31 Amendments of Michael GAHLER related to 2020/2111(INI)
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the lack of global leadership and coordinated international response in the initial phases of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as tendencies to opt for isolationist solutions, the withholding of critical information, the rise of authoritarian nationalism, state- sponsored disinformation campaigns and the promotion of false narratives which create distrust and undermine international cooperation; underlines that global cooperation and coordination are essential to effectively tackle the global health crisis;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. deplores the fact that some governments in the EU neighbourhood and beyond are using the pandemic as an opportunity to pursue their own political agendas, by limiting human rights, undermining democratic standards, weakening rule of law, diminishing the role of parliaments, limiting freedom of media, launching disinformation campaigns that target pro-EU reforms and values and harm international cooperation;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the geopolitical competition and tensions following the COVID-19 outbreak, and recognises that the European Union still has to position itself in the new world order in which, alongside the EU, the US, China and Russia play a leading role; agrees that the post COVID-19 world will look fundamentally different and will have far reaching consequences for EU external policy;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underscores the potential significant geopolitical consequences of the pandemic; the experienced lockdown of the global economy, the unprecedented financial stimulus offered by governments to kick-start their economies, and the expected recession can accelerate existing trends on the strategic level, such as change of the global balance of power; intensified geopolitical rivalries seem inevitable possibly leading to a period of political unpredictability and an era of great power competition, the pandemic amplifies existing tensions between global rivals with the potential of realigning an already fragmented, but highly interconnected world;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Considers that the pandemic requires the need to champion multilateral solutions, working with international organisations, notably the UN and its agencies, WHO, World Bank, IMF and international regional organisations, like NATO; reminds that the pandemic has emphasised the need to work together to find common solutions to problems that concern all of humankind;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Underlines the threat of the large- scale disinformation campaigns orchestrated by China and Russia to discredit the EU and Member States for their alleged ineffective and selfish response coupled with a fake news “infodemic”; reiterates that the ongoing hybrid attacks are a threat to European security and damaging to our democracy; supports the Vice President / High Representative in his assessment that this is a battle of narratives; considers that more coordinated actions are needed to address the risks for open societies' and further boost the EU's efforts to counter disinformation, adapt to evolving manipulations, while at the same time supporting free and independent media;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned about the lack of leadership the United States has shown in fighting COVID-19; believes that the alternative facts and false information in President Trump’s tweets and during his press conferences have been very unhelpful in the joint fight against the virus;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is worried about the decision of the US to withdraw funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the general tendency of its President to withdraw the US from the multilateral organisations that were creat; recalls that it was US leadership that led to the establish ament of the post-war rules-based liberal world order;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the need to find a new method of cooperation between the EU and US, based on mutual respect and a joint agenda to defend multilateralism, the rule of law and human rights; , as well as to tackle other global challenges together, such as poverty alleviation and climate change;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that the community of values and a shared vision of the world bind the EU and United States much stronger than any short term differences or difficulties; is of the opinion that the EU and United States are indispensable partners in the current volatile international environment;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the strengthening of the People’s Republic of China’s worldwide diplomatic efforts following the COVID- 19 outbreak, seeking to position itself as the dominant global player with an alternative governance model;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reminds that at the early stage of the outbreak, China tried to cover-up the magnitude of the problem, withheld important information and blocked decisions at the WHO Emergency Committee; moreover in the Chinese media, the aid that it received from abroad in the early days of the outbreak was intentionally left unreported, including nearly 60 tonnes of medical equipment from EU Member States; furthermore when a few weeks later Chinese medical supplies arrived in Europe, Beijing followed up with extensive media coverage presenting it as “Chinese aid for friends in need,” even though many European governments paid market price for the products;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the emergency contributions provided by China to fight the virus; also recognises, however, a clear geopolitical and geo-economic dimension, bolstered by ‘virus and wolf warrior diplomacy’ and the politicisation of humanitarian assistance with the ambition to shape China’s global image as a benevolent power;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Chinese regimegovernment to fully cooperate with an independent investigation into the origins of COVID- 19, and calls on the Member States to present a united front towards a rising China, which is leadintensifying aits crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and has threatened to annex Taiwan; calls on the Member States to advocate Taiwan’s membership of the WHO considering its effective handling of the virus domestically without however being able to contribute with its expertise to the international response to the current health crisis;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the VP/HR to recognise these concerns and simultaneously createseek an atmosphere of dialogue, engagement and genuine cooperation with the Chinese leadership that is, based on a new, more assertive strategy in which the EU pushes back when necessary to defend European values and interests; is of the view that, as part of this new strategy, the EU should seek closer collaboration with like-minded countries in the region and other democracies including India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, and work towards a European vision of the Indo-Pacific;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the EU and the United States, along other like-minded democracies, are responsible for leading global efforts to establish more balanced, fair and reciprocal economic and trade relations with China, while upholding democratic values and the rules-based order;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Expresses deep concern about Russian attempts to use the pandemic to further diminish the human rights space in the country, support authoritarian regimes and continue its aggressive foreign policy;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recognizes the clear geopolitical and geo-economic dimension of what was offered by Russia, bolstered by “virus diplomacy”, a battle of narratives and politicization of humanitarian assistance; recalls that the quality of medical products delivered in some cases was very low and hence ineffective; highlights that we must not allow countries like Russia to use the crisis to distract from their own significant domestic problems and shortcomings in both the response to this crisis as well as adherence to fundamental rights;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recognises the global security, socio-economic and political risks that could be caused by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic could cause , and is worried about the fact that the EU’s main international undemocratic counterparts were prepared to skilfully use the crisis to unravel the rules-based world order underpinned by multilateral organisations;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Believes that COVID-19 has confirmed the need for a stronger and more effective EU foreign and security policy and it offers a silver lining, creating an opportunity for the EU to take on a global leadership role, strengthening the rules-based international order, multilateralism, defending democracy, freedom and human rights as well as engaging strategically relations with like- minded countries, in particular the United States;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Firmly believes that the EU must continue to show solidarity with other countries in the fight against COVID-19 by means support to the healthcare systems, material help and a long-term response to social and economic recovery; welcomes the “Global EU Response to the COVID-19 crisis”; considers that the EU should particularly pay attention to the most vulnerable countries in mind, for which COVID-19represents a major havoc to their already fragile humanitarian, economic, security and political environments which are more likely to experience protracted crisis and instability; notes that abovementioned ambitious EU action need to be underpinned by adequate budgetary allocations through the upcoming MFF;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that only a more united EU, backed up by sufficient and credible military capacities, will be able to conduct a strong and effective foreign policy, and believes that the VP/HR should receivemember states should give the VP/HR a stronger mandate in speaking on behalf of the EU;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that the end of the unanimity rule on foreign policy would help the EU to conduct a foreign policy that is more effective and more proactive and would at the same time minimise the risk of being undermined by hostile outside actors; stresses that he EU’s leverage is the greatest when member states act together in unionism;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines that Covid-19 adds increased pressure on international security, requires EU CSDP missions and operations adaptation to new circumstances and to contribute to mitigating the effects of the pandemic in host countries; the impact of the pandemic on the global economy, including on the most developed countries, is likely to suppress budgets for peace operations further and this can have the adverse effect of a growing gap between authorised and deployed personnel;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the important role of the armed forces during the COVID-19 pandemic and believes that a more in-depth joint operation and coordination of member states’ armed forces within existing frameworks - such as the European Medical Command - or within new frameworks - such as military hospital trains - could lead to greater efficiency and contribute to the EU’s preparedness to fight pandemics; recognises the need to review the EU’s security and defence strategies to develop strategic autonomy, to become better prepared and more resilient to the new and hybrid threats and technologies that have made the nature of warfare less conventional and challenge the traditional role of the military, as well as for a future in which Russia and China are becoming more assertive and aggressive; stresses that the future Strategic Compass on security and defence should reflect these developments and take account of the broader geopolitical implications of COVID-19; believes that, given the new political balance and a potential worsening of the international security environment following COVID-19, the EU defence budgets must not be cut;
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Supports the need for continuing cooperation and strengthening cooperation and where needed coordination between the EU and NATO, including the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) or NATO’s Centre for Excellence for Military Medicine as well as to counter COVID-19 related disinformation;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that its biggest global consumer market of almost 500 million people gives the EU significant leverage on the world stage, and therefore urges the EU to be more ambitious;, believes that a geopolitical Commission should use this leverage when other countries are not prepared to comply with the rule of law or international treaties;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerabilities of interconnectedness and interdependence of the world in time of a global crisis, creating the risk of a chain-reaction of instability and chaos;
Amendment 504 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses the role played by civil society, grassroots organisations, independent journalists and media organisations that helped to tackle the consequences of COVID-19, such as debunking fake news and disinformation campaigns;
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored more than ever the need of strong multilateralism, which should include also such domains in foreign policy as global health, climate change of regulation of digitalisation;
Amendment 584 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is of the opinion that the COVID- 19 crisis has highlighted certain weaknesses of our Union and has shownboth internally and on the world stage and has again reconfirmed the urgent need for an effective and efficient Union; believes that the Conference on the Future of Europe will provide a good platform to move forward in constructing more efficient decision making in EU external policies; is therefore determined to start the Conference as soon as possible;