Activities of Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE related to 2022/2007(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – a new agenda for the Mediterranean (debate)
Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – a new agenda for the Mediterranean (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Commission and the Commission Vice-President / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – a new agenda for the Mediterranean
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-A a. whereas in 2004, as a result of the EU enlargement with new Member States from the East and the South, the European Union decided to launch the European Neighbourhood policy, covering both the EU’s Eastern and Southern dimensions and seeking to advance dialogue and cooperation with its neighbouring countries; whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy was subsequently updated in 2015; whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy was for many years complemented by a dedicated financial instrument for the EU’s external action providing resources and overall objectives, as well as a mandate for the Commission to propose multiannual and annual programming for the EU’s assistance; whereas the EU financial Instrument for the European Neighbourhood Policy has now been replaced by the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation/ Global Europe Instrument (NDICI);
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)
Recital -A b (new)
-A b. whereas 2008 marked the beginning of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), an intergovernmental organisation created as a continuation of the Barcelona Process and providing an important venue for dialogue and cooperation at political level and at the level of civil society organisations and relevant policy stakeholders; whereas the UfM is complemented by a Parliamentary Assembly (UfM-PA), which provides an essential opportunity for political dialogue and convergence, as well as multilateral cooperation among elected representatives of the EU and its Southern Mediterranean partner countries;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, on 9 February 2021, the Commission and the Commission Vice- President / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) endorsed a joint communication for an ambitious and renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood including a new agenda for the Mediterranean and an accompanying economic and investment plan focusing on, inter alia: human development, good governance and the rule of law; resilience, prosperity and the digital transition, peace and security, migration and mobility, as well as the green transition; climate resilience, energy and the environment; whereas this new agenda for the Mediterranean is a positive step in the right direction towards further economic and policy integration with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood; whereas the Abraham Accords provide the opportunity for the EU to renew its efforts for regional cooperation, in connection with strong support for the Middle East Peace process and the two-State solution; as well as a blueprint for a diplomatic approach that could be applied to the Southern Neighbourhood;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU must invest in its Southern Neighbourhood as a matter of priority; whereas the security, stability, prosperity and climate resilience of the EU’s Southern neighbourhood will reinforce the security, stability, prosperity and climate resilience of the EU; whereas renewed investment in the Southern Neighbourhood and intensified political and policy dialogue between the EU and Southern Neighbourhood countries will provide a valuable opportunity for close cooperation and policy synergies for the benefit of both the EU and its Member States, on the one hand, and the States of the Southern Neighbourhood, on the other; whereas the Southern Neighbourhood should not be seen in a vacuum, but in close correlation with the Eastern Neighbourhood and an overall reflection on how to pursue closer relations between the EU and its neighbours; whereas both the EU’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods are strategic for the EU in that they can ensure shorter and, therefore, more secure and more effective supply lines; whereas the EU should pursue a common regulatory space that includes its Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods, and therefore ensures access for its neighbouring countries to the highest policy standards, which are multipliers of economic investment and economic growth;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is having, and will further have devastating effects for the region in terms of food security; whereas the war in Ukraine has underlined the threat posed by third countries that seek political and economic hegemony in the EU’s neighbourhood to the detriment of the democratic aspirations and territorial integrity of target countries; whereas Russia, China and Iran are all seeking to increase their capacity to exercise political and/or economic hegemony in certain Southern Neighbourhood countries and, therefore, the EU’s capacity-building for fighting disinformation and promoting freedom of the press is crucial; whereas the EU should reaffirm its role as the primary political, economic and democratic anchor for the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the war in Ukraine and the resulting need to further diversify the EU’s energy supply have shown the essential role of the Southern Neighbourhood in securing sufficient gas and oil supplies to the EU with mutual benefits for both the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood countries; whereas the discovery of relevant natural gas reserves in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean provides a unique opportunity for economic development in the countries concerned; whereas these gas reserves equally provide an important opportunity for partnership, investment and the sharing of know-how between the countries of the Southern Mediterranean and the EU and its Member States; whereas, in turn, this partnership is already proving to be an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation amongst all the Southern Mediterranean countries concerned, leading to more stability in the region; whereas the Southern Neighbourhood is therefore not only essential for reasons of regional security and stability, but also as a primary partner for access to energy sources, including renewables;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Secure adequate resources for timely and effective implementation of the new agenda for the Mediterranean based on the objectives and priorities jointly determined with Southern Neighbourhood partner countries, building on valuable synergies through the programming of the external action for the region under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and pursuing close coordination with Member State programming as well as facilitating as much as possible opportunities for blending through partnerships between the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other relevant international financial institutions; takes the view that the new agenda for the Mediterranean can introduce a positive conditionality under which active EU support for a closer and effective policy interface with Southern Neighbourhood countries can lead to further partnerships and convergence on other policy priorities for the benefit of both the EU and Southern Neighbourhood countries; recalls, in this regard, the importance of ensuring EU visibility in all EU financial resources allocated to the region directly or indirectly through partnership with the UN or other international organisations; stresses that the civil societies of Southern Neighbourhood countries are already primarily oriented to the EU and its Member States as the main political, economic and cultural anchor for political and economic reforms and for longer-term prosperity; warns that given the strategic importance and economic potential of the region the capacity of the EU to be the main partner is not without challenge and, therefore, adequate visibility for the EU’s commitment to the region at large is essential, both directly and through funds allocated to other organisations such as the UN;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Address, as a matter of priority, the impact of the war in Ukraine on certain Southern Neighbourhood countries in terms of food security, with particular reference to countries most vulnerable because of their population size, dependence on food imports or economic model; asks the Commission to engage with Parliament on ways to ensure food security for countries in the Southern Mediterranean that face difficulties in this regard and devise a robust policy and assistance response for this purpose without further delay, also building on the Food and Resilience Facility in order to address food security in the region; recalls the importance of adequate visibility for EU efforts and resources when channelling assistance through other organisations like the World Food Programme;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Implement under the NDICI, as a matter of priority, strategies and dedicated programming for broader youth access to education, vocational training, higher education together with adequate funding for access to education; recalls that youth migration, whether regular or irregular, and professional brain drain are a matter of serious concern to our partners in the region, as well as a serious threat to the longer-term capacity for economic growth and economic viability of Southern Neighbourhood countries; underlines, therefore, the importance of promoting investment and advancing economic growth in the region in parallel to broader access to education, professional training and employment opportunities, so that the youth of Southern neighbourhood countries can gather real prospects of access to employment and real socio- economic integration; stresses the importance of expanding access to the Erasmus and Erasmus+ programmes for participants from Southern Neighbourhood countries; recalls the importance of circular mobility, including South-to-South exchanges, so that professionals from Southern Neighbourhood countries can have concrete opportunities to further their professional training in the EU and return to their country of origin to share and build knowledge; recalls the importance of mainstreaming the socioeconomic integration of women in the region and of gender equality in all EU policies areas whenever possible; stresses the importance of targeted EU support for women with the objective of improving their access to education, training and employment and, more generally, promoting equal professional and socioeconomic opportunities; believes that the EU should incentivise bilateral and trilateral partnerships between Southern Neighbourhood universities and EU universities, including through wider distance-learning opportunities for Southern Neighbourhood students and wider exchange opportunities of academic staff; stresses the value of securing broader access to EU based online media, including through public digital hubs, and EU cultural content for interested audiences in Southern Neighbourhood countries;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) Pursue partnership and cooperation with relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries in order to tackle climate change and water scarcity; recalls that the EU strategy on climate action and climate mitigation will not be as effective without sizeable investment and improvement in the EU’s neighbourhood; supports the flagship initiatives on climate preservation in the Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighbourhood; warns against (i) the impact of climate change, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, on the Maghreb region and (ii) the issue of decreasing access to water in the Maghreb and Mashreq regions; recalls that access to water, reforestation, decarbonisation and access to renewable energy sources will be essential for the climate neutrality of the Southern Neighbourhood and to protect it against the effects of climate change; recalls, further, that this, in turn, will increase the EU’s capacity to achieve its objectives of climate neutrality; takes the view that the EU should support regional dialogue and cooperation on water desalination plans as well as further investment on renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and green hydrogen in the region; stresses the importance of partnerships with relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries on reforestation and sustainable agricultural practices with reduced water consumption; stresses that there are already best practices not only in the EU, but also in the region and takes the view, therefore, that the EU could play an important role in promoting and advancing dialogue and cooperation on the reception of such best agricultural practices;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) Prepare an analysis of the positive role which the Southern Neighbourhood countries can play in the EU’s strategy of reducing its carbon emissions, and the contribution of these countries to the EU’s strategy of diversifying its energy resources and increasing its energy supply from renewable energy sources; asks, in particular, the Commission to present in due time a strategy on how to valorise further the role of the Southern Neighbourhood in advancing the implementation of the EU’s Green Deal;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) Build on the very positive experience of some Member States in supporting start-up companies and further advancing their work through dedicated incubators or accelerators, especially in key sectors such as health, renewable energy and education; takes the view that the EU should set up incubators or accelerators in relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries, support the creation of local start-up companies, and increase their digital and green capacities; concurs on the importance of further improving the digital infrastructure of relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries and including these countries in the EU’s digital agenda; points out that this is a prerequisite for economic development, socioeconomic integration and wider access to education; takes the view that the EU should lead in promoting investment and partnerships between EU telecom companies and telecom companies of relevant Southern Neighbourhood countries for access to modern digital infrastructure, in particular 5G mobile networks, and warns that failure to do so will provide a competitive advantage, including in political terms, for third countries seeking to build a capacity of leverage and economic and political presence in the region; recalls the importance of close policy dialogue and cooperation between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood countries to develop adequate cybersecurity policies and partnership in international forums on cybersecurity standards; takes the view that the EU should build on the StratCom Task Force South and develop a concrete strategy for combating disinformation in our Southern Neighbourhood countries, aiming to counter fake news and propaganda in order to reinforce democracy and stability;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(g a) Secure adequate resources for a timely and effective implementation of the new agenda for the Mediterranean also as a way to support longer-term investment andpartnerships by EU based companies in the Southern Neighbourhood; points to the fact that, as a consequence of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, many EU based companies are either reshoring or nearshoring their supply and production lines; takes the view that this provides a unique opportunity for both the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood, through a timely and full implementation of the new agenda for the Mediterranean and the economic and investment plan, to secure an environment able to support those EU based companies that want to nearshore and to promote longer term investment in the Southern Neighbourhood, thereby establishing closer political links and stronger cooperation with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) Promote regional, sub-regional and bilateral integration in the Southern Mediterranean, in particular with a view to the removal of any border, transport or trade barriers between the countries of the region and actively promoting closer links and partnerships; takes the view that the recent Negev Foreign Ministers summit in Sde Boker attests to the potential for regional integration and peace in the region in the framework of the Abraham Accords; welcomes the intention of holding this summit annually and calls on the VP/HR and the Commission to use the positive momentum of the Abraham Accords to advance dialogue and cooperation in the region on support for the Middle East Peace process and the two-state solution; warns that in the current geopolitical context the MEPP can only advance with strong political commitment and investment by the EU and the US in support of the MEPP and renewed direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians; recalls that both the HRVP and the Biden administration are two years away from the end of their mandates and therefore calls on the HRVP to invest all efforts in closer strategic dialogue on how the EU and the US could advance together the MEPP and promote the conditions for direct negotiations;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) Implement the new agenda for the Mediterranean through dedicated dialogue and consultation with local and regional authorities, as well as reinforce the links between EU Delegations and the Euro- Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM); recalls that these are important drivers for development and are closer to the people, so that implementation strategies can reach all communities, including those most disadvantaged geographically or in socioeconomic terms; points, in this regard, to the need for EU Delegations in the Southern Neighbourhood to increment contact with local and regional authorities and a cross- section of society, as drivers for territorial development, especially in their consultations with regard to EU priorities for partnership and investment in Southern Neighbourhood countries; reiterates its call on EU Delegations in Southern Neighbourhood countries to set up high-level advisory councils reflecting the social, economic and political diversity of the country concerned and comprising economic, media, cultural, academic, civil society and prominent youth leaders, as well as social partners and leading human rights defenders from the country concerned and providing more reflective input of key stakeholders as regards EU policy priorities and the policy architecture devised by the EU;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j – point i (new)
Paragraph 1 – point j – point i (new)
i) Invest relevant efforts in advancing inter-cultural and inter- religious dialogue as a valuable opportunity to promote human rights and freedoms, jointly address religious fundamentalism, discrimination, antisemitism, and jointly fight against radicalization, incitement to hatred and violence and terrorism; recalls the intention by the President of the European Parliament to appoint an envoy for inter-religious dialogue and asks the Commission and the VP/HR to closely associate the Commission and European Parliament envoys in inter-religious dedicated dialogue with the Southern Neighbourhood countries;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j – point ii (new)
Paragraph 1 – point j – point ii (new)
ii) Seize the opportunity for new agenda for the Mediterranean to create a strong framework for dialogue and cooperation across the Mediterranean for the preservation, valorisation and promotion of cultural heritage including with a view to further promoting tourism and economic opportunities;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean and its Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the governments and parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and the States that are members of the Union for the Mediterranean and its parliamentary dimension.