Activities of Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA related to 2015/2095(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration
Amendments (29)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the migration crisis can be addressed only within the context of a European approach and not solely by bilateral meetings among Members States; calls for awelcomes the new European agenda on migration under the leadership of the Commission and the European Council, underpinned by solidarity among the Member States. This agenda might include the replacement of the Dublin regulation withConsideration should be given to the revision of the Dublin regulation and the correct development of a centralised European asylum system;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the planned increase in funding for asylum and immigration in the 2016 draft budget; draws attention, should the increases prove insufficient, to the EUR 360 000 000 in unused funds which are available following the overestimate of the cost of implementing the Smart Borders package.
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the complexity of the development-migration nexus, diverging from the common view of development as a means to reduce, if not eliminate, migration, without denying that development can help mitigate some of the causes of forced migration, such as conflicts or state fragilityand highlights the need to work effectively with third countries to identify the causes that lead to these migration flows rather than focusing exclusively on their consequences; recalls that emigration rises with economic development until countries reach an upper-middle-income country status (around USD 7000-8000 per capita), at which point it begins to decrease;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 38 a (new)
Citation 38 a (new)
- having regard the eighth biannual report on the functioning of the Schengen area adopted on 15 December 2015;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that the right to leave any country, including one’s own, is enshrined in Article 13 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights; stresses that, while this is a liberty and a fundamental right that should benefit everybody, only citizens of the ‘global North’ and the wealthiest citizens of the ‘global South’ can truly exercise this right; stresses the need to better and fully implement the principle of ‘non-refoulement’, which, particularly for asylum seekers, is the corollary of the right to migrate; highlights the clear distinction between economic migrants and refugees enjoying international protection; stresses the need to better and fully implement the no-return principle, ensuring that, where returns do take place, they are carried out in conditions of dignity, with guarantees for the individual concerned and in full compliance with international legislation;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers the issues and problems faced by women migrantsvulnerable groups of people (such as women, the elderly, children, people with special needs, minorities and others) in the migration process and its impact on women’stheir empowerment and human rights to be of major importance; stresses that an explicit genderinclusive perspective in migration policies that takes account of the specific features of each vulnerable group is vital; calls in particular for gender discrimination to be removed in the legal aspects of migration; insists, likewise, on the need to respect the human and individual rights of the weakest among the migrants, namely women and children (including the need for education for migrating and refugee children), the elderly, people with special needs, minorities and others, and on the need to include these rights in the post-2015 development agenda;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas many parts of the African continent are ravaged by terrible violence (perpetrated by, among others, terrorist groups such as Boko Haram or ISIS) and suffer the combined effects of extreme poverty, environmental degradation and a lack of opportunities for young people, which could engender more violence and insecurity in the region and lead to further population movements towards the Mediterranean;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the EU to fully respect the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) in its migration and Mediterranean policies, and in particular in the implementation of its European Agenda on Migration; highlights the importance of guaranteeing policy coherence and coordination between the EU’s external action and security, humanitarian aid and development cooperation policies;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to review Europe Aid’s evaluation and results- oriented monitoring systems, whichguarantee the effectiveness of aid and ensure that it reaches those who need it most; points out that continuous assessments of the current systems, in particular mobility agre essential for planning, designing andements and readmission and return agreements, are essential for implementing EU policies and interventions, and for enhancing transparency and democratic accountability.
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises the need for a fresh approach on Africa, including better opportunities for trade and development, enabling sustainable economic growth while also boosting our cooperation with third countries of origin and transit, particularly on topics such as irregular migration, people trafficking, combating corruption and promoting good governance, as set out in Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the global development framework after 2015.
Amendment 95 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the EU and Member States to improve their humanitarian aid and support mechanisms for neighbouring countries in conflict zones, which are hosting the largest number of refugees, in particular Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey; welcomes the Commission’s commitment to increase its financial support for these countries.
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Welcomes the setting-up of an Emergency Fund for Africa as an effective instrument for combating destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration; stresses the need to mobilise funds from both Member States and international partners.
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that solidarity must be the principle upon which Union action on migration is based; notes that the principle of solidarity, as set out in Article 80 TFEU, covers asylum, immigration and border control policies; takes the view that Article 80 provides a legal basis ‘jointly’ with Articles 77-79 TFEU to implement the principle of solidarity in those areas; calls on all Member States to show concrete solidary by taking their shared responsibility in receiving people in need of international protection.
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the positive role played by navy vessels in saving lives at sea and in disrupting criminal networks, smugglers and traffickers to date; supports the aims of navy operations such as Operation Sophia, and stresses the need to protect life, emphasising that all aspects of the operation should ensure that migrant lives are protected;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that military operations should not be the predominate aspect of any holistic approach to migration and reiterate, but are important to save lives and combat smugglers; considers that CFSP Operation "Sophia must not distract" and Mare Sicuro are an essential contribution to the effectiveness of search and rescue operations and to the assets already deployed in the Mediterranean forom saving lives at sea;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. welcomes the recent decision to use NATO assets in the Eastern Mediterranean to combat traffickers and smugglers who are exploiting innocent migrants
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that the preferences of the applicant should, as much as practically possible, be taken into account when carrying out relocation in particular based on their skills and competences; recognises that this is one way of discouraging secondary movements and encouraging applicants themselves to accept relocation decisions, but that it should not stop the relocation process;
Amendment 632 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that the asylum systems of some frontline Member States are already clearly overburdened and that the Temporary Protection Directive should – under its own logic – have been triggered; calls, in any case, for a clear definition of ‘mass influx’ to be established upon revision of this directive; understands that such a revision of the Temporary Protection Directive can form part of the review of the Dublin system;
Amendment 749 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48 a. Recalls the importance of readmission agreements for a proper and just functioning of the Common European Asylum System and the Schengen area, along with a strengthened role of Frontex in joint return operations;
Amendment 763 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49 a. Reiterates that the Union databases, such as EURODAC and SIS II capabilities should be fully used in this regard;
Amendment 837 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Re-emphasises how essential it is that, once Union legislation has been agreed upon and adopted, the Member States implement it. Calls therefore on the Member States to uphold their side of the bargain and fully implement thatEU legislation;
Amendment 859 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Notes the receCommends the important role of Frontex in rendering assistance to any vessel or person in distress at sea, and acknowledges its contribution, through the Triton and Poseidon joint operations, to the rescuing and saving of many lives in the Mediterranean; stresses that all Member States should provide logistical and human resources and participate to joint- operations;
Amendment 893 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)
Paragraph 64 a (new)
64 a. Notes that the New Schengen Evaluation Mechanism is a key tool to ensure high common standards and that it should be vigorously used by the European Commission;
Amendment 906 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65 a. Recognizes Member-States competence to reintroduce internal border controls, while underlining that such measure is temporary in nature, requires articulation between Member States and should be used as a measure of last resort; regrets that isolated measures have been preferred to European action.
Amendment 922 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Takes notewelcomes that on 15 December 2015 the Commission came forward with a proposal for a targeted revision of the Schengen Borders Code, proposing to introduce systematic controls of all Union nationals (not only on third-country nationals) against the relevant databases at the external borders of the Schengen Area;
Amendment 946 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Calls for the set up of the hotspots to be set up as soon as possiblecompleted faster in order to give concrete operational assistance to those Member States in need;
Amendment 956 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Recognises that one of the main purposes of hotspots is to allow the Union to grant protection and humanitarian assistance in a swift manner to those in need; emphasises that great care needs to be taken to ensure that the categorising of migrants at hotspots is carried out in full respect for the rights of all migrants; acknowledges, however, that proper identificfurther recognises the essential role of the hotspots to support Member States in the proper identification and registration of applicants for international protection at the point of first arrival in the Union should helpto facilitate the overall functioning of any reformed CEAS;
Amendment 1038 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86
Paragraph 86
86. Recalls that the Union has intensified its external cooperation with third countries in migration and asylum in order to respond adequately to the current refugee crisis, and has launched new cooperation initiatives, such as the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan; emphasises, in that respect, the need for all parties to fulfil their commitments deriving from the Joint Action Plan, including addressing the root causes leading to the massive influx of Syrians, stepping up cooperation for the support of Syrians under temporary protection and their host communities in Turkey, and for Turkey to fulfil its commitments to prevent irregular migration flows from its territory to the Union; considers that more cooperation and support is necessary for search and rescue operations in the Aegean sea, including between Greece and Turkey; Calls on the Commission and on the Member States to speed up the disbursement of 3 billion euros to support refugees in Turkey;
Amendment 1111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 a (new)
Paragraph 94 a (new)
94a. Deplores that the UNHCR appeal to increase funding has been ignored by Member States and that WFP had to reduce their nutrition ratio to 80% because of reductions of funds; calls on the Member States and the EU to increase funding to the UN agencies and their partner NGOs in third countries;