27 Amendments of Geoffrey VAN ORDEN related to 2018/2156(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the basic values on which the EU is founded – democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law, as well as the rules-based international system and European unity, are being increasingly challenged in an era of geopolitical turbulence and rapid degradation of the strategic environmentwe are again in an era of global geopolitical turbulence;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas credible deterrence, as well as planning for a response to crises and for the defence of continental Europe, depends on the ability to rapidly and efficiently deploy forces forward and introduce reinforcements from outside;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the post-1989 “peace dividend” saw the gradual erosion of defence needs in terms of infrastructure and mobility of forces across Europe;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU is a global strategic actor and a security provider, bearing responsibility for upholdcontributing to peace and stability both internally and externally, and has a unique and wide array of policies, instruments and tools at its disposal to fulfil these ambitions;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas effective military mobility can only be achieved with the full involvement and commitment of all Member States, in a manner consistent with relevant EU-level initiativesEuropean countries, cooperating effectively with NATO;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the collective security and defence of the EU Member SEuropean states and their ability to intervene in crises abroad is fundamentally dependent on the ability to move allied troops and, civilian crisis management personnel, materiel and equipment across each other’s territory freely and rapidly; whereas 22 EU Member States are also NATO allies and possess only a single set of armed forces and transport infrastructurhave a commitment to collective defence;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas a substantial number of obstacles, physical, legal and regulatory, often of the EU's own making, make these movements difficult by imposing significant delays, thus threatening to undermine their purpose, especially in crisis situations;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the EU has substantial policies and tools at its disposal to help Member Statesand its Member States must take steps to meet their military mobility needs and international commitmentof allied forces across Europe, both in times of crisis and for exercises;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas military mobility has recently been identified as a priority area for EU-NATO cooperation in the common set of proposals for the implementation of the joint declaration, and has been reaffirmed as a priority in the new joint declaration and in the Brussels Declaration on Transatlantic Security and Solidarity; whereas NATO has transmitted to the EU its standards relating to military mobility, including NATO’s generic parameters for transport infrastructure; whereas NATO must lead on military mobility, as the cornerstone of the defence of Europe;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas, enhanced pre-positioning of military logistic stocks, including munitions and fuel, will help alleviate some mobility pressures;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas, despite all these institutional measures, the main effortthe main improvements in military mobility capabilities will have to come from EU Member States, which will need to adjust their national infrastructures and regulatory environments; whereas this will require a whole-of-government approach owing to the broad range of issues that need to be tackled;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas, improvements in infrastructure for military purposes may also benefit a political aggressor and appropriate measures need to take account of this, drawing on Cold War experience;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that military mobility is a central strategic tool enabling the EU andto support NATO toin pursue theiring European security and defence interests effectively and in a complementary manner and should not be limited only to the removal of physical, legal and infrastructural obstacles; welcomes the fact that military mobility has recently gained a substantial level of attention from all relevant actors; notes that it enhances our preparedness and increases our deterrence posture in the face of potential adversaries and crisis situations, while helping to achieve the EU level of ambition in defence and security policy, including strategic autonomy;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that achieving military mobility in Europe is an undertaking derived first and foremost from the expressed commitment and political will of Member States, while the EU should contribute by guiding the process by settingcan help set a framework for requirements, providing funding, fostering cooperation and providing fora for an exchange of best practices, information and experiences involving both civilian and military authorities; emphasises that effective military mobility will benefit all Member States by enhancing their connectivity in both military and civilian spheres;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Strongly supports the Council’s call for Member States to develop national plans for military mobility by the end of 2019 and to give their implementation high priority; welcomes the other measures agreed in the Council conclusions in the context of the EU Global Strategy of 25 June 2018, and urges the Member States to meet the deadlines set therein; emphasises that successful efforts to foster military mobility would enable Member States to effectively pursue both their national and collective European defence planning and efficient participation in joint exercises, training and CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. EmphasisAcknowledges the complex nature of the challenge, involving, among other aspects, questions of infrastructure construction, common standards, transport regulations, customs, taxes, and movement permissions, as well as all levels of government from municipal administrations to international organisations; calls in this regard for enabling frameworks to bring together both military and civilian actors at all levels, including from NATO and NATO partners, to discuss the relevant issues and thus ensure added value and effective coordination and implementation;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes the significant decline in the quantity of available rolling stock, in particular of flatbed railcars, for moving heavy equipment and vehicles at short notice;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises that operating in such a complex environment creates numerous difficulties with regard to duplication and coordination, which could fundamentally threaten the overall project if not adequately managed; acknowledges that NATO, as the primary guarantor of European defence and with existing significant expertise in this area, must lead on coordinating military mobility initiatives;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that the ambitious timetable in the Action Plan should be adhered to, both by the EU institutions and by Member States, to ensure that the current mobility gaps are filled as soon as possible and the level of ambition in defence and security policy are achieved;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the Commission proposal on the use of the Connecting Europe Facility and the substantial funds envisaged for dual-use military mobility projects to ensure that infrastructure is adjusted to take into account the military mobility needs of all NATO forces, including those from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada; notes that these dual-use projects will also be of considerable benefit for civilian use;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises the value of potential proposals on regulatingat military mobility involves the transport of dangerous goods for military use, updatingwhich will require adaptation of the EU customs code, and adapting VAT rules;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises in this context that the PESCO project on military mobility could constitute a useful tool for coordinating the efforts of Member States envisaged in the Action Planin support of NATO requirements, as well as other activities beyond the EU’s immediate competences; believes that thisa division of labour, accompanied by proper coordination, is vital if the PESCO project is to provide added value; welcomes also the more binding commitments on simplifying cross-border military transport made in the PESCO notification;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines that, ultimately, the EU can only supplement Member States’ efforts; stresses that success is fundamentally relies on Member States’ acceptance of and ability to implement a whole-of-government approach to tackle the relevant issues; underlines the importance of the political commitment of Member States to making effective military mobility in the EU and beyond a reality; underlines that to succeed, military mobility will require cooperation and coordination with all NATO allies;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the new joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation and the Brussels Declaration on Transatlantic Security and Solidarity and the emphasis that both place on military mobility issues; welcomes also NATO’s new initiatives, particularly the Enablement Plan for SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility; notes, however, that parts of the Enablement Plan appear to overlap with similar EU initiatives;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU agencies in the field of defence, the NATO Secretary-General, and the governments and parliaments of bothe EU and NATO Member States.