22 Amendments of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2017/2056(INI)
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to ensure that the deepening ofdeepen relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is undertaken on the basis of mutually agreed ambitions and the upholding of the core values and principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in the interest of both parties and especially their citizens;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to reminddraw the attention of the Azerbaijani authorities abouto the European Parliament’s position as expressed in its resolution of 15 November 2017 on the Eastern Partnership, in which Parliament unambiguously states that noit cannot ratify any comprehensive agreement will be ratified with a country that does not respect EU values, in particular with regard to the non-implementation of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights and thecontinued harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, NGOs and journalists; to ensure that significant steps are taken as regards the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan before any new EU-Azerbaijan agreement; to ensure a dedicated suspension mechanism related to is concluded; to include in the new agreement a provision concerning the possibility of suspension in the event of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms is included in the new agreement;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) to reminddraw the attention of the Azerbaijani authorities abouto the European Parliament position expressed in the same resolution according to whichthat, on the basis of the three central principles of the Helsinki Final Act - refraining from the threat or use of force, territorial integrity and equal rights of self-determination - the ratification of new agreements between the EU and each of the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be made conditional on meaningfulrequires binding commitments to and substantial progress towards solving the conflict, such as maintaining the ceasefire and supporting the, implementation ofing the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles and actively supporting the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairs in this regard;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) to ensure that the future agreement with Azerbaijan is ambitious, comprehensive and forward-looking, deliveringis accordingly based on the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, while taking into account the specific conditions of the contracting parties, delivers tangible and concrete benefits to both sides, not only for large companies but also for SMEs and for the citizens of the EU and of Azerbaijan;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) to ensure, in so far asif the above conditions are fulfilled, to respond to speedy and steady progress in the negotiations with the objective of signingaccordingly, in such a way that this new agreement can be signed before the next Eastern Partnership Summit in 2019;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) to actively communicate abouthieve transparency regarding the aims of the new agreement to improve public awareness, both in Azerbaijan and in the EU, about the expected opportunities and benefits that wouldand the current negotiating process so that all stakeholders in society and civil-society bodies in the EU and Azerbaijan can have their say and thus seek to make the public, both in Azerbaijan and in the EU, more aware of, and persuade them to consider, opportunities and benefits - and also challenges and practical tasks to be undertaken - that may arise from itsthe conclusion, thereby countering all of the agreement, thereby successfully countering both political apathy and disinformation campaigns;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) to provide for regular and in-depth dialogue, notably on political reforms aimed at democratically bolstering institutions, such as the judiciary, in order to make them more democratic and independent, on upholding of hindependent and more capable of combating the widespread corruption, cronyism and the illegal enrichment of the elites, on fully upholding political and social rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human rRights, and on fostering a strong civil society and ensuring its, including trade unions and their involvement in the necessary reform process to diversify the economy, overcome the complicated socioeconomic situation and further modernise the social system;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) to establish specific measures aimed at implementing the recommendations by the OSCE/ODHIR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission with a view to ensuring progress towards elections and referenda that allow for a free and fair expression of Azerbaijani citizens’ views and aspiratDoes not affect the English versions;.)
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) to aim for provisions that enhance cooperation in promoting peace and international justice and in particular for Azerbaijan to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)in accordance with the commitment to actively promote the universality of the Rome Statute enshrined in Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, to insist on the inclusion of provisions requiring Azerbaijan to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), including signing and ratifying promptly the ‘Kampala compromise’ agreed at the Review Conference in Uganda in 2010; to also seek strong cooperation measures in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as tackling illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) to provide for close cooperation in foreign and security matters to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards active responses to global threats, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation; to respect Azerbaijan’s multivector foreign policy and therefore, in the interests of stability and to bolster regional and international peace, to take into account in a responsible manner the fact that shifts in the complex geopolitical identity as a country at the interface between East and West, between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and between numerous large, competing parties in the region and their political, economic and military alliances, can result in serious domestic political upheavals and fresh conflicts with the neighbourhood or various strategic partners;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) to ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to an enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving, to stronger EU support for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of the central principles of the Helsinki Final Act and, in line with the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles and notably with the support of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, promoting all initiatives conducive to peace-building such as direct high- level talks, genuine confidence-building measures with a long-term impact as a precondition for overcoming the prevailing absolutely uncompromising attitudes on both sides, the conclusion of a binding agreement completely renouncing the use of violence, the introduction of an effective system for monitoring the ceasefire, measures to help the parties to the conflict to disengage and disarm, refraining from any activity on either side in the conflict region which would have an impact on a final resolution of the conflict, prosecution of those manifestly responsible for war crimes, and exchanges between Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) to put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders; to contribute in particular to inducing both parties to the conflict to upholding their right of Azerbaijani and Armenian civilians who have fled to return to their homes and property and to be awarded compensation in line with the rulings of the ECHR;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) to put in placeensure that specific provisions to support Azerbaijanare incorporated into the Agreement requiring both sides to cooperate and provide mutual support in fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasion;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) to include provisions related to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms aimed at ending political prosecutions and abductions, the targeting of political dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders, NGO representatives and members of some minority groups including the LGBTQ community; to set up a reinforced forum for a human rights dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan to encourage and support in particular the implementation of comprehensive reforms of the judiciary, all in line withwhich should be fully based on EU standards;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) to ensure a review of legislation and a halting of measures that seek to curtail civil society’s legitimate activitiescurrently have the purpose of curtailing legitimate, broad social participation by civil society, notably as regards their registration requirements, foreign funding and grants registration, for political and social organisations, including foreign funding and grants registration, as regards the restoration of the corresponding transparency, and as regards undue criminal investigations, raids of their offices, freezing of their accounts and persecution of their leaders;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s
Paragraph 1 – point s
(s) to seek, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan commits toremind the Azerbaijani authorities that, as a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture, Azerbaijan has committed itself under international law, not only on the basis of the amended criminal law but also nationally, to prevent the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to prosecute and punish anyone guilty thereof; to insist, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan give a binding undertaking to comply with the demand of the UN Committee against Torture for a zero tolerance policy to be adopted with regard to the persistent problem of torture and with regard to terminating the impunity of those responsible, and to launch investigations into all cases of mistreatment of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, notably in the case of the late Mehman Galandarov, who died in custody;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) to underline the importance of a free and independent media, both off and on-line and to ensure a strengthened EU support for free and pluralistic media in Azerbaijan, with editorial independence and in line with EU standards, and pointing out that a reinforced attention to press and media freedom could take the form of a regional initiative encompassing all the Eastern Partnership countriesin political talks with partners, to underline that, with regard to media content, free and independent media, both off and on-line, which are very important for the functioning of a well informed civil society which participates consciously and actively in the country’s development, must be guaranteed by groups of oligarchs and clans, as well as dominant political groups, and that the EU is prepared to support free, pluralistic, editorially independent media in Azerbaijan;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) to include fair andspecific ambitious and fair trade and investment provisions, in so far as is compatible with Azerbaijan’s non-WTO- member status, that are fully in line with EU standards, notably sanitary, phytosanitary and environmental, and that ensure the protection of intellectual property rights includingstatus of not yet being a member of the WTO, that are fully in line with EU standards and do not undermine the relevant EU standards, notably with regard to SPS, IPR, plant health, environmental protection and the protection of geographical indicators;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x
Paragraph 1 – point x
(x) to also support the diversification of Azerbaijan’s energy mix, promoting non- carbon energy sources and preparing for the post-carbon age, in the interests of energy security and the prevention of energy poverty; to note the important dimension given to climate change and to the impact on local communities in the pending decision by the European Investment Bank on the funding of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP);
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y
Paragraph 1 – point y
(y) to put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction on the basis of the binding Paris Protocol, signed by both contracting parties, as part of the new agreement, including through a mainstreaming of these policies as part of other sector policies;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z
Paragraph 1 – point z
(z) to provide new perspectives for enhanced cooperation in non-energy related areas in order that efforts can be made to diversify the Azerbaijani economy, boost job creation and with the aim of creating more jobs and modern industrial and service sectors and establishing structures in the economy and research which will bring about sustainable development, enabling these jobs and sectors to be belatedly created; to allow for more people-to people contacts both at a regional and European level, in particular in the fields of education, health, transport and tourism;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab
Paragraph 1 – point ab
(ab) to also promote economic growth via transport and connectivity; to extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Eastern PartnersAzerbaijan;