Activities of Vincent PEILLON related to 2014/2229(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa and prospects for political stability (debate) FR
Security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa and prospects for political stability (debate) FR
Reports (1)
REPORT on the security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa region and the prospects for political stability PDF (198 KB) DOC (133 KB)
Amendments (28)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
– whereas the conflicts in Syria, the conflict in Iraq, the crisis in Yemen and the situation inIraq, Yemen and Libya are a major potential source of destabilisation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); having regard to the junction between the Sahel and Middle Eastern fronts in the fight against terrorism; having regard to the disastrous consequences of such a situation for the security of the whole region and of Europe; having regard to the number of civilian victims and the acts of terror committed against them; having regard to the serious humanitarian crisis caused by these conflicts, causing massive population displacements and creating enormous difficulties for refugees and their host communities; having regard to the difficulties in discerning a political approach and establishing a legitimate and reliable basis for inclusive dialogue with the various parties concerned; having regard to the resulting long-term damage to political and economic development, durable infrastructures and demographic cohesion in the region;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
– whereas the conflict in Iraq and Syria, like the conflict in Yemen, is exacerbating regional tensions,; with the risk of politicalhereas the religious cause is being used as a tool to further interests of politics and power; whereas this creates a risk of confrontation between Sunni and Shia that extendings beyond their immediate borders and jeopardisinggeographical borders and threatens other countries in the region;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)
Citation 26 a (new)
- whereas the upheavals in the MENA region have an impact on the EU’s capacity to promote its political and democratic values; whereas they affect the development of its economic relations with the countries in question and could jeopardise its energy security;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)
Citation 28 a (new)
- whereas the European Union, if it is to exert a positive influence on the MENA countries, must be able to do more than just hold out the prospect of economic cooperation, in particular by offering a large-scale political and strategic partnership;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the importance of a constant EU political presence at the highest level to secure a long-term strategic political dialogue and a genuine joint debate with the MENA countries on what they need to achieve internal political stability and promote regional stability in partnership with the EU;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the European Union will only gain real influence on the international scene if it is able to speak with one voice; calls on the VP/HR accordingly to appoint representatives at the highest level, i.e. EU foreign ministers or very senior political figures acting on her instructions and together with her, to ensure a constant dialogue with the countries of the region; notes that this continued bilateral strategic political dialogue should form part of a regional strategy defined with the countries concerned, with the support of key partner countries, to ensure political and security stability in the long term;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the involvement of the countries of the Arab Peninsula in the international coalition against ISIS; urges their governments to redouble their efforts to prevent the financing of international terrorism, for example through including increased surveillance of waqfs and private donors; stresses the urgent need to introduce an efficient system of penalties coordinated with the LAS so as to put an end to ISIS financing by the Arab world; stresses also the urgent need for a decryption system to deal with clandestine oil sales by ISIS; notes the growing responsibilities being assumed by the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt on the regional scene; calls on these states to coordinate any intervention with the League of Arab States (LAS) and the international community;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls the need to put in place the conditions for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority for a lasting settlement of the conflict based on a solution enabling both countries to live side by side in peace and security; welcomes the 2002 peace initiatives and calls on the LAS countries to put them into effect; stresses that any debate on resuming the peace process and on administrative and political control of the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Authority would gain greatly by including the LAS; stresses the crucial role played by Egypt in bringing about the final ceasefire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel in summer 2014; calls on international donors to honour the commitments made by them at the Cairo Conference of October 2014;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses full support for a new common security and defence policy (CSDP) to promote stability and security in the MENA countries; points out that the EU could play a major role in providing specific training in border surveillance, anti-terrorism and the prevention of arms’ trafficking and in overhauling security; stresses the importance of dialogue and cooperation with the LAS and the African Union so that partner countries in the region can play a leading role in the fight against extremism, in terms of both competences and military and human resources, in partnership and full coordination with the European Union;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. RIs particularly concerned that the various political crises in the region have reduced the intelligence capacity of the Member States; recalls the crucial importance of promoting improved cooperation between the EU Member States and the MENA countries in combating terrorism; calls for closer cooperation with the Europol and Interpol countries, providing them with assistance in developing the necessary anti- terrorist structures and resources;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict in Syria, taking due account of the moderate opposition existing alongside the Syrian National Councilalition and strengthening the moderate Sunni components; in this respect welcomes the Syrian National Coalition’s efforts in broadening its membership and engaging with other opposition groups in support of an inclusive political solution, including through recent engagement with the National Coordination Commission to set out the oppositions' vision for political transition; points out that no democratic solution in line with the fundamental principles of the Union can be negotiated with Bachar Al-Assad, following the massacres perpetrated by him;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses its deep concern at the situation in Libya; fully supports the efforts of Bernardino León, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, to achieve a political solution to the conflict; stresses the need to maintain its territorial integrity and national unity; stresses, in line with the recommendations of the AU contact group, that the Libyan crisis can only be resolved by means of dialogue that is as inclusive as possible;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Is convinced that the lack of democracy is one of the fundamental causes of political instability in the region; believes that a long-term, comprehensive strategy to promote democracy is needed to help the countries in the region achieve political stability; calls on the European Union to provide active and sustainable support to the democratic aspirations of societies in the region at the same time as establishing a constructive and in-depth dialogue with governments which takes account of the specific characteristics of each society; calls on the EEAS to redouble its efforts to spread and explain European values, in particular through its regular contacts with the authorities and, at the same time, with representatives of civil societies;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to continue to encourage democratic reforms within the EU neighbouring countries; stresses the importance of maintaining the ‘two- thirds/one third’ principle for the allocation of ENP fundingnotes that ENP economic and commercial incentives alone are insufficient to achieve the objective of stability and security; calls on the Commission, the EEAS, the Council and the Member States to develop a political and strategic ENP dimension; welcomes the launch by the HR/VP and the Commission of broad consultation on ENP renewal;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Underlines the opportunity that negotiations on Association Agreements provide to boost reforms; stresses that all the dimensions should be linked in order for the EU to deepen its relationship in a comprehensive and coherent manner; stresses the need to include real and tangible incentives for partners in these agreements in order to make the path of reform more attractive, more effective and discernible to civilian populations;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is convinced that cultural cooperation is essential in combating terrorism and any form of radicalism, particularly as it will allow future generations in the countries in the region to have an informed view of the European Union and its commitment to universal values; stresses the utmost importance of promoting cultural and academic exchanges; urges partner countries to participate in EU cultural programmes; calls on the Commission to act on the European Parliament’s proposal for the creation of an ambitious Euro- Mediterranean Erasmus programme distinct from the Erasmus+ programme; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention, in the immediate term, to the Erasmus+ programmes drawn up for the southern Mediterranean;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Emphasises the potential for cultural and interreligious dialogue offered by the ENP; stresses the connection between, on the one hand, exchange and cooperation between the EU and the ENP countries in the fields of culture and education and, on the other hand, the building and strengthening of an open civil society, democracy, the rule of law and the promotion of fundamental freedoms and human rights;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the need to highlight the central role of the Union for the Mediterranean which, as a unique forum for dialogue on partnership between the European Union and all the countries in the Mediterranean region, needs to become a driving force for investment in the regionʼs sustainable socioeconomic development; points out that it should itself be able to raise the necessary funds for these projects; endorses the direction being taken by ministerial meetings; calls for wider dissemination of resulting programmes and actions, for the latter to be stepped up and be placed on the political agenda of the various institutional stakeholders;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Notes that the MENA region is affected particularly by poverty and inequalities; is convinced that economic and social development, combined with greater democracy and justice, is what is needed for political stability to become a fact; is worried by the situation young people are in and deems their having decent and legitimate prospects for their future to be essential;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the European Union to affirm its involvement in all stages of the economic development of the states in the region, assisted by all the tools placed at its disposal; recalls that these tools range from humanitarian aid to full and deep free trade agreements and enable it to cover a process that goes from exiting the crisis and up to the establishment of stable institutions;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Regrets that a minimum one-year period is necessary for the release of macro-financial assistance to countries in a very precarious financial situation; urges the deployment of a new procedural dimension for EU aid, both in regard to aid through EU external action financial instruments and at macro-financial assistance level; urges the European Union to mobilise or redirect funding very promptly; calls on Arab donors to coordinate aid within the LAS and, as far as possible, together with the European Union;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to coordinate their investment strategies with the Union for the Mediterranean so as to create positive synergies;
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the EU to develop partnerships with countries in the region that are not direct neighbours; supports the conclusion of a convention to establish a free-trade area between the EU and GCC and the resumption of negotiations for a new joint action programmein so far as a mutually profitable agreement can be found which would offer the European Union a greater presence and a further lever in the region, notably through the resumption of negotiations for a new joint action programme; recalls to mind that an agreement of this kind between the GCC and EFTA came into force on 1 July 2014;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Regrets the deadlock faced by the EU with regard to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU); stresses that regional integration of the MENA countries would enable political links to be strengthened and would further trade and development; calls on the EU to make every effort to assist with the regional integration of the Maghreb countries under the AMU or Agadir agreements;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Welcomes the support of the Foreign Affairs Council for the Southern Mediterranean Investment Coordination Initiative (AMICI); stresses the importance of initiatives that further consistency and efficiency in the European Unionʼs external action;
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Supports further cooperation in the transport sector, including by linking the infrastructure network of the European Union and partner countries more tightly in order to facilitate the movement of people and goods;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Stresses that supplying energy to countries in the EUʼs southern neighbourhood is important both strategically and in economic terms; asserts that Euro-Mediterranean interconnections in the gas and electricity sectors need to be encouraged;