17 Amendments of Richard HOWITT related to 2015/2081(INI)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recommends that the EU’'s approach to Turkmenistan strike a balance between the promotion of democracy and the pursuit of EU’'s strategic interests; underlines that the ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) willcould contribute to the achievement of EU objectives in these areas only provided Turkmenistan makes significant and tangible progress towards the fulfilment of the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament in 2009 and 2011;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that the establishment of a Cooperation Council and a Cooperation Committee, under Articles77 and 79 of the PCA, respectively, willcould revitalise EU-Turkmen relations in a constructive manner, both at the executive level and in civil society, only on the condition of the fulfilment by Turkmenistan of the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament in 2009 and 2011;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WBelcomesieves that the establishment of a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the European Parliament and the Turkmen Parliament (the Mejlis) under Article 82 of the PCA, leading to could prove to be a useful tool for more regular and structured parliamentary dialogue and scrutiny of the implementation of the agreement once it is ratified subject to the significant progress by Turkmenistan in fulfilling the benchmarks set out by the European Parliament;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises the timid legal, political, social and economic reforms introduced by the current government since 2012 asat in spite of recent legal reforms and other initiatives declared to be aimed ant encouraging sign of a renewed climate of openness, most notably with regard to prison reform, laws on internet, public assembly and public associationhancing human rights protection in the country, the situation remains highly repressive in practice; notes that the state of democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms remain weak in Turkmenistan;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note of the constitutional reform announced for this year, possibly including aand encourages the government to strengthening of the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, reinforcing the role of Mejlis, and the creation of an office with the function of Ombudsman;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Turkmen authorities to address the recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR5 , following the parliamentary elections in December 2013; notes that, according to the OSCE/ODIHR conclusions, the existence of a third offtwo politicial party, the Agrarian Party, since 2014ies, besides the ruling Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, is no substitute for a genuinely pluralistic environment which would provide for the functioning of a political opposition to the incumbent authorities; __________________ 5 Election Assessment Mission Final Report of 4 March 2014 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), TURKMENISTAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS of 15 December 2013; http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/11601 1?download=true.
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the need for the European Parliament to closely follow and monitor developments in Turkmenistan and the implementation of the PCA in coming years; calls, in this context, on the VP/HR to honour the agreement reached with her predecessor regarding a monitoring mechanism, allowing Parliament to be properly informed by the EEAS about the implementation of the PCA, once it enters into force, in the format of a functional monitoring mechanism, whereas the EEAS will provide information to the Parliament not limited to de-briefings on Human Rights Dialogues and enables the European Parliament to react to the developments on the ground in the event of no progress in human rights protection, and, in particular, of its objectives and of compliance with its Article 2;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the EU has held seveneight rounds of Human Rights Dialogue with Turkmenistan since 2008, and that while the last round in SeptemberJuly 20145 was held in a constructive and open atmosphere, it has, disappointingly, so far had very scant results;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the invitation to Turkmenistan of a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion in 2008, the first UN special rapporteur to visit the country; calls, at the same time, on the Turkmen authorities to allow entry to the remaining nintwelve rapporteurs, all of whom have asked to visit the country;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes note of the slightly improved cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN on the treatment of prisoners, but remains concerned about the hunknown numberdreds of political prisoners in the country, and about the dozens of cases of enforced disappearances in prisons6 ; __________________ 6 Prove They Are Alive ! Campaign; http://provetheyarealive.org/.who are forcibly disappeared in the criminal justice system of Turkmenistan as a result of massive repressions that took place in early 2000s;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of some limited improvements regarding the legislative framework on the freedom of the media, including a new law adopted in 2013; however, notes, that these provisions stand in stark contrast to the current restrictive media environment in the country, as expressed by, inter alia, an absence of independent media in the country, tight control of the state media by the authorities, restrictions on import of foreign newspapers; calls on the Turkmen authorities to fully guarantee freedom of speech, to lift any state controls on print and electronic media and to allow foreign media outlets access to the country and to information;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. NotWelcomes the modest improvements introduced in the new law on public associations adopted in 2014, and the adoption of the first Law on Assemblies which entered into force in July 2015; however, is concerned that the new Law on Public Associations contains major restrictive provisions, such as a requirement of compulsory registration of associations, strict registration rules for national-level organisations, provisions granting authorities wide and largely unfettered powers to oversee the activities and funding of associations and broad grounds for closing down organisations; calls on the Turkmen authorities to remove restrictions on civil society organisations and to permit the development of a genuinely independent civil society;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. UrgWelcomes, in this context, the adoption by the Turkmen Government – as a positive sign of cooperation facilitating Parliament’s consent to the PCA – to adoptin January 2016–– of the draft National Action Plan on Human Rights, prepared with the assistance of the UNDP in 2013, which contains the recommendations made during Turkmenistan’'s appearance before the Universal Periodic Review process at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013; recommends that a constructive resolution of the issue of forced disappearances be included in the Plan; notes that the implementation of this plan will be seen as a positive sign of cooperation facilitating Parliament's consent to the PCA;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. EmphasisNotes Turkmenistan’'s potential for enhancing the EU’'s energy security; supports the Commission’'s plans to use all of the EU’s foreign policy instruments to establish a strategicpromote an energy partnership with Turkmenistan, thus helping the EU wean itself off dependence on Russian gao diversify the EU gas supplies; points to the reliability and stability of the EU and its companies as potential investment partners in the exploitation of the vast reserves of natural gas and oil that Turkmenistan possesses; underlines that future pipeline projects connecting Turkmenistan to Europe could lead to the fulfilment of common objectives; recognises Turkmenistan’'s role as exporter of energy resources in Central Asia and beyond;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Urges the EU to finalise talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on facilitating an accord on building a trans- Caspian gas pipeline (TCP); urges Turkmenistan to resolve the legal disputes and infrastructural deficiencies with the potential transit countries;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes that Turkmenistan maintains constructiveneutral relations with all its neighbours;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Takes note of China’'s ‘'Silk Road Economic Belt’' policy for the Central Asian region and beyond, and cautions against Turkmenistan’s increasing economic dependence on China;