16 Amendments of Ana GOMES related to 2013/2105(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the significant and ongoing changes in the geopolitical environment characterised by multidimensional and asymmetric threats, by the rise of emerging powers and a strategic shift in attention by the US towards the Pacific region, by increased instability in the EU's southern neighbourhood, by maritimeincreased maritime security challenges, by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and increased illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, and by a severe and long- lasting financial and economic crisis with a major impact on the GDP of many EU Member States and, consequently, on national defence budgets on both sides of the Atlantic; notes that no single member of the EU is able to overcome these multifaceted challenges by itself;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that reassessing and strengthening Europe's role in the world constitutes one of the major challenges of the 21st century and that the time has come for the Member States of the Union to decide whethercommit to the EU shouldto be a relevant global actor for peace and a security provider with strategic autonomy; considers that political will and a change of mindset on the part of Member States is required in order to anchor a European approach to a committed and effective security and defence policy;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes, therefore, the European Council decision to hold a discussion dedicated to security and defence at the December 2013 Summit; considers that this provides a timely opportunity to underline at the highest political level and to communicate to the public in Europe that a consistent common security and defence issues matterpolicy is of utmost necessity for the Union's prosperity, safety, security and also for its relevance at the global level to promote and defend its fundamental values; strongly believes that the EU needs to be able to provide security for its citizens, to assume its share of responsibility for world peace and to play an effective role in preventing and managing regional crises in its neighbourhood and globally, contributing to their resolution and protecting itself against the negative effects of these crises;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises in this regard the possibility of establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) among Member States (Article 46.6 TEU), of entrusting CSDP missions and operations in particular to that group of Member States (Articles 42.5 and 44.1 TEU), and of establishing a start-up fund for preparatory activities for missions which are not charged to the Union budget (Article 41.3 TEU); highlights in this context the importance of leveragingstreamlining CSDP matters into those EU policies which have an multifaceted impact on security and defence, like or contribute to CSDP, like development and human rights, industrial research and innovation, market,internal market, international trade and space policies and others, in order to support those Member States which are engaged in further strengthening the CSDP;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance of these commonly agreed provisions for the strengtheningdevelopment of the CSDP and calls on the European Council to conduct a serious discussion about their implementation in a coherent manner; calls on the President of the European Council, the President of the Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP) to play an active role in this process;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that, according to the Treaties, the EU's aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples (Article 3 TEU) and that its action on the international scene seeks to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and to prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and with the aims of the Charter of Paris, including those relating to external borders (Article 21 TEU); is convincedstresses that the CSDP serves these aims and underlines the need to upgradestrengthen it;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Reiterates its conviction that although elements of the 2003 European Security Strategy, as supplemented in 2008, remain valid, the EU needs to review and to complement this strategy by taking recent developments and new array of security challenges and risks into account and redefining its intereststrategic interests, objectives and priorities, with a greater emphasis on the protection of its citizens, the defence of critical infrastructures and its neighbourhood, and by dovetailing the different regional and topical sub- strategies; believes that such an exercise will provide a clearer strategic framework for external action by the EU, enhance consistency and, at the same time, communicate better to the citizens the challenges and risks facing them in the future; requests therefore that the European Council launch a debate on the appropriate strategic framework for the Union, mandate the HR/VP to come forward with proposals in this respect before the end of 2014 and ensure sustainable follow-up, subject to regular updates;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Repeats its call for a European White Paper on defence and suggests that the European Council consider this option; urges the EU Member States, furthermore, to give serious consideration to the European dimension in their national security strategies and, White Papers and policy and decision-making in the field of defence;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that the introduction of a mutual defence clause and a solidarity clause by the Treaties (Article 42.7 TEU and Article 222 TFEU) reinforces the sense of common destiny among European citizens; reminds Member States that only in a spirit of commitment, mutual understanding and genuine solidarity will the Union be able to fulfil its role as a global security provider and to project its political, diplomatic, social, economic and cultural influence worldwide, enhancing the security of Europe and that of its citizens; commends, therefore, the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) for the Joint Proposal on the arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause and calls on the Heads of State and Government to reaffirm their commitment to mutual political solidarity; by swiftly approving this proposal;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that the number and timeliness of CSDP missions and operations, and the development of civilian and especially military means and capabilities for the CSDP, fall short of what is required, given the EU's increasingly insecure and unstable neighbourhood; deplores, in particular, the limited overall scope of the CSDP missions related to the crises in Libya and Mali and regrets the lack of flexibility within the Union's decision-making procedures which account for delayed effective responses in crises scenarios, as the two examples illustrate; calls for greater ambition and serious efforts to improve the design of future CSDP missions and operations under a ‘'lessons learned process’' and to develop appropriate exit strategies; invites the VP/HR to steer this process and to present proposals on how to make CSDP more effective and proactive;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses its concern, based on experience in the recent past, that the comprehensive approach to crisis management has not yet reached its full potential; considers that missions and operations are more meaningful when they are embedded into a regional strategy, as the positive example of the Horn of Africa demonstrates, and when they mainstream and attempt at tackling the root causes of instability and human insecurity; takes note of the ‘'Suggestions for crisis management procedures for CSDP crisis management operations’' endorsed by the Member States on 18 June 2013;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Asks that the functional problems of civilian CSDP missions, notably regarding the speed of deployment and staffing, be tackled by reviewing their legal and financial framework, which often complicates the decision-making process and leads to delays; calls for an increase in the number of planners, which is too small in comparison to the number of missions; further asks Member States to create a ‘'civilian reserve corps’' that could be deployed quickly if needed; welcomes in this regard the recently established permanent CSDP warehouse;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Confirms that the existing financial system of ‘'costs lie where they fall’' constitutes a serious problem for the CSDP, leading to delays or complete blockages in decision-making, notably on the quick deployment of battlegroups; recommends that Member States agree on an EU financing mechanism based on burden-sharing, namely for the use of battlegroups under the EU flag, in order to give them a realistic future, but also for other CSDP missions, thereby encouraging those Member States not able to contribute to the financing of missions to still contribute with equipment, human and other resources; expects the HR/VP and interested Member States to put forward concrete proposals in this respect;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out that the European economy depends on the freedom of navigation and on U has a vital interest in a secure and open maritime environment that allows the free passage of commerce and the peaceful, legal and sustainable use of the oceans' riches, that maritime flows represent the lifeblood of European trade and are conduits of European sea routespower and influence; calls therefore on the European Council to consider the strategic maritime interests of the EU and to mandate the HR/VP and the Commission to draw up anlooks forward to the adoption of the EU mMaritime sSecurity sStrategy foreseen for December, in line with the April 2010 Council conclusions, and to develop a specific implementation plan; points out that the integration of maritime surveillance across sectors and borders is already a cross-sectoral tool of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IPM); highlights the importance of swiftly implementing the Common Information Sharing Environment project and building a ‘'bridge’' between the IPM and the CSDP to improve information sharing between them; urges the Commission and the EEAS to fully integrate the Parliament's recommendations adopted in September 2013 in its report on the Maritime Dimension of the CSDP;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Invites the European Council to develop guidelines for the implementation of the EU Cyber Security Strategy and to take concrete measures regarding the protection of cyber infrastructure and EU- wide cooperation on crisis management procedures, cyber exercises, training and education; calls on the Commission and the HR/VP to ensure that cyber-security policy is enacted in a cross-sectoral manner, as to ensure the adequate bridging between the internal and external security policies of the EU, and the transnational threats and risks;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Echoes concerns that further uncoordinated and blind cuts in national defence budgets will make it impossible to maintain critical military capabilities and will result in the irreversible loss of know- how and technologies; notes that the shortfalls in Member States' capabilities became apparent during the operations in Libya and Mali and that the economic crisis has exacerbated existing structural problems; reiterates its view, however, that the problem is less of a budgetary nature than of a political one;