Activities of Ana GOMES related to 2015/2342(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate) PT
Amendments (24)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. whereas theRecalls that there is a global humanitarian crisis affecting more than 65.3 million ‘'displaced’' persons1 means that the distinction between people in need of international protection and migrants is becoming increasingly difficult to draw; _________________ 1 http://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2016/6/ 5763b65a4/global-forced-displacement- hits-record-high.html, including within their own countries, and that in this context people can be forced to flee for various reasons; stresses that it is of paramount importance to safeguard the status and the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, who are in need of international protection, but also calls to protect the rights of migrants and not to stigmatise them, because leaving one's home in the hope of finding a better life is not a crime;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Expresses its solidarity with people who are forced to leave their countries on account of conflicts, persecutionmultiple factors, such as conflicts, persecution, exploitation, gender-based violence, violations of human rights, extreme poverty and environmental causes, whether natural or man-made;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Underlines that migrations have always been an international phenomenon calling for a global response; stresses that, in order to be more credible and to avoid double standards, the European Union should ensure greater consistency between its internal and external policies, and cooperate with third countries in full respect of international law and human rights, the principle of non-refoulement and the right to asylum; calls on the European Union and its Member States to show solidarity not only between themselves but also towards those third countries of origin and transit welcoming many refugees and migrants;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls that migrant smuggling and human trafficking are different phenomena, but that there can also be a crossover between the two, entailing the risk that criminals groups force refugees and migrants into exploitation as victims of trafficking, in particular unaccompanied minors and women travelling alone; reaffirms that measures taken against human trafficking shouldn't adversely affect the rights of victims of trafficking, migrants, refugees and persons in need of international protection; asks to put an end immediately to the detention of victims of human trafficking and children;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the European Union to open up legal and safe routes for migrants and refugees, which are the best way to combat human smuggling but also human trafficking, as well as to prevent people from losing their lives on their way to Europe; is convinced in particular that legal labour migration channels should be developed for workers of all skill levels, as they represent a fundamental chance for the future of the EU, considering the immense demographic and economic challenges it is facing; believes as well that the EU visa policy should be promoted as a tool to enhance mobility opportunities, cross-cultural and scientific exchanges, but also to offer more possibilities of training and studying for third country nationals;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for international protection to be provided to people fleeing conflicts and persecution, including through binding resettlement programmes and humanitarian visa, at EU and global levels, as well as humanitarian visas, to be delivered through harmonised procedures by Member States' consulates and embassies;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that displaced persons who are in a situation of vulnerability, such as women, children or LGBTI people, face a heightened risk of discrimination, exploitation and abuse along migration routes, meaning that they need to be granted special support and protection; calls on the European Union to develop training programmes in its cooperation with third countries related to the specific needs of vulnerable refugees and migrants;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Underlines that women and LGBTI people can be subject to specific forms of gender-based persecution and discrimination which should be valid reasons for seeking asylum, including but not limited to physical violence, rape and sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, domestic violence, and so-called honour crimes; adds that women and LGBTI people are at risk of subsequent sexual and gender-based violence along migration routes, and highlights that unaccompanied women and girls, pregnant women, people with disabilities and the elderly can be even more vulnerable to such violence; calls on the European Union to develop a gender- sensitive approach in its cooperation with third countries on addressing refugees and migrants movements; asks to put an end immediately to the detention of pregnant women, survivors of rape, sexual violence and gender-based violence in general;
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned by the growing tendency to make all EU policies conditional on management of migration flows as well as border control and denounces the use of development and humanitarian aid funds in this area;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Considers that, in order to address the root causes of migration, the European Union and the Member States should not outsource their responsibilities essentially through repressive measures, but instead use the whole range of external policies which can have a positive impact on third countries, in full respect of international law and human rights, for instance through the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, access to education, training and employment, and support for integration;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses that, in the framework of its training activities and exchange of best practices with third countries, the EU should focus on relevant Union and international law and practice, including on fundamental rights, access to international protection, search and rescue, as well as better identification of and assistance to persons in a vulnerable situation; believes this applies in particular to training related to border management, which should in no way be used as a tool to prevent persons from leaving their country as provided for in international law;
Amendment 88 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for all agreements with third countries to guarantee that the rights of migrants, whatever their status, are respected and promotes the adoption of appropriate laws, including in respect of asylum, meaning in particular that irregularly entering into a country should not be considered as a crime;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that EU relations with third countries in the field of migration and asylum must meet the requirements of transparency, democratic oversight and accountability; considers that EU agreements with third countries, as well as the arrangements concluded between EU agencies and the competent authorities from these countries, should be subjected to democratic control from the European Parliament and civil society; calls in particular on the new European and Coast Guard Agency to systematically report to the Parliament and civil society on the implementation of its working arrangements and joint operation with third countries;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that concepts of safe third countries and safe countries of origin should not prevent individual assessments of asylum applications;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses its concern about the treatment of migrants who are sent back to their country of origin or to a third country; underlines that they should be granted full safety and protection from degrading and inhuman treatment, including in detention centres; recalls that people should not be forcibly sent or returned to countries where there is a risk of threat on their life, of persecution and more generally of violation of their human rights;
Amendment 127 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the assessment and budgetary control of funds used as part of the Union’s external policies on migration, believes it is essential as well to verify the reliability and soundness of the partner third countries concerned;
Amendment 136 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. CRecalls that environmental changes, whether caused by climate change, natural disasters, environmental harm or a degraded environment, constitute an increasing factor of population displacement; believes EU external action should contribute to reducing the vulnerability of populations to environmental risks, providing assistance to displaced persons under the impact of environmental changes, as well as cooperating with third countries on a global scale in order to address the challenge of environmental migrations; calls on the Union to get involved in the debate on the terms ‘'climate refugees’' and ‘'environmentally displaced persons’. ', so as to eventually grant a legal status and international protection to persons fleeing for environmental reasons.
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that EU external action should be forward-looking instead of mainly reactive with changing objectives in response to new crises and that migration policy must be understood as a sustainable long-term policy to promote growth and cohesion within the EU; recalls that the migration phenomenon stems from a complex set of causes such as a growing population, poverty, insufficient job creation, political instability and climate change;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the establishment of a genuine, value-based common European migration policy – with adequateopening safe and legal channels for migration as a sustainable long-term policy to promote growth and cohesion within the EUasylum seekers and candidates to migration, otherwise condemned to illegality – in order to set a clear framework for EU relations with third countries; welcomes the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling (2015-2020), which envisages closer cooperation with third countries, but underlines that the implementation of a common EU legal migration policy would be instrumentcrucial in breaking the business model of smugglers;
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the new Partnership FrameworkIs concerned with thirde countries as a signal of real political action; stresses that the success of the approach outlined in the communication of June 2016 depends on the EU’s capacity to offer real, commonly agreed incentives to third countries and is concerned by the limited offer mainly focuseder- productive focus of the new Partnership Framework on border management or Assisted Voluntary Return schemes, which – while essential and needed – constitute only a partial response to the situation; highlights the need to balance and complement this response, focusing on the development of local economies, qualification and regional mobility and improved levels of protection in countries of transit and origin;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concerns regarding the quantitative approach in the new Partnership Framework and the related ‘'migration compacts’', which see the ‘'measurable increases in the number and rate of returns’' as one of the EU’'s main goals, as the number of returns clearly depends on the nature of migration flows and on the situations in the countries of origin; stresses that the short-term objectives of the compacts should focus on how best to address the challenges faced by third countries, including by developing legal migration channels, as a result of which the levels of irregularsafe and legal channels to asylum seekers and migration cand death tolls in the Mediterranean will decreasidates, as the only way to deny business to human traffickers and associated organised crime;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Condemns the course of action agreed at the Valetta Summit and the instrumentalisation of the Khartoum process to finance repressive regimes, such as Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan, under the pretext to curb migration to Europe; stresses that development aid should aim at eradicating poverty and enhancing good governance, and not controlling migration; takes the view that this flawed policy violates EU's human rights principles and undermines any foreign policy designed for the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and is counter-productive in the long term, leading to a vicious circle of abuse and repression which will reinforce the causes that make people flee their countries;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Notes that the packages designed for priority countries as part of the new Partnership Framework, by the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States, have neither been presented nor debated by the elected representatives of European citizens; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to keep Parliament regularly informed of these dialogues and to report on their operational implementation; and stresses the importance of the Parliament in exercise its monitoring and scrutinizing roles;
Amendment 414 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the high-level dialogues carried out by the VP/HR and the Commission, and in some cases by Member States on behalf of the EU as a whole, as good and effective practices fostering coordination; stresses that coordination should be undertaken by the Commission and the EEAS; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to keep Parliament regularly informed of these dialogues and to report on the exact operational implementation of the Rabat and Khartoum processes and the priority initiatives agreed at the Valletta Summit; notes that the packages designed for priority countries as part of the new Partnership Framework, by the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States, have neither been presented nor debated by the elected representatives of European citizens;