41 Amendments of Geoffrey VAN ORDEN related to 2012/2050(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Lisbon Treaty is creating a new momentum inunfortunately grants the EU fmoreign policy, notably providing institutional and operational tools which could enable the Union to take on an international role compatible with its prominent economic s power in the sphere of foreign relations, the traditional preserve of sovereign nation states; whereas the EU should not encroach upon the foreign affairs interests of the Member Statues and its ambitions and to organise itself in such a way as to be an effective global player, able to share responsibility for global security and take the lead in defining common responses to common challengesshould only ever act in close consultation and with the full consent of the Member States in the foreign affairs sphere;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas full parliamentary scrutiny of EU foreign policy is essential if European external action is to be understood and supported by EU citizens; whereas parliamentary scrutiny enhances the legitimacy of this acby the citizens of the Member States; whereas the operating budget of the European External Action Service should be fully scrutinised by the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Budget Committees on an annual basis; whereas the European External Action Service should be run on a budget neutral basis, with necessary resources redeployed from other EU Institutions;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes, however, that the Council's Annual Report falls short of the ambitions of the Lisbon Treaty in important ways, which include: not giving a sense of priorities or strategic guidelines for the CFSP; not clarifying the policy mechanisms for ensuring coherence and consistency among the different components of foreign policy, including those under the responsibility of the Commission; avoiding important questions on the role of the EEAS and the Delegations in ensuring that the Union's resources (personnel, financial and diplomatic) are aligned with its foreign affairs priorities; and avoiding a discussion, the holding of which is implied in the new strategies for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, on how to embed ad hoc CSDP missions and operations (their rationale and end-state) in the political-strategic framework of EU foreign policy priorities for a country or region;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Council when drawing up future Annual CFSP Reports to engage at an early opportunity with the Committee on Foreign Affairs in order to discuss the broad policy framework for the coming year and establish a benchmark for providing EuropeanMember State citizens with a clear statement on the evolution, priorities and progress of the European Union's foreign policy;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that in the second decade of the twenty-first century there is a growing awareness amongst Europe's citizeans, and further afield, that only comprehensive approaches that integrate diplomatic, economic and, in the last resort, military means are adequate for addressing global threats and challenges and that the mechanisms for this already exist among Member States and within international organisations;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that with the Lisbon Treaty the EU has all the means necessary to adopt a comprehensive approach such as this, whereby all the Union's diplomatic and financial resources are used to back common strategic policy guidelines in order to have the greatest possible leverage in promoting the security and economic prosperity of European citizens and their neighbours; cCalls for the further development of an appropriate mechanism in the EEAS, with the participation of the relevant Commission services, where geographic and thematic expertise are integrated and drive a comprehensive approach to policy planning, formulation and implementation;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that a comprehensive understanding of CFSP covers allmany areas of foreign policy, including the progressive framing of a Common Security and Defence Policy, with an emphasis on pursuing coherence and consistency whilst respecting the specificity of each component of external actionwill of the Member States; reiterates that such an approach to developing EU foreign policy must be based on the principles and objectives established in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the role of political leadership expected of the HR/VP in ensuring the unity, consistency and effectiveness of action by the Union; calls on the HR/VP to use to the full her powers to initiate, conduct and ensure compliance with the CFSP, involving Parliament's relevant bodies fully in that endeavour; welcomes the important lead role, on behalf of the international community, played under difficult circumstances by the HR/VP in the negotiations with Iran; calls for such leadership in enhancing the European Union's role in support of the Middle East Peace Process and in the Neighbourhood;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the essentialimportant role of the EEAS (including its Delegations and EU Special Representatives) in assisting the HR/VP in pursuing a more strategic, coherent and consistent political approach to the Union's external action; affirms its intention to continue monitoring the geographic and gender balance of staff in the EEAS, including in senior positions, and to assess whether the appointment of Member State diplomats as Heads of Delegation is in the interests of the Union, not of Member States; stresses the importance of strengthenimproving relations between the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States with a view to achieving synergies ' Foreign Services, with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of external action and in delivering a single EU message on key political iat the EEAS does not encroach on the responsibilities of national embassuies;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the role of EU Special Representatives should be complementary to the country-specific work of EU Heads of Delegations and should represent and coordinate EU policy towards regions with specific strategies or security interests, which require a continuous EU presence and visibilityof particular interest to the EU's Member States; welcomes the positive response by the HR/VP to having newly appointed EUSRs and Heads of Delegation appear before Parliament for an exchange of views before taking up their posts; calls for improved reporting and access to political reports from Delegations and EUSRs in order for Parliament to receive full and timely information on developments from the ground, particularly in areas considered to be strategically important or the focus of political concern;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the greater emphasis on consistency and coherence across the range of the Union's financial instruments, for example in the form of the cross-cutting provisions on the EEAS in the proposed regulations for new external relations financial instruments for the period 2014 to 2020; believes that such an approach will demonstrate the Union's added value in the pursuit of security and prosperity for the citizens of Europe;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the new external relations financial instruments under consideration by the Parliament and Council should be tailored and fully funded to respond to the strategic interests of the Union as well as being adaptable to changing political circumstances; calls, therefore, for the Unadhere to the current economic reality of nation'sal budget (the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020) to be properly resourced in line with the ambitions and priorities of the Union and to provide a secure and prosperous future for citizens as well as the necessary flexibility to cope with unforeseen developmentsary cutbacks and public sector austerity;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that a more joined-up and comprehensive approach to applying the EU's external relations instruments in support of commonthe EU's political and strategic objectives will deliver more efficient and cost-effective responses to foreign and security policy challenges and hence more security and prosperity for the citizens of Europe; stresses that in order for Parliament to reassure citizens about the coherence and cost-effectiveness of the external policies and financial instruments of the Union, the powers bestowed upon it by the Treaties (notably under Article 290 TFEU) must be properly reflected in the revision of the financial instruments and in particular in the use of delegated acts for strategic programming documents;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Takes the view that, in order for the Union to be effective in delivering peace, security and socio-economic development to citizens in a highly competitive, changing and unpredictable international political order, it is important to focus the Union's limited resources on strategic priorities, starting from the challenges closer to home, particularly in the neighbourhood, and extending outwards in concentric circles, including where relevant the role and relative influence of regional organisations;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Believes that demonstrating responsibility for our neighbourhood will strengthen the credibility of the Union's global reachexternal policy; considers that this will require working with other international partners in responding to international threats and challenges, including in response to crises;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls Turkey's ambition to inspire and assist democratic transitions and socio- economic reforms in the southern neighbourhood; notes that participation of Turkish institutions and non-governmental organisations in ENP instruments would generate unique synergy effects, especially in areas such as institution-building and socio-economic and civil society development; believes that practical cooperation should be complemented with a structured dialogue between the EU and Turkey with a view to coordinating their respective neighbourhood policies; hopes that the conditions will improve for the opening of further chapters in the membership negotiations (e.g. ratification and implementation of the Ankara Protocol); recognises that the lack of cooperation in migration policy is having a negative impact, especially on Greecwill be opened as soon as is practically possible;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Is concerned at the resurgence in violence following the breakdown in peace negotiations; highlights the importance of a sub-regional Central Asian approach to tackling cross-border trafficking in people and goods and to fighin combating organised crime and terrorism; calls for stepped-up support for building the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republicinternational support for the Government of Afghanistan and the Afghan National Security Forces as well as for helping the wider population with agricultural and socio- economic development in order for the country to be fully prepared to assume full responsibility for its own internal security after the completion of the transfer of internal security to theresponsibility for internal security from NATO's ISAF Forces to Afghan forces by the end of 2014;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Takes the view that regular EU-US summits would provide an opportunity to identify common objectives and coordinate strategies on matters of global relevance, including economic governance and developing a common approach towards the emerging powers; considers that the Transatlantic Economic Council and the Transatlantic Legislators‘ Dialogue should include a reflection on strategic engagement by the EU and the US with the BRICS and other relevant emerging countries and on how to foster regulatory convergence with such countries; recalls the need to set up a Transatlantic Political Council as an ad hoc body for systematic, high-level consultation and coordination on foreign and security policy between the EU's Member States and the US;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that, given the increasing global and regional relevance of China, India and other emerging countries in Asia, both the United States of America and the EU's Member States may progressively shift their primary attention, political investment and resources to the Pacific; further notes that Asia should have a more important place on the foreign agenda of the European Union and EU Member States; calls therefore for greater coordination of the US and EU policies towards China, India and other emerging countries in Asia in order to avoid a decoupling of approaches to key policies;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Believes that the USA as a NATO member is an important vital partner for the collective security of Europe;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Calls for EU-Latin America political dialogue to be widened at all levels, including the Summits of Heads of States and the EUROLAT Parliamentary Assembly, as an important tool for the development of political consensus; calls for political commitments following EU- Latin America Summits to be accompanied by the allocation of adequate financial resources; expresses its deep concern that Argentina has recently nationalised a major Spanish-owned petrol company (YPF) and has also made highly unhelpful demarches with regards to the UK's Falkland Islands;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Proposes to explore the possibility of closer cooperation, especially economic cooperation, between the Americas and the EU with the goal of a common Free Trade Agreement (FTA); notes that no agreement should be entered in to whilst certain Member States' rights have been infringed by certain Latin American States;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. WelcomesNotes that the EU's strategies for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel asre important steps towards focusing political, diplomatic, financial and crisis management resources on a more politically strategic and cost-effective approach to difficult security complexetwo highly complex geo-political trouble spots; calls for similar re-evaluation of Union polices towards other important regions where considerable financial and diplomatic resources are deployed, notably Zimbabwe; calls for closer association between the European Parliament, the Pan- African Parliament and regional parliamentary arrangements in order to ensure greater accountability for political and budgetary decisions vis-à-vis the citizens of both continents, and as a basis for measuring and evaluating progress in the implementation of political declarations;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Calls for the EU to be more present in the Asia-Pacific region, in particular by contributing its experience and expertise to the multilateral initiatives in and around ASEAN and to the progressive emergence of increased Trans-Pacific initiatives; stresses that economic and cultural cross- fertilisation should be given higher priority, in particular by fostering direct investment opportunities and making access for students and researchers easier and more attractive; notes that this implies a strategic coordination of Member States and EU efforts, as opposed to parallel and competing national policies; notes that in the tense regional context, with territorial disputes around the South China Sea, the EU as a neutral partner should be an active proponent of a stable, peaceful solution based on multilateral institutions;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Calls for the EU to be more active in South Asia in support of democratic developments and improvement in the area of governance and the rule of law; welcomes, therefore, the commitment to a democratic and secular Pakistan; calls on the EU and its Member States to seek closer cooperation with India, free from reciprocal post-colonial prejudices and aiming at the promotion of common values in the region and in multilateral fora and for both parties to swiftly conclude their ongoing negotiations of a comprehensive EU- India Free Trade Agreement, which would stimulate European and Indian trade and economic growth; Calls on the EU and its Member States to fully support Sri Lankan post-war reconstruction and economic development, in this regard, urges the Council to carefully consider reinstating Sri Lanka's favourable terms of trade with the EU, notably her GSP+ trade status;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Believes that, in light of the increasing relevance of the BRICS and other emerging powers and the multipolar system of global governance that is taking shape, the G-20 could prove a useful and particularly appropriate forum for consensus building which is inclusive, based on partnership and able to foster convergence, including regulatory convergence; takes the view, however, that the G-20 has yet to prove its value in converting summit conclusions into sustainable policies that address critical challenges, not least the global financial and economic crisis; notes in this respect the potential for the G-8 to play a role in building consensus ahead of G-20 meetings; considers that the existence of the G-8 should also be harnessed in an effort to reconcile positions with Russia so that common challenges can be addressed in a coordinated and effective manner;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Strongly believes in the need to build partnerships in the area of conflict prevention, civilian and military crisis management, and peace-building, and, with this in mind, to make the EU-UN Steering Committee more operational in the context of crisis management; calls on the EU and its Member States to generate further progress on the operationalisation of the. Responsibility to Protect principle and to work with UN partners towards ensuring that this concept becomes part of prevention and post-conflict reconstruction;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Calls for the HR/VP to put forward proposals for boosting the capacities of the EEAS on civilian conflict prevention and peace- building, with particular reference to the Gothenburg Programme, and to further expand the EU's civilian capacity to prevent conflict and provide mediation capacities alongside its better-resourced crisis management capacities; calls as a matter of priority for stock to be taken of EU policies in the area of civilian conflict prevention and peace-building with a view to the HR/VP reporting back to Parliament on proposals for strengthening the Union's external capacity and responsiveness in this area;
Amendment 374 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Notes that Article 194 of the Lisbon Treaty specifies that the EU is entitled to take measures at European level to ensure security of energy supply; bBelieves that diversification of supply sources and transit routes is urgent and essential for the EU, which is highly dependent on external sources of energy; notes that the main directions for diversification are North Africa and the Southern Corridor from Turkey to Central Asia; believes that it should be ensured that the current main source of imports – Russia – complies with internal market rules, regulations under the Third Energy package and the Energy Charter Treaty.;
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Notes that in 2011 the Commission proposed setting up an information exchange mechanism on intergovernmental agreements in energy between Members States and third countries; believes that exchange of best practices and political support from the Commission would also strengthen Member States‘ negotiating power; calls on the HR/VP and the Commission to report regularly to Parliament on the setting up and implementation of the mechanism; calls on the Commission to include an ’energy security clause‘ in trade, association and partnership and cooperation agreements with producer and transit countries, i.e. a code of conduct in the event of disruption of, or unilateral changes to, the terms of supply;
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
Paragraph 77
77. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of NATO, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary- General of the Commonwealth, the Chairman-in- Office of the OSCE, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.