24 Amendments of Andrew DUFF related to 2013/2081(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social and Committee of the Regions - Towards a more competitive and efficient defence and security sector[1], [1] COM(2013) 542 final, 24.7.2013
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
- having regard to the Conclusions of the Inter-parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, Vilnius, 4-6 September 2013,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the first quarter of the twenty-first century is characterised by a period of prolonged change that is transforming the global order; stresses that this demands a fresh approach to shaping a new multi-polar world order that is inclusive and underpinned by the rule of law and pluralist democracy as well as universal values, including human rights; notes that many obstacles lay ahead, not least in engaging with emerging powers in reforming the multilateral system, re- balancing the fragile regional distribution of power and addressing multiple threats from nations, non-state actors and fragile states and regions;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. States that only by acting jointly or in unity do we have the strength to pursue our interests and defend our values in this world, and that the Member States must therefore – more than in the past – demonstrate their preparedness and political will for collective, fast and effective action; affirms thatreminds the Member States that they must fulfil their contractual duty of loyalty towards the CFSP in both action and spirit, which is enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon8 ;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 3
Paragraph 21 – point 3
· setting out a plan for making progress on important innovations of the Lisbon Treaty, in particular, first, the assignment of special tasks and missions to a cluster of capable and willing EU states as a step in building the core group of permanent structured cooperation oin defence and, second, the granting of an enhanced role and more resources for the European Defence Agency;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 4
Paragraph 21 – point 4
· addressing acute problems in CSDP decision-making that result in incomprehensible delays between the taking of political decisions to launch a mission and the actual deployment of that mission on the ground, (Libya and Mali being the most recent in a long line of examples), involving a reassessment of the purpose and capability of the EU Battlegroups;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes, therefore, the initiative of holding a European Council Summit in December 2013 dedicated ton the future of European defence, as an opportunity to review the EU's strategic goals and security interests, concepts that should be further developed in a White Book on Europesecurity and defence policy; calls for this meeting to deliver a clear roadmap towards the progressive framing of a common defence strategy involving, in the first instance, the development of a common template for concurrent national security and defence reviews; stresses the need to guarantee military security at a time of cuts to defence budgets; urges the European Council to endorse the Commission's communication on security and defence (July 2013);
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Takes the view that the EU and the USA need to cooperate much more closely with regard to the eventual peaceful resolution of crises such as those in Iran and the Middle Eastthe Middle East conflicts, and that the possibility of military action must only be determined, after intensive diplomatic activity and parliamentary debate, within the context of an agreed comprehensive political strategy for the long-term stability and security of the whole region;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
- Turkey (It is proposed to create a separate sub- heading for Turkey which neither legally nor geographicaly speaking should be included in the general section on Southern Neighbourhood and the Middle East. The new Turkey section comprising paragraph 34.a, 34.b and 34.c should appear in between the section on Russia and the section on China)
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Reiterates its support for the Union's policy of critical engagement with Russia; considers Russia to be an important strategic partner and neighbour; welcomesneighbour and would welcome much closer cooperation with Russia on important international issues, for instanceespecially with regard to the Middle East and Iran;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Deplores, nevertheless, the fact that Russia usesUrges greater diplomatic and political effort by the EU and USA to dissuade Russia from systematically using its veto in the UN Security Council to undermine the efforts of the international community's ability to react in response to situations such as the humanitarian tragedy and spiralling violence in Syriaeffectively and promptly to humanitarian crises, the phenomenon of failed states and the rise of non-state terrorism;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Stresses the strategic importance of the EU's dialogue and cooperation with Turkey on stability, democracy and security, with particular reference to the wider Middle East; points out that Turkey is not only a NATO ally but also a candidate to join the European Union if and when the accession criteria can be fulfilled and a decision about full membership meets with democratic approval;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34 b. Notes that Turkey has strongly and repeatedly condemned the Syrian regime's violence against civilians and is providing vital humanitarian assistance to Syrians fleeing violence across the border;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34 c. Stresses that Turkey's growing international standing should also be based on its commitment at home to fundamental rights, a secular state, pluralist democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Emphasises that EU membership provides stability in the swiftly changing international environment, and that belonging to the European Union continues to offer the perspective of socio-economic and democratic development; takes the view that enlargement is in the EU'remains an important tool of EU foreign policy in its long-term strategic interest, which cannot necessarily be measured in terms of short- term balance sheets and, but that enlargement policy needs to take into account the EU's own integration capacity as well as the genuine commitment of those countries on the path to EU accession, notably in the Western Balkans, to take up their responsibilities and address outstanding concerns;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Notes that the European Neighbourhood Policy is in crisisdifficulty, given the developments in numerous countries; believes, therefore, that, for reasons of solidarity and on account of ourits own interest in peaceful and free development, the EU must strongly focus its instruments, inter alia by strengthening multilateral approaches in the region; stresses that the EU needs to give greater priority to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP);
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41 a. Emphasises that the modernisation of the whole European neighbourhood rests on the gradual development of liberal democracy in which those elected democratically also govern democratically according to constitutional principles, respecting opposition, dissent and non- conformism;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Considers it regrettable, nevertheless, that the overall situation with regard to democratic standards and respect for human rights in most of the Eastern Partnership countries has scarcely progressed, if not deteriorated; stresses, furthermore, that all the frozen conflicts must be resolved and that the EU should equip itself to play a more active role in this respectcalls for the European Union to play a more active and sustained role in the search for political solutions to the several frozen conflicts in the Eastern neighbourhood; reiterates its view that the development of relations should be conditional on a meaningful commitment to democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Expresses its deep concern about the situation in Egypt and the excessive violence by all parties, including both state security forces and opposition forces; stresses that the EU should not take sides and welcomes the EU foreign ministers' decision of 21 August 2013 to suspend all export licences for equipment which could be used for internal repression; urges the military, the liberals and the Muslim Brotherhood to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and calls for an inclusive political agreement and for power to be transferred to democratically elected leaders as soon as possible;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Considers regrettable the lifting of the EU's arms embargo on Syria, as it is a dangerous step towards the re- nationalisation of EU foreign policy; condemns the tragic and ongoing bloodshed in Syria, which has already had a devastating humanitarian impact, including on neighbouring countries, in particular Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey; calls for the immediate and full investigation by the UN of the horrific chemical weapons attack and for a united international response; underlines the urgency of convening the Geneva II talks in order to initiate a political solution and bring an end to the deadly spiral of violenceStresses that the grave situation in Syria demands a high level of coherence and solidarity among the member states of the European Union, working in cooperation with NATO; calls, therefore, on the EU to intensify diplomatic efforts, to pool military intelligence, to analyse deeply the political consequences of any military action as well as the precise nature of military intervention, its targets and duration, before deciding which measures the EU and its member states should adopt to react to the Syrian crisis, notably to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime; urges that EU diplomacy should be focussed on all the relevant regional actors, especially Russia, Iran, Israel and Turkey, and that its aim should be to devise options for a durable political settlement of the Syrian conflict based on pluralist democracy and the rule of law;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52 a. Questions, therefore, the record, continuing purpose and cost of the Union for the Mediterranean;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. Welcomes the commitments made by the EU and NATO to strengthen their strategic partnership; notes that the current global and European economic crisis has spurred efforts to seek more cost-effective operational capabilities in both the EU and NATO, which are urgently needed; calls for an urgent political solution to the blockage on cooperation under the Berlin Plus arrangements, which are holding back the prospects for the two organisations to cooperate more effectively;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)
Paragraph 76 a (new)