Activities of Maria Eleni KOPPA related to 2008/2336(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Human rights in the world 2008 and the EU's policy on the matter (debate)
Amendments (5)
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)
Paragraph 78 a (new)
78a. Strongly deplores the recent military escalation in Gaza and, in particular, the heavy bombardment of that densely populated land and the fact that civilian and UN targets have been hit during the attacks; regrets the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, expressing at the same time its unconditional sympathy for the civilian population in southern Israel; urges all parties to fully implement the UN Security Council resolution 1860 with a view to securing a permanent ceasefire; takes note of the statement made by UNSG Ban Ki-moon to the Security Council on 21 January 2009, underlining the urgent need for international humanitarian law to be fully respected and for civilians to be protected, making it clear at the same time that "there should be thorough investigations, full explanations, and, where it is required, accountability"; welcomes in this regard the commitment of the External Relations Council of 27 January 2009 to follow those investigations closely;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Urges the Council and the Commission to set up human rights subcommittees with all neighbourhood countries, and in particular with Israel, as part of the negotiations on an upgrading of the bilateral relations, and as expressed by both parties as a result of the Association Council on 16 June 2008; welcomes the first meeting of the subcommittee with the Palestinian Authority on 2 December 2008; reiterates its call for parliamentarians to be associated with the preparations for meetings of such subcommittees and to be informed of their outcome; points out once again that, as in the case of Tunisia, the subcommittees' sessions might focus on establishing the durability of the subcommittee concerned and fostering trust and confidence amongst the partners; points out that the subcommittee dealing with Morocco should eventually move towards a results-oriented phase, with the establishment of concrete benchmarks and indicators of progress, as well as the possibility of raising individual cases; stresses that discussions on human rights should certainly not be confined to these subcommittees, and emphasises the importance of coordination with other subcommittees dealing with human rights- related issues, such as migration; highlights the need to include these issues in the political dialogue up to the highest level so as to increase the coherence of the EU's policy in this field and reduce discrepancies in statements on the human rights situation given by both sides to the press; in the context of concluding a framework agreement with Libya, welcomes the opening of the negotiations and calls on the Council and the Commission to give due attention to dialogue and cooperation on human rights;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
Paragraph 83
83. Notes the importance of both Turkey's and the EU's commitment to Turkey's accession process for the ongoing human rights reforms in Turkey; considers as a positive step towards freedom of speech in Turkey the decision of the government to permit the broadcasting of Kurdish television; regrets, however, the fact that the use of the Kurdish language is still banned in parliament and in political campaigning; reiterates that further legislative reforms are needed in order to ensure respect for and protection of minorities and full freedom of expression, in law and in practice, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights; notes with concern that no progress has been made as regards ratification of human rights instruments, in particular the OPCAT, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Additional Protocol Nos 4, 7 and 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 86
Paragraph 86
86. Calls on Russia as an occupying power in GeorgNotes with concern that residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remain uncovered by the human rights protection mechanisms provided for by the Council of Europe; calls on Russia to uphold human rights in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including the right of citizenrefugees to return to their homes; calls on all partiesthe Russian government and the Georgian government to continue to implement their commitments pursuant to the agreements of 12 August and 8 September 2008; askurges all governmentparties concerned to continue to provide detailed maps and information concerning all areas affected by the conflict onto which cluster bombs were fired, so as to facilitate the clearance of cluster weapon munitions and make those areas safe for civilians; considers that both governments should also ensure that the public is made aware of the dangers of unexploded materiel through public information campaigns; calls on the responsible administrations to agree to the deployment of international human rights monitors to South Ossetia and Abkhazia; expresses its concern that the recently adopted constitutional amendments and the law on occupied territories of Georgia may be at odds with principles of international human rights law, and calls on the government in Tbilisi to collaborate with the Venice Commission and to implement promptly any recommendations made by it;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2009 on the situation in the Gaza Strip1 and the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 27 January 2009 on the Middle East Peace Process,