Activities of Richard HOWITT related to 2007/2217(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Human Rights in the World 2007 and the EU's policy on the matter - EU Election Observation Missions (debate)
Amendments (11)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that the EU still lacks a common, comprehensive strategy for promoting democracy, and urges all EU institutions and Member States to continue their efforts to make possible the adoption of such a strategy; in this regard, urges all EU institutions and Member States to agree to establish a European Consensus on Democracy;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers, in the light of this, that election observation is merely a first step towards democracy and that it needs to be complemented by other, adequately funded activities for the promotion of democracy; therefore requests the maintenance of the budgetary ceiling agreed by the Commission of 25% of EIDHR for EU EOMs; asks the Commission to set aside, within this budget funding, allocations for preparatory activities in anticipation of elections, including the training of local election monitors, voter education and other activities which are essential for the long-term establishment of free and fair elections;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Pays tribute to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), whose pioneering work has strongly inspired the EU methodology on election observation; expresses deep concern at any attempts to restrict the independence, funding or effectiveness of the OIDHR;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that this success has made the EU athe leading organisation in the field of international election observation and that the focus on professionalism of EU EOMs is significantly contributing to the emergence of a significant number of highly qualified and experienced electoral experts;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the well-established practice of appointing MEPs as Chief Observers of EU EOMs, calls for the appointment process to be clear and transparent in order to ensure the credibility of the Chief Observer and stresses that, while throughout the duration of their mandate they work closely with the Commission and other EU institutions, they should always maintain a clear and well-defined independence, without interference;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses, in particular, the importance of coordinating all public statements related to the findings of EU EOMs and underlines the key role played in terms of visibility and credibility by the press conference, where the preliminary statement is presented for the first time; calls for both the press statements and reports of findings to be released in accordance with a timetable which takes into account the electoral sensitivities on the ground;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Requests all EU institutions, and in particular the Council and Member States governments, to incorporate the findings and recommendations of EU EOMs into their political dialogues with the countries concerned, as well as in their demarches, declarations, resolutions and statements;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Suggests to the Commission that it should set up other mechanisms for the monitoring of electoral processes in cases where the deployment of a fully-fledged EU EOM is not possible; calls on the Commission and the Council to be prepared to make strong and timely public statements in relation to elections in these circumstances;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas successful elections can only take place in the context of the long-term rooting of democratic values within a society including voter and civic education, strong mechanisms for the upholding of human rights, the existence of an independent and pluralistic civil society, and respect for the separation of the legislature from the executive; and whereas there is no single European Union statement underpinning democracy promotion similar to the European Consensus on Development;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas although it is essential to maintain the policy of deploying EU EOMs in conditions where it is possible for the tasks to be undertaken impartially, comprehensively and with security for the personnel involved, the European Union must not be silent in relation to the conduct of elections in circumstances where such conditions do not exist,
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular Article 25 thereof,