Activities of Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas Kosovo ranked at number 84 in the Transparency International Global Corruption Perceptions Index with a score of 41, ahead of many of its regional counterparts; whereas it has witnessed a sharp increase from 2019, marking positive steps in the fight against corruption.

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes Kosovo’s application for EU membership, which reflects the pro- European orientation of its citizens and a clear geopolitical strategic choice; calls on the Member States to invite the European Commission to present the questionnaire in order to asses Kosovo’s readiness for candidate status.

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the long-awaited agreement on granting visa liberalisation to the citizens of Kosovo to enter into force no later than 1 January 2024; urges the Commission and Council to avoid any further delays;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the Member States that have not yet recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state to do so; recalls its position that the independence of the Republic of Kosovo is irreversible;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. calls on Member States not to vote against the admission of Kosovo to several European and international organisations, such as the Council of Europe;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Commends Kosovo for suspending its visa regime for Ukraine citizens and the readiness to host Ukrainian and Afghan refugees fleeing the war and to host a specific program for the journalists of these countries;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Welcomes the progress in implementation of the priorities of the European Reform Agenda II; commends the efforts in strengthening the institutional capacities for implementation, monitoring and reporting of EU related reforms;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Welcomes the launch and the ongoing implementation of the rule of law strategy and action plan aiming at strengthening the independence, impartiality, integrity, accountability as well as the overall capacity of judiciary and prosecution, with a specific focus on fighting corruption and organized crime;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the ~~fact that there have been some~~increased number of successful operations targeting organised crime, but notes with regret that limited progress has been made in investigating and prosecuting such cases; is concerned about the challenging situation regarding the fight against organised crime in the north of Kosovo;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to education, health services, public buildings and transport; welcomes the increased employment of people with disabilities through the recovery packages of the government;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Regrets the fact that the initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures remain very limited; calls on the Government of Kosovo and the representatives of Kosovo Serbs to commit to genuine dialogue in order to increase mutual trust; calls on Serbia and Kosovo Serb representatives to respect their Dialogue obligations and return to the Kosovo institutions to fulfil their duties, including in the police, judiciary and local administrations and not to further escalate the tensions on the ground;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Reiterates its full support for the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue; calls on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in this dialogue in good faith and in the spirit of compromise to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of their relations, based on mutual recognition, in accordance with international law; calls for the full implementation of all the relevant agreements by both sides, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb- Majority Municipalities; which must be set up in line with Kosovo's constitution;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Emphasises the urgent need for the EU-led Pristina-Belgrade dialogue process to be intensified with the objective of normalising bilateral relations on the basis of mutual recognition; denounces the continuous pattern of escalatory actions by Serbia and Serbian-sponsored actors, including through illegitimate blockades, violent attacks and the threat of military action, with the objective of forcing concessions and undermining the Republic of Kosovo; regrets that Serbia has resumed the Kosovo de-recognition campaign;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Takes note of the positive signals to de-escalate tensions by both sides; welcomes the positive step by Prime Minister Kurti to accept the European Union’s proposal for the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia; takes note of the statements by president Vucic of his intention to accept the European Union’s proposal for the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Condemns all actions that endanger stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process, including the tensions in Nthe north of Kosovo, and recalls the shared responsibility for peace and the rule of law for all people in Kosovo;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Highlights that Russia started a hybrid campaign in which it uses its influence in Serbia to try to destabilize, interfere and threaten neighbouring sovereign states like Kosovo, by exploiting and flaring up existing disputes in the north of Kosovo; Condemns the continuation of Russian attempts to exert influence over the Western Balkans, by means of exploiting and stoking cultural, ethnical and religious divisions and destabilizing pro-democratic forces;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. welcomes Kosovo’s economic policies focused on providing policy support to cushion the impact of the pandemic and of high energy prices for the most affected households and firms; welcomes the progress in areas critical to economic development, such as competitiveness, business environment, SMEs and internal market;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes the progress made in digitalising the economy; in particular by increased number of quality services provided by online government platform E-Kosova;

2023/02/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital -A (new)

-A. Whereas a growing number of threats, including the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the continued rise of global authoritarianism, the assertive foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China, the climate emergency, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, are profoundly reshaping the EU’s immediate geopolitical environment; whereas the proliferation of new and emerging challenges requires the EU to be in a position to act in a swift and decisive manner in its external action; whereas the present de facto requirement of Council unanimity in all matters under Title V TEU severely hampers the Union’s ability to pursue this objective;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the potential for fast, efficient and effective foreign policy, security and defence action, as set out in ~~the Lisbon Treaty, has only been used in a very limited way~~particular in Article 48(7) and Article 31(3) TEU, has yet to be ovper ~~the past decade~~ationalised due to a lack of political will from the Member States;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas the use of passerelle clauses would immediately ~~boost~~enhance the efficiency of decision-making in the field of the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) ~~and would be highly appropriate given~~; whereas doing so would allow the EU to respond more swiftly and decisively to the dramatic change to the European security environment as a result of the Russian ~~war~~Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Strongly believes that the Council’s unanimity-based decision- making process in matters falling under Title V TEU is deeply inadequate to effectively respond to emerging international challenges and crises and shape the EU’s pro-active and decisive external action on the global stage;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Regrets~~Deplores the fact that passerelle clauses have never been used in the field of the CFSP~~, even though~~ due to Member States’ lack of political will and contrary to the Parliament’s clear position on the matter; takes the view that emerging global challenges and the Union’s immediate geopolitical environment, notably the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine ~~has~~, clearly ~~called for~~necessitate the EU to adopt swifter and more efficient ~~and swift~~ decision- making processes;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Calls on the Member States to demonstrate the political will to overcome the practice of imposing vetoes on matters related to the Union's external action for purposes of obtaining concessions in unrelated policy areas;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the Swedish Council Presidency to follow up on the ~~Czech initiative in an effective way by putting the use~~initiative of the Czech Council Presidency in an effective way, starting with the addition of the use of passerelle clauses in the field of ~~the~~ CFSP ~~on the agenda~~and relevant Commission external action to the agenda of the first Council meeting following the adoption of the present report;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recalls that Article 48(7) and Article 31(3) TEU contain passerelle clauses that can enable switching from unanimity to qualified majority voting in areas that fall under Title V TEU; calls on the Member States to make full use of the passerelle clauses, in particular that contained in Article 31(3) TEU, without further delay, especially in priority areas;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Urges the Member States to switch to QMV for decisions in all areas of the CFSP~~, starting within a year with priority areas such as the EU global human right~~ and relevant Commission areas of external action, starting within a year by activating the passerelle clauses for priority areas; insists that these priority areas include all decision-making regarding the Union’s sanctions regimes, ~~restrictive measures and other instruments link~~notably the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, as well as any measures related to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and interim steps in the enlargement process; stresses that unanimity decisions should remain required for the creation and deployment of military missions or operations under the common security and defence policy (CSDP); , including restrictive measures, defence assistance, and financial and economic support, and interim steps in the EU accession process; urges Member States to give consideration to switching to QMV for relevant Council decisions pertaining to the common security and defence policy (CSDP) with the exception of the mutual defence clause in Article 42(7) TEU; encourages the consideration of the use of QMV in situations where passerelle clauses do not apply and for the creation and deployment of military missions under the CSDP that do not involve an executive mandate;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Urges the Council to make greater use of the flexibility provided for in Article 31(2) TEU; calls on the European Council to explore the adoption of a greater number of decisions regarding the EU’s CFSP and relevant Commission external action as relating to the Union’s strategic interests and objectives under Article 22(1) TEU, whether concerning the relations of the Union with a specific country or region or thematic in approach, thereby enabling qualified majority voting under Article 31(2) TEU;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

2022/2142(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Encourages, pending the activation of the passerelle clauses and the full application of qualified majority voting in all areas of the CFSP and relevant Commission areas of external action, the use of constructive abstention in line with Article 31(1) TEU;

2023/02/16
Committee: AFET

Motion for a resolution
Recital E g (new)

Eg. whereas Roma women and people with disabilities have also faced structural violence and violation of their integrity and bodily autonomy, being victims of forced sterilisation, contraception and abortion which are harmful practices and form of gender based violence rooted in eugenic beliefs;

2022/06/03
Committee: LIBE

Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1

(1) Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by [OP- please insert the data- within ~~six~~three months after entry into force of the Directive]. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main measures of national law which they adopt in the field covered by the Directive.

2023/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

(42) The overall enforcement of this Regulation will be facilitated by the interconnection between the electronic licensing system established by this Regulation and the EU Single Window Environment for Customs established by [insert corresponding title and all the information in the footnote as soon as it is adopted]. The electronic licencing system will provide for a number of features, including registration of economic operators and natural persons, who are authorised according to the Firearms Directive to manufacture, acquire, possess or trade firearms, their essential components, ammunition or alarm and signal weapons. They will need to register before they request import or export authorisations. Consequently, firearms owners benefitting from administrative simplifications will not be required to register in the system.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42 a (new)

(42a) The electronic license system should not be used for purposes outside of the scope of this Regulation and cannot be interconnected with any other database which might contain personal data.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4

4. Competent authorities shall process applications for import authorisations within a period of time, which shall not exceed 650 working days, from the date on which all required information has been provided to the competent authorities. Under exceptional circumstances and for duly justified reasons, that period may be extended to 980 working days.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. In deciding whether to grant an import authorisation under this Regulation, Member States shall take into account all relevant considerations including their obligations and commitments as parties to relevant international treaties, considerations of national foreign and security policy, including those covered to by Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of the Council27a. They shall also respect their obligations with regard to sanctions imposed by decisions adopted by the Council, by decisions of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) or by binding resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations, in particular as regards arms embargoes. _________________ 27a Common position 2008/944/CFSP of the Council of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment (OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99)

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 6

6. Competent authorities shall annul, suspend, modify or revoke an import authorisation if the conditions for granting it are not met or are no longer met. Where competent authorities take these decisions, they shall make this information available to the customs authorities through the electronic licensing system referred to in Article 28, as soon as such decisions are taken.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2

2. Competent authorities may only grant export authorisations for firearms of categories A, B and BC of Annex I if the application for such authorisation is accompanied by an end-user certificate delivered by the authorities of the country of final destination. Annex IV establishes the content of the end-user certificate.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall adopt a~~n implementing~~ delegated act to establish an uniform end- user certificate. Those ~~implementing~~delegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the ~~advisory~~ procedure referred to in Article 3~~7(2)~~6.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) The competent authorities of a Member State shall, for a period not exceeding 10 working days, suspend the process of export or, if necessary, otherwise prevent firearms, their essential components or ammunition from leaving the customs territory of the Union through that Member State, where they have grounds for suspicion that the reasons substantiated by hunters or sport shooters are not in conformity with the relevant considerations and the obligations laid down in Article 18 of this Regulation. In exceptional circumstances and for duly justified reasons, the period referred to in this point may be extended by the competent authorities to 320 working days.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3

3. Where competent authorities refuse, annul, suspend, modify or revoke an export authorisation, they shall make this information available without delay to the customs authorities through the electronic licensing system referred to in Article 28.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4

4. Where the competent authorities have suspended an export authorisation, their final assessment shall be without delay communicated to the other Member States at the end of the period of suspension, through the electronic licensing system as referred to in Article 28.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 5

5. Where the competent authorities have refused to grant an export authorisation, their final assessment shall be without delay registered in the system referred to in Article 29.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 2

They may first consult the competent authorities of the Member State or Member States which issued refusals, annulments, suspensions, modifications or revocations under paragraphs 1 , 3 and 5 . If, following such consultation, the competent authorities of the Member State decide to grant an authorisation, they shall without delay notify the competent authorities of the other Member States, providing all relevant information to explain the decision.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 8

8. The competent authorities shall check annually that the conditions of authorisation are met throughout the duration of the authorisation. Such checks ~~may~~shall be based on representative samples of all authorisations in force. Each export authorisation shall be individually verified at least every t~~hree~~wo years by the competent authorities. Member States shall report to the Coordination Group on the results of the checks and verifications. The reports shall be discussed in the Coordination Group established by Article 33.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1

1. Within ~~two~~one months after the exit of the customs territory of the Union, the exporter shall provide to competent authority that delivered the export authorisation, proof of the receipt of the dispatched shipment of firearms, essential components or ammunition in the third country of import, which shall notably be ensured by producing the relevant customs import documents.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 2

2. In the absence of such a proof of receipt of the dispatched shipments as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article within ~~two~~one months after the exit of the customs territory of the Union, or in case of suspicion, Member States’ competent authority shall immediately request from the customs authorities of export to confirm that the export declaration has been lodged and that firearms, their essential components and ammunition as listed in Annex I have exited the customs territory of the Union, and , request the importing third country to confirm receipt of the dispatched shipment of firearms, their essential components or ammunition.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission and competent authorities granting the export authorisation, ~~in case of suspicion,~~ shall carry out regular post- shipment checks, not only in case of suspicion but also randomly, to ensure that the exported firearms, their essential components and ammunition are in line with the commitments made in the end- user certificate as set out in Annex IV.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission, competent authorities and customs authorities shall cooperate closely and exchange information. Any information containing personal data shall be handled in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and equivalent laws and regulations, as well as in respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Access to relevant databases and the electronic licensing system can only be granted to persons who have received proper training on adequate data protection, including Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and other relevant laws and regulations in relation to the processing of personal data.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. The exchange of information shall be strictly limited to information relevant for this specific Regulation and shall not lead to interconnection with other databases.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3

Customs authorities ~~may~~shall suspend the import of the goods for the customs procedure concerned, if they have certain doubts and in such a case, they shall inform immediately through electronic means the competent national authority, which shall take the decision on the treatment of the goods. If the national competent authority does not reply to the customs authority within 10 working days, then the customs authority shall release the goods.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3 – introductory part

3. Seizure data shall include~~, if available,~~ the following information:

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1

1. In accordance with their national law ~~or practice in force~~, Member States shall keep, for not less than 20 years, all information relating to firearms and, their essential components and ammunition, which is necessary to trace and identify those firearms, their essential components and ammunition, and to prevent and detect trafficking therein. That information shall include the place, dates of issue and expiry of the export authorisation; the country of export; the country of import; where applicable, the third country of transit; the consignee; the final recipient if known at the time of export; and the description and quantity of the items, including the unique marking referred to in Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2021/555 .

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. Member States shall confidentially submit ~~via email~~ to the Commission each year by 31 July, their national annual data for the preceding year on:

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The Commission shall, in consultation with the Firearms Imports and Exports Coordination Group, submit an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation. That annual report shall be public. It shall include information about the number of authorisations and refusals, the quantities and values of actual imports and exports of firearms, their essential components and ammunition, by category and sub- category as listed in Annex I, by origin and by destination at Union and at Member States level. It shall also include information on the administration, in particular staffing, and the enforcement of controls, in particular the number and results of the post-shipment checks at Union and national level.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall adopt ~~implementing~~delegated acts establishing the rules and format to be used by Member States for providing the Commission with anonymised statistical data as referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article. Those ~~implementing~~delegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the ~~advisory~~ procedure referred to in Article 376.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

The Commission shall without delay establish and maintain an electronic licensing system for import and export authorisations and decisions related to them pursuant to Articles 9 and 14 of this Regulation. Member States shall take all necessary measures to speed up the implementation of the electronic licensing system. All the functionalities of the licensing system shall be established by ... [five years after the adoption of this Regulation].

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point d

(d) allow the risk profiling by competent authorities, customs authorities and the Commission of economic operators, which are person authorised, pursuant to Directive (EU) No 2021/555, to manufacture, acquire, possess or trade firearms, their essential components or ammunition listed in Annex I to this Regulation and risk profiling of firearms, their essential components, ammunition and alarm and signal weapons for the purpose of identifying high risk consignments according to the risk analysis in Article 25 of this Regulation;deleted

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 1

1. The Commission, in consultation with the Coordination Group established by Article 33, shall develop or chose a secure and encrypted system to ~~support~~guarantee direct cooperation and the exchange of information between Member States regarding refusals to grant import or export authorisations. The system shall be established by ... [two years after the adoption of this Regulation].

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation, notify them to the European Commission and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Penalties for infringements of this Regulation shall be linked to the annual worldwide turnover of the undertaking concerned.

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 3

3. Upon request of the Coordination Group or the European Parliament and in any event every 105 years, the Commission on the basis of the annual implementation reports shall review in detail the implementation of this Regulation and present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on its application, which may include proposals for its amendment. Member States shall provide the Commission with all appropriate information for the preparation of the report . The Commission shall publish a first interim application report by 5 years after the entry into force of this Regulation .

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) (ca) establish a uniform end-user certificate

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0288(COD)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)

(cb) (cb) establish the rules and format to be used by Member States for providing the Commission with anonymized statistical date as referred to Article 27

2023/07/10
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2

(2) Article 10(3) of the Treaty on European Union states that every Union citizen has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the ‘Charter’) provides, inter alia, for the rights to respect for private and family life (Article 7), the protection of personal data (Article 8), freedom of expression and information, which includes respect for the freedom and pluralism of the media (Article 11), freedom of assembly and of association (Article 12), freedom of the arts and sciences (Article 13), and to an effective remedy and to a fair trial (Article 47).

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4

(4) The purpose of this Directive is to provide protection to natural and legal persons ~~who~~ engageing in public participation on matters of public interest, in particular journalists, media organizations, and human rights defenders, ~~against court proceeding~~including civil society, non-governmental organisations and trade unions, as well as researchers, academics or artists and whistleblowers, against lawsuits, which are initiated against them, as well as the threats thereof, to deter them from public participation (commonly referred to as strategic lawsuits against public participation or ‘SLAPPs’).

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6

(6) Investigative journalists and media organisations in particular play a key role in combating organised crime, corruption and extremism. Their work carries particularly high risks and they are experiencing a growing number of attacks and harassment. A robust system of safeguards is needed to enable them to fulfil their crucial role as watchdogs on matters of legitimate public interest.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7

(7) Human rights defenders also play an important role in European democracies, especially in upholding fundamental rights, democratic values, social inclusion, environmental protection and the rule of law. They should be able to participate actively in public life and make their voice heard on policy matters and in decision-making processes without fear of intimidation. Human rights defenders refers to individuals, groups, or organisations engaged in defending fundamental rights and a variety of other rights, such as civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and climate rights, women’s rights, LGBTIQ rights, the rights of the people with a minority racial or ethnic background, labour rights, trade union rights, or religious freedoms~~. Other participants in public debate, such as academics and researchers, also deserve adequate protection~~.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)

(7a) Other participants in public debate, such as academics and researchers as well as individual persons, such as artists and whistleblower, also deserve adequate protection, since they are also targeted by SLAPPs.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9

(9) To foster this environment, it is important to protect ~~journalists and human rights defenders from court proceeding~~natural and legal persons engaging in public participation from lawsuits against public participation. Such court proceedings are not initiated for the purpose of access to justice, but to silence public debate typically using harassment and intimidation.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11

(11) ~~Court proceeding~~Lawsuits against public participation ~~may~~ have an adverse impact on ~~the credibility and reputation of journalists and human rights defenders and~~natural and legal persons engaging in public participation. The negatively affect their credibility and reputation, exhaust their financial and other resources, as well as cause them psychological harm. Because of such ~~proceeding~~lawsuits, the publication of information on a matter of public interest may be delayed or altogether avoided. The length of procedures and the financial pressure may have a chilling effect on jonaturnal~~ists~~ and ~~human rights defenders~~legal persons engaging in public participation. The existence of such practices may therefore have a deterrent effect on their work by contributing to self-censorship in anticipation of possible future court proceedings, which leads to the impoverishment of public debate to the detriment of society as a whole.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 12

(12) Those targeted by ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits against public participation may face multiple cases simultaneously, sometimes initiated in several jurisdictions. Proceedings initiated in the jurisdiction of one Member State against a person resident in another Member State are usually more complex and costly for the defendant. Claimants in ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits against public participation may also use procedural tools to drive up the length and cost of the litigation, and bring cases in a jurisdiction they perceive to be favourable for their case, rather than to the court best placed to hear the claim. Such practices also place unnecessary and harmful burdens on national court systems and lead to a misuse of their resources.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13

(13) The safeguards provided in this Directive should apply to any natural or legal person on account of their direct or indirect engagement in public participation. They should also protect natural or legal persons who, either on a professional or on a personal basis, support, assist or provide goods or services to another person for purposes directly linked to public participation on a matter of public interest. This involves for example internet providers, publishing houses or print shops, which face or are threatened with court proceedings for providing services to the person targeted with court proceedings.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13 a (new)

(13a) This Directive also aims at discouraging pre-trail procedures, such as warning letters and cease-and-desist declarations, that are used to silence natural and legal persons engaging in public participation. By giving natural and legal persons engaging in public participation the tools to fight such claims in court effectively, the Directive also helps to prevent such intimidation tactics.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14

(14) This Directive should apply to any type of legal claim or action of a civil or commercial nature with cross-border implications whatever the nature of the court or tribunal. This includes c~~ivil claims brought in criminal proceeding~~laims in expedite procedures, such as injunctions. It also includes civil claims brought in criminal proceedings, as they are in essence civil, not criminal claims. It also includes interim and precautionary measures, counteractions or other particular type of remedies available under other instruments.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16

(16) Public participation should mean any statement or activity by a natural or legal person expressed or carried out in exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information on a matter of current or future public interest, such as the creation, exhibition, advertisement or other promotion of journalistic, political, scientific, academic, artistic, commentary or satirical communications, publications or works, and any preparatory activities directly linked thereto. ItFuture public interest refers to the fact that a matter may not yet be of public interest, but may become so once the public becomes aware of it for example through a publication or individual complaint. Public participation can also include activities related to the exercise of the right to academic freedom, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, such as the organisation of or participation to lobbying activities, demonstrations and protests or activities resulting from the exercise of the right to good administration and the right to an effective remedy, such as the filing of complaints, petitions, administrative and judicial claims and participation in public hearings. Public participation should also include preparatory, supporting or assisting activities that have a direct and inherent link to the statement or activity in question ~~and that are targeted to stifle public participation~~. In addition, it can cover other activities meant to inform or influence public opinion or to further action by the public, including activities by any private or public entity in relation to an issue of public interest, such as the organisation of or participation to research, surveys, campaigns or any other collective actions.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16 a (new)

(16a) Public participation should also include preparatory, supporting or assisting activities that have a direct and inherent link to the statement or activity in question. Such activities should directly concern a specific act of public participation or be based on a contractual link between the actual target of SLAPP and the person providing the preparatory, supporting or assisting activity. Bringing claims not against a journalist or a human rights defender, but against the media organization, e.g. internet platform on which they publish their work or against the company printing a text or a shop selling the text, can be an effective way of silencing public participation, as without such services opinions cannot be published and thus cannot influence public debate.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 18

(18) The notion of a matter of public interest should include also quality, safety or other relevant aspects of goods, products or services, including the conditions under which these are produced, where such matters are relevant to public health, safety, the environment, climate or enjoyment of fundamental rights. A purely individual dispute between a consumer and a manufacturer or a service provider concerning a good, product or service should be covered only when the matter contains an element of public interest, for instance concerning a product or service which fails to comply with environmental or safety standards, labour rights, consumer rights or human rights, including the principle of non- discrimination.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20

(20) Abusive ~~court proceedings typically involve litigation tactics used in bad faith such as delaying proceedings, causing disproportionate costs to the defendant in the proceedings or forum shopping~~lawsuits are characterized by their main purpose to prevent, restrict or penalize public participation or aim to achieve a chilling effect on public participation in the matter at stake; they thus constitute an abuse of substantive or procedural laws. It is a general principle of law, which rights may not be exercised in an abusive way; established i.e. in Article 54 Charter and Article 17 ECHR. The abusive nature of a lawsuit is to be deducted from a totality of the circumstance of the lawsuit. Abusive lawsuits typically involve litigation tactics such as exaggerated or excessive claims, requesting obviously disproportionate prior restraint measures, delaying proceedings, initiating multiple proceedings on similar matters, causing disproportionate costs to the defendant in the proceedings or forum shopping. The extent to which a lawsuit is manifestly unfounded is another indicator for its abusiveness. The past conduct of the claimant and, in particular, any history of legal intimidation should also be considered when determining whether the lawsuits are abusive in nature. A previous early dismissal of a similar claim as abusive should be a prima facie indictor for abusiveness. These tactics are used by the claimant for other purposes than gaining access to justice. Such tactics are often, although not always, combined with various forms of intimidation, harassment or threats.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20 a (new)

(20a) Lawsuits under this Directive entail all proceedings before a court or tribunal in civil matters, including injunctions.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 23

(23) Defendants should be able to apply for the following procedural safeguards: a request for a security to cover procedural costs, or procedural costs and damages, a request for an early dismissal of ~~manifestly unfounded court proceeding~~abusive lawsuits, a request for remedies against abusive ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits (award of costs, compensation of damages and penalties), or all of them at the same time.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 25 a (new)

(25a) Proceedings against public participation exposes those targeted to high financial and psychological harm, while confronting them with the need to establish often hard to prove facts like the abusive nature of a lawsuit. In such situation, the defendants should have the right to avail himself of all support necessary to alleviate his burden and make his case. This includes, but is not limited to, the support and providing of information. The defendant should have the right to seek such support from any natural or legal person with a legitimate interest or expertise in safeguarding or promoting the rights of persons engaging in public participation. This encompasses i.e. journalists and academics as well as non-governmental organisations, professional and representative associations, trade unions and other collective bodies acting in the interest of the defendant or with particular knowledge of the claimant, particularly his engagement against public participation.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 30

(30) If a defendant has applied for early dismissal, it should be for the claimant in the main proceedings to prove in the accelerated procedure that the claim is not ~~manifestly unfounded~~abusive. This does not represent a limitation of access to justice, taking into account that the ~~claimant carries the burden of proof in relation to~~defendant has to prove that the claim ~~in the main proceedings and only needs to meet the much lower threshold of showing that the claim is not manifestly unfounded in order to avoid an early dismissal~~concerns public participation and show a prima facie case for abusiveness.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Recital 36 a (new)

(36a) This directive is not intended to solve all SLAPPs being deployed against persons engaging in public participation. Particular focus should be drawn in the future to the abuse of the criminal law system as well as the administrative law system. In particular, the offence of defamation posed particular dangers of being misused as basis for SLAPPs. The Commission and Member States should work on solutions to address these dangers.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Directive provides safeguards against ~~manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceeding~~abusive lawsuits in civil matters with cross- border implications brought against natural and legal persons, in particular journalists and human rights defenders, on account of their engagement in public participation.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 1

1. ‘public participation’ means any statement or activity by a natural or legal person expressed or carried out in the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, academic freedom, freedom of the press, freedom of association and assembly, the right of collective bargaining and action on a matter of public interest~~, and~~. It includes any preparatory, supporting or assisting action directly linked thereto~~. Thi~~, in particular the work of media organizations. Covered activities includes complaints, petitions, administrative or judicial claims and participation in public hearings;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

(a) fundamental and human rights, public health, safety, the environment, or the climate ~~or enjoyment of fundamental rights~~;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c

(c) matters under public consideration or ~~review~~under consideration by a legislative, executive, or judicial body, or any other ~~public~~ official proceedings as well as actions or inactions by government bodies;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d

(d) allegations of corruption, fraud ~~or criminality~~embezzlement as well as sexual harassment and gender based violence or any other criminal or administrative offence;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – introductory part

3. ‘abusive ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits against public participation’ mean court proceedings brought in relation to public participation that ~~are fully or partially unfounded and~~ have as their main purpose to prevent, restrict or penalize public participation. Indications of such a purpose can be:

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b

(b) the existence of multiple ongoing or previous proceedings initiated by the claimant or associated parties in relation to ~~similar matters~~matters of public participation;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c

(c) intimidation, harassment or threats on the part of the claimant or his or her representatives.;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c a (new)

(ca) the use of litigation tactics that inflict unreasonable costs on the defendant, including by the choice of jurisdiction or deployment of dilatory motions;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c b (new)

(cb) a previous early dismissal of a similar claim as abusive.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. Member States shall ensure that when ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits are brought against natural or legal persons on account of their engagement in public participation, those persons can apply for:

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) early dismissal of ~~manifestly unfounded court proceeding~~such lawsuits in accordance with Chapter III;

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) remedies against ~~abusive court proceeding~~such lawsuits in accordance with Chapter IV.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3

3. Member States ~~may~~shall provide that measures on procedural safeguards in accordance with Chapters III and IV can be taken by the court or tribunal seised of the matter ex officio. Member States shall ensure, that the court or tribunal seized of the matter must take measures under Article 8, 14 and 15 ex officio.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – title

~~Third party intervention~~Support for defendant

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1

Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that ~~a court or tribunal seised of court proceedings against public participation may accept that non- governmental organisations~~the person engaged in public participation has the right to have, subject to her or his approval, any natural or legal person with a legitimate interest or expertise in safeguarding or promoting the rights of persons engaging in public participation may take part in ~~those~~any proceedings~~, either in support of the defendant~~ covered under this directive, either in support of the person engaged in public participation or to provide information.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 a (new)

Article 7a Third party representation Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in any proceedings covered under this directive the defendant has the right to have, subject to her or his request, a body, organisation or association act on her or his behalf.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Chapter III – title

~~III~~ Early dismissal of ~~manifestly unfounded court proceeding~~abusive lawsuits

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall empower courts and tribunals to adopt an early decision to dismiss, in full or in part, ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits against public participation as ~~manifestly unfounded~~abusive as defined in Article 3 para. 3.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2

2. Member States may establish time limits for the exercise of the right to file an application for early dismissal. The time limits shall be proportionate and not render such exercise impossible or excessively difficultThe defendant can move for early dismissal at any stage of the proceedings.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1

Member States shall ensure that where a defendant has applied for early dismissal, it shall be for the claimant to prove that the claimwsuit is not ~~manifestly unfounded~~abusive.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Cyrus ENGERER, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1

Member States shall provide the Commission with all relevant information regarding the application of this Directive by [53 years from the date of transposition] and thereafter on an annual basis. On the basis of the information provided, the Commission shall by [64 years from the date of transposition] at the latest, submit to the European Parliament and the Council an annual report on the application of this Directive. The report shall provide an assessment of the evolution of abusive ~~court proceeding~~lawsuits against public participation and the impact of this Directive in the Member States. If necessary, the report shall be accompanied by proposals to amend this Directive. Those reports shall be made public.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0117(COD)

Katarina BARLEY, Elena YONCHEVA, Matjaž NEMEC, Petar VITANOV, Paul TANG, Thijs REUTEN, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 1 a (new)

The Commission shall, based on the application of this Directive on SLAPPs in civil claims brought in criminal proceedings and based on other available information, assess if further action against SLAPPs in criminal proceedings is necessary.

2023/04/03
Committee: LIBE

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point k b (new)

(kb) support the crucial work of the IAIE (International Atomic Energy Agency) in securing the safety of the Ukrainian nuclear facilities; strengthen the global WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control architecture; further strengthen its CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) preparedness;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point l

(l) review, without delay, the mandate of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine and the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine, in line with the needs expressed by the Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities; acknowledge and commend the adaptability shown by the EUAM Ukraine and EUBAM Moldova/Ukraine in promptly and efficiently redefining its support to the Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities in their most pressing needs;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point m

(m) improve force generation and strengthen the staffing, resources and strategic communication of all CSDP missions ~~in Bosnia Herzegovina and Georgia and reinforce the EU’s diplomatic presence in the Eastern Partnership countries and in the Western Balkans~~and operations, particularly those affected by a deteriorated threat landscape, notably Operation Althea in Bosnia Herzegovina and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)

(ma) reinforce the EU’s diplomatic presence and engagement in countries that show their interest in enhanced cooperation with the EU, in particular in the Eastern Partnership countries and in the Western Balkans, and in countries where Russian interference threatens their stability, security or democratic path;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad

(ad) reinforce that Ukraine, like any other country, has the sovereign right to make decisions about its political and economic alliances and sec~~onomic integration~~urity arrangements on its own, without interference from other countries;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad a (new)

(ada) support the investigation of war crimes committed in Ukraine, including by calling for a special UN tribunal for the crimes in Ukraine to be set up, as an example for the EU’s efforts to strengthen transnational justice;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad b (new)

(adb) give the Union the means to fulfil its ambition to be a global actor for peace; strengthen the EU internal policies and cohesion to make it a more credible, more effective and more relevant global player in the increasingly confrontational strategic environment it is in; engage into a strategic discussion over the long-term objectives of the EU’s foreign, neighbourhood and enlargement policies, including their interlinkage, instruments and resources;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad c (new)

(adc) review the European Neighbourhood Policy with the aim to thoroughly assess the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on cooperation within the Eastern Partnership and develop proposals on how to continue strengthening ties with the Eastern Partnership countries in a context marked by outright military aggression and other tangible security threats, targeted disinformation campaigns, as well as economic and social consequences of the confrontation with Russia;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad d (new)

(add) advance enlargement policy with a view to giving a credible accession perspective to the Western Balkans and sincerely responding to the European aspirations of the EU’s Eastern neighbours while ensuring that enlargement policy, accession prospects and the accession process contribute to strengthening security and stability, democracy and rule of law, economic and social prosperity as well as internal cohesion and effectiveness of EU action;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Thijs REUTEN

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad e (new)

(ade) develop stronger partnerships with and improve the capacity-building of our closest partners, notably in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood, notably in the field of CBRN, cyber security and resilience of critical entities;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2022/0000(INI)

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad f (new)

(adf) notes with concern that the level of implementation of targeted sanctions against Kremlin-linked individuals continues to be uneven across Member States, with several Member States lagging due to the opaque nature of Russian financial assets, divergent legal frameworks, a lack of dedicated institutional capacity, or political will; calls on the Commission and the Member States to enhance the credibility of its sanctions mechanisms and effectiveness of sanctions implementation through the further centralization of tracing and identification of assets held by sanctioned individuals, the enhanced dedication of resources, and the weekly publication of key statistics, including the nature, ownership and value of individual assets frozen and the total value of identified and frozen assets, broken down by Member State;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2021/2248(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39 a. Welcomes the implementation of Youth Guarantee in North Macedonia, as a program for reducing youth unemployment, particularly considering economic consequences and reduced job opportunities for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic; reiterates the importance of funds made available through Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans for flagships projects such as a Youth Guarantee in North Macedonia;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2248(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)

45 a. Welcomes North Macedonia’s full alignment with EU foreign policy after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including imposing sanctions on Russia; commends the record speed integration in NATO´s structures which serves as an example to others, after North Macedonia’s strategic security choice to join NATO and thus contributing to and providing stability in the Western Balkans; reiterates that the strongest and fastest positive signal the European Union can give to any country seeking candidate membership status, countries already having that status or countries currently in negotiations for membership, is to immediately support the opening of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2247(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the first Citizens’ Assembly organised on 4 November 2021 by the Parliament of Montenegro in cooperation with the European Parliament; calls on the Montenegrin authorities to engage in the implementation of recommendations approved by citizens;

2022/03/23
Committee: AFET

2021/2247(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. ENotes China’s increased interest in investing in the Western Balkans and transportation infrastructure projects in Montenegro as part of the Belt and Road Initiative; expresses concern over Montenegro’s growing vulnerability owing to the increase of its public debt, in particular to China, and the new EUR 750 million loan taken by the government without consulting the Parliament; welcomes the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans as alternative and transparent model for financing infrastructural projects and calls on the Commission and the Member States to also provide and stimulate enhanced EU investment by encouraging Montenegro to actively approach the EU and European financial institutions;

2022/03/23
Committee: AFET

2021/2247(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Notes with concern the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Montenegro’s economy; welcomes disbursement of €60 million of COVID-19 Macro-Financial Assistance package aimed at mitigating economic impact of the pandemic and keeping macro- economic stability;

2022/03/23
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes Kosovo’s commitment to advance on EU-related reforms and the overwhelming consensus among political parties and public support for European integration;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the increased political stability and strong commitment of the government to further advance on its European path as demonstrated by the adoption of the Action Plan of the European Reform Agenda II and the National Programme for the Implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement~~; underlines the need~~ 2022-2026; welcomes the willingness of the government to strengthen the administrative capacities and to put in place a coherent coordination structure within the Kosovo institutions for their effective implementation;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. CWelcomes the establishment of the ad-hoc Commission for electoral reform on 13 April 2021 by the Assembly; calls on Kosovo to address the long-standing deficiencies in the electoral process; ~~deplo~~regrets the fact that many of the recommendations issued by previous EU election observation missions since 2013 remain unaddressed;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates its call on the Council to proceed urgently with the adoption of a visa-free regime for the citizens of Kosovo;, as Kosovo remains the only country in the Western Balkans without visa liberalisation regime, despite fulfilling all the benchmarks for visa liberalisation roadmap, as consistently confirmed by the Commission since July 2018.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Notes also Kosovo’s intention to apply for membership of the European Union in 2022, for a candidate country status but stresses that there is no fast-track procedure and that the progress in normalisation of relations with Serbia is necessary for Kosovo to advance on its European path;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the adoption of the resolution of the Assembly of Kosovo strongly condemning the military aggression and the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and commends Kosovo for its alignment with the EU by adopting sanctions against Russia, allocating humanitarian aid to Ukraine and for its willingness to host refugees by temporarily lifting visas for Ukraine citizens, including a specific programme for journalists from Ukraine to work remotely in Kosovo;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Takes note of the government’s plans for the vetting of judges and prosecutors, and underlines the importance of the Venice Commission’s opinion; stresses that vetting should be used as a last resort and insists that the EU and the US reservations should not be disregarded; welcomes the cooperation of Kosovo authorities with the EU to find solutions within European standards that make Kosovo’s judiciary more efficient, independent and accountable;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Urges the government to ~~implement~~address appropriately the concerns related to the ruling of the Constitutional Court granting parcels of land to the Visoki Dečani Monastery; is concerned that the authorities have still not implemented this court decision, thereby undermining the government’s commitment to enforcing the rule of law and its respect for an independent judiciary;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Regrets the Kosovo Assembly’s failure to adopt the draft Civil Code, at the first reading, and calls for its adoption once the Civil Code is again submitted to the plenary, which would bring much- needed progress for Kosovo citizens and would have a positive impact on the economic development of Kosovo;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the fact that the initiatives to involve the Serb community in Kosovo’s political, social and economic structures are only very limited; reiterates that the institutionalisation of the learning of official languages in Kosovo and equal access to services and information in the official languages are essential; Welcomes the efforts of the Kosovo authorities to address inter-ethnic incidents;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates its call for greater inclusion of persons belonging to minorities, including the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, as well as persons with disabilities and displaced persons, by providing them with access to adequate healthcare and social protection; Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Kosovo to regularly consult and meet with all communities living in Kosovo as part of internal dialogue.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Welcomes the appointment of new board of public broadcaster RTK in a transparent and merit based process; calls for finding a sustainable solution for the public broadcaster and secure editorial independence. Notes that the media landscape has been distorted in recent years, with large- scale investments leading to increased private sector influence over major media outlets; reiterates the need to guarantee media transparency, including on media ownership;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Is deeply concerned about the continuing high level of domestic and gender-based violence in Kosovo; calls for the effective implementation of the national strategy against domestic and gender-based violence; Welcomes the adoption of the National Strategy on protection against domestic violence and violence against women, the draft law on crime victim compensation and the adoption of the revisions on free legal aid, which guarantees free legal aid to victims of domestic violence, victims of gender- based violence and of sexual violence.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the EU to strengthen its support for and cooperation with Kosovo in addressing disinformation and fighting malign hybrid activities, in particular from Russia and China; condemns in particular the long running disinformation campaigns by Russia’s state-owned Serbian-language outlet Sputnik Serbia, which regularly spreads misinformation to saw ethnic tensions, tries to delegitimise Kosovo’s statehood, to destabilise its governance and to undermine Kosovo’s relations with Europe.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Welcomes Kosovo’s active participation in the regional cooperation mechanisms, including the Common Regional Market and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans; welcomes the various bilateral cooperation agreements between Kosovo and North Macedonia and Albania; Encourages Kosovo to be also invited and to participate in regional cooperation forums like the Open Balkan Initiative.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Reconfirms its support for the EU- facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and reiterates the importance of constructive engagement on the part of the authorities of both Serbia and Kosovo in order to achieve a comprehensive legally binding normalisation agreement concluding with mutual recognition, which is crucial for both countries to advance on their respective European paths; calls for all past agreements to be respected and fully implemented, including the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, which should not undermine the functioning of Kosovo’s institutions;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Regrets the decision of the Government of Kosovo to reject a proposal by international mediators enabling the collection of the ballots of eligible voters to allow them to vote in the territory of Kosovo in the 3 April 2022 Serbian elections, as had been the case previously;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the ~~introduc~~start of the implementation of a roaming-free zone in the entire Western Balkans, involving Kosovo, as of 1 July 2021, improving connectivity and bringing benefits to citizens and businesses in the region;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. ~~Regrets~~Welcomes the steps undertaken by the government aiming at reducing the informal economy; Regrets, however, the fact that Kosovo’s large informal economy continues to hinder the development of its private sector; notes the existence of a strategy and a corresponding action plan to address the underlying causes of informality, ~~but regrets the lack of effective implementation;~~and welcomes the creation of 25.000 new jobs through the recovery package.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32a. Welcomes the disbursement of a COVID-19 Macro-Financial Assistance package aimed at mitigating economic impacts of the pandemic and keeping macroeconomic stability as well as mobilising €14.2 billion from IPA III to support the Western Balkans partners in meeting the requirements for European membership;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)

32b. Commends Kosovo for its successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vaccination process; welcomes that Kosovo has purchased only COVID-19 vaccines produced and certified by the EU/UK/US and that work is progressing for Kosovo to qualify for the European Digital COVID Certificate;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Underlines that the implementation of both fundamental and structural reforms remains essential for economic recovery and social development;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges the authorities to continue their efforts to reform the education system so that it provides students with the skills and knowledge required by the labour market; welcomes the increased scholarships for female students and calls for increased efforts to integrate women into the labour market;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34a. Encourages the extension of the scholarship program of the College of Europe besides the European Neighbourhood countries also to the students from the Western Balkans countries.

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. ~~Calls on the government to speed up its work on the~~Welcomes the new draft Energy Strategy 2022- 2030, with a particular focus on a sustainable and affordable energy supply, increased energy efficiency and the further diversification of energy sources;

2022/04/29
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

— having regard to the 2019 Poznan Declaration on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 17 February 2022 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2021(2021/2182(INI))

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas BiH citizens aspire towards Euro-Atlantic integration for sustainable peace, democracy and prosperity; whereas the European Parliament has continuously supported BiH path into the EU;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas BiH’s progress on its EU accession path depends on the implementation of the 14 key priorities in the Commission’s opinion on BiH’s EU membership application~~, and~~; whereas EU ~~assistance~~ should address the persistent lack of progress in that regard with BiH counterparts;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and EUFOR Althea are integral in preserving peace, security and stability, in BiH and the Western Balkans region;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas all BiH citizens should enjoy equal rights and obligations throughout BiH territory regardless of their ethnic background; whereas the country has committed to international obligations to end systematic ethnicity and residence-based discrimination and ensure citizens’ equality before the law and has so far failed to do so;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Urges BiH todecision-makers to show commitment to the European project by advanceing on the 14 key priorities, notably by restoring the independence of the judiciary, strengthening the rule of law, intensifying the fight against corruption and organised crime, securing media freedom and an enabling environment for civil society, and protecting vulnerable groups;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its clear support for BiH’s democratic ~~transform~~consolidation through European integration, based on unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, grounded in the principles of equality and non- discrimination of all ~~citizens and constituent peoples as enshrined in the constitution~~people living in BiH following the ECHR decisions in the Seidic-Fince group of cases;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls on all UNSC Members to ensure the renewal and continuity of the mandate of the OHR, as a crucial anchor of BiH stability;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Regrets the impasse in negotiations on electoral law reform in BiH and the lack of political will to overcome it; calls on all actors to ~~promptly reach a balanc~~negotiate in good will and promptly reach a democratic human rights based agreement, to fulfil the constitutional duty of democratic governance and to ensure the transparency and integrity of the electoral process;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

24 a. Calls for the amendment of the criminal codes in the Federation of BiH and Brčko District to expand provisions on incitement to hatred and violence so that they include sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics as protected grounds;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24 b. Is concerned by the level of gender-based violence, for which the institutional response needs to be improved and at abuses against women rights defenders; expects Bosnia and Herzegovina to accelerate the prosecution of crimes of sexual violence and provide reparation to women victims of war crimes; underlines the importance to provide reparation, access to specialised support services, legal aid and safe accommodation to women survivors of war crimes;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24 c. Recalls the need for specific earmarked funding on gender equality in all EU external financial instruments, and for reduced administrative constraints to allow access to funding for local and small civil society organisations (CSOs) and especially women civil society organisations (WCSOs);

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)

24 d. Calls for the need to introduce legislation to protect LGBTI+ and for the prosecution of violence and hate crimes against them, as well as for promotimg their social inclusion and adopt a relevant action plan;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 e (new)

24 e. Calls for the adoption of the Action Plan for Equality of LGBTI Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2021- 2023, which has been stalled since 2020;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 f (new)

24 f. Welcomes the conclusion of the Intersectoral Working Group on same-sex rights and partnership, which officially recommended a law on same-sex partnership to be drafted; calls on the government to bring this to the government session without delay;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 g (new)

24 g. Welcomes the fact that the Government of the Canton of Sarajevo covered the security costs of the 2021Sarajevo Pride; calls for the amendment and harmonization of laws regulating freedom of assembly to come in line with international and EU standards;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 h (new)

24 h. Stresses the need to duly prevent discrimination of Roma and other ethnic minorities, to improve access to healthcare, education, labour market and to develop and implement strategies on social inclusion;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 i (new)

24 i. Demands BiH to develop and adopt a new action plan on child protection;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 j (new)

24 j. Stresses that the strengthening of the welfare state in BiH is an important condition for social cohesion;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Reiterates its call to urgently end segregation and discrimination in education, including by implementing court rulings to end the discriminatory illegal practice of ‘two schools under one roof’; stresses the need to invest more in the education sector – from pre-school to higher education in order to achieve better and equal opportunities for all including vulnerable groups;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Welcomes the continued participation of BiH thanks to IPA support to the Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens Programmes; stresses that educational and cultural exchanges and joint projects are an essential part of bringing the citizens of BiH and of the EU closer;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)

25 b. Urges BiH authorities to address the increasing youth unemployment rate, and to concentrate resources and leverage to ensure a future for BiH young people in their country:

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)

25 c. Calls on the authorities to foster the social dialogue among social partners on all socio-economic matters and to strengthen the role of trade unions bargaining for collective agreements;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Deplores the failure of authorities to address the severe ~~migration-related~~ humanitarian crisis at the border of Croatia and BiH; recalls the need for ~~solidarity~~human rights-based solutions on migration and asylum, ensuring adequate humanitarian assistance ~~and appropriate reception capacities across the country; welcomes the opening of the EU-funded centre in Lipa~~, especially also medical assistance and vaccination strategies, and appropriate reception capacities across the country; recalls the need for the establishment of accessible and efficient asylum system in the country as well as a full range of integration services for asylum seekers; reiterates its serious concerns over the rights of people in transit in BiH; expresses deep concerns about pushbacks of refugees to Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the limitation of their movement and limitation of public transport inside the country; underlines that the “externalisation” of EU border management and migration control to BiH authorities is of concern in light of violations of human rights standards; states that it is the EU’s duty to conduct a humane and migration approach, that aims at protecting the fundamental rights of persons in need of international protection in countries of transit such as BiH;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)

26 b. Condemns the eviction of squats by the police by force on 28 April which happened when people were sleeping; condemns that people were moved to Lipa camp;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Calls for the EU to take concrete steps to integrate the Western Balkans and BiH within a broader strategic and security context, also in view of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, disinformation and malign interference destabilising the country and region; stresses the need for the EU to boost its proactive strategic communication to counter attempts at diminishing the EU’s credibility and actions in the region and jeopardizing the country’s unity;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28 a. Underlines the need for EU to boost assistance and technical expertise to BiH for the protection and securitization of its cyber domain;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)

28 b. Urges the EU to assist BiH in increasing its green energy security amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the precariousness of the energy prices;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2245(INI)

Dietmar KÖSTER, Bettina VOLLATH, Giuliano PISAPIA, Isabel SANTOS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Delara BURKHARDT, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes EU-funded efforts to boost demining and the disposal of weapons, ammunition and explosives; underlines that BiH officially aligns itself with the criteria and principles of the Common Position on Arms Export and is a State Party to most disarmament, non- proliferation and arms control treaties;

2022/05/10
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the EU remains fully committed to supporting Albania’s strategic choice for EU integration, based on good neighbourly relations, and continues being by far the biggest trade and investment partner and the largest provider of financial assistance to the country;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas Albania remains a trustworthy foreign policy partner with its full CFSP alignment;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas Albania joined the EU efforts in supporting Ukraine by sanctioning Russia, aligning with the votes in the UNGA and working in its capacity as a member of the UNSC;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Albania has fulfilled all the conditions for the scheduling of the first Intergovernmental Conference, as already affirmed in the report of the European Parliament on the 2019-2020 Commission report on Albania, and is advancing in its accession process;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates its clear support for Albania’s democratic transformation, underpinned by its strategic orientation and unwavering commitment to European integration, along with good neighbourly relations and inclusive regional cooperation;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; urges political figures to stop verbal attacks, smear campaigns and acts of intimidation against journalists, such as lawsuits targeting them; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reporters; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes the need for further progress on freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism; requests authorities to take decisive action against the marginalisation of and intimidation against independent media outlets and reporters; repeats its calls to improve the working conditions of journalists and to adopt regulations enhancing transparency around media ownership, funding and public advertising; recalls the importance of publicly disclosing the media organizations sources of financing;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Welcomes Albania’s long-standing proven commitment to hosting refugees; recalls the authorities’ obligation to ensure due asylum process and to address the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants; calls on the EU to boost its support for humanitarian assistance in the region, to be conducted in full respect of the fundamental rights; notes the continued reduction of unfounded asylum claims by Albanian nationals and the fulfilment of visa liberalisation benchmarks;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Underlines that the rule of law and judicial reforms are the backbone of a democratic transformation, ensuring legal certainty, transparency, access to justice and non-discrimination;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)

30c. Welcomes EU support to reconstruction, including the rebuilding of schools and kindergartens and cultural heritage sites in the aftermath of the Together4Albania Donors’ Conference following the devastating earthquake of November 2019;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)

35c. Welcomes the launch of 3.2 billion Euros investment package, as part of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans and highlights the transformative role of these investments; notes with satisfaction that one of the financed projects will be the first floating solar power plant in Albania in Vau i Dejës reservoir;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2244(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Maria ARENA, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36a. Welcomes Albania’s strong reaction against the Russian aggression in Ukraine and continued complete alignment with EU decisions and sanctions;

2022/03/11
Committee: AFET

2021/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Notes China’s increased interest in investing in the Moldovan economy, inter alia in the energy, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical sectors; recalls China’s intention to construct substantial transportation infrastructure in Moldova as a component of its wider Belt and Road Initiative; reiterates that the Belt and Road Initiative is at the centre of China’s foreign policy, including on the European continent; commends the pro-democratic reforms already enacted by the government of the Republic of Moldova; calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide and stimulate enhanced EU investment in Moldova on the basis of the ‘more-for-more’ principle and to also actively encourage Moldova to approach the EU and European financial institutions;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’),

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8

— having regard to the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe, notably the 2016 country monitoring report on Azerbaijan,1a _________________ 1a https://rm.coe.int/fourth-report-on- azerbaijan/16808b5581

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ('PACE’) titled ‘Alleged violations of the rights of LGBTI people in the Southern Caucasus’,1a _________________ 1a https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29711/html

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

— having regard to the report of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe following her visit to Azerbaijan from 8 to 12 July 2019,1a _________________ 1a https://rm.coe.int/report-on-the-visit-to- azerbaijan-from-8-to-12-july-2019-by- dunja-mija/168098e108

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the EU and Azerbaijan have jointly agreed, through the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, on the general principle of respect for democracy, principles of international law and human rights; whereas the parties foresaw to cooperate on the respect and promotion of human rights particularly to those belonging to minorities;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

Hb. whereas the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Azerbaijan are at best discarded and at worst actively fought against by government and state institutions; whereas ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Index shows Azerbaijan as having the worst deficit in legislation and policy aiming to protect LGBTIQ people, ranking it in the worst place among all Council of Europe countries;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)

Hc. whereas hate speech and hate crime against LGBTIQ persons in Azerbaijan persist, often perpetrated by religious or political actors, leading to continued violation of their human rights; whereas in February 2022, Avaz Hafizli, a journalist and LGBTIQ human rights activist, was murdered by a family member, which spurred indignation on social media vis-à-vis the government’s poor track record of fighting against hate crime;1a whereas this is only one of the many examples of hate crimes, which due to lack of trust in law enforcement and their inaction, usually go unreported and unsanctioned; _________________ 1a https://globalvoices.org/2022/02/24/azerba ijani-journalist-and-queer-activist- murdered/

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)

Hd. whereas PACE adopted in 2022 a resolution on violations of the rights of LGBTI persons in the Southern Caucasus and has made a number of requests to authorities to reform legislation in order to address such violations; whereas the PACE recommendations reflect the 2016 ECRI findings, which had noted an inexistence of data on LGBTI persons and their living conditions and that hate speech against them was widespread; whereas ECRI encouraged the government to develop an LGBTI Action Plan in order to raise awareness and promote understanding for equal treatment;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. CRecalls that the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is predicated on respect for democracy, principles of international law and human rights, and that the former have not been systematically upheld in Azerbaijan; calls on EU institutions to ensure that any deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan remains conditional on the country making substantial progress on respect for the core values and principles of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Deeply regrets the current state of press freedom in Azerbaijan; expresses its concern at the new law on media adopted in December 2021; calls for a swift review of that law in accordance with the recommendations included in the opinion of the Venice Commission of 17-18 June 2022; urges Azerbaijan to stop persecuting bloggers ~~and~~, journalists and rights defenders;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Recalls that the European Parliament’s position has been clear on non-discrimination with regard to LGBTIQ people, their protection against discrimination in law and practice, and the prosecution of all acts of abuse, hate speech and physical violence perpetrated against them;1a _________________ 1a Texts adopted: P9_TA(2020)0167

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Urges Azerbaijani authorities to adopt anti-discrimination legislation adding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics as prohibited grounds, alongside the adoption of civil, administrative and/or criminal proceedings to protect people from hate speech and hate crimes; calls on authorities to reform criminal legislation by adding the previous grounds as aggravating circumstances and to combat LGBTIQ-phobic violence;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Terry REINTKE, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Pierre KARLESKIND, Markéta GREGOROVÁ, Maria WALSH, Malik AZMANI, Isabel SANTOS, Frédérique RIES, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

20c. Reiterates the call by PACE on the authorities of Azerbaijan to investigate cases of wrongful arrest of LGBTIQ people and prevent and combat police violence against these people;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’),

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8

— having regard to the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe, notably the 2016 country monitoring report on Armenia1a and its adopted 2019 conclusions on the adoption of the recommendations,1b _________________ 1a https://rm.coe.int/fourth-report-on- armenia/16808b5539 1b https://rm.coe.int/conclusions-5th- cycle-on-armenia/1680972faa

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe ('PACE’) titled ‘Alleged violations of the rights of LGBTI people in the Southern Caucasus,1a _________________ 1a https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29711/html

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

— having regard to the report of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe following her visit to Armenia from 16 to 20 September 2018,1a _________________ 1a https://rm.coe.int/report-on-the-visit-to- armenia-from-16-to-20-september-2018- by-dunja-m/168091f9d5

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including through the respect of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention of Human Rights, is a crucial tenet of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and Armenia ('CEPA');

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas, on the evening of October 20, a young gay couple aged 16 and 21 committed double suicide owing to the pervasive discrimination in Armenian society, largely as a result of inaction on anti-discrimination and equality initiatives by the governments over the years; whereas hate speech spread on social media and messaging apps thereafter with impunity, fuelling existing discrimination towards LGBTIQ persons; whereas attacks recently took place against transgender human rights defender “Right Side” NGO in social media, spreading false information, inciting to hatred and issuing death threats to its founder, trans human rights defender Lilit Martirosyan1a; whereas violent attacks against trans women repeatedly took place since summer 2022, including an incident in July 2022 in Yerevan where the perpetrator livestreamed the attack on social media, receiving positive praise; _________________ 1a http://rightsidengo.com/news/a- number-of-forces-want-to-involve-lilit- martirosyan-in-various-political- discussions-by-spreading-false-and- discriminatory-information-about-her- that-endangers-her-life-and-activism/

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas the human rights of LGBTIQ people in Armenia are at best discarded and at worst actively fought against by government and state institutions; whereas ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Index shows Armenia as having one of the largest deficits in legislation and policy aiming to protect LGBTIQ people, ranking it in the 3rd worst place among all Council of Europe countries, tied with the Russian Federation;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas PACE adopted in 2022 a resolution on violations of the rights of LGBTI persons in the Southern Caucasus and made several calls to authorities to reform legislation in order to address them; whereas the recommendations reflect the 2016 ECRI findings; whereas already in 2019 ECRI had concluded that its recommendations had not been addressed sufficiently, including that none of the relevant provisions of the new Criminal Code had been adopted; whereas the lack of response of the government to international bodies’ recommendations is alarming;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

Ee. whereas the European Court of Human Rights recognized in its judgement on Cases 1367/12 and 72961/12 (Ogazenova v Armenia) that criminal law measures are required with respect to hate speech, notably on grounds of sexual orientation and sexual life; whereas domestic law currently prohibits hate speech, yet sexual orientation and gender identity continue not to be included in the characteristics of victims of the offence despite the recommendations of the relevant international bodies in that respect;1a _________________ 1a ECtHR, Cases 1367/12 and 72961/12 (Ogazenova v Armenia), ¶121-122

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. UHighlights that Article 1 of CEPA includes as an objective to enhance cooperation in the area of freedom, security and justice with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; underlines the importance of media freedom, anti-discrimination, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly for preserving a vibrant democracy; is concerned by the pervasive presence of discrimination, disinformation and harsh rhetoric; , as well as hate speech towards certain social groups; urges authorities to categorically uphold all human rights enshrined in the ECHR, notably when they concern vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities and LGBTIQ persons1a; _________________ 1a Referring to Commissioner’s for Human Rights country reporting on Armenia: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/ -/report-on-armenia-recommends- measures-to-improve-women-s-rights- protection-of-disadvantaged-or- vulnerable-groups-and-establishing- accountability-for-p

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recalls that the fight against discrimination is a cornerstone of democratic systems; considers that the democratic transition in Armenia is an opportunity to strengthen the human rights system; recalls that the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe encouraged the government to take a prompt stance and adopt several legal reforms1a; considers that the authorities have all recommendations at their disposal to make progress on human rights and calls for their implementation; _________________ 1a https://rm.coe.int/report-on-the-visit-to- armenia-from-16-to-20-september-2018- by-dunja-m/168091f9d5, ¶106-107

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Malik AZMANI, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Considers that LGBTIQ persons are in dire need of protection; calls for the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation adding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics as prohibited grounds, alongside the adoption of civil, administrative and/or criminal proceedings to protect people from hate speech and hate crimes; calls on authorities to reform criminal legislation by adding the previous grounds as aggravating circumstances; urges Armenia to stop considering homosexuality as a mental illness1a; _________________ 1ahttps://pace.coe.int/en/files/29711/html ¶10-11

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Marc ANGEL, Pierre KARLESKIND, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO, Malin BJÖRK, Terry REINTKE, Dietmar KÖSTER, Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Thijs REUTEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Calls on the Armenian government, including the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, to raise public awareness around the issue of LGBTIQ- phobia and the need to change prevailing patriarchal structures to counter gender stereotypes; calls on the Armenian government to adopt and implement action plans with the aim of strengthening the rights of LGBTIQ persons and their living conditions, and preventing and combating social exclusion, stigmatisation and all forms of discrimination against them;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EaP is part of the EU’s ~~comprehensive approach to securit~~neighbourhood policy, specifically designed to bolster relationships with the six EaP countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, to help promote peace ~~and stabil~~, stability, resilience, shared prosperity, sustainable development and reforms and human security oin the EU’s eastern ~~flank~~neighbours, in a spirit of shared ownership and responsibility;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas the EaP has been facing serious violations of international law, security threats and conflicts in the recent years;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas the destabilisation of the EaP region poses a significant threat to the EU peace, stability and security;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~between 2021-2027, the EU aims also to invest in a range of security stabilisation initiatives~~the EU and EaP partners jointly decided to deepen their cooperation in the area of security such as enhancing the ability of EaP countries to meet hybrid and cyber threats;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas President Putin’s Russia has engaged in continuous hybrid warfare against some EaP countries, backed by the ever- present threat of force across the region, to keep states politically off- balance and tied to Moscow’s self-declared sphere of influence~~, effectively removing the right of~~; whereas EaP countries are sovereign to choose their own foreign policy choices and alliances;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the latest Normandy Format ~~and Minsk I & II Agreements have failed to end hostilities between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk~~Summit in Paris on 9 December 2019 agreed several measures, notably concerning a renewed cease fire and disengagement of forces, that not only remain to be implemented, but are also obstructed and evidently contradicted by the latest actions of the Russian Federation; whereas the implementation of the Minsk I & II Agreements has suffered serious setbacks, in particular due to unilateral measures taken by the Russian Federation in contradiction with its commitments under the agreements; whereas the conflict in the Donbas region has killed more than 14 000 people and displaced around 1.5 million people;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas Russia has demanded a revision of the European security order, involving the commitment not to further enlarge NATO and the withdrawal of NATO troops from some EU Member States, thereby disrespecting core principles of European security as agreed among European countries, including Russia;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)

I b. whereas the EU has expressed its preparedness to counter any military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine with the strongest possible sanctions;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas following the ~~electoral unrest, Belarus has largely abandoned its aim of fostering better relations with the EU, having reversed trends towards democratisation and taken to weaponising refugees~~mass demonstrations against massive electoral fraud, the Belarusian regime has further increased domestic and violent repressions, in an attempt to uproot domestic aspirations towards liberalisation ~~and destabilise~~; whereas Belarus has been using hybrid methods of warfare against EU Member States;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas the success of any CSDP mission depends on the robustness of its mandate and on the level of political will and cohesion, as well as the willingness of Member States to invest their expertise, assets, personnel and resources;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)

V a. whereas the Council is currently discussing options to increase the CSDP presence in Ukraine;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Welcomes the conclusions of the 2021 EaP Summit, promoting security as an important field of cooperation und underlining the EU’s readiness to enhance security dialogue with EaP partners; considers that such dialogue could further promote alignment and gradual convergence of the EU and the EaP countries foreign and security policy, in line with partners’ commitments with the EU.

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

Underlines that sustainable peace and human security in the EaP region is essential for the EU; stresses that the peaceful resolution of ongoing or frozen conflicts in the region, based on international law, and good neighbourly relations are key to building and strengthening resilient and sustainable democracies in the EaP, with strong ties to the EU;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)

-1 a. Reminds that peace and security require strong and publicly accountable institutions, good governance and respect for the rule of law; strongly encourages EaP partners to further engage in the relevant reforms as only internal resilience based on strong and democratic institutions will allow to achieve the necessary resilience towards external threats;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 b (new)

-1 b. Condemns the threatening large- scale military build-up by the Russian Federation along the border with Ukraine, related actions in the non- government-controlled areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in illegally annexed Crimea and in Belarus; calls on the Russian Federation to immediately and fully withdraw its military forces, cease its threat against the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and contribute tod e- escalating tensions in the region by fully abiding to its commitments as an OSCE participating state;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages the VP/HR to devote particular attention to the security of the EaP area in the upcoming EU-US security and defence dialogue and the EU-US dialogue on Russia; recalls that the European security order cannot be discussed without the European countries; underlines that the stability of the EaP region is essential to the security of the whole European continent;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to increase the visibility of CSDP missions in the EaP by strengthening its strategic communication, by proactive countering disinformation against them, by including them in their political messaging, publicly accessible documents and engagements with the international press;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Underlines the crucial need to boost cooperation between the EU and EaP partners in the fields of strategic communication, fighting disinformation and information manipulation, as well as any malign foreign interferences; welcomes the work of the EEAS East Stratcom Task Force in this respect;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2199(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Giuliano PISAPIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)

25 c. Underlines the importance for the EU to promote the role of women and young people in peace building in the EaP region and to advance the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security Agendas in the EaP region;

2022/02/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Parliament has a duty and responsibility to exercise its democratic oversight over the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the common security and defence policy and should ~~have the necessary and effective means~~use fully and effectively the means at its disposal to fulfil this role;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas recent international developments and multidimensional challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent rapid collapse of the state structures of Afghanistan, and the still unfolding humanitarian emergency, have acce~~ler~~ntuated ~~existing trends affecting key aspects of the EU’s CFSP~~the need for the EU to be able to autonomously set its own strategic objectives and develop capabilities to pursue them;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas a number of multidimensional challenges exacerbated in the recent years, such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the questioning of arms control agreements, climate change, pandemics, financial crimes, the aggravation of regional conflicts that have generated population displacements, competition for natural resources, the energy and water scarcity, failed states, terrorism, organized transnational crime, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, among others;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

B b. whereas the world has entered in a new era of "unpeace", a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty with multiplying regional conflicts and great power competition that have significant implications for the EU security;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the EU needs to act on the global stage with one coherent voice rooted in a common strategic culture to develop its leadership role and to actively push for the revitalisation of multilateralism guided by its democratic values, social ~~fairness~~justice, fundamental rights including gender equality and its vision for a sustainable future;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 1

- taking the lead in strengthening multilateral partnerships on global priorities, and in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights in the world,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 2

- improving EU decision-making and making full use of the EU’s hard and soft powers, including the complete development of its own instruments,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 2

- improving EU decision-making and making full use of the EU’s hard and soft power instruments,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 3

- achieving European sovereignty by ~~inter~~coherently linking the EU’s external a~~ction~~nd internal policies, such as trade, JHA, aid, development cooperation, and security to its overall foreign policy goals,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 4

- further developing regional strategies, including ondiplomatic and economic engagement and security cooperation,

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 5

- strengthening democratic oversight, accountability and the parliamentary dimension of the EU’s CFSP;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

Taking the lead in strengthening multilateral partnerships on global priorities and in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights in the world

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the EU’s growing ambition and initiatives to take the lead in promoting global partnerships on key priorities and in strengthening the multilateral order through a reform of key institutions and organisations; calls on Member States and governments worldwide to attribute more competences, resources and capacity of intervention to UN bodies;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the EU’s growing ambition and initiatives to take the lead in promoting global partnerships on key priorities and in strengthening the multilateral order through a reform of key institutions and organisations improving their effectiveness;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the EU to promote alliances of democracies worldwide; insists on the need to pool resources and exchange best practices between like-minded democracies, including as regards countering malign interference and disinformation by authoritarian states and organisations~~; believes that, for this to be successful, the EU should promote on the global stage a whole-of-government and whole-of- society approach to~~, but also anti-democratic actors within the democratic societies; believes that, for this to be successful, the EU should effectively counter hybrid threats;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Calls on the EU to develop its toolbox for countering foreign interference and influence operations, including new instruments that allow imposing costs on perpetrators, as well as strengthening the EEAS strategic communication activities and taskforces; welcomes the ongoing revision process of the Code of Practice on disinformation as a tool for countering disinformation in the context of the coronavirus crisis, vaccination and foreign interference;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Is deeply concerned by the continuous democratic backsliding and human rights setbacks in an increasing number of third countries; deplores current attacks on human rights, particularly with regard to political rights and electoral integrity, such as the excessive use of violence performed by public authorities, the misuse of administrative resources by governing parties, clampdowns on political opponents, censorship and threats to independent media, or the misuse of surveillance technology, among others; urges the EU to enhance its promotion of “democratic resilience” and to take concrete and effective actions on promoting human rights, democratic values and free and fair elections worldwide;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Condemns the continuous breakaway of authoritarian and illiberal regimes from the path of mature democracies, creating a false impression of legitimacy through fake electoral processes; reaffirms the importance of the EU’s continuous support to electoral processes in the world by means of election observations missions, among others, and recalls the fundamental role of the Parliament in this regard; stresses that it is of utmost importance to provide domestic electoral observers with the highest level of protection; calls the EU to further strengthen its cooperation on election observation with all relevant partners such as the OSCE, the CoE and the endorsing organisations of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Highlights the need for the EU to defend and promote democracy globally by leading by example, including by ensuring strict compliance with the principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law in all EU Member States, at a time when democracy is being increasingly challenged by authoritarian actors both inside and outside the EU;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the EU to develop its leadership role in the defence and promotion of human rights in multilateral forums, and in particular the UN; believes that the EU should ensure an effective use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act), including the development of a complementary EU anti- corruption sanctions regime, and better enforce the human rights provisions of the international agreements it has concluded; recalls the political nature of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which is part of an integrated and comprehensive policy approach of the Union; stresses that the application of the EU’s toolbox on foreign affairs and human rights issues can be combined and complementary, thus the application of one tool does not prevent or exclude the adoption of others;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the EU to develop its leadership role in the defence and promotion of human rights, in multilateral forums, and in particular the UN; believes that the EU should ensure an effective use of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime ~~(EU Magnitsky Act)~~, including the development of a complementary EU anti- corruption sanctions regime, and better enforce the human rights provisions of the international agreements it has concluded;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls the EU's Gender Action Plan III, which reflects that women and girls with disabilities, of minority groups, migrant women and girls and LGBTIQ persons are among those most particularly at risk; urges to further strengthen efforts in particular on gender equality and the rights of LGBTIQ persons in its human rights policies, in order to fully implement the external dimension of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy and the Council's LGBTI Guidelines;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recalls the need to consolidate the European Union as an influential global actor that invests in conflict prevention and mediation, and a leading actor in the promotion and implementation of peace at the international level;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls for the EU to develop a robust global health strategy, including global and EU efforts to ensure preparedness and an effective response to upcoming crises and to secure fair and equitable access to vaccines around the world; welcomes the EU - US partnership on to the COVID-19 global vaccination campaign;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Urges the EU to develop global partnerships for the establishment of norms and standards on a rules-based, ethical use of technologies, in particular as regards artificial intelligence; ensuring the respect for international and humanitarian law addressing conflicts with fundamental rights;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Improving EU decision-making and making full use of the EU’s hard and soft powers, including the complete development of its own instruments

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights the need for the EU to strengthen its ability to act efficiently and to shape the EU’s response to ongoing and upcoming challenges; ~~therefore~~stresses the urgency for the EU to set up a mechanism of automatic exchange of information and intelligence between Member States and the EU on foreign affairs and security issues occurring outside the Union; calls the EU to establish an own “EU intelligence service” with information collection powers and which can provide the Union with its own, reliable and direct information in order to be able to autonomously make decisions on the forenamed challenge and to better protect its interest abroad; welcomes the ongoing Strategic Compass process as the starting point for the development of a common strategic culture and expects that it will help shape a shared vision for EU security and defence; stresses that the outcome should be reflected in a revised version of the 2016 EU Global Strategy;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights the need for the EU to strengthen its ability to act efficiently and independently and to shape the EU’s response to ongoing and upcoming challenges; therefore welcomes the ~~ongoing~~development of the Strategic Compass process as the starting point for the development of a common strategic culture and expects that it will help shape a shared vision for EU security and defence towards achieving strategic autonomy; stresses that the outcome should be reflected in a revised version of the 2016 EU Global Strategy;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that the Treaties provide for the possibility to improve decision-making procedures for the CFSP; stresses that unanimity hampers the EU’s ability to act and therefore calls for the Member States to use qualified majority voting for specific aspects of the CFSP; in particular, reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the adoption of s~~anct~~tatements on international human rights issues, introduction and implementation of sanctions and all decisions regarding civilian CSDP missions; stresses that the use of Article 44 TEU could improve the EU’s flexibility and capacity to act on a broad range of foreign policy issues;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that the Treaties provide for the possibility to improve decision-making procedures for the CFSP; stresses that unanimity hampers the EU’s ability to act and therefore calls for the Member States to use qualified majority voting for specific aspects of the CFSP; in particular, reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the adoption of sanctions; stresses that the use of Articles 31 and 44 TEU could improve the EU’s flexibility and capacity to act;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Reiterates its call for the establishment of new formats of cooperation such as the European Security Council, in view of an integrated approach to conflicts and crisis; recalls that the ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe provides a relevant framework to shape innovative proposals in this respect;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Stresses that the Union's own instruments as prior mentioned should include the creation of an European Diplomatic Academy, where EU diplomats are prepared as such from the very beginning and converge on common EU values and interests, moving towards a true esprit de corps determined by a common diplomatic culture from an European perspective: calls for the full implementation of the Pilot Project “Towards the creation of an European Diplomatic Academy”, which can pave the way for setting up the forenamed Academy as explained above and which should include establishing a selection process for entry into the EEAS and EU Delegations;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Highlights that culture has become a useful diplomatic tool and a fundamental part of the EU’s soft power; underlines that culture has a major potential to promote EU values and to fulfil its objectives worldwide, and that European culture should be an integral part of the EU’s external action; calls for the EU to include the New European Bauhaus as a new instrument in the EU’s external action toolbox by creating all- inclusive European Bauhaus’ ateliers in third countries, which can perform as focal points between the EU and third countries’ civil society, contributing to the promotion of EU values and interests; calls for a closer coordination between Member States’ cultural diplomacy institutes and EUNIC;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Regrets that~~Calls on the EEAS and the Council ~~have not yet taken any~~to take steps to review the scope and mandates for the EU Special Representatives and Special Envoys and to ensure greater ~~transparency and~~ visibility of their work, as requested by Parliament in its recommendation of 13 March 20191 ; _________________ 1European Parliament recommendation of 13 March 2019 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the scope and mandate for EU Special Representatives, OJ C 23, 21.1.2021, p. 146.

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

Achieving European sovereignty by interlinking the EU’s external actions and internal policies

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls for the EU to ~~ensure~~develop its strategic ~~sovereignt~~autonomy in specific areas that are fundamental to the Union’s ~~exist~~continued pre-eminence on the global scene, such as ~~economics, security and technology,~~promotion of EU values, fundamental rights, equitable trade, security and technology, social justice, green and digital transition and to establish a European Defence ~~Union~~;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Highlights the importance of reinforcing and guaranteeing cooperation in intelligence matters in the EU, given that terrorism continues to be a threat to our European values and security and requires a multidimensional approach that involves border, police and judicial authorities, and intelligence of all Member States, as well as third states, as well as inclusive long-term policies that address the root causes of terrorism; calls for starting the necessary works to develop full and autonomous intelligence capacities for the EU;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Stresses that EU sovereignty in the field of security and defence means the development, coordination and deployment of strategic capabilities, an efficient division of labour between the Member States and the EU’s ability to decide and act autonomously, in line with its own interests, principles and values; stresses that this approach reinforces cooperation with partners, in particular within the framework of NATO; welcomes in this regard the Commission President’s announcement that the EU and NATO will present a joint declaration on cooperation by the end of 2021; welcomes the discussion on an ‘initial entry force’ as presentIs concerned by the Turkish Government’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, which is repeatedly putting the country at odds with the EU and individual Member States; takes note of the recent resumption of dialogue between the EU and Turkey on different areas of common interests and amidst lower tensions in our relations; deplores, however, the lack of progress in the long- deteriorating situation regarding human rights and democracy in Turkey which continues to be the main obstacle to advance on any positive agenda that could be offered to the country; insists in its call on Turkish authorities to prove the sincerity of their commitment to closer relations and alignment with the European Union through specific actions and reforms concerning fundamental freedoms and rule of law, including by abiding with ECtHR rulings on the cases of Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş; recalls, that Turkey will continue to be a country of key strategic interest for the EU and that engagement needs to continue in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner, keeping the country as closely anchored byto the ~~VP/HR~~EU as possible;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Andreas SCHIEDER, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reiterates its call for accelerating the enlargement process, ~~with a focus~~and for opening of the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia without further delay; calls to refrain from jeopardizing the integrity and credibility of the process; emphasizing that the enlargement process should be based on strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, as well as fostering reconciliation in the Western Balkans, as prerequisites for durable stability and prosperity;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reaffirms its unwavering support to the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular as regards their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognised borders; condemns Russia’s and other external actors’ direct and indirect involvement in armed conflicts, occupations and military build-ups inside the region or on its borders with the region; urges the Eastern Partnership countries, and in particular those that have chosen to pursue the path of European integration, to ensure that fundamental freedoms, human rights and rule of law are upheld and to continue implementing the necessary reforms; reiterates that the EU’s support is conditional upon concrete progress on those reforms;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Robert BIEDROŃ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Expresses deep concern about the situation in Belarus; calls for continued EU efforts to maximize pressure through the strictest and broadest possible sanctions and continued international coordination aimed at the enhanced isolation of the Belarusian dictator and his regime;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24 b. Calls on the EU and its Member States to play a more pro-active role in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, notably by pressing Azerbaijan and Armenia to address post-war issues, including the demarcation of borders and release of all remaining prisoners of war; reminds that the OSCE Minsk Group remains the only internationally recognized format for the resolution of this conflict, on the basis of the principles of territorial integrity, self-determination and equal rights, and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and calls for its swift return to its mediating role;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Supports the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side-by-side together in peace, security, and mutual recognition along the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as capital of both states; calls, in this spirit, for the resumption of genuine peace efforts aimed at achieving tangible results between both sides with the support of the international community; calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence and incitement to hatred, and for full respect for international law by all actors involved in the conflict; calls for an end to unilateral actions which undermine the viability of the two-state solution on the ground, in particular the building of Israeli settlements and the demolition of Palestinian homes and infrastructure in the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem; emphasises the importance of Palestinian elections for restoring the democratic legitimacy of and popular support for political institutions in Palestine; commends UNRWA for the essential services it provides to Palestine refugees across the Middle East and calls for continued international and EU support for the Agency; calls for a political solution for ending the blockade of and easing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, along the necessary security guarantees to prevent violence against Israel;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Is concerned by the Turkish Government’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, which is repeatedly putting the country at odds with the EU and individual Member States; deplores the long-deteriorating situation regarding human rights and democracy in Turkey; recalls, however, that Turkey will continue to be a country of key strategic interest for the EU and that engagement needs to continue in a ~~phased, proportionate and reversible manner~~reas of common interests, keeping the country as closely anchored to the EU as possible;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Underlines the need to strengthen EU-US transatlantic cooperation on the basis of an equal partnership; welcomes in this context the statement ‘Towards a renewed Transatlantic partnership’ from the EU-US summit 2021, which provides a good basis for an ambitious transatlantic agenda; fully supports and commits to pursuing synergies and shared foreign and security objectives by further deepening cooperation in the framework of the EU- US transatlantic dialogue; highlights that the EU should ~~be prepared to reflect on how to adapt to~~develop capabilities to act autonomously in pursuit of its foreign policy goals, given the changing role of the US on the global stage;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Emphasises that the EU’s relations with Africa are of utmost importance and that this relationship with our ‘sister continent’ should reflect a common destiny and focus on creating a credible perspective in particular for the newest generations; welcomes the joint communication of the Commission and the VP/HR entitled ‘Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa’3 ; calls on the Commission and the VP/HR to deepen discussions with the EU’s African partners in order to prepare for a successful EU- African Union Summit; _________________ 3 JOIN(2020)0004.

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29 a. Welcomes the conclusion of Post- Cotonou Agreement, in April 2021, and strengthening our links with OACPS countries and cooperation in multilateral forums on sustainable development agenda and climate action;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Is gravely concerned by the developments in Russia and reiterates the EU’s interest in maintaining freedom, stability and peace on the European continent and beyond; believes that the EU should deter Russia from carrying out destabilising and subversive actions in Europe ~~and from repressing~~including through electoral interference, disinformation campaigns and support for the far right parties, and raise the cost for the Russian authorities of the repression of its own citizens; underlines that closer coordination, cooperation and unity among the EU Member States are necessary in order to maintain a constructive dialogue with the Russian authorities based on the five guiding principles, which is only possible if both parties are genuinely interested in it; urges the EU to engage more closely with the people of Russia, including by developing a clearly defined ‘engagement’ objective, which should focus not only on traditional selective engagement with the Kremlin, but also on ‘strategic’ engagement with Russian civil society;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Reiterates, as underlined in its resolution of 16 September 2021 on a new EU-China strategy4 , its call for the EU to develop a more assertive, comprehensive, and consistent EU-China strategy that unites all Member States and shapes relations with China in the interest of the EU as a whole; emphasises that this strategy should promote a rules-based multilateral order, have the defence of EU values at its core and should be based on the three principles of cooperating where possible, competing where needed, and confronting where necessary; strongly advocates for Taiwan’s full participation as an observer in meetings, mechanisms and activities of international organisations; deplores the deterioration of among others civil and democratic freedoms and free press in Hong Kong and Macau; reinforces its commitment to the targeted sanctions under the EU Human Rights Global Sanction Regime against the Chinese officials involved in human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang; reiterates its strong condemnation of the baseless and arbitrary sanctions imposed by the Chinese authorities on several European individuals and entities, including five MEPs; repeats its call on the Chinese government to lift these wholly unjustified restrictive measures; _________________ 4 Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0382.

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Welcomes the Commission President’s announcement of plans to present a new joint communication on a partnership with the Gulf region; calls for the EU to present a coherent strategy for balanced EU engagement in the region, with the promotion of regional security and cooperation as a key strategic objective; ~~reitera~~notes that ~~the EU’s priority is to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a matter of security for Europe and the~~such engagement should strive to build synergies with the efforts of the regional players, such as the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, including through an increased EU support for Track II dialogue initiatives involving academics, civil society, religionus leaders and othe ~~only way to stop Iran’s worrying nuclear activitie~~r actors; is encouraged by the de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia and calls on both countries to swiftly conclude the process of re- establishing full diplomatic relations;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)

33 a. Reiterates that the EU’s priority is to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a matter of regional security and non-proliferation and the only way to stop Iran’s worrying nuclear activities; insists that the path towards the revival of the JCPOA lies through the lifting of all JCPOA-related U.S. sanctions which should go hand in hand with Iran’s full return to its obligations under the JCPOA; commends the role of the HR/VP for Foreign and Security Policy and EEAS in mediating between the U.S. and Iran in efforts to revive the JCPOA;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Underlines that the situation in Afghanistan is a wakeup call for the EU to ~~deploy~~reassess its external actions and means and its approach to nation-building abroad; is concerned by the dramatic humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan; stresses the need for those in power across Afghanistan to bear responsibility and accountability for the protection of human life and property and for the restoration of security and civil order; reiterates that Afghan women and girls, professions linked with Afghan civil society, human rights defenders, political activists, journalists, academics, artists and other groups at risk, like all Afghan people, deserve to live in safety, security and dignity and welcomes the broad international support for their rights and freedoms; calls for the EU to preserve the achievements of the last 20 years and to ensure that Afghanistan does not descend into a safe haven for terrorist groups; emphasises the importance of cooperating with neighbouring and regional countries to ensure global security and regional stability; emphasizes the need for the EU to conduct a thorough scrutiny of its engagement in Afghanistan since 2002, with a view of applying the lessons learned to present and future missions;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Highlights India’s rising regional and geopolitical influence; underlines that increased political engagement is required to reinforce the EU-India partnership and unleash the full potential of the bilateral relations; reiterates the need for a deeper partnership which should be based on shared values and full respect for human rights;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Calls for s~~pecial attention to be paid to~~tepping up and enhancing cooperation with our partners in Latin America; believes that a strengthened relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is central to the EU’s geopolitical strategy in the world; stresses the need for the Union to strengthen the ties that unite the EU with LAC countries, particularly in defending the rules-based multilateral order; calls for the EU to use all available tools to deepen its cooperation with LAC partners, ensure the swift ratification of the EU-Mexico agreement, deliver on the sustainable and environmental protocol with Mercosur so that the EU association agreement with Mercosur can be ratified, and conclude the negotiations for updating the EU association agreement with Chile; urges the EU to recover its position as the preferred partner of Latin American countries in view of other geopolitical actors occupying increasing space in the region, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine diplomacy;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. ~~Welcomes~~Calls for a full use of the increased involvement of the European Parliament in the programming of Global Europe and IPA III as well as the introduction of a biannual High-Level Geopolitical Dialogue as a critical tool to not only scrutinize, but also actively shape the EU foreign policy priorities;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Reminds the Council ~~to keep~~of the right of the Parliament to be informed about all the stages of the procedures connected to negotiations and conclusions of the international agreements and its prerogative to grant or to withhold consent to such agreements; is determined to use these powers, as defined in the Treaties, in order to ensure transparency and democratic oversight over the international agreements negotiated on behalf of the EU, as well as the implementation of the European Peace Facility, as pointed out in its recommendation of 28 March 20195 , including as regards its complementarity with other EU instruments in the field of external action; _________________ 5European Parliament recommendation of 28 March 2019 to the Council and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning the Proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with the support of the Commission, to the Council for a Council Decision establishing a European Peace Facility, OJ C 108, 26.3.2021, p. 141.

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42 a. Is concerned by the growing number of actors at EU level with regard to the implementation of EU foreign policy and external action as, if not correctly managed and coordinated, it can bring confusion among our partners, harm the necessary unity of action and severely deteriorate our effectiveness and image in the world; believes that all EU actors dealing with EU foreign policy should be subject to the control of the Parliament in order to ensure democratic accountability of their actions;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42 a. Underlines the importance of the Parliamentary Assemblies as spaces for cooperation and institutional dialogue and their valuable contribution to European foreign action also in matters of security, as well as the need to promote their activity and guarantee their correct functioning and development;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2182(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Tonino PICULA, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)

42 b. Calls to strengthen the European Parliament’s oversight of EU Delegation’s work in representing EU values and principles abroad and seeking the fulfilment of EU interests without disregarding the human rights approach; highlights the need for EU Delegations to have all the necessary and appropriate resources and capabilities to act effectively in these tasks;

2021/10/28
Committee: AFET

2021/2180(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Paul TANG, Franco ROBERTI, Elena YONCHEVA, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Petar VITANOV, Bettina VOLLATH, Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Cyrus ENGERER, Giuliano PISAPIA, Katarina BARLEY, Łukasz KOHUT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

— having regard to the judgments of the CJEU on 16 February 2022 in cases C-156/21 Hungary v Parliament and Council and C-157/21 Poland v Parliament and Council on the measures for the protection of the Union budget,

2022/03/01
Committee: LIBE

2021/2180(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Paul TANG, Franco ROBERTI, Elena YONCHEVA, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Petar VITANOV, Bettina VOLLATH, Pietro BARTOLO, Cyrus ENGERER, Giuliano PISAPIA, Katarina BARLEY, Łukasz KOHUT

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 13 November 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 measures on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights,

2022/03/01
Committee: LIBE

2021/2180(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Paul TANG, Franco ROBERTI, Elena YONCHEVA, Sylvie GUILLAUME, Petar VITANOV, Bettina VOLLATH, Pietro BARTOLO, Birgit SIPPEL, Giuliano PISAPIA, Katarina BARLEY, Łukasz KOHUT

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas, in certain Member States, journalists are increasingly subject to threats and attacks, in particular when investigating crime and corruption; whereas independence of media from political interference continues to be under threat in several Member States, including through the use of spyware tools by certain Member States to target journalists, opposition politicians and activists; whereas these unacceptable developments may have a chilling effect on the freedom of speech and freedom of the press and may not be allowed to set precedent both within the EU and towards EU candidate and potential candidate countries;

2022/03/01
Committee: LIBE

2021/2180(INI)