Activities of Jorge MARTÍN FRÍAS
Plenary speeches (4)
The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba
Outcome of the Summit of the Future: transforming global governance for building peace, promoting human rights and achieving the sustainable development goals (debate)
Protecting the EU budget and ensuring that EU funds do not benefit entities or individuals linked to terrorist or Islamist movement (debate)
U-turn on EU bureaucracy: the need to axe unnecessary burdens and reporting to unleash competitiveness and innovation (topical debate)
Institutional motions (2)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Venezuela
Written questions (10)
Preliminary findings against X on breaching the Digital Services Act and a secret deal with other platforms
European Union sanctions on Venezuela
Appointment by Pedro Sánchez of Spanish Government minister as governor of the Bank of Spain
Concern regarding the judicial reform launched by the outgoing President of Mexico
Commission seeking to fine all Elon Musk’s companies
Compensation for President von der Leyen’s special adviser
The CE marking and China Export marking
Housing crisis in the EU – urgent need to repeal Directive 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings
EU funds spent by UNRWA on terrorist-linked activities
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s reckless refusal to combat drug trafficking
Individual motions (1)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on attacks on freedom of expression, in particular, in Brazil
Unknown (3)
PROPOSAL FOR A UNION ACT classifying the activity of military personnel, police officers, prison officers and private security guards as dangerous professions in the Union
PROPOSAL FOR A UNION ACT on the need to cut the cost of access to housing
PROPOSAL FOR A UNION ACT on the need to protect families, businesses and self-employed persons from the rise in fuel prices in Europe
Amendments (72)
Amendment 21 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
Amendment 29 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
Amendment 32 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
Amendment 47 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38
Citation 38
Amendment 57 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 43
Citation 43
Amendment 59 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 48 a (new)
Citation 48 a (new)
– having regard to its report of the Committee of Foreign Affairs on the persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion (2021/2055(INI)),
Amendment 69 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas consistency and coherence across the EU’s internal and external policies are key for achieving an effective EU human rights policy; whereas coherence in EU’s internal and external policies should imply supporting the democratic opposition in those countries hijacked by dictatorships, while suspending any agreements in place on those regimes; whereas the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba should be immediately suspended;
Amendment 80 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and populcommunism 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; whereas the current rules-based international order established several decades ago is being undermined by the increasing geopolitical power of governments and regimes that systematically violate basic human rights;
Amendment 106 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the 2023 Mid-term Review of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, now extended to 2027, has shown that, despite the progress achieved so far, more needs to be done, especially in the context of the unprecedented challenges the world has experienced since its adoption; whereas the EU’s failure to influence on those countries not complying with basic human rights policies is explained, in part, by its inaction to impose sanctions and immediately suspend any financial aid to those countries;
Amendment 130 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas environmental harm and the impacts of climate change are intensifying precariousness, marginalisation and inequality, and increasingly displacing people from their homes or trapping them in unsafe conditions, thereby heightening their vulnerability and jeopardisingthe 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 their human rightsd countries such as China;
Amendment 151 #
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 populcommunism, as well as the increasing attacks on the universality of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law; highlights that authoritarianism is especially dramatic in Ibero-America, in totalitarian regimes such as the ones in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua; strongly denounces the numerous killings, systematic enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and imprisonments, tortures and ill-treatment against critics and opponents in the above-mentioned regimes; stresses that the crimes committed for many years should be persecuted by courts as crimes against humanity;
Amendment 175 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
(1) Condemns the increasing trend of electoral fraud by totalitarian regimes, such as has occurred in electoral processes in Venezuela, where elections have been overshadowed by violence and intimidation against the political opposition and the civil society, including the restriction of access to voting centres, intimidation and the manipulation of electoral results;
Amendment 176 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 2 (new)
(2) Notes with concern the increasing trend in Ibero-America over the past years, where authorities of certain countries have built a system of governance characterized by the alliance between the government, drug cartels and/or organized crime networks; denounces that these alliances work as a symbiotic relationship, where non-state armed groups (NSAGs) provide senior members of those regimes with access to and total control over their areas of influence and where, in return, the regimes tolerate, and in some cases actively protect, their activities; condemns, in the strongest terms, that the Venezuelan regime of Nicolas Maduro is one good example of this reality;
Amendment 186 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with deep concern the ongoing international crisis of accountability and the challenge to the pursuit of ending impunity for violations of core norms of international human rights and humanitarian law in modern conflicts around the world; condemns the abuse of the UN Human Rights Council by totalitarian regimes that continue to abuse it for their own political ends; deplores the geopolitical stance of China, Russia, Iran and other countries for their abuse of multilateral institutions, seeking to neutralise human rights mechanisms' their ability to hold states accountable for human rights violations, as well as to undermine and/or rewrite international norms to suit their authoritarian agenda;
Amendment 193 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
(1) Condemns the increasing internal oppression by the Chinese Communist Party against critics or religious minorities and its abroad interference in Europe through illegal Chinese "overseas police service stations"; highlights that the Council and the EU Member States are the institutions entitled to close all remaining Chinese "overseas police service stations";
Amendment 194 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 2 (new)
(2) Highlights that Russia poses an extremely serious threat to the stability of democracies in the EU, spreading misinformation and fake news in electoral campaigns and financing riots and acts of terrorism to support independence movements, such as the attempted coup d’état in 2017 in the Spanish region of Catalonia;
Amendment 200 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with satisfaction that there are also ‘human rights bright spots’ within this context of major challenges to human rights worldwide; underlines the need for a more strategic communication on human rights and democracy by spreading news about positive results, policies and best practices; supports the Good Human Rights Stories initiative9 as a way of promoting positive stories about human rights; _________________ 9 https://goodhumanrightsstories.net/.
Amendment 208 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern the increasing divide worldwide; stresses the responsibility of the EU to continue defending democratic values and principles and human rights, peace and dignity around the world, which are even more important to defend in the current volatile state of global politics; calls upon the EU to keep communication channels open with different stakeholders and to continue to develop a comprehensive toolbox to strengthen human rights and democracy globally; reiterates the need to increase effectiveness of the EU’s security and defence policy, in particular alongside the EU borders;
Amendment 212 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Observes that the EU and its Member States have made substantial progress in implementing the EU action plan on human rights and democracy, although they have not reached all of its goals, in particular due to the unprecedented challenges the world has experienced since its adoption; welcomtakes notes, in this sense, on the extension of the action plan until 2027, with a view to maximising the synergies and complementarity between human rights and democracy at local, national and global levels;
Amendment 223 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Fully supportsTakes notes on the work of the EUSR for Human Rights in contributing to the visibility and coherence of the EU’s human rights actions in its external relations; upholds the EUSR’s central role in the EU’s promotion and protection of human rights by engaging with non-EU countries and like-minded partners; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EUSR for Human Rights and other EUSRs and Special Envoys in order to further improve this coherence, and calls for greater visibility for the role of the EUSR for Human Rights; calls for the EUSR to be supported in his work with increased resources;
Amendment 237 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its call to include robust clauses on human rights in agreements between the EU and non-EU countries, supported by a clear set of benchmarks and procedures to be followed in the event of violations; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to actively reflect on how to ensure that the human rights clauses in current international agreements are effectively enforced; underlines that the EU should completely avoid financing and providing any assistance to countries ruled by regimes that systematically violate basic human rights and have in place governmental systems deeply corrupted; reiterates that in the face of persistent breaches of human rights clauses by its partner countries, the EU should react swiftly and decisively, including by suspending the agreements and any financial aid provided to those countries in question if other options prove ineffective;
Amendment 256 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the important role of human rights dialogues within the EU’s human rights toolbox and as a key vehicle for the implementation of the EU action plan on human rights and democracy; highlights that these dialogues should address the overall situation of human rights and democracy with the relevant countries; notes that human rights dialogues should be seen as a key element of sustained EU engagement and not as a free-standing instrument; recalls that these dialogues need to be used in conjunction and synergy with other instruments; reiterates the need to raise individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, and ensure adequate follow-up; calls to increase the visibility of these dialogues and their outcomes, including through the publication of a joint press statement; notes, however, that the human rights dialogues with totalitarian regimes have proved ineffective for many years, and calls the EU to cut all political and economic ties with those regimes;
Amendment 258 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 12 – point 1 (new)
(1) Call to mind the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with the Republic of Cuba, and strongly calls once again for its suspension under article 85(3)(b) of the Agreement;
Amendment 271 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes 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 GHRSRreiterates the fact that unanimity voting in the Council should remain the norm in issues relating to foreign policy and human rights; emphasises that creating a permanent seat for the Union in multilateral forums will further erode national sovereignty and the Member States' ability to act in their national interests; fully supports the possibility 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 inclusion in the GHRSR or under a different regime; highlights the need for the complete enforcement of sanctions and calls for circumventions to be tackled;
Amendment 283 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimestotalitarian regimes, such as for example the ones in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Iran and Afghanistan, 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 319 #
2024/2081(INI)
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 maina 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 availablenotes, however, that totalitarian regimes not aligned with the rules-based international order are making use of international organizations such as the UN to impose is own political agenda;
Amendment 434 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 475 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 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; 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 Conventionviolence; 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, forced marriage and all of which are specifically prevalent in Islamic communities;
Amendment 496 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Denounces the erosion of the human rights and the safety of refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons; reaffirms their inalienable human rights and fundamental right to seek asylum; recalls the obligation of states to protect them in accordance with international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to effectively uphold their rights in the EU’s asylum and migration policy and in the EU’s cooperation with partner countries in this regard; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and, where possible, step up their support for countries hosting the most refugees, as well as for transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU10 , including the development of talent partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 10 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial;
Amendment 514 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 28 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls on the Commission to provide a strong and clear policy steer to ensure EU development aid and investments are not greenlighted unless the beneficiary state has agreed to migration management agreements that allow for returns of all citizen's with a valid deportation order in a Member State or the establishment of third country partner state asylum processing and reception centres;
Amendment 515 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 28 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls on a policy of the regional placement of refugees and on making international funding conditional upon the effective implementation of return and readmission agreements with third countries;
Amendment 516 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 28 – point 3 (new)
(3) Denounces that the EU’s migration policy for many years is to blame for the erosion of the human rights and the safety of citizens of the Member States due to the fact that illegal migrants would not risk their lives to travel to Europe if pull factors were not being created by EU policies;
Amendment 517 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 28 – point 4 (new)
(4) Notes with concern that NGOs play a major role in facilitating migrant smuggling by acting as a shuttle service and by giving migrants advice to circumvent domestic laws by instructing them to dispose of their travel and identification documentation; emphasizes that NGOs that facilitate illegal migration should not receive any EU funding and reiterates that illegal search and rescue operations by NGOs should be criminalized;
Amendment 544 #
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+) personsany persons regardless is origin, ethnicity, religion or belief around the world; is extremely concerned by the spreading of hatred and anti- LGBTIQ+ narratives and legislation that target LGBTIQ+ persons and HRDs; reiterates, which 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 worlda common practice in Islamic countries;
Amendment 554 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is concerned by the challenges to the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities; reiterates its calls for the EU to assist partner countries in the development of policies in support of carers of persons with disabilities, regardless of gender; calls for the EU, in its external policy, to make use of the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 as a tool to improve the situation of persons with disabilities, particularly concerning poverty and discrimination, but also problems with access to education, healthcare and employment, and participation in political life;
Amendment 567 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates its condemnation of all forms of racism, intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, or sexual orientation or gender identity; condemns the growing international threat of hate speech, including online; reiterates the crucial role of education and dialogue in promoting tolerance, understanding and diversity; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against all forms of extremism and welcomes the adoption of an EU strategy to this end;
Amendment 571 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is incompatible with the right to life and a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment that is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; notes that despite the trend in some non-EU countries to take steps towards abolishing the death penalty, significant challenges in this regard still exist; deplores the fact that in other non-EU countries the number of death sentences that have been carried out has reached its highest level in the last five years; reiterates its call for all countries to completely abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; denounces the double-standard approach applied by the EU regarding the policies to the death penalty and the abortion;
Amendment 593 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 1 (new)
(1) Condemns in the strongest possible terms the persecution of Christians all around the world, with more than 360 million Christians face persecution, harassment or discrimination according to Open Doors; calls to mind that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, with Nigeria accounting for 90% of Christians martyred worldwide;
Amendment 594 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls for EU Member States to condemn all such actions and to defend and protect our Christian heritage; condemns any attack against sacred and religious sites, which also accounts for violations against human rights; emphasises the role EU Member States have to play in condemning and confronting these attacks against communities that share their Christian heritage;
Amendment 595 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 3 (new)
(3) Condemns in the strongest terms the rise of antisemitism in the world;
Amendment 596 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 4 (new)
(4) Regrets, in the strongest terms, that the EU is dedicating every year million euros of its budget for cooperation and international aid to organizations directly implicated in terrorist-linked activities, such as the UNRWA;
Amendment 597 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 5 (new)
(5) Calls on the Commission to cease all funding of Islamism and organisations with ties to Islamism as well as campaigns glorifying or legitimising the hijab; Strongly condemns that certain countries, such as Iran or Pakistan, have in place blasphemy laws, which impede religious minorities such as Christians from speaking freely or engaging in religious activities;
Amendment 598 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point 6 (new)
Paragraph 34 – point 6 (new)
(6) Strongly condemns all instances of female genital mutilation, honour killings, child marriages and forced marriages, all of which are specifically prevalent in Islamic communities;
Amendment 624 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Emphasises the critical significance of freedom of expression and access to trustworthy information for sustaining democracy and a thriving civic space; is seriously concerned about the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in numerous countries worldwide, particularly for journalists, through censorship, enforced self-censorship, and the misuse of counter-terrorism or anti- corruption laws to suppress journalists and civil society groups; raises concerns, additionally, about the physical security of journalists and media workers and their being targeted in conflict zones; states that the notion of "hate speech" amounts to a disproportionate limitation to freedom of expression which is a basic condition of democratic societies, as described in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights;
Amendment 635 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls urgently for the EU to back trustworthy media and information outlets that promote the accountability of authorities and support democratic transitions; notes with concern that ‘wokeism’ and the resultant cancel culture widen societal divisions, discourage open and frank discourse, lead to a reductionist view of history, promote censorship and historical revisionism and inevitably curtail freedom of expression; voices concern about the extensive use of SLAPPs to silence journalists, activists, trade unionists and HRDs globally; welcomes, in this context, the directive designed to shield journalists and HRDs from abusive legal actions and SLAPPs; encourages lawmakers in non-EU countries to develop legislation with the same goal, as part of broader efforts to promote and protect media freedom and pluralism;
Amendment 643 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating state of press freedom around the world; condemns the censorship of journalists, HRDs and CSOs through the application of so-called foreign agents laws, as well as other legislative and non- legislative measures adopted by authoritarian and illiberal regimestotalitarian regimes; denounces that censorship is increasingly used through tactics and restrictive measures against citizens in order to silence them; highlights that such measures include arbitrary detentions, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation or violence, including killings, abductions, arbitrary arrest and detention;
Amendment 668 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that in many regions of the world, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are often the driving force of local economies; underlines that MSMEs account for 90 % of businesses, 60 to 70 % of employment and 50 % of gross domestic product worldwide; highlights the importance of MSMEs in their contribution to the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the sustainable development goals, namely those on the eradication of poverty and decent work for all;
Amendment 682 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that the internet should be a place where freedom of expression prevails; considers, nevertheless, that the rights of individuals need to be respected; is of the opinion that, where applicable, what is considered to be illegal offline, should be considered illegal online; expresses concern for the growing number of internet shutdowns; highlights that internet shutdowns are often used by authoritarian regimes, among others, to silence political dissidence and curb political freedom; calls urgently for the EU to combat this alarming phenomenon; is extremely concerned with the emergence of a global trend in which online freedom of expression is censored in an effort to control public opinion; denounces the recent trend of censorship and attacks against freedom of expression in Brazil, including the closure of mainstreaming social media platforms, such as X;
Amendment 50 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the importance of the ECB’s political independence, which should remain untouched; stresses that this independence requires the ECB to in turn refrain from taking political decisions; stresses that the independence of the ECB is at odds with its secondary mandate, which is to support the general economic policies in the Union with a view to contributing to the achievement of the political objectives set out in Article 3 TEU;
Amendment 68 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that high levels of inflation have a disproportionate effect on lower-income households, which spend a higher proportion of their budget on necessities;
Amendment 93 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the Economic and Monetary Union requires solid fiscal policies in the Member States in order to be able to respond to external shocks, meaning a maximum government deficit of 3% of GDP and government debt of 60% of GDP, plus a credible path to reducing excessive debt and deficits, and building sufficient reserves in times of economic growth, in order to be able to respond to external shocks; stresses therefore the need to factor in all government expenditure in its entirety, including green spending and investment;
Amendment 108 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that prudent fiscal policies by the Member States canmust complement the ECB’s efforts to keep inflation low and prices stable; highlights that addressing excessive public deficit and debt levels is crucial to maintaining a stable economy and sustainable growth;
Amendment 121 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly welcomes the fact that headline inflation has come down from its peak of 10.6 % in October 2022 to 1.7 % in September 2024; notes that inflation levels vary widely across the euro area, ranging from 4.3% in Belgium to 0% in Ireland;
Amendment 135 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Regrets that the ECB has been guided in its interest rate decisions primarily by the interest burden on Member States and their highly indebted banks rather than by its primary mandate, i.e. price stability; reminds the ECB that maintaining favourable financing conditions is not part of its mandate;
Amendment 191 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that diverging interest rates in the euro area are generally the result of different risk premia on government bonds; stresses that purchases under the TPI would merely conceal the symptoms of loose fiscal policy; calls on Member States to conduct responsible fiscal policies and ensure sustainable debt levelsand therefore lower levels of government debt;
Amendment 205 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WelcomNotes the ECB’s progressfurther research being conducted by the ECB on the digital euro project and its ongoing dialogue with Parliament; highlights the expected benefits, such as enhanced strategic autonomy, improved financial inclusion and the availability of an offline back-up payment systemstresses that Piero Cipollone’s claim of abuse of a dominant position in the digital payments market, which would be an argument for introducing the digital euro, has not been supported by any study, let alone a ruling by the European Competition Authority;
Amendment 215 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. ReiterStresses that physical cash must remain a cornerstone of our payments system and provides the best guarantee of financial inclusion; states that the digital euro shouldcan serve as a complement to physical cash,; emphasises that it should not replace cash entirely and that cash should remain available at all times;
Amendment 227 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Doubts the claim by the ECB that it can offer its payment services to merchants more cheaply than private players, especially since the ECB has so far failed to provide any clarity on cost structure; stresses that, although the ECB’s mandate does not provide for a profit motive, the ECB is not a non-profit organisation and any profits are distributed annually to the ECB’s shareholders, namely the national central banks, and therefore charging cheaper fees for digital euro payments will come at the expense of any profits to be distributed to the national central banks; stresses that the ECB only distributes any profits it makes to its shareholders and not in order to subsidise the market prices of its services;
Amendment 229 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the ECB to take due account of essential privacy concerns around the digital euro and stresses that its development should become a gold standard in terms of privacy for other financial institution, in full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Article 7.1 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; insists that the exceptions to the right to personal data protection set out in Article 7.2 of the Charter should not apply to the ECB and the banking sector as regards data collected in connection with digital euro transactions; stresses that its development should become a gold standard in terms of privacy for other financial institutions; insists that national data protection authorities be empowered to scrutinise the ECB's data protection regime, including assessment for compliance with national data protection regimes as regards the digital euro wallets of their own residents;
Amendment 276 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the ECB to use all its available tools to ensure that banks take climate risk seriously in order to mitigate the financial risks resulting from climate change and from the negative effects of the Green Deal on prices, in particular of commodities, and on employment that may arise if an unpragmatic approach is taken to the digital and green transition;
Amendment 280 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the ECB to use all its available tools to ensure that banks take climate risk seriously, in so far as it is properly quantified, in order to mitigate the financial risks resulting from climate change;
Amendment 298 #
2024/2054(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the finalisation of the Basel III framework, as it will strengthen the resilience of the banking sectorCalls on the Commission to further refine the Basel III framework for banks, not only to ensure a level playing field internationally, but also to make it more balanced, more effective and more proportionate, in the spirit of the Draghi report; regrets that European implementation very much departs from the international framework; maintains that banking supervision should be based on real risks and not on secondary considerations;
Amendment 24 #
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 countriesNotes that Turkey is still a candidate for accession and receives substantial EU funding under pre- accession aid; calls for a definitive end to accession negotiations with Turkey and a halt to IPA funding;
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 71 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. BelieveConsiders that further targeted reinforcements are needed in areas such as the fight against disinformation, capacity development, enlargement, election observation, nuclear safety, support for civil society organisations, even if this will require the use of flexibility instrumentsforeign interference and disinformation, which must not turn into censorship or further disinformation, support for the development and strengthening of key military capabilities, and nuclear safety;
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 93 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights its support, including appropriate financial backing, to the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU; advises a reinforcement of programmes against antisemitism and any other type of discrimination because of religion or belief; demands, in particular, that the Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy allocates a specific and ambitious budget line to tackle rising threats to freedom of religion and belief in the world, especially against Christians, who make up the most persecuted religion in the world;
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 112 #
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; highlights that any financial support by the EU should be strictly linked to the compliance of the recipient country in terms of respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to prevent the EU from financing dictatorial regimes with the very aid aimed at helping the people they oppress; demands that suspected human rights violations by a recipient country be met with the immediate termination of all financial support;
Amendment 119 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses its concern with the worldwide wave of attacks against freedom of speech, especially when they exploit the fight against disinformation as a façade to conceal their true nature; deplores that, under such a façade, former liberal democracies have started to implement nationwide censorship in order to silence internal opposition; believes that such attacks should have financial consequences reflected in the EU budget; highlights the alarming case of Brazil and the unjustified shut down of the social network X, formerly known as Twitter; condemns any attempt by the Brazilian State to impair the right of the Brazilian people to voice its dissent;
Amendment 122 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Firmly believes that at a time when liberal democracies are increasingly threatened around the world, reiterates its support to funding election observation missions, including local observers, as they play a key deterrent role against electoral fraud and violence; calls for serious measures to be taken against those countries that hinder and/or prevent observers from doing their job, and which, in the aftermath of manifestly fraudulent electoral processes, engage in violent actions aimed against the civilian population demanding transparency, peace and democracy;
Amendment 124 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Strongly condemns the electoral fraud perpetrated by Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela; calls on all Member States, the President of the European Commission and the High Representative to expressly condemn the fraud and bow to work in support of a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Venezuelan people; stresses the strong need for increased financial support to Venezuelan civil society, opponents of the regimen, human rights defenders, independent media and other civil organisations in Venezuela, while freezing all EU financial transfers to the illegitimate Maduro regime;