83 Amendments of Sebastiaan STÖTELER
Amendment 29 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the purely ideological policies adopted by the EU in the context of the Green Deal are leading the EU to a worrying de-industrialization process and to the increasing of dependencies on third countries such as China;
Amendment 352 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Takes note of the EU’s updated NDC; highlights that the EU’s current climate legislation willcould reduce the EU’s net GHG emissions by around 57 % compared to 1990, but it will trigger the de-industrialisation process of the EU and will increase the EU dependencies on third countries such as China;
Amendment 380 #
2024/2718(RSP)
Draft motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates the need to mairevise the EU Green Deal to enstuream that EU climate ambition into all EU policies and the measures transposing them, and underlines that Article 6(4) of the European Climate Law obliges the Commission to assess the consistency of any draft measure or legislative proposal, including budgetary proposals, with the EU’s climate targetsnd environmental policies are based on pragmatism, lead to enhanced competitiveness of European businesses and duly take into consideration the economic and social impact;
Amendment 164 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. WelcomesTakes note, in this regard, of the objective of the Commission President to usher in a new era for European defence and security, by building a true European defence union; welcomestakes note of the designation on 17 September 2024 of the first-ever Commissioner for Defence and Space, tasked with working jointly with the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on a white paper on the future of European defence within the first hundred days of their mandate;
Amendment 193 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Concurs with the ambition of building a European pillar within and complementary to NATO and stresses that the development of a European defence union canmust go hand-in- hand with the deepening of EU-NATO cooperation;
Amendment 322 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the vision set out in the European Defence Industrial Strategy accompanied by the Commission’s proposal for establishing the European defence industry programme; supports the objective of strengthening EU defence industrial preparedness to further enable Member States to identify and discuss joint defence programming and procurement, as well as European defence projects of common interest, while taking into account NATO requirements;
Amendment 347 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights the need to overcome the fragmentation of the EU’s internal market for defence products, as it leads to unnecessary duplications and the multiplication of inefficiencies in defence spending; calls on the Commission to present proposals to complete the EU internal market for defence, based, in particular, on an assessment of EU rules for defence procurement and transfer of defence-related products, and on the identification and analysis of limitations and loopholes in the current legal framework; furthermore underlines the importance of creating a political climate that encourages private investors to invest on the basis of long-term defence contracts;
Amendment 447 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the increased budgets and investment in defence by Member States and the increase, albeit modest, in the EU budget for CSDP in 2024; calls on the Member States that have not yet reached the minimum threshold of 2 % of their GDP devoted to defence expenditure to resolutely commit to gradually increasing their military budgets; recommends that, on the basis of continuous analysis of capability needs, Member States further increase this threshold, in particular for joint procurement of defence capabilities;
Amendment 459 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to initiate an open discussion based on the recommendations presented in Mr Draghi’s report on the future of European competiveness, including increasing the resources allocated to security and defence in the next multiannual financial framework and exploring all funding options to this end; further calls on Member States to amend the EPF financing process to ensure adequate and sustainable support for partners and allies, while also aligning with CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 735 #
Amendment 778 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward in strengthening security in Europe; recalls that NATO has proven itself as a powerful transatlantic military alliance that has successfully protected Europe from foreign aggression since 1949, and that its deterrence capacity remains crucial today and in the future;
Amendment 808 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers it essential to further develop the EU’s close relationship with the United States, which is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law; values the United States’ commitment to and involvement inas a crucial NATO Ally, indispensable for the territorial defence of Europe, especially in the light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 1 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 65 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 67 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 85 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 91 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 157 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 285 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 331 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 396 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 520 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 528 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 532 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 541 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 613 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 616 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 55 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the geopolitical context in which the EU is operating has accentuated the need for more ambitious, credible and unified EU action on the world stage and has highlighted the necessity for Member States to demonstrate the required political will to redefine the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) into a fully fledged EU policycredible EU action on the world stage; whereas the EU should be guided in its external action by the values and principles enshrined in Article 2, Article 3 (5) and Article 21 TEU, which have inspired the EU’s own creation, development and enlargement; whereas the EU should correspondingly stand up for freedom and democratic standards worldwide, as well as the universality of human rights;
Amendment 72 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in the area of the CFSP, the European Parliament exercises the functions of political control and consultation; whereas it exercises the budgetary function for this policy area jointly with the Council, except in cases when the Council decides unanimously that the expenditure is charged to the Member States; whereas the European Parliament needs to exercise all its competences to the full extent in order to increase the democratic legitimacy of the CFSP; whereas the other institutions need to adjust their cooperation withArticle 24(1) of the Treaty on the European Union, as supplemented by declarations 13 and 14 of the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference, stipulate 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 accordingly;
Amendment 223 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
– the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed by Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a conflict in Gaza that has and the continued holding of hostages by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups in Gaza, and which triggered a conflict between Hamas and Israel and which has had a disproportionate effect on civilians on both sides and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been exploited even further by Hamas, an EU-listed terror organisation;
Amendment 239 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
– the continued rocket and drone attacks on Israel by Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the Houthis in Yemen and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, all committed at the instigation of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Amendment 243 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
– the direct missile and drone attacks by Iran on Israel, thereby escalating the already tense conflict in the Middle East; calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to cease escalating the conflict and stop funding terror proxies in the region;
Amendment 263 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 6 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 6 a (new)
– the continued oppression of human and women's rights in Iran as well as the use of the death penalty against innocent civilians and regime opponents; recalls the needs for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty;
Amendment 268 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7
Paragraph 3 – indent 7
– the recent adoption of the law on the ‘promotion of virtue and prevention of vice’ in Afghanistan, as well as the systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the extreme interpretation of sharia which erases women from public life, bars them from working, hinders their access to healthcare without being chaperoned by a male relative and to education beyond the sixth grade; demands from the de facto authorities of Afghanistan that all gender- based restrictions on women and girls be lifted and stresses that this must be a key condition for any engagement of the international community with the Taliban; insists on maintaining strict, conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the five benchmarks set by the Council for engaging with the de facto authorities and by holding the perpetrators of these grave violations of girls’ and women’s rights accountable, including through restrictive measures;
Amendment 272 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
– the use of Shari'a and blasphemy laws against religious minorities, such as Christians, in the Middle East, which is used to persecute them and oppress their freedom of religion or belief;
Amendment 274 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 b (new)
– the rampant honour killings throughout the Middle East and South East Asia, which disproportionally affects women and girls;
Amendment 275 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 c (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 c (new)
– the continued war in Sudan, greatly affecting innocent civilians, particularly in Darfur;
Amendment 368 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 4 – indent 3 a (new)
– underlines that Türkiye does not meet the Copenhagen criteria; calls, in this regard, on the Council to terminate Türkiye’s accession negotiations to the EU as well as all associated EU funding and programs in relation to Türkiye's accession thereto;
Amendment 488 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Unwaveringly supports the 10-point peace plan put forward by Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and recalls that any initiative aimed at ending the Russian war of aggression needs to be based on input provided by Ukraine and ultimately accepted by the Ukrainian people; underlines that Ukraine can count on our assistance and continued support should it intend to enter into negotiations for an eventual ceasefire;
Amendment 565 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a subsequently imminent and permeant ceasefire to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gazaheld in Gaza by Palestinian terror organisations, including Hamas; supports a ceasefire that will benefit the innocent civilians on both sides of the conflict as well as the wider Middle East; recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law; recalls that terrorism, its support and its glorification runs counter to a peaceful resolution of the conflict;
Amendment 602 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates itNotes the EU's unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borderlines, with two sovereign, democratic states as peaceful neighbours and with Jerusalem as their shared capital; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international lawbelieves however that any outcome of the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be pre-determined by the international community; strongly condemns Palestinian terrorism; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlerextremist Israeli citizens in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; expresses support fortakes note of US President Biden’s three-phase Peace Plan and regrets the lack of will on both sides to ensure its implementation; regrets, further, that the latest rounds of peace talks did not bring any tangible result; calls on countries in the region who have not yet done so to join the Abraham Accords;
Amendment 614 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Expresses concern about rising tensions in the Middle East and the destabilising role that the Iranian regime and its network of non-state actors play in the region; urges all parties to show maximum restraint, commit to de- escalation and refrain from any further escalation, as an increasing regional conflict must be avoided at all costs; calls upon the VP/HR and the Member States to continue and step up their diplomatic efforts with international partners, including with the Gulf countries, in order to encourage urgent de-escalation and meaningful dialogue;
Amendment 629 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the EU’s decision to renew sanctions against Iran until July 2025, including by sanctioning Iran’s production of unmanned drones and missiles and its supply thereof to Russia and the wider Middle Eastern region; points out that the sanctioning options that have not yet been exhausted include a much more restrictive approach to technology transfers through exports of products that are not categorised as ‘dual- use’; recalls that the European Parliament has called for Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah in full to be added to the EU list of terrorist organisations;
Amendment 657 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Shares the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons at all costs; points, however, to the fact that the regime in Tehran has clearly rejected a revival of the JCPOA and, at the same time, increased its nuclear weapons capability; regrets the fact that there is currently no strategy in place to persuade Iran to refrain from building military nuclear capacity, nor a plan of action for the event that Iran does cross the nuclear threshold; calls upon the VP/HR to put forward a revised strategy towards Iran which seeks the Islamic Republic's isolation;
Amendment 668 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 906 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls for the EEAS – both its headquarters and EU delegations – to be strengthened through the provision of the appropriate financial and human resources so that the EU can be better prepared for current and emerging global challenges; calls on the VP/HR to swiftly come up with proposals for the future operational structure of the EU’s external action; underlines that EU diplomacy cannot replace the foreign policy of the Member states;
Amendment 935 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Reiterates that Parliament plays an integral consultative role in the CFSP and makes a specific contribution thereto by virtue of its parliamentary diplomacy and its distinct instruments, channels and contacts;
Amendment 1002 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Underlines that in the CFSP, which comprises the CSDP, the European Parliament exercises its budgetary function jointly with the Council; recalls that it also exercises the function of political control and consultation over those policies as referred to in Article 36 TEU;
Amendment 1004 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Recalls that all CFSP and CSDP expenditure should be charged to the EU budget, unless the Council decides otherwise on a case-by-case basis, or when the expenditure concerns operations with military or defence implications; recognises that it falls to the Council to determine whether an EU action abroad is an operation with military or defence implications; underlines that in all other cases of CFSP or CSDP decisions entailing expenditure, the Council should consider charging the expenditure to the EU budget;
Amendment 1 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the growing instability and the rise of unprecedented challenges in the immediate European neighbourhood and the international environment increases the demands on the Union to act withhave a budget fit for that purpose and to significantly strengthen its security and defence capabilitiesthat is appropriate for that situation, enabling it to support and facilitate Member States’ efforts to procure and produce security and defence capabilities, without laying claim to any additional competences in the area of defence;
Amendment 6 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas that sufficient funding is key to the EU’s credibility as a stronger, more assertive, and morebut will only be effective if used to shore up national policies so that cooperation among the Member States affords Europe greater strategic acutornomy on the world stage;
Amendment 15 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls to double the budget allocated to the development of capabilities under the Common Security and Defence Policy in order to ensure the safety of its citizens, and maintain stability both within Europe and globally; reaffirming that the national defence and the employment of national armed forces represent a pure expression of national sovereignty;
Amendment 26 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the unprecedented challenges in the global environment, along with the threats the EU is facing must be met by a substantial EU reaction, matched by appropriate and sufficient budgetary means for the EU to protect itself and the citizens and live up to the geopoliticalNotes that Türkiye is still a candidate for EU membership and receives substantial EU funding in the form of pre-accession assistance; challenges; welcomes the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) earlier this year which led to an increase in Heading 6; furthermore welcomes the adoption of two new instruments, namely the Ukraine Facility and the Western Balkans Facility, which will provide additional targeted support to Ukraine and the six Western Balkans countriess for the accession negotiations with Türkiye to be halted once and for all, and for the funding under the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance to be cut off;
Amendment 31 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the unprecedented challenges in the global environment, along with the threats the EU is facing must be met by a substantial EU reaction, matched by appropriate and sufficient budgetary means for the EU to protect itself and the citizens and live up to the geopolitical challenges; welcomes the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) earlier this year which led to an increase in Heading 6; furthermore welcomes the adoption of two new instruments, namely the Ukraine Facility and the Western Balkans Facility, which will provide additional targeted support to Ukraine and the six Western Balkans countries;
Amendment 40 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is particularly concerned abouNotes that the approach taken in the MFF revision to only have a net increase of Heading 6 of EUR 3,1 billion whereas the other EUR 4,5 billion shall be covered through redeployments within this heading; is not convinced that these redeployments will actually materialise to that extent;
Amendment 46 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Commission presented a budget proposal of EUR 16 258 million, close to MFF ceiling in Heading 6 with a remaining available margin of EUR 44,8 million; notes furthermore that Council increased the budget for humanitarian aid by EUR 30 million, believes however that this amount will not be sufficient to be able to respond to emerging crises; highlights that substantial budget resources should be focused on enhancing the security of the EU’s external border;
Amendment 48 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Commission presented a budget proposal of EUR 16 258 million, close to MFF ceiling in Heading 6 with a remaining available margin of EUR 44,8 million; notes furthermore that Council increased the budget for humanitarian aid by EUR 30 million, believes however that this amount will not be sufficient to be able to respond to emerging crises;
Amendment 56 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with concern the reductions for the Neighbourhood East in NDICI which is underfunded by EUR 150 million for the remainder of this MFF; considers it therefore necessary for the 2025 Union budget to increase this budget line by EUR 50 million;
Amendment 66 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that further targeted reinforcements are needed in areas such as the fight against disinformation, which must not turn into censorship or further disinformation, capacity development, enlargement, election observation, nuclear safety, support for civil society organisations, even if this will require the use of flexibility instruments;
Amendment 89 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises that is stillConsiders not necessary to increase the financial support of the EU to UNRWA in 2025, due to the agency’s critical financial situation that jeopardizes its ability to fulfilin light of the alarming reports indicating the involvement of individuals associated with UNRWA in the 7 October attacks in Israel, which prompted the European Commission to suspend funding; recalls that there its importanno need to maintain a specific organization for Palestinian refugees distinct frole effectivelym the already existing UNHCR; calls for the much suspected UNRWA to be entirely defunded;
Amendment 90 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises that is stillConsiders not necessary to increase the financial support of the EU to UNRWA in 2025, due to the agency’s critical financial situation that jeopardizes its ability to fulfil its important role effectivelyin light of the alarming reports indicating the involvement of individuals associated with UNRWA in the 7 October attacks in Israel, which prompted the European Commission to suspend funding;
Amendment 101 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the European External Action Service is structurally underfunded and should not be treated like the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budgetufficiently funded; notes that the requirements for an institution with 145 diplomatic missions and offices around the world is fundamentally different to institutions operating at a single location;
Amendment 113 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid, accompanied by clear objectives in terms of the rule of law and governance, and measures to discourage and limit illegal migration, is needed for the Union to be able to respond to emerging crises.; calls that the recipients and use of such aids have to be carefully monitored and that the European Parliament have to be constantly informed about their use;
Amendment 116 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid, accompanied by clear objectives in terms of the rule of law and governance, is needed for the Union to be able to respond to emerging crisesthe Union’s development aid for third countries must be accompanied by clear objectives in terms of management of their migration flows to Europe.
Amendment 1 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
having regard to the annual report of the European Court of Auditors on the implementation of the EU budget for the 2023 financial year of 9 October 2024;
Amendment 5 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Since 2011, Jordan has embarked on a number of political reforms to strengthen parliamentary democracy and the rule of law. A Constitutional Court and an Independent Electoral Commission have been set up and a number of major laws, including the Electoral Act and the Political Parties Act as well as laws on decentralisation and municipalities, have been passed by the Jordanian Parliament. Legislative improvements as regards the independence of the judiciary and women’s rights have been adopted. In the last parliamentary elections, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, made significant electoral gains by winning 31 out of 138 seats.
Amendment 9 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Jordanian economy has suffered significantly from protracted conflicts in the region, notably in neighbouring Syria, and most recently in Israel/GazaIsrael, Palestinian territories and the Red Sea. Since the start of the war in Syria, the Jordanian economy has been impacted by a large inflow of Syrian refugees, which has increased pressure on its fiscal position, public services and infrastructure. In addition to regional instability, the macroeconomic and fiscal challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/2021, commodity price developments following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, high exposure to trade fluctuations and the increase of borrowing costs for emerging markets globally continued to weigh on the Jordanian economy. As a result, Jordan experienced an economic contraction in 2020, followed by a slow economic recovery, as unemployment increased significantly in 2020 and remained high, and new fiscal and external financing needs emerged.
Amendment 12 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The war inbetween Hamas and Israel-Gaza that started in October 2023with Hamas' brutal attack on 7 October 2023, has had far reaching implications on civilians in the region and for Jordan, and implies a very substantial downside risk to the economic outlook, in particular due to the increased level of uncertainty in the region and the possible impact on the important tourism sector and consumer sentiment. The ongoing Houthi attacks by the Houthis, an Iranian proxy, on cargo and energy vessels in the Red Sea have had a huge impact on regional stability, and trade, including hindering vessel traffic to Asia, impacting Jordan’s exports, in particular the mineral and chemicals exports, and imports. In January 2024, the Jordanian authorities and the IMF agreed on a new economic adjustment programme supported by a four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) in the amount of USD 1.2 billion, which followed a USD 1.7 billion four-year EFF, including a loan under the Rapid Financing Instrument, from 2020- 2023.
Amendment 17 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Given that Jordan is a country covered by the ENP, it shouldmay be considered to be eligible to receive macro- financial assistance from the Union.
Amendment 18 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should bemay act as an exceptional financial instrument of untied and undesignated balance-of-payments support, which aims at addressing the beneficiary’s immediate external financing needs and should underpin the implementation of a policy programme containing strong immediate adjustment and structural reform measures designed to improve the balance-of-payments position in the short term.
Amendment 21 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should aim to support the restoration of a sustainable external financing situation for Jordan thereby supporting its economic and social development, while also ensuring the Union's stability and security.
Amendment 22 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The determination of the amount of the Union’s macro-financial assistance is based on a complete quantitative assessment of Jordan’s residual external financing needs, and takes into account its capacity to finance itself with its own resources, in particular the international reserves at its disposal. The Union’s macro-financial assistance should complement the programmes and resources provided by the IMF and the World Bank. The determination of the amount of the assistance also takes into account expected financial contributions from bilateral and multilateral donors and the need to ensure fair burden sharing between the Union and other donors, and actively prevents inefficiencies and duplication in aid efforts, including by better sharing of information and aligning strategies with other donors, as recommended by the European Court of Auditors, as well as the pre-existing deployment of the Union’s other external financing instruments in Jordan and the added value of the overall Union involvement.
Amendment 25 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should support the Union’s external policy towards Jordan and the region. Commission services and the European External Action Service (EEAS) should work closely together throughout the macro-financial assistance operation in order to coordinate, and to ensure the consistency of, Union external policy.
Amendment 27 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should support Jordan’s commitment to values shared with the Union, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights, combatting Antisemitism and extremism, sustainable development and poverty reduction, as well as its commitment to the principles of open, rule- based and fair trade.; highlights the criticism of the European Court of Auditors, that conditions tied to the MDA, such as economic reforms and good governance standards, are not always well-defined or enforced, which weakon accountability of recipient countries and undermindes the intended outcomes of the financial assitance;
Amendment 30 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) A pre-condition for granting the Union’s macro-financial assistance should be that Jordan plays a constructive regional role, respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi-party parliamentary system – and the rule of law, and guarantees respect for human rights. In addition, the specific objectives of the Union’s macro-financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency, transparency, financial solvency and accountability of the public finance management systems in Jordan and promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth, employment creation, sound budgetary policies based on prudence and double-entry accounting and fiscal consolidation. Both the fulfilment of the pre-conditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the Commission and the EEAS, and, in case of contravention, reclaimed; highlights the criticism of the European Court of Auditors that there is limited follow-up on the results and long-term sustainability of the projects funded, which makes it difficult to assess whether the objectives of MFA are truly met.
Amendment 39 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
(27 a) Recalls that the European Court of Auditors has highlighted that the decision-making process behind the MFA is not always transparent, e.g. the criteria used to decide which countries receive assistance are not always clear, and there may be a lack of public reporting on how funds are allocated or spent; believes that this lack of transparency can raise questions about the political motivations behind MFA allocations;
Amendment 40 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. The Union shall makeconsider making macro- financial assistance of a maximum amount of EUR 500 million available to Jordan (“the Union’s macro-financial assistance”), with a view to supporting Jordan’s economic stabilisation and a substantive reform agenda, if Jordan abides by its benchmarks as well as plays a positive role in the region, thereby not undermining regional and European security. The assistance shall contribute to covering Jordan’s balance of payments needs as identified in the IMF programme.
Amendment 44 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. A pre-condition for granting the Union’s macro-financial assistance shall be that Jordan respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi-party parliamentary system – and the rule of law, and guarantees respect for human rights, including combatting Antisemitism and extremism, as well as respects the Union's interests in the region.
Amendment 62 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) assess Jordan's alignment with the Union's external policies;