14 Amendments of Patrizia TOIA related to 2016/2324(INI)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas CSOs have become important players in global development assistance, particularly in the delivery of basic social services, public awareness, the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governance, and the response to humanitarian crises;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU is the largest donor to local civil society organisations in developing countries and has been a leading actor in the protection of civil society actors and human rights defenders through the use and implementation of a range of instruments and policies, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the DCI thematic programme for Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities (CSOs-LAs), the European Endowment for Democracy, the Civil Society Roadmaps implemented in 105 countries and country strategy papers;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas there has been an expansion in size, scope and composition of civil society around the world over the past decade; whereas, at the same time, the restrictions against civil society actors and activities have become increasingly repressive and forceful in some developing countries; whereas, moreover, the agenda set by donors, in some cases, is liable to fail to take fully into consideration the real needs of the civil society actors working in the field and is thus likely to limit their right of initiative;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas there has been a worrying increase in the number of reports of CSOs, human rights defenders and, journalists and religious leaders being persecuted, harassed, stigmatised as “foreign agents”, arbitrarily arrested or detained, and in the number of victims of abuse and violence, in recent years; whereas in a number of countries, this is being done with complete impunity, and at times with the support or compliance of the authorities;
Amendment 60 #
1. Believes that a genuinely independent, pluralistic and vibrant civil society is pivotal to a country’s development and stability, to ensuring democracy and respect for human rights, and to building inclusive societies, with a special focus on the more vulnerable, so that nobody is left behind; further recalls that civil society is a key actor in achieving the SDGs;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the central role played by civil society in developing countriesfostering personal, family and community bonds within the society and in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance, in particular in the fight against corruption and violent extremism, and its potential implications on country’s economic and human development;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that states have the primary responsibility and are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, and have a duty to provide a political, legal and administrative environment conducive to a free and functioning civil society; calls on the EU to introduce a positive conditionality in general and sectoral budget support on the involvement of CSOs at programming, implementing and monitoring stages as an antidote against corruption and for fostering human and socio-economic development;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
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; calls on the EU to diversify the funding arrangements and mechanisms for civil society actors by taking account of their specific features and different roles;
Amendment 90 #
6. Calls on the EU to continue to work towards greater autonomy of the civic space not only by tackling the EU development and human rights policies, but by integrating all other EU external policies, including trade and security policies, in accordance with the principle of policy coherence for development; recalls that the instruments of EU trade policy, such as binding human rights clauses in trade agreements or the “EBA”, “GSP” and “GSP+” schemes requiring beneficiary countries to ratify and implement core international conventions relating to human and labour rights, environment and good governance, before being granted tariff reductions or suspensions, can be an influential tool for opening up civic space;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that tackling shrinking civil society space requires a unified and consistent approach in the EU’s relationship with developing countries, and calls for the EU and Member States to proactively address the root causes of shrinking civil society space, in particular by mainstreaming the promotion of civil society organisations and their participation in bilateral and multilateral cooperation at all stages, including in political dialogues at the highest level, and by introducing positive conditionality in budget support as regards the involvement of civil society actors;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls equally that the private sector is a key partner in achieving the SDGs, and has an important role to play in fostering civic space; calls for the EU to introduce positive conditionality as regards the involvement of civil society actors when cooperation funds are allocated to private sector initiatives devoted to development cooperation;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the appointment of human rights focal points in EU Delegations dedicated to improving cooperation with local civil society, in particular in providing assistance to vulnerable groups and individuals; calls on the EU Delegations to provide information, available to all civil society actors and in a regular and transparent manner, concerning funds and funding opportunities and to further engage with CSOs in the programming cycle of EU funds, and in their subsequent monitoring;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the EU not to restrict the scope for action of civil society actors through funding arrangements and mechanisms designed to minimise the number of potential discussion partners or by inviting to the consultations only those organisations which already have contracts, and by increasing calls for activities to which civil society actors can have access;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the increased flexibility provided by a number of EU financing instruments relevant to development cooperation, allowing among other things easier registration of grant applicants, and, where needed, confidentiality for recipients; considers, however, that more can be done to provide the most appropriate and tailored response to specific country situations, including more up-stream information on upcoming calls for proposals, funding opportunities and updates of the roadmaps, the harmonisation and simplification of funding modalities, and support to CSOs in their administrative procedures;