63 Amendments of Matthieu VALET related to 2024/2081(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to Article 24 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU),
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29
Citation 29
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 44
Citation 44
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the specific rules and procedures outlined in Article 24(1) of the Treaty on the European Union, as supplemented by the relevant Declarations of the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference, emphasizes that the provisions concerning the common foreign and security policy, including those related to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service, will not affect the existing legal basis, responsibilities, or competences of each Member State regarding the formulation and conduct of its foreign policy, its national diplomatic service, its relations with third countries, and its participation in international organizations, including a Member State's membership in the United Nations Security Council;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Article 24(1) of the Treaty of the European Union states that the common foreign and security policy is subject to specific rules and procedures, therefore foreign policy decisions fall exclusively within the competence of the Member States;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the specific rules and procedures outlined in Article 24(1) of the Treaty on the European Union, as supplemented by the relevant Declarations of the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference, emphasizes that the provisions concerning the common foreign and security policy do not grant new powers to the Commission to initiate decisions nor do they increase the role of the European Parliament;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and popul and of religious extremism, such as Islamism, threatens the global rules-based order, the protection and promotion of human rights in the world, as well as the values and principles on which the EU is founded;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism threatens the global rules-based order,of the multipolar world order poses a challenge to the protection and promotion of human rights in the world, as well as the values and principles on which the EU is founded;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, according to Open Doors, more than 360 million Christians face persecution, harassment or discrimination; whereas, in 2023, 5 000 have been killed and 5 000 have been arrested due to their faith;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reasserts the universality and indivisibilityAsks the Member States to promote and protect democracy and of human rights andin the inherent dignity of every human being; reaffirms the duty of the EU and its Member StEuropean Union; recalls that the European Union does not have the mandates to promote and protect democracy and the universality of human rights around the worldbe the human rights watchdog and uses the pretext of human rights to interfere in the internal affairs of third countries;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms musshould not be the sole cornerstone of the EU’s external policy; strongly encourages the EU, to that end, to strive for a continued ambitious commitment to make human rights a central part of all EU policies in a streamlined manner, which must also pursue the interests of the Member States; stresses that the EU’s approach to human rights in external relations could be perceived by some countries as neo-colonial and, to enhance the consistency between the EU’s internal and external policies in this fieldherefore, should prioritize respect for the cultural values and traditions of those countries;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the EU's role is above all to protect the security and rights of European people in the EU and worldwide, but it is also important to promote respect for human rights in EU external policies, where possible;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the EU must be fully prepared to counter the rise of authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism,religious extremism, such as Islamism, which is spreading across Europe due to mass illegal immigration as well as the increasing attacks on the universality of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Expresses concern over the human rights situation in the United Kingdom following the arrest of more than 1,000 individuals protesting migration policies, both in the streets and on social media, after the killing of three young British girls by an Islamic migrant from Rwanda; calls on UK authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and peaceful protest;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is extremely concerned about the influence of third states and their interference and influence-buying through a network of NGOs in the European Parliament as revealed in the so-called Qatar-gate scandal; notes with deep concern the active involvement of the left-wing Members of the DROI subcommittee in the Qatar-gate scandal;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the fundamental role of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, including its thematic programme on human rights and democracy, as a flagship EU instrument in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy around the world; highlights the need to engage with civil society, including faith-based actors delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid and providing access to education as healthcare, in all the EU’s relevant external activities; reiterates the importance of streamlining a human- rights based approach in the EU’s external action instruments; underlines Parliament’s role in the instrument’s programming process and calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to share all relevant information in a timely manner in order to enable Parliament to play its role accordingly, in particular during high-level geopolitical dialogues with the Commission;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. WelcomesIs deeply concerned about the increasing use of the EU GHRSR as a key political tool in the EU’s defence of human rights and democracy across the world; notes, however, the challenges that the requirement of unanimity poses in the adoption of sanctions and reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for decisions on the GHRSR; fully supports the possibireminds that sanctions exacerbates the rise of bloc dynamics and global tensions, while endangering the economic, political, and social stability of the existing Member States; underlines that unanimity in the Council for all decisions related to foreign, security, and defence politcy of imposing targeted anti-corruption sanctions within the EU framework in this regard, which has been a long-standing priority of Parliament, whether through its inclumust be maintained, as well as in all other areas where it currently applies in particularly regarding the adoption of sanctions and emphasises that the introduction of qualified majority voting for decision is on the GHRSR or underis a differenct regime; highlights the need for the complete enforcemeattack to the sovereignty of sanctions and calls for circumventions to be tackledMember States;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimes on democratic principles and values; stresses that the defence and support of democracy around the world is increasingly becoming of geopolitical and strategic interest; eEmphasises the importance of Parliament’s efforts in capacity-building for partner parliaments, promoting mediation and encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise, especially among young political leaders, and empowering women parliamentarians, HRDs, FBOs and representatives from civil society and independent media; reiterates its call on the Commission to continue and expand its activities in these areas by increasing funding and support for EU bodies, agencies and other grant-based organisations; stresses the critical importance of directly supportingengaging with civil society and persons expressing dissenting views, particularly in the current climate of growing global tensions and repression in increasing numbers of countries; calls on the European Commission to demand full transparency from the NGOs that the Commission has cooperation with; reiterates the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls for enhanced collaboration between Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, the relevant Commission directorates-general and the EEAS;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimes on democratic principles and values; stresses that the defence and support of democracy around the world is increasingly becoming of geopolitical and strategic interest; emphasises the importance of Parliament’s efforts in capacity-building for partner parliaments, promoting mediation and encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise, especially among young political leaders, and empowering women parliamentarians, HRDs and representatives from civil society and independent media; reiterates its call on the Commission to continue and expand its activities in these areas by increasing funding and support for EU bodies, agencies and other grant-based organisations; stresses the critical importance of directly supporting civil society and persons expressing dissenting views, particularly in the current climate of growing global tensions and repression in increasing numbers of countries; reiterates the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls for enhanced collaboration between Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, the relevant Commission directorates-general and the EEAS;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Reminds that the European Parliament has been implicated in acts of corruption and foreign interference, particularly in relation to the 'Qatargate' scandal; emphasizes that members of the DROI subcommittee have been involved in these acts, undermining its legitimacy and rendering its moral policing across the world hollow and hypocritical; stresses the need for transparency measures to address these issues; and notes the importance of holding responsible individuals accountable;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reaffirms that promoting the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; reiterates the need for the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice at the UN and in other multilateral forums; calls for EU delegations to play a stronger role in multilateral forums, for which they should have appropriate resources available;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Rejects the proposal to grant the EU a permanent seat in all multilateral forums, as it would contribute to the erosion of national sovereignty and limit the ability of Member States to act in their national interests; stresses that conferring disguised state attributes to the EU poses a direct threat to the national sovereignty of Member States and represents a further step toward federalization; underlines that, in accordance with Article 24(1) of the TEU, as supplemented by the relevant Declarations of the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference, the provisions concerning the Common Foreign and Security Policy do not allow the EU to encroach on the competencies of Member States in foreign policy, this includes the role of the High Representative and the European External Action Service, which should not affect the existing legal basis, responsibilities, or competencies of Member States in developing and conducting their foreign policies, managing their national diplomatic services, maintaining relations with third countries, or participating in international organizations, including membership on the UN Security Council;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Stresses that France, as the only EU Member State with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, already guarantees European representation therefore, granting the EU a seat is unnecessary and would constitute an act of sabotage against France’s sovereignty and national interests; warns that such a move would elevate the EU to the status of a state, undermining the sovereignty of Member States and shifting further toward federalization and constitutes a breach of Article 24(1) of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on EU institutions and Member States to promote ceasefire and peace talks on a multilateral level to halt armed conflicts around the world;
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes with concern the increasing disregard for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, particularly in the form of ongoing conflicts around the world; underlines that it is of the utmost importance for humanitarian aid agencies to be able to provide full, timely and unhindered assistance to all people in vulnerable situations and calls on all parties to armed conflicts to protect civilian populations and humanitarian and medical workers; calls upon all states to unconditionally and fully conform with international humanitarian law; calls upon the international community and the Member States in particular to promote accountability and the fight against impunity for grave breaches of international humanitarian law; calls for the systematic creation of humanitarian corridors in regions at war and in combat situations, whenever necessary, in order to allow civilians at risk to escape conflicts, and strongly condemns any attacks on them; concerned that sexual violence against women and girls is widespread in conflicts;
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Strongly condemns the attacks against humanitarian workers, recalls that humanitarian workers, as well as medical personnel needs to be protected in times of conflict in line with the International Humanitarian Law; reiterates that humanitarian workers must not be targeted in conflicts;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 14
Subheading 14
Amendment 395 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recognises the potential for stronger alignment in approaches to human rights protection and promotion between Member States’ embassies and EU delegations in non-EU countries; emphasises the opportunity for Member States’ embassies to take an increasingly active role in advancing and safeguarding human rights, while also supporting civil society in these countries; highlights the importance of shared responsibility between Member States and EU delegations in these efforts; calls for the EU and its Member States to intensify their collective efforts to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and to support democracy worldwideNotes that attempts to take precedence over the foreign policy of the Member States by establishing an autonomous EU diplomacy through the 'Team Europe' approach are a direct attack on their sovereignty and another step toward federalization;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls that EU Delegations cannot, under any circumstances, duplicate the role of Member States' embassies in foreign relations, which are the primary actors in diplomatic engagement and bilateral relations, representing the national interests of Member States; emphasizes the importance of maintaining distinct responsibilities and functions to ensure effective collaboration and representation;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights through all of the EU’s external policies; calls for more concerted efforts to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of children’s rights in crisis or emergency situations; condemns the decline in respect for the rights of the child and the increasing violations and abuses of these rights, including through violence, early and forced marriage, sexual abuse including feminine genital mutilation and online sexual abuse, trafficking, child labour, recruitment of child soldiers, lack of access to education and healthcare, malnutrition and extreme poverty; further condemns the increase in death of children in situations of armed conflict and stresses the need for effective protection of children’s rights in active warfare; reiterates its call for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights through all EU external policies;
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Deplores any initiatives by NGOs and media organisations that violate children's right to healthy and natural development through the promotion of so- called affirmative care; calls on EU institutions to defend the healthy and natural development of minors across the world;
Amendment 455 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recalls that Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states that the child has the right, as far as possible, to know and be cared for by his or her parents; condemns methods of procreation that are in breach of this right, such as surrogacy;
Amendment 473 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. 27. Stresses that women’s rights and gender equality are indispensable and indivisible human rights, as well as a basis for the rule of law and inclusive resilient democracies; deplores the fact that millions of women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence, especially in the context of conflicts, and are denied their dignity, autonomy and even life, as illustrated by the persistence of sex- selective abortions in some countries, including in Europe; calls for the EU, its Member States and like- minded partners to step up their efforts to ensure the full enjoyment and protection of women’s and girls’ human rights; condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world, as well as gender-based violence; welcomes the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention; calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure that women fully enjoy human rights and are treated equally to men; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation;
Amendment 480 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Condemns the practice of surrogacy, which compromises human dignity, exploiting the woman's body and its reproductive functions, as well as considering the unborn child as an object; calls on the Member States to follow the example of Italy, which recently adopted a law strengthening the ban on surrogacy by making it illegal abroad; welcomes the initiative of the Casablanca Declaration, an international group of experts, researchers, lawyers and doctors who have drawn up a proposal for an international convention for the universal abolition of surrogacy;
Amendment 485 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls for the EU to defend girls, women and women’s rights based on the individual’s biological sex;
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 520 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Notes the duplicity and complicity of NGOs in facilitating human smuggling in the European Union; stresses that private entities should not be involved in carrying out search and rescue operations which constitutes a breach of national laws; reiterates its calls to block funding to these so-called society groups that act as an illegal shuttle service to smuggle migrants and reiterates its call to hold criminally these NGOs for migrants smuggling and human trafficking;
Amendment 525 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Condemns the activities of pseudo- NGOs that facilitate mass illegal immigration to the European continent; calls on these organisations to stop conflating illegal immigrants and genuine asylum seekers as it undermines the tolerance and protection efforts the latter deserve;
Amendment 528 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Emphasizes that continued migration from radical Islamic countries, such as Afghanistan, to Europe risks importing fundamentalist Sharia laws thus undermining women's rights in Europe; urges Member States to halt the mass influx from these countries, primarily composed of young adult males; calls for the rapid and effective implementation of measures to readmit migrants posing a threat to European security and the enforcement of readmission agreements for illegal migrants;
Amendment 529 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Condemns governments engaging in hybrid attacks using illegal immigrants to strain the European asylum system; calls on Member States to stop funding organisations that facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants into ports of EU Member States and to the external Schengen borders;
Amendment 531 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 c (new)
Paragraph 28 c (new)
28c. Calls on EU missions worldwide to ensure that refugees receive assistance and refugee status in the first safe country, in accordance with the Geneva Convention, and to seek ways in which the EU can help refugees return to their countries of origin as soon as possible after the end of the conflict;
Amendment 532 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 c (new)
Paragraph 28 c (new)
28c. Reminds that the return and repatriation of foreign criminals is essential to maintaining public safety, safeguarding the rule of law and upholding the integrity of immigration and asylum systems within the European Union;
Amendment 533 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 d (new)
Paragraph 28 d (new)
28d. Urges Member States and the EU to exert diplomatic, economic, and political pressure on third countries to promptly readmit their nationals who have committed crimes in the European Union, especially those subject to legal and administrative expulsion orders; stresses that cooperation agreements, trade, visa policies, and financial assistance to third countries should be made conditional on compliance with readmission obligations; calls, in this regard, for an increase and better cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 534 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 e (new)
Paragraph 28 e (new)
28e. Reminds that Western Sahara is a sovereign territory of Morocco and condemns Algeria's continuous support to the Polisario Front; deplores that this support destabilizes the region and therefore increases the number of local inhabitants trying to illegally immigrate to Europe and facilitates the work of human traffickers in conducting their inhuman business and in establishing new migration routes;
Amendment 537 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 22
Subheading 22
Rights of LGBTIQ+ persons
Amendment 541 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Deplores the human rights violations, including discrimination, persecution, violence and killings, against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons around the world; is extremely concerned by the spreading of hatred and anti- LGBTIQ+ narratives and legislation that target LGBTIQ+ persons and HRDs; reiterates its calls for the full implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 as the EU’s tool for improving the situation of LGBTIQ+ people around the worldany person on the grounds of sexual orientation;
Amendment 542 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Deplores the human rights violations, including discrimination, persecution, violence and killings, against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons around the world; is extremely concerned by the spreading of hatred and anti- LGBTIQ+ narratives and legislation that target LGBTIQ+ persons and HRDs; reiterates its calls for the full implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 as the EU’s tool for improving the situation of LGBTIQ+ people around the world;
Amendment 599 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Condemns escalations of coercion, discrimination, harassment and violence perpetuated against members of thought, conscience, religious or belief minorities, their properties and places of worship; denounces the recourse to blasphemy, apostasy or other accusations based on religious grounds, including the possibility of the death penalty against the convicted, in relation to religious minorities and legitimate human rights activities, including on the internet and social media; condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the discrimination and/or persecution of cultural and religious minorities including Christians all around the world;
Amendment 603 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Notes with concern that Christians remain the most persecuted religious group in the world, mainly by Islamists; condemns in the strongest terms all the attacks against Christian communities around the world; reminds that the EU shares a Christian heritage and is therefore obligated to confront these attacks;
Amendment 612 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Considers that peaceful coexistence among religious groups in the Middle East plays a crucial role for the Humanitarian, Development, and Peace Nexus; reaffirms that by maintaining peaceful coexistence among religious groups, tensions are reduced allowing humanitarian efforts and development initiatives to thrive while laying the groundwork for lasting peace; recalls that peaceful coexistence is thus fundamental for the stability of the region and essential for peaceful development;
Amendment 613 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Notes with concern the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the world; condemns in the strongest terms attacks by Islamic fundamentalists against Christians communities in the world and others such as the Hindu community in Bangladesh; condemns the persisting desecration and vandalism of sacred religious sites around the world;
Amendment 614 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Notes with deep concern the dramatic decrease of oriental Christian communities affected by multiple crisis and wars in Middle-East which is going to continue and even accelerate with the current war in Israel-Palestinian and Lebanon; recalls that in the past 20 years, more than half of the Christian populations in Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian, and Syria have emigrated; calls on the EU to take appropriate measures to protect age-old minorities;
Amendment 616 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Deplores that the Commission does not have a specific strategy to combat Christianophobia, while Christianism is the most persecuted religion in the world; notes that the Commission has, however, established a coordinator responsible for combating Islamophobia;
Amendment 618 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 e (new)
Paragraph 34 e (new)
34e. Fully supports the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold a belief, or not to believe, and the right to manifest and to change or leave one’s religion or belief without fear of violence and discrimination; calls for the EU and its Member States to increase their efforts to protect these rights;
Amendment 620 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 g (new)
Paragraph 34 g (new)
34g. Is extremely concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism across the world; condemns that Islamic extremists threaten and attack other religious groups in the Middle East and Africa;
Amendment 652 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Deplores that the right to participate in free and fair elections is not respecfreedom of speech and to participated in authoritarian and illiberal regimes; highlights that these regimes conduct fake elections with the aim of entrenching public discourse is deteriorating which furtheir power, as they lack real political contestation and pluralismuts human rights in jeopardy;
Amendment 659 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Stresses the role of trade as a major instrument to promote and improve the human rights situation in the EU’s partner countries; notes, however, that there has been little to no improvement in some of the countries concerned; deplores the detrimental effects of some excessive and exploitative business activities on human rights and democracy; welcomes the harmonisation resulting from the adoption of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence with binding EU rules on responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; further welcomes the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market11 and calls for its swift implementation at Member State level; _________________ 11 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM(2022)0453).