Activities of Eleni THEOCHAROUS related to 2016/2324(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on addressing shrinking civil society space in developing countries PDF (432 KB) DOC (74 KB)
Amendments (14)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to Article 7 of the TFEU, which reaffirms that the EU ‘shall ensure consistency between its policies and activities, taking all of its objectives into account’,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 9 October 2013 entitled ‘Empowering local authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes’,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)
Citation 15 b (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the regions of 24 February 2015 entitled ‘A decent life for all: from vision to collective action’,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas civil society represents the third sector of society and a vital element of a decent society, along with governments and businesses; whereas it comprises non-governmental and non- profit organisations that have a presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas there is a link between a weakened civil society, reduced political and civic space, increased corruption and low human and socio-economic development as well as fragility and conflicts;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas any credible and effective EU response in addressing shrinking civic space needs to adequately balance development and political cooperation, ensuring coherence between all EU external and internal instruments by projecting a common message on the importance of freely functioning civil societies, as well as cooperation at local, regional and international levels;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines as essential the strengthening of CSOs’ relationship with citizens and with the state, in order to genuinely represent communities and constituencies, including women and women’s rights organisations and all vulnerable groups and help make the state more effective and accountable in delivering development and all human rights;
Amendment 86 #
5. Welcomes the longstanding commitment and support by the EU to civil society in developing countries, and reiterates its unequivocal call for continued and increased support and funding by the EU in creating a free and enabling environment for civil society at country and local level, by improving its efforts to concretise an annual funding with the governments concerned respected by all of these governments;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the EU delegations and missions to developing countries to systematically raise the issue of CS space and its important role in preserving and further building democratic societies in their interactions with MPs and governments or local authorities’ officials;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the EU to raise awareness, especially among policy makers, about the problems that human rights groups are facing, through foreign policy mechanisms, and to mobilise diplomatic delegations to protect activists in situ;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages the EU to become an active facilitator and to promote institutional mechanisms for reinforced dialogues and to develop stronger and wider coalitions and partnerships among developing countries governments, CSOs, local authorities and the private sector on an enabling civil society environment;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the critical role played by women in social progress, including that of youth-led movements; calls on the EU to insist on the need for supporting women’s empowerment and the creation of a safe and enabling environment for women’s CSOs and women’s rights defenders, particularly in conflict-affected regions;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the EU to urge governments to continuously repeal all laws/articles that violate the rights to freedom of association and assembly and thus the ability of local civil society to cooperate and affiliate themselves with national, regional and international networks.;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the EU to ensure that EU funding is used to fund both long-term support and emergency interventions, in order to particularly help civil society activists at risk;