Activities of Raimon OBIOLS related to 2009/2215(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Union for the Mediterranean (debate)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
- having regard to the recommendations adopted by the EMPA’s Political Committee at its meetingcommittees of the Euro- Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) at its sixth plenary session, held in Amman on 13 and 14 March 2010,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Point 2
Point 2
2. Underlines the importance of relations between the European Union and the Mediterranean region, not just in terms of trade but alsoand the economy but also politically, socially, academically and culturally,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, in a multipolar world, only large regional blocs will be in a position to play a leading role and to cope with social, cultural, economic, environmental and political cha, demographic, political and security- related challenges,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, in a multipolar and increasingly interdependent world, only large regional blocs will be in a position to play a leading role and to cope with social, cultural, economic, environmental and political changes,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Point 3
Point 3
3. Urges the Commission to strengthen its role as an investor and partnerin the UfM project and calls for greater clarity regarding its participation in the new institutional structure,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Union must adopt a strategic view of its relations with its southern neighbours with the objective of the social development of the region and move beyond cooperation driven solemainly by considerations pertaining to security and migration,
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Point 6
Point 6
6. Hopes for an improvement in the economic and legal environment in the region, ain essential guarantee for future investmentorder to provide greater security for future investment and encourage funding for major strategic projects,
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. having regard to the significant disparities between European Union Member States and Mediterranean third countries and the worrying structural problems of a socio-economic and institutional nature, which call for strong responses in the shared interest of all the states participating in the UfM; whereas the potential for economic growth of the Mediterranean third countries encourages this view,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the UfM’s two major innovations, namely its institutional set-up (co-presidency, joint permanent committee and secretariat) and operational focus (integration projects), must function effectively and transparently, improving the standard of living of citizens, who are the main beneficiaries of this project,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. having regard to the adoption of the statute of the secretariat and the appointment of Secretary General Ahmad Masa'deh on 3 March 2010,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. having regard to the major issue of agriculture in Mediterranean countries, by dint of its socio-economic influence, its effects on the environment and its implications in terms of territorial balance,
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas 60% of the world population with little water is concentrated in the southern part of the Mediterranean region and in the Middle East and whereas, by 2025, 63 million people could, according to UNDP reports on the Arab world and the Blue Plan, be affected by water shortages,
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. having regard to the importance of migration flows and the various challenges they create on both sides of the Mediterranean in human, social, cultural and economic terms,
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the governments of the UfM member countries to establish an ongoing and open political dialogue characterised by mutual respect and understanding, and reaffirms its desire to see the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights and individual and collective freedoms made the central focus of that dialogue; asks for more active involvement of all the members of the UfM in restarting a peace process in the Middle East that will provide a fair solution to the rights of the Palestinian people to a viable State, and the rights of the Israeli people to live in security. Europe needs to be extremely determined in this respect;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that political tensions and regional conflicts in the Mediterranean basin must not hinder tangible progress towards multilateral cooperation in specific sectors, and that it is through the implementation of major integration projects that the UfM will help to develop a climate of trust conducive to pursuing common security goals in a spirit of solidarity and peace, with a view to consolidating a single shore of peace, development, justice, equality, freedom, plurality, democracy and respect;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is of the opinion that political tensions and regional conflicts in the Mediterranean basin must not hinder tangible progress towards multilateral cooperation in specific sectors, and that it is through the implementation of major integration projects that the UfM will help to develop a climate of trust conducive to pursuing common security goals in a spirit of solidarity and peace; recalls the urgency of achieving a two-State solution to the conflict in the Middle East – an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State, and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 - point 5
Paragraph 4 - point 5
- allowing ‘variable-geometry’ cooperation arrangements open to countries and multilateral institutions wishing to work together on projects of common interest;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 - point 6
Paragraph 4 - point 6
- ensuring smooth cooperation between the secretariat and the European Commission, and clearly defining their respective remits; calls on the Commission to play an active role in the UfM and asks for greater clarity regarding its participation in this new institutional structure;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Considers that migration policies are one of the priorities of the Euro- Mediterranean partnership and calls on the UfM member countries to encourage, in addition to the regulation of flows and combating illegal immigration, the drafting of active policies to promote employment and freedom of movement which respects human rights;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the strategic importance of issues such as agriculture, food security, water and rural development in Mediterranean countries, and calls for cooperation in the farming sector to be made a political priority; encourages the UfM member countries to work on harmonising their positions in the context of WTO negotiations and to move towards greater convergence among Euro- Mediterranean agricultural policies; hopes that the ministerial meetings on water (Barcelona, April), the environment (Dubrovnik, April) and agriculture (Cairo, June) can stimulate cooperation in these areas;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes support for the quick implementation of the Mediterranean Solar Plant, which aims at the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean regional renewable electricity market; underlines also its significance for the economic development of the Southern Mediterranean countries by becoming a source of new income, providing electricity to enhance their own development, reinforcing the grid infrastructures and allowing for a new industrial sector of solar components manufacturing to be created;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is keen to see new projects in the cultural field put on the UfM’s agenda in the very near future; suggests that priority be given to setting up a Euro- Mediterranean junior Erasmus programme called ‘Averroës’, as a way of stepping up exchanges between secondary school pupils in UfM member countries; encourages the creation of a Euro- Mediterranean higher education area and notes that this will not be possible without promoting mobility for students and teachers from both shores;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Urges the members of the UfM to promote positive measures in the field of equal opportunities and combating discrimination against women in all areas, with the aim of preventing violence against women and trafficking in human beings, and ensuring respect for and the promotion of the role of women in society;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. States that the EMPA should be the parliamentary institution of the UfM; proposes that the name of the EMPA should be changed to Parliamentary Assembly – Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) to make visible its inclusion in the UfM’s structure and projects;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recalls its remit within the EU’s budgetary procedure, and emphasises the need for the EMPA to take on more significant responsibilities by being involved in consultation and democratic supervision in respect of budget implementation; calls for regular hearings of the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretaries General by the various relevant EMPA committees, so that projects and activities can be monitored on a regular basis; takes the view, however, that this higher level of responsibility must go hand in hand with improvements in the operation and working methods of the EMPA, including granting the necessary human and financial resources; welcomes the decisions taken to this end at the 6th plenary session of the EMPA held in Amman on 13 and 14 March 2010;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for civil society, the social partners and the numerous professional and socio-professional networks developed as part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to be consulted regularly and involved in the UfM’s activities and projects; encourages the establishment of a Mediterranean business leaders’ forum and a Euro-Mediterranean economic and social council; welcomes the Forum for intercultural dialogue organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation in Barcelona in March 2010 in which more than 1 000 civil society organisations took part from 43 countries;