Activities of Andreas MÖLZER related to 2009/2216(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus (debate)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the EU needs to play a moren active political role and develop a strategy to assist the transformation of the South Caucasus into a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity and to use fully its potential to contributein order to contribute, while taking account of Russia’s geostrategic sphere of interest, to the peaceful solution of the conflicts in the region by combining its soft power with a firm approach;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the responsibility of external actors to use their power and influence in ways that are fully consistent with international law, including human rights law; believes that reduction of the competition between external actors in the region should be pursued, but cannot come at the price of effectively accepting any actor’s claim to have ‘privileged interests’; is of the opinion that introducing conditions for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the South Caucasus states is unacceptable;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations, border opening and cooperation; calls on both sides to seize this opportunity to mend their relations through ratification and implementation; does not support the introduction of conditions for ratification not mentioned in the protocols, but notes that if implemented, they will have wide- ranging, potentially overall verymost probably have positive consequences in the region and that they can therefore not be seen in isolation; calls on Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan, to intensify their efforts in the Minsk Co-chairs-led talks on the principles for a settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is seriously concerned about the use oft reports that ethnic cleansing has a prelude to theoccurred in the run-up to Russian recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhazian statehood; notes with satisfaction; notes that the international community remains united in its rejection of the unilateral declaration of independence; calls on Russia to honour its commitment in the Ceasefire Agreement to withdraw its troops to the positions held before the outbreak of the August 2008 war and to cease its blocking of EUMM access to South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underscores the importance of free and fair elections to be held in accordance with international commitments and standards; notes that the last presidential elections held in Armenia in February 2008 were once again violent and that repercussions of the internal crisis in their aftermath are still being felt; takes note of the municipal elections held in a peaceful manner in Azerbaijan on 23 December 2009 and awaits the report of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities observation delegation thereon; calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the local elections scheduled for 30 May 2010 take place in accordance with international standards and that the electoral law is amended accordingly, and reaffirms that securing direct election of mayors is crucial; confirms its and the EU’s position that elections and referenda in breakaway regions are illegitimate; defends the political rights of all displaced persons;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underscores the importance of building a favourable business climate and the development of the private sector; commends Azerbaijan on its noteworthy economic growth and the reform process, which makes the economy more attractive to foreign investors, and hopes that Azerbaijan will continue and eventually complete its negotiations on accession to the WTO; welcomes the progress in implementing market-economy reforms aiming at gradual liberalisation of the market in Armenia and Georgia; notes however that the economic development of Armenia and Georgia has been affected by the general economic crisis and welcomes the decision at the end of 2009 to provide macrofinancial assistance to the two countries;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recognises the significance of the region for the EU’s energy cooperation and energy security; notes the great value of Azerbaijan’s energy resources and the essential role these play in its economic development; underscores the importance of ensuring that the benefits deriving from the exploitation of natural resources are evenly distributed and invested in the development of the country as a whole, permitting it to brace itself against the negative repercussions of an eventual decline in oil production;, and welcomes in this context the intention of Azerbaijan to diversify its economy;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underscores the importance of investing in renewable energy sources and ensuring that environmental concerns are catered for; welcomes the establishment of the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus; considers the plans proclaimed by Azerbaijan to make the development of alternative energy sources a government priority praiseworthy and encourages the pursuit of such objectives; is glad to take note of the decision of Armenia to decommission the nuclear plant in Medzamor, but regretsis seriously concerned that a new nuclear plant will be built in the same seismic area;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Takes note of the current EU involvement in conflict resolution processes in the region and believes that the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty justifies a more prominent role for the EU; welcomes the work of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and calls for increased EU action to persuade Russia and the relevant de facto authorities to stop blocking the EUMM from entering South Ossetia and Abkhazia; welcomes the work of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia ; considers that the EU now has the opportunity to play a greater role in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and could do so by participating in the negotiations through the establishment of an EU mandate for the French Co-chair of the Minsk Group, by standing ready to launch reconstruction aid programmes and by supporting civil-society projects that aim to promote reconciliation and contacts between individuals and peoples in the region;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the High Representative for the Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to follow closely the developments in the region and to be actively involved in the conflict resolution processes; acknowledges the work of the Special Representative for the South Caucasus and expresses the hope that the High Representative will ensure its continuity and consistency; encourages the Council to consider the possible use of tools from the CSDP to step up its participation in the peace-building and conflict- management processes;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to grant substantialthe necessary financial and technical support to measures building confidence and promoting trust between and among the peopulationles of the South Caucasus and to participate in rehabilitation and reconstruction in the region, such as income-generating projects and projects on socio-economic integration of IDPs and returnees, on the rehabilitation of housing and aiming at dialogue and mediation;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Recognises the potential role of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum as the space to foster the development of a genuine civil society and strengthen its entrenchment in the states of the region, and calls on the Commission to ensure that the Forum receives sufficient financial and technical support; draws attention to the importance of financing civil society projects and the role that the EU Delegations in the region play in selecting these, and the significance that the projects can have in promoting contacts at regional level;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls that energy security is a common preoccupation; urges the EU therefore to give more robust support to the energy projects in the region, and to step up its cooperation on energy issues and to work towards the completion of the Nabucco pipeline; also calls on the Commission to ensure that the energy- and transport- related projects in the South Caucasus foster relations between the three countries and are not a cause of exclusion of certain communities; reaffirms the importance of the Baku Initiative and its corresponding supporting programmes, INOGATE and TRACECA;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers that the EU should continue to support economic development, trade and investment in the region, and believes that the negotiation and establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements plays a very important role in this respect; calls on the Commission to consider possible ways to assist the countries in the region to prepare them and enable them to negotiate and then implement and sustain the commitments provided for in possible future FTAs;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Reiterates the significance of people- to-people contacts and mobility programmes, especially aimed at youth; calls on the Council and Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation with the three countries and welcomes the initialling of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia;