Activities of Luis de GRANDES PASCUAL related to 2017/2027(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU political relations with Latin America (debate) ES
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on EU political relations with Latin America PDF (360 KB) DOC (81 KB)
Amendments (37)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to its resolutions on Venezuela, in particular the resolutions of 8 June 2016 and of 27 April 2017 on the situation in Venezuela2 , _________________ 2 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0269.
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
Amendment 16 #
A. whereas the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC) constitutes a key partner for the EU when it comes to jointly facing current global challenges, such as universal respect of Human Rights, peace, security, corruption, impunity, fight against terrorism, narcotraffic, organized crime, the eradication of poverty, access to drinking water, peace and security, socioeconomic development, sustainability, the fight against climate change, the digital transformation and managing migration;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the EU – Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC) partnership is founded on close historical and cultural ties, extensive people to people exchanges, strong and growing trade and investment flows and shared values such as democracy, human rights and rule of law;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the 33 LAC countries have diverse political, economic and cultural realities that require different approaches within a coherent framework in the context of EU external actionrelationship with the 33 LAC countries forms part of a general framework of shared principles and values, but those countries have diverse political, economic and social realities;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the LAC region has undergone significant changes in the past decade, such as the elevation of a large part of the population to the middle class through economic reforms and social policies ands well as the overall consolidation of democracy, but also the end of the commodities super-cycle that made millions of people vulnerable to falling back into poverty;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the rule of law mirrored into stable legal frameworks with guarantee of legal certainty, is a crucial element to attract the investments needed to promote the economic recovery;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas high inflation levels hinder growth and must be therefore immediately tackled; whereas reliable exchange rates are vital elements of country's economic development; whereas its vital to implement an industrial policy to increase productivity diversify the economy and attract investments;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the Association Agreements between the European Union and LAC countries help to improve the Political and Trade Dialogue and the investment climate turning to open the service sector and public procurement markets allowing the implementation of infrastructure projects;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU has also experienced important shifts in the plast years, namely the economic crisis, an increase in inequality, the challenges linked to Brexit, the refugee crisis, and the significant rise in citizen discontent with political institution and the refugee crisis;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the main geopolitical shifts currently in play in LAC countries, marked by the increasing presence, among others, of Asian states seeking economic partnership in the region, require that the EU stands up asreinforces its position of a truthful ally to its partners in the LAC region;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU is the main investor, one of the main trade partners and the main source of development assistance in the LAC region, and whereas European cooperation is strong as a result ofs reflected in the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) 2014 – 2020, and whereas common strong financial and triangular cooperation must be enhanced;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the Commission is drafting a new development agenda as part of the 2030 Agenda, and whereas the concept of sustainable development must be applied in and include all the countries in Latin America (including middle- income countries), and whereas that new approach must take account of other criteria in addition to per capita income;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. SUnderlines that the EU-LAC bi- regional partnership is based on common principles, values and interests in a horizontal relationship, has become crucial to the advancement of the bi- regional and cooperation exchanges; stresses that in the wake of the economic crisis, the EU and LAC countries are facing common challenges in the areas of economic growth, digital transformation, social inclusion and gender equality, while at the same time sharing common values such as democracy, human rights, peace and solidarity, and underlines that this partnership and political dialogue, based on common principles and interests in a horizontal relationship, has become crucial to the advancement of the bi-regional and cooperation exchange;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises the important role played by the EU’s strategic partnerships with countries in the region such as Brazil and Mexico, and calls for Argentina to be granted the status it deserves as an outstanding player in the region, and as a member of Mercosur and the G20;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of the EU-CELAC summits as an instrument of the strategic bi- regional partnership in a new framework for political dialogue, and calls on the EU and on CELAC to reinforce this partnership and political dialogue by working on clearly identified common interests in order to address jointly key global challenges in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations and the G- 20;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its support tofor regional integration inside the LAC region, and stresses the need for greater coordination between the different regional integration schemes existing in the region, while respecting differences in the pace of integration; stresses the need to speed up negotiations in order to reach anfor the swift conclusion of a comprehensive, balanced and mutually beneficial EU- Mercosur agreement that could establish an economic area based on similar trade and investment rules for almost all LAC and EU countriesssociation agreement, as referred to in the European Council conclusions of 9 March 2017, so as to make it possible to complete the network of agreements in force between the EU and Latin America;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses out that political stability, economic rules and institutional strength guaranteeing respects of rule of law and transparency, are cornerstones of the environment attracting long term investments in line with legal certainty; reminds that such legal framework requires strong democratic institutions and responsible economic planning, as well as an effort to strengthen the political dialogue and economic partnerships with the region as with external partners; in this context recalls that the partnership with the European Union plays a central role;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that current global challenges, including Human Rights, peace, security, corruption, impunity, narcotraffic, the eradication of poverty, the digital transformation, mass migration, cybersecurity, organised crime and terrorism, climate change, geopolitical shifts, inequality within and across countries, and drug trafficking, offer new opportunities and cooperation channels for a strategic EU-LAC partnership in which abased on common vision is shared;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the goal of eradicating poverty and reducing inequality must be addressed through economic reforms, increased work opportunities, social cohesion and inclusion, and highlights the necessity of widening the middle class and protecting it from the effects of economic cycles;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the need to integrate the LAC economies in global value chains, based on a circular economic model, and to recognise the importance of developing bilateral and multilateral commercial agreements as one of the most effective tools tackling common global challenges;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses the need to develop sustainable and effective tax systems in both regions, together with an appropriate tax culture, that could foster economic growth and the development of welfare states providing public goods, such asystems; stresses the need to provide access to public education, infrastructure and security, and to all citizens; reiterates that tax havens and tax avoidance are detrimental to social redistributivethe proper functioning of economic and social policies;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the effective inclusion of women in all spheres of political, economic and social life, with a view to enhancing their political participation, strenuously combatting femicides, guaranteeing the physical and psychological security, and employment equality, of women, and ensuring their fundamental rights, including sexual and reproductive rights;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights the advances in freedoms and social rights made in the last decade (although serious concerns remain in some countries), and the great efforts made to elaborate public policies to distribute wealth and economic growth equally; notes the necessity to guarantee the rights and safety of religiousall minorities, indigenous groups, the LGTBI community and populations in rural areas LAC region;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates that policies and practices on migration in the EU-LAC area must guarantee respect for human rights, with special attention given to women and minors, i.a. by re-evaluating the emphasis on the securitisavulnerable groups such as women and minors, while keeping in mind the challenges on the protection of borders and the non-criminalisation of migrants; calls for measures to facilitate and improve mobility between the regions, while ensuring the mutual consistency of labour rights and enhancing the coordination of social security systems;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the challenges both regions face in terms of security, which include terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, and encouragescalls for continued efforts to strengthen security cooperation through police and military coordination, and for Latin American countries to participate in EU crisis management and peacekeeping missions, as they are already doing in Colombia and Chile;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the challenges both regions face in terms of security, which include terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, and encourages continued efforts to strengthen security cooperation through police and military coordination, paying particular attention to information sharing;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the EU and LAC countries to address the problem of corruption through measures ranging from prevention to law enforcement and criminal prosecution, and points out that the existence of corruption undermines not only social and economic welfare, but also the political legitimacy and quality of democraticgood governmentance;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights the importance of the opening of negotiations for the modernisation of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, the progress made in the negotiations for the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement, and the speeding up of the EU-Mercosur negotiations, andand calls for that agreement to be concluded, and for the EU-Chile Association Agreement to be renewed, as soon as possible, preferably before the end of this year; calls foron the ratification ofMember State parliaments that have not yet done so to ratify the EU- Central America Association Agreement by all national parliaments of the EU Members States;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses the importance of the recent adhesion of Ecuador to the Multi- Party Agreement with Colombia and Peru, and invitesreminds that the doors are open for Bolivia to join as well, and welcomes the implementation of the Schengen short-stay visa waiver for Peru and Colombia, all of which contributes to enhancing the EU’'s economic and cultural ties with these countries;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recognises the importance of the Ibero-American summits, under the leadership of the Ibero-American General Secretariat General (SEGIB), and itsthe added value it brings to the overall partnership between the two regions as a forum for dialogue, coordination and cooperation, in particular in the fields of youth, education and entrepreneurship, and highlights its efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation; in that regard, calls for the establishment of a cooperation mechanism – that could take the form of a memorandum of understanding or a framework cooperation agreement between the Commission and/or the EEAS and SEGIB – that is able to optimise the relationship and place it on a more structured, orderly and systematic footing between the two bodies;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates that the EuroLat Assembly is, as well as the Parliamentary Delegations, are a very successful and useful tool for the parliamentary dimension of the strategic partnership, and for the political dialogue between EU and LAC, including civil society, as well as an important vehicletool for transferring citizens’' demands to the EU- CELAC summits; stresses the importance of ensuring the visibility and diffusion of its discussions and conclusions, both via interaction with EU-CELAC summits and via national and regional institutional channels;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its support to the peace process in Colombia and undertakes to support the Colombian Government in its implementation, ensuring; in this regard welcomes the involvement of the whole of Colombian society, notably victims and civil society organisations, and guaranteeing of the safety and protection of human rights activists and community leaders by the Government ; urges the EU and its Member States to uphold their political and financial support, including regulation IDC (Art 5, paragraph 2) and the EU Trust Fund for Colombia, and supports the role of VP/HR’'s Special Envoy for Colombia; express its wish that NLA will also commit to the ongoing peace process;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Expresses grave concern at the serious deterioration in the situation as regards democracy, human rights and the socio-economic situation in Venezuela, with a growing climate of political and social instability; calls on the Venezuelan Government to ensure the separation and independence of powers, and to fully restore the constitutional authority of the National Assembly; calls for consideration to be given to the possible freezing of assets, as well as to restricting access to EU territory for all those involved in serious violations of human rights in Venezuela;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Expresses its grave concern at the seriously deteriorating situation as regards democracy, human rights and the socio-economic situation in Venezuela, in a growing climate of political and social instability; calls on the Venezuelan Government to safeguard the separation and independence of powers, restore full constitutional authority to the National Assembly, ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and to present as soon as possible an electoral calendar that will allow free and transparent electoral processes to take place;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. WelcomesTakes note of the signing on December 2016 of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba; stresses the importance of speeding up its implementation, which can have a positive impact on the overall EU- CELAC partnership, and insists on the need for tangible results in the human rights dialoguesituation according with the EP resolutions;