Activities of Paolo BARTOLOZZI related to 2012/2153(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Negotiations for an EU-Kazakhstan enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement (debate)
Amendments (39)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the ongoing negotiations for an enhanced PCA and calls for this update to be ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial; insists that these negotiations must be accompanied bystresses the strategic role played by Kazakhstan in the process of modernisation of Central Asia, moving towards a democratic stability through political and, economic reform in Kazakhstaand social media reforms, such as the important Media Forum event; recognizes that, Kazakhstan is a key trade partner of the European Union and insists on these negotiations to increase the relations with the Union and to booster the economy of the region;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Draws attention to the criticalsteps made in order to improve the situation as regards human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially workers’ rights, which also gives rise to unfair competitive advantage in Kazakhstan and encourages the country to maintain its commitment to further reforms in the these areas; stresses, therefore that a binding trade and sustainable development chapter must be included in the new agreement;.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU and Kazakhstan shouldwill benefit mutually from closer cooperation; whereas the conclusion of the new PCA negotiation, based on common efforts, should provide a comprehensive framework for enhanced cooperation and opportunities for socio-economic development in particular regarding Kazakhstan's outstanding position in the region; social and economic development are closely interconnected;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Encourages Kazakhstan to take the necessary steps to swiftly conclude negotiations on its accession to the WTO; calls on Kazakhstan to ensure that the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union does not constitute a barrier to trade with the EU or to fulfilling its obligations arising from WTO membership and pave the way for structural reforms and the creation of a working market economy;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Kazakhstan has been admitted to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe; whereas, however, the past year has been marked by the deterioration of the situation of fundamental rights and freedoms during the negotiations for an enhanced PCA a common language on human rights and democracy was found;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a (new). Calls on Kazakhstan to ensure that the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union does not constitute a barrier to trade and to economic and financial cooperation with the EU or to fulfilling its obligations arising from WTO membership;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a strong services and establishment chapter and convergence of Kazakhstan towards EU standards and regulatory systems (including SPS, TBT and IPR) would lead to increased trade flows and investments, which would favour modernisation and diversification of Kazakhstan’s economy; underlines the importance of improving licensing procedures in Kazakhstan in order to facilitate services and investment;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, notwithstanding the Kazakh government's stated ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan's democratic process and to conduct elections in line with international standards, the general elections held on 15 January 2012 were deemed by the OSCE not to be fully in line with itsnternational standards;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on Kazakhstan not to restrict trade and investment in the raw material sectors in an unfair and unjustified manner; calls on Kazakhstan to comply with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas after the events of December 2011 in Zhanaozen, there have been opposition parties and, independent media and trade unions which have become targets of intensified repression, with politically motivated detentions of activists and human rights defendersrepression, including detentions without proven violation of law which could be considered as politically motivated;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas official representatives of Kazakhstan have participated in open and constructive meetings with Members of European Parliament with the participation of the civil society and NGOs since January 2012 in the European Parliament and have provided information in an open and transparent manner;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas recently the Kazakh authorities have undertaken important efforts in the cooperation with NGOs in West Kazakhstan in order to improve the situation for people in the region, in particular for workers on strike;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas despite the attempts toon 17 February 2012 the President of Kazakhstan signed several laws aiming at improveing the law of 17 February 2012egal basis for labour relations, workers' rights and social dialogue and strengthening the independence of the judiciary; whereas despite these attempts, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike are not being fully respected, and an independent judiciary is not yet in place;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the EU is a key trading partner for Kazakhstan and the biggest investor in the country; whereas Kazakhstan has clearly expressed its wish to come close to the EU standards and its social and economic models implying a consistent reform of the Kazakh state and public administration;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas Kazakhstan plays an important role in securing regional stabilisation and can become a bridge between the EU and the whole Central Asian region;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas Kazakhstan has reached important results in the field of poverty reduction, public health and education;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ensure that the new PCA takes the form of a comprehensiveis a comprehensive and forward looking framework for the further development of relations, addressing all priority areas, including: human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratisation; youth and education; economic development, trade and investment; energy and transport; environmental sustainability and water; and combating common threats and challenges;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) welcome Kazakhstan's political will and concrete engagement to further deepen partnership with the EU; ensure that the EU's engagement is consistent with other Union policies and that the principle of ‘more for more’ is applied;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) work closely with Kazakhstan to promote regional cooperation and the improvement of neighbourly relations in the Central Asia region, including by support for confidence building measures where appropriate, particularly in such areas as water and resource management, border management, fight against extremism and counter-terrorism;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) cooperate with Kazakhstan, other Central Asian states as well as local, regional and international actors to promote security and development in Afghanistan;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) reinforce the EU's action in the fields of education, the rule of law, the environment and water, inter alia through newly established support platforms and targeted assistance; bring local NGOs and CSOs into the EU's dialogue with the Kazakh government in those areas where appropriate and possible;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) support policy reforms and institutional capacity building through targeted technical assistance (i.e. exchange of experts);
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) underline that progress in the negotiation of the new PCA must be linked to the progress of political reform and a genuine commitment on the part of Kazakhst; support Kazakhstan in maintaining its declared self-commitment to further reforms and to human rights and democracy, in order to build up an open and democratic society including an independent civil society and opposition, respectful of fundamental rights and the rule of law; offer adequate assistance on the EU's part for implementing the reforms;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) express deep concern over the politically motivated detentions of activists and human rights defendersdetentions without proven violation of law which could be considered as politically motivated;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) insist that Kazakhstan further translates its Human Rights Action Plan into legislation and continues to implements it in full, drawing on the recommendations of the Venice Commission and making use of EU technical assistance under the Rule of Law initiative;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) call upon Kazakhstan as a member of the Venice Commission, to demonstrate its commitment to Council of Europe standards by submitting specific draft laws and recently adopted laws for comments to the Venice Commission and implementing the recommendations of the Commissioncooperating with the Venice Commission regarding specific draft laws and recently adopted laws;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) urge the Kazakh authorities to amend the Article 164 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code of 'inciting social discord‘ to bring it into line with the International Human Rights Law, or else to repeal it;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) insist that Kazakhstan comply with the recommendations of the UN Committee Against Torture and the 2009 recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; call on Kazakhstan to ensureallow for independent NGO participation in consultations on the upcoming reform of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedural Code;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x a (new)
(xa) highlight that the conclusion of the new PCA negotiation will have positive impact on the deepening of the economic cooperation between EU and Kazakh companies, including SMEs;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x
Paragraph 1 – point x
(x) encourage Kazakhstan to take the necessary final steps for swift WTO accession and pave the way for subsequent structural reforms and the creation of a market economy;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point x b (new)
(xb) call upon the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers in order to extent trade, particularly trade of services and foreign investments; support the ambitions to harmonise standards in the trade of goods beyond the conditions set by the WTO which would also lead to a broadening of trade opportunities;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y
Paragraph 1 – point y
(y) acknowledgensure that Kazakhstan's participation in the Russian-led customs union and the Eurasian Economic Union is not an obstacle to closer cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
(za) push for regulatory and rules-based convergence in specific sectors and key areas of mutual interest;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point aa
Paragraph 1 – point aa
(aa) consult the EP regarding the provisions on parliamentary cooperation; enhance the role of Parliament, Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and inter-parliamentary meetings as means to monitor the negotiation and the implementation of partnership agreements; encourage the Parliament's work to promote dialogue and regular bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab
Paragraph 1 – point ab
(ab) include clear benchmarks and binding deadlines for the implementation of the new PCA and provide for monitoring mechanisms, including regular reports to the EPdevelop together with the Kazakh authorities an effective monitoring mechanism including clear benchmarks for the implementation of the new PCA and regular reports to the EP, in order to ensure a successful implementation beneficial for both, the EU and Kazakhstan;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new)
(aba) provide sufficient EU-funding for a comprehensive and sustainable cooperation with the Central Asian countries including for the successful implementation of the new PCA with Kazakhstan;