BETA

36 Amendments of Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ related to 2021/2186(INI)

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the years 2020 and 2021 saw the most draconian loss of fundamental rights in the history of the EU, whereby citizens were forced to stay at home, close businesses, remain distant from friends and family, maintain physical distance and go untreated for ‘non-urgent’ medical issues, were prevented from attending places of worship and from travelling within and outside the EU, and were forced to show a historically worrisome pass to enter premises or vehicles;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas sexual orientation and gender identity have increasingly been recognised as discrimination grounds in international law. Under EU law, lesbian, bisexual and gay people are currently protected from discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation only in the field of employment as expressed on article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and also on article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union allows for taking action to combat this type of discrimination.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas more than 325 000 illegal crossings were detected by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and Member State border controls between January 2020 and December 20216 , with untold numbers of illegal migrants, traffickers and smugglers entering, remaining in and destabilising the security of our Union; __________________ 6 Frontex 2022 https://frontex.europa.eu/we- know/migratory-map/deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas EU law, as upheld in the case of Brüstle v Greenpeace, affirms the right to life and dignity of every human embryo, and this right should therefore be protected under Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that too much parliamentary time is taken up with targeting conservative Member States, such as Hungary or Poland, but that not enough is done to eliminate corruption and breaches of the rule of law and media freedom in other Member States;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to cease its strategies of identity politics, favouring groups based on sex, ethnicity, skin colour, group history or self-perception; notes that so-called ‘positive discrimination’ includes negative discrimination towards those not in that particular group; further notes that intersectional discrimination does not solve the problems of underprivileged people, but rather multiplies a victim mentality for people in every applicable category; urges the Commission and the Member States to take a meritocratic viewpoint, whereby people are judged on individual merit;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)

(1) Expresses its concerns that in many EU Member States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people run the risk of discrimination and harassment on a daily basis; Highlights that prejudices and misconceptions about homosexuality and transgender people further fuel intolerant attitudes and behaviour towards this community.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

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

(2) Reminds that due to the differences between EU Member States in legal recognition for same-sex couples, LGBTI individuals and their families may encounter difficulties when travelling, moving to or residing in other EU Member States that different-sex couples do not experience.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 3 (new)

(3) Highlights that in some Member States, Public Administrations cannot display unofficial flags and any sign of support to of the rights of LGBTI. Expresses grace concern about the fact that in Spain this has been established by t the Supreme Court, which has established as a doctrine that the use of unofficial flags outside buildings and public spaces in a clear violation of freedom of expression. 1a __________________ 1a https://elpais.com/espana/2020-06- 01/el-supremo-establece-que-ninguna- administracion-publica-puede-utilizar- banderas-no-oficiales-en-el-exterior-de- sus-edificios.html

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 4 (new)

(4) Considers that EU institutions should make a great effort with national and linguistic minorities and grant the fundamental rights of the 50 million European citizens that speak a non- official EU language and should ensure that knowledge of these languages is treated at least on equal basis with other languages in the internal processes of EU institutions.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 5 (new)

(5) Believes that there are still too many different standards across EU member states when it comes to recognising EU citizens fundamental rights; notes that while it should be welcomed that the Irish language became an EU official language, on the 1 January 2022 1a ,on an equal footing with the EU's other 23 official languages, in some EU countries there is a clear hostility against linguistic diversity; notes that, for instance, the non-officiality of Catalan language at EU level despite having 10 million speakers 2a 3a inside the Union in three different Member States remains an anomaly to be solved. __________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/irish- now-same-level-other-official-eu- languages-2022-jan-03_en 2a http://www.caib.es/conselleries/educacio/d gpoling/user/catalaeuropa/angles/angles5. pdf 3a https://www.plataforma- llengua.cat/campanyes/no-official-no- exist-eng/

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Condemns governmental politicisation of the media, whereby governments use it as a tool for their own propaganda; urges the Member States to decouple broadcasting councils from political parties, ensuring independence of financing, editorial freedom and journalistic integrity; notes that the German broadcasters ARD and ZDF are firmly in the hands of politicians, despite decades of appeals by the German Constitutional Court to try and change this;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights the seeming impunity of some national governments to rule of law scrutiny, especially Germany, where political parties continue to exert influence in the appointment of judges, and seek to eliminate political opposition parties by intimidation and spurious court cases;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)

(1) Calls the Commission to ensure that the right to freedom of assembly is duly protected in all Member States where it is being threatened.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)

(2) Highlights that promoting and upholding the Rule of Law requires vigilance and constant improvement, because there is always a risk of backsliding; Considers that the Rule of law guarantees fundamental rights and values, allows the application of EU law, and supports an investment-friendly business environment; notes that the absence of a level playing field in the EU that ensures equal rights and equal treatment for EU citizens produces discriminatory situations; stresses, moreover, that the credibility of our external policies relies on the state of the Rule of Law in the EU itself;

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 3 (new)

(3) Underlines as a case of rule of law failings inside the EU the events of 12 November 2019, when hundreds of peaceful demonstrators blocked the border bridge between Spain and France at La Jonquera; noting that participants were arrested on both sides of the border; whereas in France, proceedings were open against 12 people 1a for the crime of obstruction of public roads, a crime that would have entailed only a fine, but were quickly dismissed. By contrast, in Spain, more than 200 people were prosecuted for the crimes of damages and public disorders. Proceedings are still ongoing, with possible prison sentences of up to six years. The crime of public disorders was amended by the 2015 Spanish Criminal Code 2a reform and prison sentences for acts committed in the context of demonstrations significantly increased; However UN experts have stressed the chilling effect this has on the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly. This is an illustrative case, where the same protest is being aggressively prosecuted in a Member State while in another it has no consequences 3a. __________________ 1a https://directa.cat/investiguen-mes-de- 200-persones-pels-talls-de-lap7- convocats-per-tsunami-democratic 2a https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2015/03/31/pd fs/BOE-A-2015-3439.pdf 3a https://www.ohchr.org/en/press- releases/2015/02/two-legal-reform- projects-undermine-rights-assembly-and- expression-spain- un?LangID=E&NewsID=15597

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 4 (new)

(4) Believes that the quality of public administration and the rule of law culture as reflected in the way authorities apply the law and implement court decisions are key; stresses that the fight against corruption is essential for maintaining the rule of law and preserving citizens’ trust in public institutions

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 5 (new)

(5) Recognises that the Commission was encouraged by the response to the 2020 Rule of Law Report in the European Parliament and in the Council, as well as in national Parliaments; expresses deep concern about the fact that there are still one too many cases where there is not enough inter-institutional cooperation on the rule of law.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 6 (new)

(6) Is concerned that the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) regretted that Spain had not fully implemented any of the recommendations made in 2019 to fight corruption 1a.In a report on the prevention of corruption in governments and the police, GRECO noted that the state had not fully complied with any of its nineteen recommendations. Only seven had been partially completed, while twelve have not been implemented, according to the report. GRECO pointed especially to the police and considered its progress in building an "ethical infrastructure" to be "disappointing". On the political front, GRECO regretted that the state has not taken any steps to strengthen transparency in the case of advisers or to establish a strategy to mitigate the risks of corruption in the case of senior officials. In the same line GRECO´s report pointed out that no progress in the recommendation to ensure that the Transparency and Good Governance Council has "adequate independence, authority and resources to function effectively"; expresses grave concern about the fact that the report also stated that the Spanish state has also made no progress in establishing rules on the relationship between senior officials and lobbies, nor in the recommendation to expand public information on the assets of senior officials nor in the supervision of possible conflicts of interest. __________________ 1a https://www.coe.int/en/web/greco/- /spain-publication-of-5th-evaluation- round-compliance-report

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Condemns the violence of Antifa rioting in the midst of peaceful vaccine passport protests across Europe; notes the allegations that they are working in cooperation with police authorities to create headlines and discredit the protests;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that freedom of conscience includes the right to conscientious objection; notes with concern that there are still Member States in which competent and well-qualified medical staff are denied employment, or have their employment terminated, because of their conscientious objection to life-ending procedures; urges Sweden and Finland to end their practice of compelling midwives to perform abortions even if this is against their conscience;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Deplores the vaccine mandates, which coerce and oblige all citizens to take part in a medical trial of experimental gene therapies, some of which were tested on the kidneys of aborted babies (Moderna and Pfizer), contrary to Article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point 1 (new)

(1) Believes that CE should support European Parliament draft report on measures to counteract the threat that Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) pose to journalists, NGOs and civil society. 1a __________________ 1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/p ress-room/20211108IPR16838/eu-rules- needed-against-abusive-lawsuits- targeting-critical-voicesdm

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point 2 (new)

(2) Moreover no member state has yet enacted targeted legislation against SLAPPs; stresses that these lawsuits have an impact on EU values and the internal market; highlights that SLAPPs reflect an imbalance of power and resources between claimants and defendants, which undermines the right to a fair trial; expresses its concerns for the fact that SLAPPs are being funded from state budgets, and their use in combination with other state measures against independent media outlets, journalism and civil society.

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point 3 (new)

(3) Underlines that during the reporting period artists and singers were prosecuted and imprisoned in the EU for exercising their freedom of speech as denounced by organisations such as Amnesty International 1a. __________________ 1a https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2 018/03/spain-counter-terror-law-used-to- crush-satire-and-creative-expression- online/

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point 4 (new)

(4) Expresses its concern for the imprisonment of the rapper Pablo Hasel; highlights that Pablo Hasel, is one of the first rappers in Europe to go to jail for exercising his freedom of expression; considers that Hasel's imprisonment for his artistic expressions is unfair and disproportionate and highlights the need to eliminate the articles of the Penal Code of an EU member state that violate the right to freedom of expression 1a ; Notes that the crimes of glorifying terrorism, insulting the crown and State institutions, and offending religious sentiments must disappear from Member States Penal Codes, including Spain´s; reminds that the European Court of Human Rights has already condemned Spain three times for applying the crime of libel against the Crown recalling that greater protection for Heads of State through a special law on insult is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights 2a . __________________ 1a https://www.bbc.com/news/world- europe-56082117 2a https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2 018/03/spain-counter-terror-law-used-to- crush-satire-and-creative-expression- online/

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point 5 (new)

(5) Highlights that the imprisonment of musicians like Mr Hasel is not an isolated case; recalls that another rapper Josep Miquel Arenas Beltran, also known as Valtonyc had to flee to Belgium in 2018 after being sentenced to three-and-a- half years in prison on charges of glorifying terror, insulting the Spanish monarchy and making threats in his lyrics; notes that the musician also came under fire for calling former king Juan Carlos of Spain a "thief."; notes that Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014, is currently facing a string of corruption allegations in several countries; recalls that at the moment Belgium’s courts have not decided on his extradition despite having resolved on the Valtonyc case that lèse majesté is not considered a crime anymore and no one can be imprisoned for it 1a. __________________ 1a https://www.dw.com/en/valtonyc- belgium-refuses-extradition-of-spanish- rapper/a-60276667

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

~~12. Fully supports the work of Frontex in their difficult task protecting the EU external borders against floods of illegal migrants;~~deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

~~13. Strongly condemns NGOs masquerading as aid agencies while facilitating the smuggling of unqualified migrants into the EU; urges the Commission to cease funding such entities;~~deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

~~14. Urges the Commission to adhere to its competences under the treaties, and not seek to encroach on Member State sovereignty, especially in the area of health legislation;~~deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Condemns the intolerant rhetoric that describes any conservative voice as being ‘anti-vax’, anti-choice, racist, bigoted or misogynistic; urges the Commission and the Council to live up to our motto of ‘United in Diversity’ by encouraging lively debate on topics with an open mind, rather than ad hominem attacks;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Deeply regrets the draconian imposition of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which has seen the fundamental rights of every EU citizen damaged or lost; notes that the costs (financial as well as psychological) far outweigh any health benefits, as healthy people and those at low risk of death from COVID-19 are forced to obey ever- changing, unreasonable, disproportionate and ineffective legal mandates in order to meet their family, enter their workplace (including the premises of the European Parliament), cross Schengen borders, attend a place of worship, or enter a concert hall, shopping centre or social club; notes that the costs of these unprecedented governmental controls will be regretted by many for decades to come;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Expresses grave concern about the excessive lockdown measures, which have put businesses into debt and closure, seen people separated from their loved ones and families (often during their final hours), increased mental illness through isolation, led to rises in domestic violence, as people are imprisoned in their homes and prevented from having external contact, and seen children unnecessarily masked and vaccinated; urges the Member States to encourage early treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection9 ; __________________ 9 Alexander, P.E. et al. ‘Early multidrug treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and reduced mortality among nursing home (or outpatient/ambulatory) residents’, PMC, 5 June 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles /PMC8178530/deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Urges the President of Parliament to rescind the obligation for Parliament staff to show their EU Digital COVID Certificate in order to access their workplace, as this is in contravention of the GDPR, whereby personal data collected for one purpose (crossing borders) cannot be repurposed for another (entering Parliament’s premises), with the privacy contraventions this entails; further urges her to seek assurance that DNA data has not been collected, stored and transferred to third parties;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to present full details of contracts concluded for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, without redactions, and calls for full transparency of health data associated with the vaccines’ efficacy and side effects; notes that manufacturers of harmful vaccines are liable under Directive 85/374/EEC;deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

~~20. Calls on the Member States to take urgent action against acts of modern slavery or reproductive exploitation through surrogacy agreements;~~deleted

2022/04/11
Committee: LIBE