of Belarusian people under the leadership of the president elect by the people and the Belarusian People's Coordination Council;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

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

(ka) demand for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained after participating in the democratic revolution protests following the falsified presidential election of 9 August; demand the authorities to provide all information on people who went missing in relation to their participation in the protests after 9 August;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

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

(kb) demand that all legal actions undertaken by the authorities against members of the Belarusian People's Coordination Council are dropped and all of them who are detained and arrested are freed;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2081(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Michael GAHLER, Željana ZOVKO, Andrius KUBILIUS, Andrzej HALICKI, Miriam LEXMANN, Paulo RANGEL, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Vladimír BILČÍK, Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE, Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, Janina OCHOJSKA, Radosław SIKORSKI, David MCALLISTER

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

(la) demand that any spread of disinformation in Belarus concerning the EU and its Member States is vigilantly countered as well as any hybrid threats undertaken by third actors;

2020/09/02
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Miriam LEXMANN, Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrius KUBILIUS, Lukas MANDL

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 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 human dignity, of freedom, of democracy, of equality and of the rule of law; highlights that all defence- related efforts within the Union framework respect these universal values whilst promoting peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Miriam LEXMANN, Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrius KUBILIUS, Lukas MANDL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that current and future security and defence-related activities within the Union framework will draw on AI, on robotics and autonomy, and on related technologies and that the Union must assume leading role in research and development of AI systems in security and defence field; believes that the use of AI- enabled applications in security and defence offer number of direct benefits such as higher quality collected data, greater situational awareness, increased speed for decision-making, as well as greater reliability of military equipment; recalls that AI systems are also becoming key elements in countering emerging and hybrid security threats;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Miriam LEXMANN, Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrius KUBILIUS, Lukas MANDL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Highlights that, based on a human- centric approach, the Union follows a path of responsibility and transparency, of protecting our citizens, and of defending our values, whilst seizing the opportunities that those technologies offer;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Miriam LEXMANN, Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrius KUBILIUS, Lukas MANDL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Highlights the need to adopt clear safety and security provisions and requirements for AI-systems in security and defence, and carry our regular tests and verifications across the entire life cycle; underlines the necessity of ensuring compliance with applicable standards and obtained certifications where AI modifies e.g. through machine learning the functionality and behaviour of systems in which it is integrated, in order to ensure full traceability, explicability and accountability of decisions made with involvement of AI;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Miriam LEXMANN, Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, François-Xavier BELLAMY, Andrius KUBILIUS, Lukas MANDL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the utmost importance of education and ethics-based training in the field of security and defence AI technologies with particular focus on ethics of semi-autonomous and autonomous operational systems based on human accountability;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)

(9a) While emission reduction targets are set for 2030 and 2050, the Union has not yet set specific Union wide applicable objectives for removal; such objectives are necessary taking into account that the EU climate-neutrality objective cannot be achieved without gradually increasing carbon removals.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) The Union should aim to achieve a balance between anthropogenic economy- wide emissions and removals, through natural and technological solutions, of greenhouse gases domestically within the Union by 2050. The Union-wide 2050 climate-neutrality objective should be pursued by all Member States collectively, and the Member States, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take the necessary measures to enable its achievement. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective. The European Commission should establish a regulatory and investments framework, for the deployment of carbon removal technologies, including setting removal objectives, and should develop a methodology to allow the calculation of the climate mitigation potential of the application of such technologies, such as CCU, which is also rolled out beyond the EU.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) Adaptation is a key component of the long-term global response to climate change. Therefore, Member States and the Union should enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change, as provided for in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, as well as maximise the co- benefits with other environmental policies and legislation. The Commission should develop specific indicators for measuring the progress of adaptation, while Member States should adopt comprehensive national adaptation strategies and plans.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

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

2a. By 2023, the Commission shall develop a methodology to allow the calculation of the climate mitigation potential of carbon removals and on this basis shall propose a regulatory framework setting removal objectives and detailing the rules for the certification and accounting of carbon removals.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 4

4. By 30 June 2021, the Commission shall assess how the Union legislation implementing the Union’s 2030 target would need to be amended in order to enable the achievement of 50 to 55 % emission reductions compared to 1990 and to achieve the climate-neutrality-objective set out in Article 2(1), and consider taking the necessary measures, including setting specific and gradually increasing removal objectives as well as the adoption of other legislative proposals, in accordance with the Treaties.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

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

1 a. The Commission shall define specific indicators for measuring the progress of adaptation.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b

(b) the collective progress made by all Member States on adaptation in accordance with specific indicators as referred to in Article 4.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

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

(b a) the collective progress made by all Member States towards the achievement of specific removal objectives set out in Article 2(4);

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b

(b) the adequacy of Union measures to ensure progress on adaptation in accordance with specific indicators as referred to in Article 4.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)

(b a) the adequacy of Union measures to ensure a gradually increasing proportion of removals in accordance with specific indicators as referred to in Article 2(4).

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3

3. Where, based on the assessment referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission finds that Union measures are inconsistent with the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) or inadequate to ensure progress on adaptation as referred to in Article 4, or that the ~~progress towards either the climate-neutrality objective or on adaptation~~adequacy of Union measures to ensure gradually increasing proportion of removals in accordance with specific indicators as referred to in Article 42(4) is insufficient, it shall take the necessary measures in accordance with the Treaties, at the same time as the review of the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1).

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

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

(b) the adequacy of relevant national measures to ensure progress in accordance with specific indicators on adaptation as referred to in Article 4.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)

(b a) the adequacy of relevant national measures to ensure a gradually increasing proportion of removals in accordance with specific indicators as referred to in Article 2(4).

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2020/0036(COD)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Liudas MAŽYLIS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Maria da Graça CARVALHO

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2

2. Where the Commission finds, under due consideration of the collective progress assessed in accordance with Article 5(1), that a Member State’s measures are inconsistent with that objective as expressed by the trajectory referred to in Article 3(1) or inadequate to ensure progress on adaptation as referred to in Article 4 or the proportion of removals is not increasing in a satisfactory manner, it may issue recommendations to that Member State. The Commission shall make such recommendations publicly available.

2020/06/09
Committee: ITRE

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

- having regard to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly resolution of 9 December 2019 on the future of the Trio Plus Strategy 2030: building a future of Eastern Partnership; having regard to final statements and recommendations of Parliamentary Association Committees of 19 December 2019 with Ukraine and Moldova; having regard to European Parliament annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy of 18 December 2019,

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

- having regard to the Joint Statement of 5 December 2019 adopted by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on the Future of Eastern Partnership,

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)

- having regard to the Joint Letter of 15 February 2020 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on the MFF 2021-2027,

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

- having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement,

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the Agreements between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, and to the signing of an Agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas by the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on 8 January 2020,

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is based on mutual interests and understanding, shared ownership and responsibility, differentiation, mutual accountability and a shared commitment between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union to deepen their relations and adhere to international law and core values such as democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, and a social market economy, sustainable development and good governance;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the achievements and the strengthened differentiation in bilateral relations between the EU and the EaP countries with which it signed an Association Agreement are welcome, now it is time to provide those countries with clearer guidance on specific reform priorities, alignment criteria and on the next steps in the EU integration process;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the Joint statement of 5 December 2019 on the Future of Eastern Partnership called upon the EU to engage further in joint discussions on the progress, opportunities and challenges concerning the association-related reforms with the aim of facilitating full implementation of the AAs/DCFTAs and invited the EU to consider establishing an EU+ Three Associated Partners dialogue in the areas including, but not limited to, transport, energy, justice and digital economy;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the Joint letter of 15 February 2020 on the MFF 2021– 2027 reiterated their strong commitment to contribute to the strategic success of the EaP, in particular through the differentiation principle and the establishment of a EU+ Three Associated Partners enhanced dialogue, and emphasised that a dedicated financial tool providing a robust assistance to support complex reform commitments in line with AAs/DCFTAs would be decisive for all actors involved in the process;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas there is a necessity to encourage the development of ever closer relations with the EU and to set out a tailor made strategy for the most advanced EaP countries to support and sustain an ambitious pace of implementation of European integration reforms and that even more advanced forms of cooperation and integration are possible, provided that comprehensive reforms are implemented in a timely and sustainable manner;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas, the success of transformation in the EaP countries, in particular of the three associated partner countries, can yield a positive example, which could also have an influence on the society in neighbouring Russia;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) acknowledge and strive for a continuous transformational impact of EaP policy in order to bring about political, social, economic and legal change in the three associated partner countries (the EU Trio countries);

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(aa) by taking into account the request from the EU Trio countries, create within the EaP policy a closer cooperation initiative – the EU Advanced Partnership Strategy (EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030) which will establish an EU reform and investment support platform, to be implemented first in the EU Trio countries, in areas including, but not limited to, investment capacity building, transport, energy, justice and digital economy, and will pave the way for an ambitious integration agenda with the EU;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(aa) in line with the 'more for more' approach, and in the spirit of the existing arrangements with the EEA/EFTA countries, to include the associated countries in the proceedings of the Committees established pursuant to Article 291 TFEU and Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 as a means to show the EU's commitments to further integration and to strengthen the countries' reform orientation and administrative know-how;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

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

(ab) emphasise, that the implementation of the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030 can be extended to the remaining Eastern Partners of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus on the basis of individual assessments of EU reform commitments and of the progress made; stress, that further setbacks with regard to democracy, reforms and the rule of law and the erosion of the European orientation may entail the exclusion of the countries concerned from the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030; ensure that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus will have individualised, beneficial and tailor-made partnership relationships with the EU, conditional on reform commitments;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) embrace an enhanced and future- oriented vision for the next decade of the EaP with the aim of ensuring lasting and irreversible achievements and deepening EU-EaP cooperation; invite the EU institutions to lead the creation of ever closer relations with the most advanced EaP countries, to begin with the EU Trio countries, and, with the support of a coalition of like-minded EU Member States, to establish for this purpose the EU Trio Plus Process, which shall be focused on tangible projects and programmes, such as the EU Support Group, Investment Framework platform, access to EU financing, and which will take into account the best reform support practices, including from the Western Balkans and the European Economic Area;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f

(f) devise additional measures for deeper integration such as in selected EU agencies, investment framework platforms, intra-EU programmes and initiatives, in full compliance with existing conditionalities and pursuant to the more for more principle and which will take into account the best reform support practices;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(ha) invite the EaP countries acceding to the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030, starting with the countries that signed an Association Agreement with the EU, to use the reinforced political steering and benchmark instruments of the implementation of the EU Association Agreements, such as joint reporting and monitoring, which would bring in a credible merit-based approach, to the benefit of the EU and its influence in the EaP countries and beyond;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(ha) acknowledge that, as the subsidiarity principle is the best way the EU uses to determine the sphere of competencies among the Union and its member states, the same principle shall be applied to the relations between the EU and the six EaP countries, while at the same time accepting that the EU needs to react faster and in adherence to the EU's values to the deterioration of the rule of law and the quality of democratic governance in the partner countries and apply smart conditionality to prevent the partner governments from further backsliding;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h b (new)

(hb) invite the EaP countries, especially the EU Trio countries, to the Conference on the Future of Europe, which could set out a list scenarios on the future relationship of those countries with the EU;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) acknowledge the associated partnership status of advanced EaP countries, notably the signatories of AAs with DCFTAs (the EU Trio countries), in order to accommodate the mutual need for more venues for political dialogue, further economic cooperation and legislative harmonisation;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j

(j) engage further in State building and in strengthening institutions, by making instruments similar to the Support Group for Ukraine (the EU Support Group) available to the associated partners first and foremost; strong, independent and efficient institutions at a central and local level are key to democratic accountability, deoligarchisation, and the fight against corruption and State capture;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j

(j) engage further in State building and in strengthening institutions and their accountability, by making instruments similar to the Support Group for Ukraine available to the associated partners first and foremost; strong, independent and efficient institutions at a central and local level are key to democratic ~~accountability~~governance, deoligarchisation, and the fight against corruption and State capture;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(ja) encourage the work of political foundations in fostering the next generation of political leaders in the EaP countries;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k

(k) acknowledge and encourage initiatives by the governments of associated countries (the EU Trio countries) to boost their mutual cooperation; a similar approach should be applied to cooperation amongst all the Eastern European Partners on various issues;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 1 a (new)

New EaP instruments of financial support for the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(la) provide greater financial assistance, including in the context of the external financial instruments that are currently under legislative negotiation; such assistance should be tailored to the specific needs of the individual partners and used to implement activities under the EaP programme; note that this access to EU funding should be linked with reform commitments and should include a set of ambitious benchmarks of the European financial assistance for the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030 countries;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l b (new)

(lb) provide for the EU Trio Plus countries a greater access to EU funding, including via Connecting Europe Facility and the TEN programme as well as a gradual access to the Green Deal Fund of Just Transition to modernise emission- intensive industries; note that this access should be linked to differentiated benchmarks in line with the EU integration reform commitments;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l c (new)

(lc) develop public investment management strategy for the EU Trio Plus countries, which would help absorbing the TEN infrastructure investments and would increase investment support, including via the Connecting Europe Facility;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l d (new)

(ld) create for this purpose the Connectivity Agenda, which will include a list of major infrastructure projects implemented in the new Investment Framework platform and managed together with IFIs and the European Commission; propose that investments be tightly linked with reform implementation and suggest signing the Reform Contracts for Investments with the EU Trio countries and remaining Eastern Partners willing to join the EU Trio Plus Strategy 2030;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l e (new)

(le) adopt a comprehensive infrastructure-building plan with the aim of improving connectivity between the EU and its Eastern European Partners, and among the EaP countries themselves;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o

(o) ensure the EaP countries’ further engagement in the fight against climate change, ~~including participatio~~making sure that under the new European Green Deal adequate actions and funding are dedicated to improving energy security and interconnectivity, energy efficiency as well as waste water management in lin ~~the new European Green Deal~~e with the absorption capacity of the partner countries while the implementation of the European Green Deal should not compromise the growing trade of the EaP countries with the EU; for this reason the identification of sectors that might be affected and would be in need of extra support should be performed;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

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

(pa) address the rural-urban divide in the EaP countries through effective financial and technical incentives to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), small-scale farmers and family enterprises in rural and suburban areas, and through the improvement of human connectivity and infrastructure between cities and countryside in view of fostering social cohesion;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q

(q) extend to other associated partners the approach employed by the EU in its efforts to support the recovery of the Ukrainian economy, including by means of tailored and flexible macro-financial assistance and instruments and engagement and coordination of international financial institutions and donors, and by improving the environment for foreign direct investment (FDI); in the proposed single Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) stress the importance of differentiation within the EaP in assisting the EU Trio Plus countries in line with the principles of ‘more for more’ and ‘less for less’;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r

~~(r) address the EU’s qualified labour shortages by increasing labour mobility from the EaP countries and providing social guarantees;~~deleted

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r

(r) address the ~~EU’s qualified labour shortages by increasing labour mobility from the EaP countries and providing social guarante~~brain-drain in the EaP countries by promoting quality and inclusive education, formation and training programmes, and creating job opportunities in view of providing socio- economic perspectives to young people and families in their local communities;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s

(s) acknowledge the importance of cross-border mobility in strengthening people-to-people contact, and expand funding for and the participation of the EaP countries in educational, professional skills-boosting and exchange programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t

(t) strengthen intra-EaP academic cooperation by launching a regional programme supporting centres of academic and research excellence in the region and an EaP university focused on good governance and public administration;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t

(t) strengthen intra-EaP academic cooperation by launching an EaP university ~~focused on~~and targeted EaP programmes in specialised universities focused on European values and rule of law, good governance and public administration;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u

(u) ensure that all EU support programmes include a gender-equality dimension and target the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of society, including Roma people, as well as refugees and internally displaced persons from areas experiencing violent conflict such as Eastern Ukraine, being often subject to poverty and social exclusion; reinforce initiatives on their political as well as socio-economic empowerment and on improving their access to education, healthcare and decent housing;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

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

(ua) ensure the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief by protecting and promoting the rights all of religious components present in the region, on the bases of the concept of full and equal citizenship;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v

(v) acknowledge the importance of security and stability and peace for the future development of EaP members by boosting cooperation in security and defence and devoting particular attention to regional conflicts; by means of reconciliation, cyber security and actions countering disinformation and propaganda, as well as strengthening the resilience of persons, families, communities and state institutions;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w

(w) ~~acknowledge the unique experience and expertise of EaP countries; recognis~~recognise the importance of pro- democratic reforms and trust in institutions as the most efficient security mechanism; acknowledge the contribution of the associated partners to common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions; deepen cooperation in EU- related defence policies, prioritising efforts in pre-emptive peace-building, including preventive diplomacy, as well as early warning and action mechanisms and expanding funding for enhancing cyber resilience;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Traian BĂSESCU, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x

(x) acknowledge the contribution of EaP civil society actors and organisations to democratisation and reform processes in their countries and the whole EaP region~~; continue supporting their activities and safeguarding their working environment~~ and strengthen civil society's ability to act as a watchdog for reform and to hold the respective state institutions to account, and securing its presence in trilateral meetings, including in all Human Rights Dialogues and Association and Cooperation Council meetings;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

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

(ya) establish an EaP European municipalities Twinning program to support Twinning Partnerships between municipalities in EaP countries and EU Member States, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, which have institutional memory of the European modernisation;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

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

(ya) strengthen the dialogue and cooperation with Churches and religious communities and organisations in areas such as peace-building and reconciliation, strengthening trust in a just and free society, as well as education, healthcare and basic social service;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z

(z) increase the visibility of the support provided by the EU in the recipient EaP countries and boost ~~EU citizens’~~both EU and EaP citizens’ information resilience and awareness about the EaP;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

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

(za) utilise more efficiently the existing EU structures such as EEAS East StratCom taskforce to identify and respond to disinformation and propaganda campaigns undermining the EU-EaP countries' relationship and its goals;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z b (new)

(zb) prioritise local projects raising awareness about the EU in small towns and regions and going beyond existing EU-minded cohorts;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z c (new)

(zc) build campaigns to inform citizens about the opportunities stemming from the EaP and AA/DCFTA implementation, raising awareness about the benefits of closer association and linking them to the positive impact on labour markets in the EaP countries;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z d (new)

(zd) further strengthen and capitalise upon the Young Ambassador programme and the Eastern Partnership Civil Society fellowships, establishing an active alumni network on the basis of existing successful models;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z e (new)

(ze) promote inclusive and participatory platforms of dialogue and cooperation bringing together stakeholders across different sectors and levels, including policy-makers, economic actors, academic, civil society as well as Churches, religious communities and citizens with fewer opportunities, with the goal of countering polarising and extremist tendencies in politics and society, as well as the impact of disinformation and propaganda campaigns;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the continuous deepening of EU-Georgia relations and the firm support that Georgia’s chosen path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration enjoys across the political spectrum and in society; acknowledges the progress achieved by Georgia, which has made it a key partner of the EU in the region, and reiterates the need to continue implementing reforms under the Association Agreement (AA) and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area; reminds that the EU assistance is based on the principle "more for more" and conditional to reform progress in, but not limited to, areas of democracy and rule of law, independence of judiciary and electoral system reform;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and condemns the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation; emphasises that the AA covers the entire territory of Georgia, including its occupied regions, and aims to benefit its whole population; calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its obligations under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, notably to withdraw all its military forces from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia; condemns "borderisation" activities along the Administrative Boundary Line by Russian and de facto South Ossetian security actors; asks the Commission and the EEAS to enhance their efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, including through the EUMM and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Commends the Georgian authorities for completing the constitutional reform process and the major political parties for signing the Memorandum of Understanding and the Joint Statement of 8 March 2020, which established the key features of the electoral system to be used for the upcoming parliamentary elections~~; calls on all parties to ensure that the agreement is translated into law and fully implemented~~ and the necessity of addressing actions that could be perceived as inappropriate politicisation of Georgia’s judicial process; calls on all parties to ensure that the agreement is translated into law and into full abandonment of practices of politicisation of judicial processes and fully implemented in letter and spirit as soon as possible;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Georgian authorities to implement swiftly and fully the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and review relevant legislation to address the identified shortcomings; recalls the assessment by the OSCE/ODIHR-led International Election Observation Mission of the last direct presidential election held in October - November 2018; notes with concern the negative character of the campaign and the use of harsh rhetoric on both sides; highlights that the process had been undermined by undue advantage enjoyed by the government side, use of violent rhetoric and impunity of violence against opposition; notes cases of misuse of administrative resources, undue pressure on voters and intimidation, vote buying, announcement of a massive debt relief offered by a private institution linked to the chairperson of the ruling party; notes that the run-off election day proceeded in an orderly manner, opening, voting and counting were assessed positively, the observed tracking of voters reinforced concern about potential intimidation; urges all stakeholders to fully address the recommendations of the OCSE/ODIHR;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines the importance of media freedom, which should entail equal access for all political parties to the media during the upcoming electoral campaign, pluralistic and non-discriminatory coverage of political views in programmes by public and private broadcasters, clear provisions regulating free and paid advertisements, and improved transparency through strengthened media monitoring; underscores the importance of an independent and pluralistic media landscape, which is free from government or any other state interference; acknowledges that the media landscape in Georgia is dynamic and pluralistic, but also polarised; expresses deep concern that media outlets critical towards the government often become subject of pressure in the form of court cases against the founders (Nika Gvaramia of TV Mtavari), arrest of the shareholders (Giorgi Rurua and TV Mtavari), financial and tax related charges (Avtandil Tsereteli and TV Pirveli) and firing, or resignation of critical TV journalists and editors (Public Broadcaster of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara);

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the government of Georgia to ensure effective handling of information environment in the run up to the 2020 elections; urges the Georgian government to work with the civil society and the private sector to limit and prevent information manipulations, including disinformation and propaganda campaigns against any political group or the country by domestic or foreign actors; urges social media platforms to take effective actions to protect information environment and prevent undermining electoral integrity by misuse of social media platforms; expresses hope that the national public broadcaster will fulfil its obligation of editorial independence, fairness and impartiality in the run-up and during the 2020 parliamentary elections and that concerns raised by the OSCE/ODIHR election observation report of 2018 Presidential election specifically in relation to the bias of the Georgian Public Broadcaster will be addressed accordingly;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Reaffirms support to the vibrant civil society in Georgia; expresses hope that in the run-up to the 2020 elections environment for independent watchdogs and activists will be free from any intimidation, interference or verbal attacks;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Expresses its concern about recent court cases against opposition politicians, which contributed to a climate of increased mistrust and heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, and led to a polarisation of politics and society; calls on Georgia to respect the highest standards of judicial independence and fair trial as committed to under the AA; welcomes the decision of President Zourabichvili of 15 May 2020 to pardon two imprisoned leaders of opposition as an important step in the implementation of 8 March agreement and looks forward to the release of Giorgi Rurua; urges to stop any actions of politicised justice or any kind of other illegal or unjustified administrative pressure on opposition leaders;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Strongly condemns the cyber- attacks against Georgian institutions and media outlets widely attributed to Russian actors; calls on all political actors in Georgia to refrain from using social media to attack people, organisations and institutions and spread deliberate misinformation; reminds with concern that in December 2019 and, similarly, in May 2020 Facebook shut down an extensive network of accounts and pages funded by Georgia’s ruling party, which engaged in “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” and attacks against opposition, media, civil society and independent activists and spread anti- democratic and anti-Western messages;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the importance of reducing antagonism and the polarisation of politics and ensuring constructive cooperation in the country’s democratic institutions, in particular the parliament; therefore profoundly regrets that the ninth meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee of 12 and13 February 2020 in Strasbourg ended without an agreement on a final statement and recommendations being reached;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN, Andrzej HALICKI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Recommends to give a special mandate to the European Parliament Delegation in the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee to watch and observe preparations and realization of fair and transparent forthcoming October 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Miriam LEXMANN, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5 a (new)

Acknowledges the associated partnership status of Georgia and the other signatories of AAs and DCFTAs, and calls for an enhanced political dialogue with them in order to advance further economic integration and legislative harmonisation; for example, as in the case of the EEA/EFTA countries, calls to include Georgia and the other associated countries as observers in the proceedings of the Committees established pursuant to Article 291 TFEU and Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, as well as in the meetings of the European Council working groups and committees, to show the EU's commitments to further integration and to strengthen the countries reform orientation and administrative know-how;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. In order to implement the principle “more for more”, calls on the EU to consider creating for the three associated countries, including Georgia, an enhanced cooperation strategy of reforms and investments, which would be conditional on the areas including, but not limited to, investment capacity building, transport, energy, justice and digital economy, and paving the way for an ambitious agenda of integration into the EU;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Miriam LEXMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Highlights in this context the need to recommend the EU to: – in order to implement principle “more for more” in an effective way and to have institutional capacity to assist and to evaluate developments on the ground in associated countries to establish a special Support Group for the associated countries, including Georgia, as it was done in the case of Ukraine (SGUA), – to upgrade the EU macro-financial assistance conditionality, which will work hand in hand with upgraded steering mechanisms and detailed reporting on the progress made by Georgia, in particular in the area of justice sector reform, – to boost the EU investment assistance linked with conditionality in a similar manner as it was proposed in Reform Contract for Investment to Ukraine in coordination with International Financial Institutions, – in the context of the huge forthcoming challenges in managing socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in job losses, closures of businesses and keeping in balance the public finances, to invite the Commission in the autumn of 2020 to propose for Eastern Partners, especially for the ones associated with the EU and committed to EU integration reforms, including Georgia, a detailed, conditional and tailor-made economic and investment plan, as it will be also done for the Western Balkans region;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the EU’s security environment isdepends on peace and stability in its neighbourhood and is also vulnerable to external pressure that prevents the EU from exercising its sovereignty;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls for greater coherence, consistency and complementarity between the EU’s external financing instruments and the CFSP to enable the European Union to tackle growing security and foreign policy challenges; considers that the simplified structure of external instruments proposed under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument calls for proper checks and balances, a sufficient level of transparency, and strategic policy input and scrutiny of implementation by Parliament; stresses the importance of differentiation principle in the investment related assistance for Neighbourhood countries with more commitments to the European reforms under the principle 'more for more' and 'less for less'; stresses the need for efficient and adequate funding under the Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance for 2021-2027 (IPA III); highlights the role of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), particularly in supporting peace and stability around the world; expects a timely adoption of the post-2020 instruments, so as to avoid unnecessary funding gaps;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls for greater coherence, consistency and complementarity between the EU’s external financing instruments and the CFSP to enable the European Union to tackle growing security and foreign policy challenges; considers that the simplified structure of external instruments proposed under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument calls for proper checks and balances, a sufficient level of transparency, and strategic policy input ands well as regular scrutiny of implementation by Parliament; stresses the need for efficient and adequate funding under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for 2021-2027 (IPA III); highlights the role of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), particularly in supporting peace and stability around the world; expects a timely adoption of the post-2020 instruments, so as to avoid unnecessary funding gaps;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Recognises the importance of the stability of the Eastern Neighbourhood for the Union's own security and the EU's transformative potential for neighbouring regions and countries; calls for further strengthening of the Eastern Partnership policy for the next decade by creating a Strategy for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia - trio of most advanced EaP EU associated countries (Trio Strategy 2030), based on the principle of “more-for- more" and “less-for-less”, led by EU institutions and the coalition of like- minded EU countries (European Trio process) with a focus on tangible projects and programmes to follow the best practices from the Berlin process and European Economic Area integration; believes, that success of transformation in the EaP countries, especially EU associated countries of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, can provide for a positive effect also on the society of the neighbouring Russia;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls for the strengthening of the EU’s capacity to act autonomously in the area of security and defence; emphasises that NATO is the key security partner of the EU; stresses that efficient cooperation with partner organisations such as the UN ~~or NATO~~ is more vital than ever;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls for the strengthening of the EU’s capacity to act autonomously in the area of security and defence; stresses that efficient and close cooperation with partner organisations such as the UN or NATO is more vital than ever;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes the decision of the President of the Commission to build, within five years, a genuine and operational European Defence Union;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Michael GAHLER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Neena GILL, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Javier NART, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Klemen GROŠELJ, Phil BENNION, Engin EROGLU, Anna FOTYGA, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Charlie WEIMERS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Stresses that strengthening substantial relations with East and Southeast Asia is essential to the EU's rules-based, comprehensive and sustainable Connectivity Strategy; takes note of the military build-up in the region and calls for all parties involved to respect the freedom of navigation, to solve differences through peaceful means and to refrain from taking unilateral actions to change the status quo, including in the East and South China Seas and the Taiwan Strait; expresses concern that foreign interferences from autocratic regimes through disinformation and cyber-attacks on the upcoming general elections threaten Asian democracies and regional stability; reiterates its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, mechanisms and activities;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Promotes the boosting of the European Union’s strategic communication capabilities; calls, in that connection, for ~~further~~substantially increased budgetary and staffing support for the EEAS Strategic Communications Division and the three Strategic Communication Task Forces (East, South and Western Balkans);

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Andrius KUBILIUS, Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Notes that Russia is the most imminent source of hybrid and conventional security threats to the EU and its Member States and is actively striving to undercut European unity, independence, universal values and international norms; maintains, that while no change in aggressive policy can be expected under the current leadership in Moscow, the positive change to a more democratic and European-style country is possible in a more distant future; calls therefore for increased efforts to strengthen resilience of the EU and its Member States and for the creation of a long-term EU strategy towards Russia, built on three pillars of deterrence, containment and transformation;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Calls on the Council to supplement the EU human rights and foreign policy toolbox with a Global Magnitsky Act type sanction regime enabling to impose asset freezes and visa bans on individuals involved in grave human rights violations;

2019/11/13
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes the lasting deterioration in the Union’s s~~trategic~~ecurity environment in the face of multiple challenges directly or indirectly affecting the security of its Member States and citizens: armed conflicts i~~mmediately to the east and south of~~n the European continent and in its vicinity, jihadist terrorism, cyber attacks, hybrid threats, foreign interference into domestic elections, disinformation, uncontrolled migration, increasing threats to natural resources, climate change, etc.;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that instability and unpredictability on the Union’s borders and in its immediate neighbourhood (north Africa, the Middle East, ~~Ukraine,~~ the Caucasus, the Balkans, Russian aggression against Ukraine and Georgia, etc.) pose a direct threat to the security of the continent; stresses the inextricable link between internal and external security;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that global actors (~~the US,~~ China, Russia) and an increasing number of regional actors (Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.) are seeking to assert power through a combination of unilateral diplomatic posturing and increasing military ~~military~~ build-ups;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Michael GAHLER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Isabel WISELER-LIMA, Neena GILL, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Javier NART, Klemen GROŠELJ, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Phil BENNION, Engin EROGLU, Anna FOTYGA, Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, Charlie WEIMERS, Bert-Jan RUISSEN, Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Martin HORWOOD

4 a. Stresses that strengthening substantial relations with East and Southeast Asia is essential to the EU's rules-based, comprehensive and sustainable Connectivity Strategy; takes note of the military build-up in the region and calls for all parties involved to respect the freedom of navigation, to solve differences through peaceful means and to refrain from taking unilateral actions to change the status quo, including in the East and South China Seas and the Taiwan Strait; expresses concern that foreign interferences from autocratic regimes through disinformation and cyber-attacks on the upcoming general elections threaten Asian democracies and regional stability; reiterates its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations, mechanisms and activities;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes that ~~the Union has been slow~~increasing demand for the Union to react and adapt – politically, diplomatically and militarily – to new crises and to this new international context; considers that, in the specific area of defence, insufficient investment, ~~differences in~~lack of capabilities and a lack of interoperability, but also, and above all, a political reluctance to implement the robust provisions provided for in the European treaties and the numerous cooperation arrangements between Member States have weakenedlow level of responsiveness, but also political limitations to make full use of provisions provided for in the European treaties did not permit to realize the Union’s ~~ability~~full potential to play a decisive role in external crises; recognises, further, that no country is able by itself to address the security challenges ~~on the European continent and in its immediate environment~~without working together with allies and partners;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcomes~~Calls for, in this adverse and volatile context, ~~the belated but~~ real recognition of shared security interests ~~and the growing political will on the part of European countries and the European institutions to act collectively for their security by endowing themselves with greater means to act autonomously~~, for further political action and higher defence expenditure;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Is convinced~~Stresses that the response to the Union’s security challenges lies primarily in str~~engthening its strategic autonomy~~ategic responsibility of the Member States, including increasing of defence spending and investing into development of capabilities;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Notes that the ambition of achieving European strategic autonomy was recognised for the first time in ~~June 2016 by the 28 Heads of State and Government in~~ the ‘Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy’, presented by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on 28 June 2016;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that the ~~principle~~idea of European strategic autonomy ~~is based on the ability of the Union to strengthen~~ reflects the aim of taking more responsibilitsy f~~reedom to assess, take decisions and take acti~~or European security with partners wherever possible and alone whe~~re circumstances so require~~n necessary, in order to defend its interests and values;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Considers, therefore, that ~~European strategic autonomy is based, above all, on~~ the ability of the Union to assess a crisis situation and take a decision autonomously~~, which necessarily entails an independent~~ has to be improved, which entails an better informed decision-making process, the availability of means of assessment and ~~a freedom~~capabilities to analyse and take action; considers, also, that ~~European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of the Union to act alone when its interests~~ Union has to act with partners whenever possible and alone when necessarey a~~t stake (theatres of operations not considered as priorities by its European partners)~~nd its interests are at stake or within the framework of existing cooperation arrangements; considers, lastly, that European ~~strategic autonomy is part of a multilateral framework which~~defence initiatives respects commitments within the UN and complements ~~the (NATO) alliances and partnerships to which most Member States are signed up; stresses that~~NATO; stresses that the idea of strategic autonomy does not mean ~~that~~ the Union ~~will~~ systematically act ing alone, everywhere and always;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Considers that ~~the affirmation of European strategic autonomy depends on the establishment of~~ European defence cooperation in ~~the~~ technological, capability, industrial and operational fields~~; considers that only practical and flexible~~ is important for the affirmation of European strategic ambition; considers that cooperation bafocused on ~~pragmatic initiative~~addressing European defence capability gaps will make it possible to gradually overcome the difficulties, forge a genuine common strategic culture and shape common responses tailored to the continent’s main security and defence ~~issue~~needs;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that ~~strategic autonomy can only be genuinely achieved if Member States demonstrate solidarity, which is reflected in particular in the need to prior~~for effective use of available resources innovative and competitisve ~~the procurement of European capabilities where equipment is available and competitive~~defence industry in Europe is necessary;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Considers that ~~the principle of~~ European strategic autonomy is a legitimate ~~and necessary~~ ambition and that it ~~must remain a priority objective of~~has a positive impact for European defence policy; stresses that its practical and operational implementation is ~~a common responsibility of~~to be discussed among European states;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Maintains that European ~~strategic autonomy must tak~~defence initiatives must provide practical ~~form~~gains in the areas of industry, capability (joint programmes, investment in defence technologies) and operations (financing of operations, capacity building for partners, capacity to plan and conduct missions);

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Considers that Europe’s defence is based largely on solid transatlantic alliance, the Union’s capacity to ~~intervene~~act militarily, in a credible manner, in external theatres of operations;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Member States and European bodies to ~~prioritise and maintain a high level of commitment in Africa; welcomes, therefore,~~maintain the right geographical balance, ensure effective use of resources; in this spirit acknowledges the Council’s decision of July 2018 to extend the mandate of the EUTM RCA military training mission for two years and its intention to launch a civilian mission to complement the military component; notes that these recent developments are a positive sign of re-engagement on the part of the Member States;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Is concerned at the deteriorating situation in Burkina Faso; wonders whether it would be appropriate to deploy a civilian ~~and/or military~~ mission in order to strengthen security sector governance, human rights and the restoration of people’s trust in their security forces;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Notes, however, that the effectiveness of CSDP missions and operations in general is being hampered by athe security situation in cr~~easing reluctance~~isis regions, limited means on the part of Member States and the European institutions to make such missions and operations more robust, both in terms of human resources and their mandates; notes that CSDP military operations increasingly tend to be based on armed forces training (EUTM), with no executive dimension;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Considers that the issue of financing for CSDP missions and operations is crucial to the sustainability of the policy; highlights the importance of reviewing the Athena mechanism ~~so that it covers the full costs~~with the aim of making the financing mechanism of CSDP military operations and missions more effective; supports, in this connection, the proposal by the VP/HR, backed by the Commission, to create a European Peace Facility, which would finance part of the costs of EU defence activities, including the joint costs of CSDP military operations and those relating to military capacity-building for partners; hopes that the Member States will reach an agreement quickly so that this instrument can be introduced; stresses the importance of making the Union’s financial rules more flexible in order to enhance its ability to respond to crises and facilitate the implementation of Lisbon Treaty provisions; calls on the Member States and the Commission to consider a flexible mechanism to help Member States wishing to participate in a CSDP mission to bear the cost of doing so, thereby facilitating their decision to launch or strengthen a mission; notes that this instrument would be wholly consistent with the Union’s strategic autonomy objectives in the operational field;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Supports the creation of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) for executive missions to enable ~~all~~certain CSDP military operations to be carried out; calls for enhanced cooperation between the MPCC and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability; draws attention to the problems of recruitment and resource provision, which need to be overcome in order for the MPCC to be fully effective; calls on the EEAS to transform the MPCC from a virtual entity, with multiple-assignment posts, into a robust civilian-military entity which can plan and conduct operations;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Notes that the mutual assistance clause (Article 42(7) TEU), which has been invoked once, demonstrates the solidarity among Member States in the common fight against terrorism; notes, however, that the conditions for triggering the article and the arrangements for providing the assistance required have never been clearly defined; calls for a more ~~operational implementation of this instrument~~discussion on experience in invocating this legal clause;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Sandra KALNIETE, Andrius KUBILIUS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Believes that the implementation of CSDP missions and operations must be backed up by flexible instruments in order to make it easier for the Union and its Member States to commit to ensuring Europe~~an strategic autonomy~~'s ability to assume more responsibility , in the service of the stability of the European continent; stresses, in this connection, the effectiveness of modular, multipurpose and genuinely operational command structures, such as the European Corps (Eurocorps); notes that the missions of this command structure have been successfully extended and diversified: between 2015 and 2018 the European Corps was deployed four times as part of the EU training missions in Mali and the Central African Republic (EUTM Mali and EUTM RCA); calls on the Member States and the Commission to follow this example of flexible and operational cooperation, which has already proved valuable and effective;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Stresses that strengthening European strategic autonomy will ~~necessarily~~ be based on increasing the Member States’ capabilities and defence budgets, and on strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Welcomes the recent efforts by the European institutions and the Member States, following on from the publication of the ‘EU Global Strategy’, to breathe new life into the hitherto ~~virtual~~ instruments of the CSDP and to fully implement the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty; stresses that these promising ambitions must now be consolidated and followed up with practical action so that they make an effective contribution to security on the European continent and in its immediate neighbourhood;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Notes with satisfaction the Commission’s proposal of 2 May 2018 to establish a EUR 13 billion budget line for defence cooperation in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) ~~under the heading of industrial policy~~supporting collaborative defence research and capability development; notes that this proposal, which reflects an unprecedented commitment by the Commission, remains subject to the unanimous agreement of the Member States in the next MFF;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal of June 2017 to create a European Defence Fund (EDF), which would foster cooperation between Member States and support the ~~European~~ defence industry throughout the Union, including cross-border SMEs; notes that this proposal is the first initiative for which Community funds are to be used in direct support of defence projects; recognises that this is a major step forward for European defence, from both a political and an industrial perspective; notes that the EDF could finance structural projects such as the future European aircraft or tank or a European anti-missile defence capability as well as small and medium projects creating innovative future orientated solutions for defence; notes that the 2019 work programme for the preparatory action ~~will~~ focus on electromagnetic spectrum dominance and future disruptive defence technologies, two key areas for maintaining Europe’s technological independence in the long term; welcomes, also, the adoption by the Commission in March 2019 of the first work programme European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the publication of nine calls for proposals for 2019~~, including for~~; notes that EDIDP 2019 calls included the Eurodrone, which is a ~~key~~n important capability for Europe’s strategic autonomy, and a call specifically devoted for small and medium enterprises, encouraging innovation throughout the Union; points out that 12 further calls for proposals will follow in 2020, covering priority areas in all domains (air, land, sea, cyber and space); notes the importance of EDF in contributing to innovation, competitiveness, efficiency and cross- border cooperation of the European defence industry throughout the EU; notes the link between the procurement decisions taken today by the Member States and the prospects for industrial and technological cooperation under the EDF;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54

54. Stresses that the ambition of European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of Europeans to take action to defend their interests, either ~~independently or within an~~with partners whenever possible or independently when necessary, making full use of international institutional cooperation frameworks (NATO, UN);

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Considers that European strategic a~~utonomy~~mbitions must be based on sustainable cooperation and ~~strategic~~ partnerships with countries and organisations sharing the Union’s values; welcomes, further, the contributions made by CSDP partners to Union missions and operations;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60

60. Supports, in parallel with institutional cooperation and partnerships, the combining of different forms of flexible, multifaceted, open and, at the same time, operational, ambitious and demanding cooperation, both within and outside EU, NATO and UN structures, which could facilitate joint commitments in operations, thereby strengthening the Union’s operational ~~strategic~~ autonomy; stresses, in this connection, that examples of cooperation such as the European Intervention Initiative, the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), Joint Expeditionary Force and the increasing integration of the German and Dutch armed forces refelect this drive for closer military cooperation between Member States;

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2135(INI)

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Sandra KALNIETE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61

61. Considers that progress in European defence ~~will pave the way for major~~is reflected in structural changes; notes the announcement of the creation of a Directorate-General for Defence and Space at the Commission under the responsibility of the Commissioner-designate for the Internal Market; notes that this new DG should be responsible for supporting, coordinating or complementing the Member States’ actions in the area of European defence ~~and would thus contribute to strengthening European strategic autonomy~~; notes the definition of its five main tasks (implementation and oversight of the EDF, creation of an open and competitive European defence equipment market, implementation of the action plan on military mobility, enhancement of a strong and innovative space industry, implementation of the future space programme), but calls on the Commission to provide further details on the role and responsibilities of the new DG; Wonders how it will coordinate its work with that of other defence policy structures which have other responsibilities (EDA, EEAS, etc.);

2019/11/12
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Draws attention to instances of persecution and discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality, social class, caste, religion, belief, language, sexual orientation and age, which remain rife in many countries and societies; is seriously concerned at the increasingly intolerant and hate-filled responses targeting people who are the victims of these human rights violations;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Reminds that the EU enlargement proved to be the most effective tool in support of democracy, rule of law and human rights, therefore the option of EU accession should remain open to the countries willing to join the EU and implementing European-style reforms as stipulated in the Article 49 of the TEU;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Regrets that the decision to allow the return of the Delegation of the Russian Federation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has not been connected with the real progress in the area of human rights in Russia and in the territories occupied or controlled by Russian forces; reminds that Russia is bound by its international commitments as a Member of the Council of Europe;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Welcom~~Urges the ~~initial discussions within the Council regarding the establishment of an~~Council to adopt as soon as possible the EU human rights sanctions mechanism, the so-called ‘Magnitsky List’, allowing for targeted sanctions against individuals complicit in serious human rights violations, as called for by the European Parliament on many occasions;

2019/10/28
Committee: AFET

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 1 – point 1.2 – paragraph 1

Since its set up, the EIT has established itself gradually as a ~~successful~~unique instrument addressing societal challenges through the integration of the knowledge triangle. The EIT operates mainly through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which are large-scale European partnerships between education and training, business and research organisations. There are currently eight KICs that operate in the following areas: climate change, digital transformation, energy, food, health, raw materials, urban mobility and added-value manufacturing (see Figure 2). The EIT and the KICs’ objectives shall always be coherent with the most relevant Union policies, such as the industrial strategy, the green deal and the economic recovery plan, and they should contribute to their implementation.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 1 – point 1.2 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Nevertheless, all current and future KICs shall use best efforts to dedicate more attention to research embedded in the knowledge triangle contributing together with education and innovation to entrepreneurial development and an innovation ecosystem.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 1 – point 1.2 – paragraph 9

The EIT approach help build resilience, increase sustainability and contributes to both incremental and disruptive innovations to happen, to effectively address market failures and help transform industries and support the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It enables the creation of long-term business strategies for addressing global challenges and helps creating the framework conditions that are essential for a well- functioning innovation ecosystem to grow and innovation to thrive.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 1 – point 1.2 – paragraph 17

The EIT has been able to stay agile and to develop the governance principles and rules for the successful management of its KICs under the overall umbrella of Horizon 2020, in accordance with the EIT Regulation. Its operational independence has allowed it to test and effectively implement a number of novelties in the management of its beneficiaries such as a competitive funding mechanism, which shall become the standard funding regime, financial sustainability targets and specific key performance indicators.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 1 – point 1.3 – paragraph 3

Second, p~~hysical proximity~~roximity (physical and virtual) is a key enabling factor for innovation. Initiatives aiming at developing innovation networks and providing services that support the creation, sharing and transfer of knowledge, play a key role in fostering the interactions between business, academia, research organisations, governments and individuals. Still, research and innovation performances across the EU, as reflected in the annual European Innovation Scoreboard, vary considerably. It is of crucial importance that innovation is inclusive and rooted in the local territories. EIT activities, thanks to their “place- based” approach, are well suited to contribute to strengthening local innovation ecosystems.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – paragraph 3

The EIT will furthermore facilitate the access of EIC beneficiaries to KICs’ innovation ecosystems and relevant actors of the knowledge triangle. In this way EIC beneficiaries can become actively involved in KICs’ activities and benefit from KICs’ services. In parallel, EIT beneficiaries will be able to apply to the EIC instruments~~, when EIT KICs support may not be available~~ for support additional to the services provided by the EIT KICs. The EIC may help start-ups supported by KICs with a high growth potential to rapidly scale-up. In particular, the most innovative KICs’- backed ventures may, if selected under the EIC, benefit from a fast-track access to EIC actions, in particular the blended finance support offered by the EIC Accelerator and/or by the financial support offered by InvestEU instruments.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – paragraph 4

The EIT will also ensure stronger synergies ~~also~~with all the missions and the relevant partnerships, as for example PRIMA, IMI, EDCTP, FCH, ECSEL, and with programmes and initiatives in the [Excellent Science] Pillar, to accelerate the transfer of knowledge resulting from blue sky research into concrete applications benefiting the society. In particular, with regard to the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the ERC, the EIT will collaborate on the development of innovation and entrepreneurial skills of MSCA fellows and ERC grantees. That collaboration shall be made available on a voluntary basis and shall not increase the administrative burden for the beneficiaries.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – paragraph 7

Opportunities for synergies will be also explored between the ~~Shar~~Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence part of Horizon Europe and the RIS and other outreach activities supported by the EIT. The aim is to reach a more balanced representation of EIT activities across the Union. The EIT shall guide the KICs to make better use of the RIS. In particular, target countries of the Horizon Europe Sharing Excellence part will be able to leverage on EIT expertise and support for the development of downstream activities (i.e. close to market), as the target group for ~~for~~ EIT outreach activities. The RIS budget shall also be used by the KICs as leverage for ESI funds. Such synergies shall be used by the KICs to create funding schemes that are similar to the widening actions of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Teaming and Twinning).

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.1 – point 1 – paragraph 4

The EIT wishall facilitate ~~shared services towards the KICs and~~the establishment of shared services and facilities, aiming to jointly handle specific operational tasks that are common to several KICs. It shall also facilitate exchanges of experiences and good practices between KICs and foster collaboration between them (cross- KIC activities) on both thematic and horizontal topics. Cross-fertilisation between different subject areas is increasingly important for creativity, innovation and business. Cross-KIC activities have the highest potential where several KICs already address common EU policy priorities and where no dedicated KICs exist. Bringing together the different KICs communities in dedicated joint actions of mutual benefit has high potential for synergies ~~and~~. The EIT wishall boost such activities and take an active part in defining the content and structure of the cross-KIC activities. It wishall monitor the implementation of cross-KIC activities as well as the results achieved, with the aim of ~~making~~ensuring long-term sustainability of those activities as an integral part of the ~~KICs’~~EIT and the KICs’ multi-annual strategies.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.1 – point 2 – paragraph 2 – introductory part

The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme, steered by the EIT and implemented by KICs, has been so far run on a voluntary basis. From 2021 on, the EIT RIS wishall become mandatory and an integral part of the KICs’ multi- annual strategyies. The EIT ~~will continue to prov~~shall ensure that RIS activities are used as a bridge ~~guidance and support to KICs in the preparation of multi-annual EIT RIS strategies and in their implementation. EIT RIS activities will continue with improved~~(i) towards relevant Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies thereby catalysing other investments, especially ESI funds and (ii) towards the integration of potential new partners thereby extending the KICs' geographical coverage. The EIT shall continue to provide guidance and support to KICs in the preparation and implementation of multi-annual RIS activities so that they support to the innovation capacity of countries and regions, including outermost regions, that underperform in terms of innovation and have limited participation in the KICs’ activities. The EIT budget devoted to implementing EIT RIS activities wishall be at least 105% of the overall EIT support funding to KICs, thereby ~~increasing the~~facilitating an increased number of KIC partners from targeted regions. Activities supported through the RIS wishall aim to:

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.1 – point 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 2

— attract new partners in EIT KICs, extend the geographical coverage of EIT KICs also through the innovation hubs and link local innovation ecosystems to pan-European innovation ecosystems through cooperation with EIT KICs and their co-locations centres and link local innovation ecosystems to pan-European innovation ecosystems through cooperation with EIT KICs and their co-locations centres.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.1 – point 2 – paragraph 3

In addition, in order to ensure KICs’ deeper integration in local innovation ecosystems, each KIC will be required to develop and implement a strategy aiming at strengthening the relationship with regional and local innovation actors, and the EIT will actively monitor the implementation. A “place-based” innovation approach should beThe EIT shall further increase its regional impact through an enhanced openness of the KICs towards a wide range of pan-European potential partners and stakeholders, a balanced geographical coverage, a strengthened dissemination and exploitation of results and a better articulated regional strategy of KICs. When selecting projects and partners, and when it is strictly necessary to separate proposals of equal quality, after an assessment based on the excellence criterion, KICs shall give priority to those proposals that: - include a higher number of low R&I performing regions or countries, according to the European Innovation Scoreboard, the Regional Innovation Scoreboard and the Widening countries as established by Horizon Europe; - include a higher number of regions or countries that are not yet participating in the KIC community; - involve regions and countries that commit to contribute with ESI funds. KICs shall deepen their integration into the local innovation ecosystems also through the innovation hubs, which should serve as an entry point for integra~~ted within the KIC’s multi-annual strategy and business plan and build on KIC’s CLCs (and RIS), thus leveraging on their role as gateway for accessing a KIC community and~~cting with local players and knowledge triangle actors. The innovation hubs can help establish synergies, internationalise the local networks, identify funding and project opportunities, provide advices to the public authorities on complementarities and support the beneficiaries. The innovation hubs can also grow into regional co-location centres. In addition, each KIC shall be required to develop and implement a multi-annual strategy, integra~~cting with the co- located partners.~~ted in its business plans, aiming at strengthening the relationship with regional and local innovation actors. Where relevant, KICs should demonstrate links with ~~local~~ Smart Specialisation Strategies and with the activities of ~~relevant~~ thematic platforms and interregional initiatives, including with the Managing Authorities of ESI Funds. The EIT wishall continuously monitor the implementation of these territorial strategies including the leverage effect on the ESI Funds. The EIT shall also monitor how CLCs operate and how they integrate in the local innovation ecosystems.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.1 – point 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)

The Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems priority field covers a wide range of traditional and emerging economic sectors, which are intrinsically linked to an environmental natural capital that is under pressure. This field will play a crucial role in delivering a climate- neutral, sustainable and competitive Union by 2050, as new technologies and the need to decarbonise the economy are leading to an increasing use and exploitation of marine and aquatic resources. Seas, oceans and inland waters have a central role in climate processes, in human health and wellbeing, in the provision of food, the preservation of biodiversity, critical ecosystem services, renewable energy and other resources. Wastewater treatments will reduce the amount of energy used, the pathogenic bacteria during the sewage sludge dewatering and in general increase the plant's efficiency and quality. This priority field is complementary to the eight existing KICs. A factsheet summarising the challenges of the Water field and the expected impact of the future KIC is included in Annex 1B(new) to this Decision.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.3 – point 3 – paragraph 1

Within the scope of the EIT Regulation~~, the EIT will seek greater impact of its activities through international cooperation and will coordinate international EIT- funded activities by~~ and in compliance with the Horizon Europe approach to international cooperation, the EIT shall endeavour to ensure that its activities have a greater impact through international cooperation and shall monitor international and cross- KIC activities funded by the KICs. A better-defined long-term collaboration strategy is needed between EIT and the KICs. Its focus wishall align closely with relevant industrial policy objectives of the European Union as well as its research and innovation priorities and ensuring European added value.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 4 – paragraph 2

MThe EIT shall make sure that the measures ensuring continuous openness of the KICs and transparency during implementation will be improved notably by ~~including~~adopting and applying transparent and clear criteria for the inclusion of new partners, by a continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of the measures and other common provisions for new members that add value to the partnerships. They wishall also run their activities in a fully transparent way, including through a systematic use of open calls for projects, for partners and for the establishment of new CLCs. When selecting projects and partners, and when is strictly necessary to separate proposals of equal quality, after an assessment based on the excellence criterion, KICs shall give priority to those proposals that: - include a higher number of low R&I performing regions or countries, according to the European Innovation Scoreboard, the Regional Innovation Scoreboard and the Widening countries as established by Horizon Europe; - include a higher number of regions or countries that are not yet participating in the KIC community; - involve regions and countries that commit to contribute with ESI funds; - involve a higher number of SMEs; - ensure a better gender balance. KICs will remain dynamic partnerships that new partners, including an increasing share of SMEs, can join on the basis of excellence and strategic fit. In order to limit the concentration of funding and ensure that KICs activities benefit from a wide network of partners, the procedure for the preparation of the multi-annual Business Plan (including the identification of priorities, the selection of activities and the allocation of funds) wishall be made more transparent, open and inclusive. ~~Finally,~~ KICs will ~~increase the share of calls, in particular for innovation projects that are open to third parties. All these measures will increase the number of participating entities involved in KICs’ activitie~~make public in a timely and accurate way, using the Horizon Europe database, the necessary detailed data and information about which projects are funded and under which funding allocation process. Finally, KICs should report on the involvement of new partners and beneficiaries in their regular reporting..

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 4 – paragraph 3

As KICs operate across the entire value chain of innovation, they wishall ensure an appropriate and continuous balance of education, research, entrepreneurship and innovation activities in their Business Plan portfolio. The EIT shall monitor that KICs operations ~~will b~~are implemented through a lean, efficient and cost-effective structure that would keep administrative and overhead costs to a minimum. EIT will ensure that KICs will achieve their expected impacts through a broad range of activities, identified in the KICs’ Business Plans, which effectively support the fulfilment of their objectives. In order to decrease the administrative burden, the KICs’ Business Plans and the EIT grants for the KICs shall cover a period of up to three years, while the KICs activities shall continue to be reported annually.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 4 – paragraph 4

Commitments from each KIC’s partner throughout the contractual duration of the initiative wishall be ensured by regularly monitoring the actual partner’s contributions against the original commitments. EIT wishall ensure that KICs have a risk management system in place for cases where some partners are not able to meet their original commitments. Yet, the priority for the KICs shall be to diversify their revenues and leverage other investments for their R&I activities rather than to rely on contributions from their partners. Any effort towards financial sustainability shall not lead to increases of tuition-fees or membership fees from partners, nor to a reduction of the grant funding mechanism in favour of other financial instruments, such as loans or blended finance, except for close-to- market activities. Tuition-fees or membership fees must remain commensurate to ensure the participation of small entities, such as SMEs.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 5 – paragraph 1

The EIT should ensure a balanced distribution of the budget throughout the years and a smooth transition from the current and the next MFF period, in particular for the ongoing activities. Through a lean and simplified funding model, the EIT will enhance the impact and contribution of KICs towards reaching the objectives of the Horizon Europe Programme. In order to increase the value added of its support, the EIT wishall adapt its funding model in order to increase over time the commitments from KICs’ partners or from other private and public sources. There are four main areas where the EIT will implement improvements.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 5 – paragraph 1

Through a lean and simplified funding model, the EIT will enhance the impact and contribution of KICs towards reaching the objectives of the Horizon Europe Programme. In order to increase the value added of its support, the EIT wishall adapt its funding model in order to increase, over time, the commitments from the KICs’ partners and from other private and public sources. There are four main areas where the EIT will implement improvements.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 5 – paragraph 2

Firstly, the EIT will apply the appropriate co-funding rates introduce a co-funding rate in order to increase the levels of private and public investments~~. The adaptation of the funding model will~~, other than revenues from their partners, thus facilitateing the KICs in the transition towards financial sustainability. ~~It will incentivise them to decrease gradually during the duration of the framework partnership agreements~~The EIT shall adapt the share of ~~EIT~~the funding ~~in their~~according to the KICs’ Business Plan while increasing the level of co-investment from non-EIT sources. ~~Fixed decreasing co-funding rates will be applicable across phases of the entire KICs’ life cycle (start-up, ramp- up, maturity, exit from the EIT grant)~~EIT funding shall be performance-based, shall incentivise impact and reward success, shall be directly tied to the progress made towards the achievement of the KICs’ objectives, and may be discontinued in the case of as p~~resented below~~ersistent lack of results.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 – point 3.4 – point 5 – paragraph 6

Finally, the EIT will ~~continu~~further increase its efforts towards simplification ~~in order to alleviate unnecessary~~and reduction of the administrative burden27 ofor the KICs, allowing the implementation of their multi-annual Business Plan ~~and multi-annual strategy~~s in an agile and efficient way. This will include the use of lump sum or unit costs for relevant KIC activities. Moreover, in order to provide a better planning of the resources, in particular of innovation activities, as well as facilitate stronger commitment and long-term investment from participating partners in KICs activities, the EIT will sign multi-annual grant agreements with KICs~~, when appropriate,~~ under the respective framework partnership agreements. These multi-annual grant agreements should ~~not exceed 3~~cover a period of at least three years. _________________ 27In particular, the annual reporting on KIC complementary activities would be discontinued, as recommended by the Court of Auditors in its Special Report of 2016 ( Recommendation 1, p. 51).

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 a (new)

3 a. The crisis resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 Major social, economic, environmental and technological changes deriving from the outbreak of COVID-19 will require the collaboration of all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and the EIT should contribute to the innovation efforts that are needed in order to provide a coherent response to the crisis. The EIT should ensure that the KICs help deliver innovative solutions indifferent fields of action, in accordance with the priorities of the Union’s recovery plan, European Green Deal, the Union Industrial Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in order to contribute to the recovery of our societies and economy and strengthen their sustainability and resilience. Each KIC should develop a two-year strategic plan to contribute in mitigating the effects of the crisis on the economy, in particular the upheaval of society, and the contraction of investment. Specific attention should be paid to actions aiming to increase the resilience their innovation ecosystems and in particular, of microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, but also of students, researchers, entrepreneurs and employees who have been hit hardest by the crisis. The EIT should ensure that the KICs are able to operate with the necessary flexibility to adapt to the increasing demands arising from the COVID-19 crisis and in order to respond to the European recovery plan. The KICs, in synergy with other innovation strands and agencies, may propose initiatives aiming to support the current innovation ecosystem based on the knowledge triangle. They may publish dedicated calls for proposals, promote initiatives using their partnerships, ecosystems and communities, elaborate individual and cross-KIC projects to support sustainable business restructuring, identify SMEs, start-ups and other stakeholders that need support. They should be flexible enough to create “fit-for-purpose” support measures for their partners and beneficiaries and even beyond their existing communities. They will need to adapt to a period of more decentralised and remote working methods, less travel, more uncertainty and continued physical distancing. They are to help partners, their beneficiaries and students with innovative collaborative tools, instruments, information and support services. Towards the end of 2023, the EIT Governing Board, in coordination with the Commission, shall assess whether to extend the duration of each KIC’s COVID-19 related initiatives.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 3 b (new)

3 b. EIT Health should collate expertise and gather data and information for the development of vaccines, testing methods and medical treatments for COVID-19. EIT Health should put in place horizontal platforms that can support research and development in vaccine-related initiatives by academia, industry, in particular small and medium- sized enterprises, and by other organisations that have experience with preclinical expertise, vaccine trials and the production of clinical trial material.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 4 – point 4.1 – paragraph 2

Around ~~EUR [2500] million (83,3~~96,7 % of the total EIT budget) is envisaged to fund existing and new KICs ~~and includes EUR [200] million~~of which: - at least 15 % for the Regional Innovation Scheme~~. Through the introduction of a co-fu~~; - around 10 % for the launch of two new KICs, in 2022 and in~~g rate, t~~ 2025 respectively. The KICs are expected to mobilise a further ~~EUR [1500] million of~~funding from other public and private sources. ~~The budget for the launch of two new KICs (to be launched in 2022 and 2025, respectively) will be around EUR [300] million.~~ Should additional budget to that of the EIT become available, the EIT could also launch additional KICs.

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 4 – point 4.2 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Mid-term review of the EIT Three years after its establishment and taking into account the periodic evaluations established in Article 19 of the Regulation [xxx] on EIT, the EIT shall be subject to a thorough mid-term review by the Commission. Among other elements, that mid-term review shall also assess the effectiveness of the KICs’ financial sustainability strategies, the feasibility of further increasing the collaboration between the EIT and all implementing bodies under Pillar III of Horizon Europe in order to examine whether the EIT could play a more horizontal role across all pillars of Horizon Europe and/or to establish a one- stop-shop for innovation with a set of different complementary activities .

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0152(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Annex I – point 4 – point 4.2 – paragraph 7 – point 3 a (new)

(3 a) systemic impact, by addressing complex and interconnected issues, creating innovative comprehensive solutions, delivering transformative applications with integrated effects on multiple sectors, contributing to shaping Union policies and address global societal challenges, within each KIC’s Community and especially in the cross-KIC relations;

2020/05/07
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Robert ROOS, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)

(5 a) The crisis resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a massive and disruptive impact on Member States' health and economic systems, causing societal disruptions. Those impacts will require the collaboration of all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and the EIT should contribute to the innovation efforts that are needed to provide a coherent response to the crisis. Moreover, the EIT and its KICs should reinforce its actions in order to support and increase the resilience of microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups as well as students, researchers, entrepreneurs and employees.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Robert ROOS, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)

(5 b) Ongoing research into tackling the effects of the COVID-19 crisis should be accelerated. The EIT should boost the impact of that research and help develop products and innovative services arising from that research, ensuring that they reach as many people as possible.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Robert ROOS, Klaus BUCHNER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 c (new)

(5 c) The EIT Governing Board and the KICs shall adopt flexibility measures and actions necessary to provide the appropriate support to their ecosystem based on the knowledge triangle, creating, where necessary, ad hoc support measures for their partners and beneficiaries and even beyond their communities. They shall provide their partners, their beneficiaries and students with tools and instruments to adapt to more decentralised and remote working methods, less travel, more uncertainty and continued social distancing.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Robert ROOS, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) Taking into account the specificity of KICs, it is necessary to provide for special minimum conditions to form a KIC,. Those conditions may, on an exceptional basis derogat~~ing~~e from the rules for participation and dissemination of the ~~Union~~Horizon Europe framework programme supporting research and innovation. Similarly, specific rules on ownership, access rights, exploitation and dissemination may be necessary for KIC added-value activities.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)

(17 a) The EIT should ensure a balanced distribution of the budget throughout the years and a smooth transition from the current and the next MFF period, in particular for the ongoing activities.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20 a (new)

(20 a) The KICs, acting as an innovation facilitator through their co-location centres and innovation hubs should consider the countries’ smart specialisation strategy priorities and thus enhance countries innovation capacity by fully reflecting regional capacities and potential, opportunities, weaknesses, as well as local actors, their activities and markets.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)

(6 a) 'EIT innovation hub’ means a local community hub established in the RIS Member States and regions, where the KICs can collaborate with local knowledge triangle actors in order to implement innovation goals across the whole Union, ensuring a more balanced geographical presence of the activities of the EIT community, serving as an entry point for interacting with local players, mobilising and internationalizing the local networks, establishing synergies and promoting the active integration of ecosystems at all levels and facilitating KICs’ efforts to foster complementarities and collaboration within the knowledge triangle; innovation hubs have an ambition to grow into regional co-location centres;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 b (new)

(6 b) ‘EIT country liaison officers network’ is a network of national representatives nominated by the Member States and the countries associated to Horizon Europe, comprising part of the National Contact Points structure of Horizon Europe and helping to spread awareness, provide guidance, practical information and assistance about the participation in EIT;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8

(8) ‘Regional Innovation Scheme’ (‘RIS’) means an outreach scheme targeted at partnerships between higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and other stakeholders, in order to foster innovation across the Union, increase the geographical outreach of KICs’ activities and expand synergies with the European Structural and Investment Funds in order to improve the local innovation ecosystems across the Union;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10

(10) ‘KIC multi-annual business plan’ means a document describing the objectives and the planned KIC added- value activities;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(c a) Steer the implementation of RIS scheme by providing means for establishing Innovation Hubs in EIT RIS Member states.

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i a (new)

(i a) provide the necessary support and synergies with KICs to develop innovative solutions and help with the European Economic Recovery, while achieving the Union's priorities of the ‘European Green Deal’;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)

Marisa MATIAS, Maria da Graça CARVALHO, Lina GÁLVEZ, Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ, Robert ROOS, Klaus BUCHNER, Andrius KUBILIUS, Ivars IJABS

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point i b (new)

(i b) ensure that KICs can operate with the necessary flexibility to adapt their operations to the increasing demands arising from the COVID-19 crisis;

2020/05/06
Committee: ITRE

2019/0151(COD)