Activities of Richard HOWITT related to 2015/2274(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (debate)
EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement PDF (327 KB) DOC (73 KB)
Amendments (43)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that while several EU delegations to Iran have focused on trade and economic ties, the delegation from the Commission did not include the Trade Commissioner;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that trade and renewed access to the global rules-based trading system is a potential way to bincreakse Iran’´s self-chosen isolationintegration in the international community and the global economy;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses concern about the high levels of corruption and trade- circumventing sanctions, which have lead to a grey economy; stresses, therefore, the need to fight corruption and increase transparency, and for a truly private sector to developexpand in Iran;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran Nnuclear Ddeal, was a notable achievement for multilateral diplomacy, and for European diplomacy in particular, and that Europe is now responsible for not simply ensuring its strict and full implementation, but for maintaining the spirit of negotiations in a way that benefits the peoples of both Iran and the EUfully supports the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in her role as Coordinator of the Joint Commission established under the JCPOA, and believes that strict and full implementation of the JCPOA continues to be of utmost importance;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that some sectors of the Iranian economy are heavily controlled by the regime, potentially creating probthe current EU mandate for the negotiations of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Iran is outdated; calls on the Commission to explore options for strengthening trade and investment ties with the aim to bring Iran closer to the WTO rulems for EU companies in Iran, and that increased trade could strengthen the economic, military and political power of certain unelected individualsand protect European investment; stresses that a formal negotiation framework would allow the EU to fully use its leverage as the largest integrated market and economic bloc and create a forum for exchange and dialogue;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the visit to Iran, on 16 April 2016, of VP/HR Mogherini together with eight European commissioners as an important milestone towards setting an ambitious agenda for bilateral EU-Iran relations in areas of mutual interest;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EU to explore the possibility ofsupport restarting Iran’'s accession talks with the World Trade Organisation, as membership of the WTO would bring a further liberalisation of Iran’'s economy to drive growth, embed the country in the global rules- based system and provide a mechanism to hold the regime to account on commitments madesupport necessary economic reforms within Iran;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the institutional changes made within the European External Action Service (EEAS) to reflect the new period of EU-Iran relations; welcomes the steps taken by the EEAS for the establishment of an EU Delegation in Tehran,, in particular the establishment of an Iran task force to monitor the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and centralise and give coherence to EEAS/EC cooperation with Iran; welcomes the steps taken by the EEAS for the establishment of an EU Delegation in Tehran, as called for in previous EP resolutions, as it will allow for the EU to work with the Iranian authorities to enable better public education within the country about the EU itself, to counter misunderstandings and to build a stronger basis of popular support for growing cooperation between the EU and Iran; emphasises, in this regard, that trade and investment are EU competences, and that the establishment of an EU Delegation in Tehran would facilitate EU-Iran cooperation in the fields of trade, education, culture and environmental sustainability, strongly contributing to the fulfilment of the expectations of both sides;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the importance of developing the parliamentary dimension of EU-Iran relations as part of the strategy for re-establishing mutual trust; reiterates its support, in this regard, for the proposal discussed between Parliament and the Majlis for an inter-parliamentary dialogue on counter-terrorism as a recognition of the common challenges of radicalisation in Iran, across the Middle East and within the EU itself; welcomes the renewed political dialogue between the EU and Iran, including on human rights; recognises that while there is suspicion and mistrust on both sides, there is also a long history between many Member States and Iran and that Iran has a strong ambition to have good relations with Europe, which provides the potential for a relationship based on mutual trust and respect; recognises the complexities of Iran's own internal politics and reiterates that the EU does not seek to interfere in internal political choices in this country or in any other, but seeks cooperation based on mutual respect for international standards and principles; believes that the full normalisation of relations can only occur by means of regular and sustained dialogue and that the immediate priority should be to broaden the scope of EU-Iran relations in areas where there is common agreement to do so; believes, however, that the ultimate aim must be one of partnership between Iran and the EU;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that differences exist between the EU and Iran on the use of the death penalty; nevertheless believes cooperation on anti-narcotics programmes andthat engagement on death penalty concerns such as the use onf the question of juvenile executiodeath penalty for drug-related offences and agains,t in line withdividuals under the age of 18, both of which violate Iran’'s ownvoluntarily accepted international commitments, could provide a common agenda for addressing this question;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the fact that eliminating the death penalty for drug- related offences would drastically reduce the number of executions (up to 80 % according to Iranian estimates); calls for EU-Iran cooperation in the fight against drugs as a way of addressing the issue of executions in the country; calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance and administrative capacity- building for Iran to enable it to secure its borders with Afghanistan and Iraqaimed at bolstering the rule of law in Iran, including by promoting reform of the justice system to improve accountability and alternatives to imprisonment and the death penalty;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that the EU and Iran have decided to face issues of common concern in a constructive manner; calls for an EU strategy for re-engagement with Iran to be based, initially, on confidence-building measures in technical areas that would create positive precedents of EU-Iranian joint work and can pave the way for more meaningful long-term cooperation;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note of Iran’s stated objective of achieving a yearly growth rate of 8 %; believes that European investments are key for Iran to achieve this goal; stresses that for Iran to realise its economic potential, it will have to take steps to create a transparent economic environment conducive to international investment and take anti-corruption measures, particularly regarding compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force; calls on the EU to fully support Iran’s efforts in this process via, in particular, support for work towards forging a bilateral investment treaty between the EU and Iran; calls for the EU to develop economic cooperation with Iranrecalls that the EU used to be Iran's main trading partner and believes it should aim at recovering that position again; calls for the EU to develop economic cooperation with Iran; believes the expansion of trade and investment with Iran can, at the same time, contribute to promoting peace and stability in the wider region, if the EU can seek opportunities for regional investment schemes, for example in relation to energy and transport connectivity; takes note that Iran is the world’s largest economy outside the WTO; supports, in this regard, Iran’s bid to join the WTO;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on Iran to initiate legislation to allow workers to exercise their right to form and join independent trade unions and to collectively bargain in line with Iran's obligations under international law; and take steps to respect, promote and realise the principles and rights set out in the ILO's fundamental conventions, including Conventions 87 and 98;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Welcomes the fact that a growing number of small European banks are now active in Iran, facilitating credit to SMEs;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recallgrets the impact that extraterritorial USof US primary sanctions, in particular US-related the ban on dollar- denominated transanctions on banks, have on businesses willing to invest in Iran; insists on the need to address this and other financial matters to create, which are undermining the delivery of expected economic benefits from the JCPOA to the Iranian people; stresses, at the same time, that greater efforts to ensure an environment conducive to international investment is essential for Iran to realise its economic potential; calls, in this regard, on Iran to ensure transparency of its financial sector and to fight corruption and money laundering, in line with the nrecessary conditions for businesses to prosper in Iran and contribute to Iranians fommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); welcomes the Iranian government's Action Plan on the recommendations of the FATF as well as the technical meelting relief from sanctions in their everyday livess held on 12 July between EU and Iranian officials to undertake the necessary reforms in this regard;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that the lifting of the nuclear related economic and financial sanctions by the EU and the international community as laid down in the JCPOA is an important element in demonstrating European good faiththat the EU has implemented its commitments towards Iran, as well as providing potential for mutual economic benefit; calls for emphasis to be placed on the quality as well as on the quantity of investments, and for an initiative to assess whether new investments uphold the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights similar to that undertaken when sanctions were lifted in Myanmar/Burma;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the fact that JCPOA has already brought positive results, such as the 22% increase in trade between Iran and the EU during the first three months of 2016, compared to the same period of 2014, the fact that 30 Iranian banks have reconnected to SWIFT, as well as the JCPOA's positive impact in reinforcing the trend of diminishing inflation and interest rates in Iran;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Shares the VP/HR's assessment that the results of the elections to the parliament of Iran and Assembly of Experts have shown a clear desire of the people of Iran to continue the course of moderation and incremental reforms, especially in economic area;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Welcomes the 180 trade delegations that visited Teheran since the signature of the JCPOA, including from 15 EU member states as a sign of growing interest in economic relations with Iran; calls on the EU and its member states to explore the use of exports guarantees credits to boost trade, project financing and investment in Iran;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Supports the positive conclusion of the agreements between the Iranian government and Airbus and Boeing, as a further confidence-building measure following the adoption of the JCPOA;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that energy cooperation can play a significant role in diversifying the sources of energy supply to the EU, thereby contributing to the EU’s and Iran's energy security; calls for European companies to invest in the Iranian energy sector; calls, in particular, for the EU´s support in developing LNG technology in Iran;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note that currently more than half of Iranian households’ energy needs are met by natural gas; stresses the great potential of developing renewable energies in Iran, a country with on average 300 days of sunshine per year, and an estimated production capacity equivalent to 13 times Iran’s total energy consumption; calls on the Commission to support the development of renewable energies in Iran as a contribution to diversifying the country's energy mix;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for environmental cooperation in the areas of water conservation management, including supporting Iran in saving Lake Urmia, the fight against desertification, earthquake monitoring, as well as addressing air pollution and waste management;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Welcomes the fact that Iranian environmental NGOs have developed partnerships with other NGOs in the region; welcomes their participation to the IUCN and Ramsar Conventions; calls on the Commission to assist Iranian NGOs in the development of participatory management projects;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of the fact that Iran hosts 3 million Afghan nationals, of whom only 950 000 have formal legal status in Iran as refugees; welcomes the additional EUR 6.5 million of EU funding to support Iran in the education and health care of the Afghan population in the country; believes that EU-Iran cooperation on refugee management can enhance mutual understanding, promote improved respect for international law and the lives ofhuman rights of asylum seekers and refugees themselves, as well as contributing to conflict resolution in order to reduce the causes of current and future refugee movements;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recognises that the young, educated and technologically advanced population in Iran and the vibrancy of its society can provide particular opportunities for advancing people-to- people contacts with the EU, based on principles of reciprocity and mutual respect; ; calls for increased cooperation in the field of education, research and innovation via increased exchanges of students and researchers, including the participation of young people in EU programmes (Erasmus+), and cooperation between Universities; calls for the Commission to study the possibility of visa liberalisation for Iranian academics and researchers to study and undergo training in European universities;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for an establishment of an EU program to bring together researchers and students from Iran, GCC countries and Europe to study the experience and lessons learned of the regional integration in Europe.
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Welcomes the increase of Erasmus Mundus students from Iran to European Universities as a way to combat misperceptions and stereotypes; calls on the Commission to increase the envelope for Erasmus Mundus students from Iran;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Calls on the Iranian government to appoint a Horizon 2020 national coordinator that provides technical assistance and advice to Iranian Universities to apply for Horizon 2020 projects; welcomes the workshops that recently took place in Teheran University to raise awareness of the potential benefits that Iranian Universities can draw from participating in Horizon 2020;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes note that because of its geostrategic location between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the size of its population, its oil and natural gas reserves and its influence in the region, Iran is a major player in the Middle East and the Gulf region; stresses that the pursuit of Iranian interests does not and should not be in competition with other major players in the region;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on all regional states, in particular Saudi Arabia and Iran, to refrain from hostile rhetoric fuelling conflicts;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Takes note of VP/HR's remarks of 14 April 2016 according to which Iran's ballistic missiles tests do not constitute a breach of the JCPOA; voices, nevertheless, it's concern on this worrying step; reiterates that any step that could escalate tensions in the region is not welcome and encourages Iran to abstain from further steps in this direction;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes EU-Iran political dialogue should call on Iran to play a constructive role in solving the political crises in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan, based on respect for international law and the sovereignty of these countries; calls, in this regard, for a model of EU diplomacy based on political rather than religious differences and on the principle of ensuring respect, safety and security for peoples in all countries in the Middle East, without exception, with the aim of fostering a more stable and harmonious Middle East;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes Iran’s readiness to support the current efforts to bring stability to Iraq, and calls for additional efforts to bring all the militias operating in the country under the authority of the Iraqi army and for its government to be inclusive of all interests; welcomes Iran’s contribution to the fight against ISIS/Da’esh; notes the agreement between Iran and Australia to share intelligence on the fight against ISIS/Da’esh;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that regional rivalries are an underlying factor in conflicts in several countries in the region; calls for active EU diplomacy to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Riyadh, including confidence building, track II diplomacy and de- escalation measures aimed at the resumption of Saudi-Iranian diplomatic relations, as a first step, in the normalisation of their relations; calls on the EU to work with the US and Russia to that end and, in particular, in supporting the development of a new regional security infrastructure that takes into account Iran and Saudi Arabia’s threat perceptions and legitimate security concerns and provides security guarantees both to Iran and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council; stresses that cooperation on maritime security in the Persian Gulf, including the signing of a charter on free navigation, could be a first confidence-building measure in developing regional trust and cooperation;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Stresses the common interests of the EU and Iran in safeguarding stability and security and countering radicalisation in South Caucasus and Central Asia; calls, in this regard, to associate Iran in international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including by considering inviting Iran to join the Minsk Group;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Believes that regional dialogue and cooperation on environmental issues between Iran and its neighbours is indispensable to tackling such challenges as air pollution, water scarcity and desertification; stresses that the EU should facilitate such regional cooperation as an important confidence- building measure and build on the willingness of regional actors to benefit from European expertise in this field;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Calls on the Commission to support programmes bringing together researchers, students and professors from Iran, GCC countries and Europe with a focus on history of European integration, lessons learned and long-term prospects for regional integration among the Persian Gulf countries and Iran;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Believes that Iran’s revolutionary legacy and its constitution as an Islamic State must not be an impediment for finding common ground on matters related to democracy or human rights; notes that Human Rights Dialogues have already been established by Iran with Switzerland, Japan and Brazil;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes with concern that Iran has the highest level of death-penalty executions per capita in the world; takes note that most of the executions are for drug- related offences; understands the challenge faced by Iran as one of the main drug transit routes in the world, with 86% of world's seizures of opium taking place in its territory; stresses that eliminating the death penalty for drug- related offences would dramatically decrease the number of executions; welcomes, in this regard, the possibility that the newly-elected Majlis is considering legislation to exclude some drug-related offences from the list of crimes punishable with the death penalty; encourages EU cooperation with Iran in counter- narcotics which can help address this question, as well as upholding the principle of co-responsibility in the fight against drugs worldwide;
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Welcomes President Rohani’s campaign promise to present a charter for citizens’ rights; underlines the importance of respecting the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in providing the necessary legal certainty required for foreign direct investments to take place, but first and foremost in the interests of Iranian citizens themselves; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to work together with the Iranian authorities in areas such as judicial reform, reform of the prison system, including prison conditions, government accountability, respect for the rule of law, citizens’ rights and the fight against corruption; believes that these measures will increase legal certainty in Iran and the country’s attractiveness to foreign investors while also benefiting Iranian citizens.;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the government and parliament of Iran, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the EEAS;