Activities of Boris ZALA related to 2011/2111(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU foreign policy towards the BRICS and other emerging powers (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the EU foreign policy towards the BRICS and other emerging powers: objectives and strategies PDF (218 KB) DOC (136 KB)
Amendments (22)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the European Council conclusions of 16 September 2010,
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, within the process of consolidation of strong economic and foreign policy powers such as the BRICS, a multi-polar system has emerged, where global leadership is increasingly shared amongst several countries and regional blocks of countries; whereas such a multi- polar system entails a progressive shift in global economic power to the BRICS and other emerging economies and further entails a shift of sovereigntypower and control, in foreign policy terms, from existing powers to emerging powers; whereas the current economic crisis has accelerated the process of transfer of powers from existing to emerging powersis transition towards a multi-polar system;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the consolidation of the economic and political power of the BRICS and other emerging countries as the world's largest economiepowers may not necessarily be associated with the transition from low-income economies to middle-income economies and, thereby, the emergence and consolidation of a large middle class; whereas the lack of a large middle class in such countries would mark the end of the substantial role in world affairs of countries characterised by affluent societies and a stable and moderate political orientationa higher standard of living of the population is essential for social stability and development in these countries;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the BRICS display considerable divergences in their political and economic systems, demographic and social trends, and foreign policy outlooks; whereas these differences are likely to constrain the capacity of the BRICS to act as a coherent block on the international scene;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the European Council conclusions of 16 September 2011 stressed that in accordance with the Lisbon Treaty, and in line with the European Security Strategy, the EU and its Member States would act more strategically so as to bring Europe's true weight to bear internationally and that the EU's strategic partnerships with key players in the world provide a useful instrument for pursuing European objectives and interests;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses how the current economic crisis has demonstrated the interdependence between the emerged powers and the BRICS and other emerging countriepowers; points out that stable economic growth of the latter is clearly conditional on stable economic growth of the former, and vice versa; emphasises that political and economic ties between emerged and emerging economies are mutually beneficial and believes that further political understanding and coordination with the BRICS and other emerging countriepowers should thus be pursued by the EU, within the framework of strategic partnerships, as a matter of priority;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the interdependence between, on the one hand, the emerged powers and, on the other, the BRICS and other emerging powers maintains a relevant economic dimension, but its essentially politicalffective management requires political solutions, as both the emerged and the emerging powers share an interest in ensuring an effective system of global governance and in tackling together those global stability and security risks which may curb the global growth potential;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Strongly rejects the contention that, in view of the emergence of new economic and foreign policy powers and potential rivals, the West should agree to relinquish its leadership and focus on managing its decline. C; contends, rather, that the West and, in particular, the EU should focus on achieving the necessary economies of scale and develop concerted efforts to enable it toEU should act more strategically so as to bring Europe's true weight to bear internationally also by managing the implications of interdependence, instigating reforms of global governance, and mobilizing collective action in areas such as the rule of law, sustainable environment, regional security etc., through constructive interaction with the emerging powers constructively and effectivelyBRICS and other emerging powers; points out to the need to develop an inclusive system of global governance based on cooperation and coordination with the BRICS and other emerging countries,powers as appropriate; points further to the key role of the West and, particularly, the EU in promoting an inclusive system of global governance such as this;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the concept of bilateral strategic partnerships and urges the Council and the EEAS to operationalise it; considers strategic partnerships to be a promising and potentially transformative tool of organizing and advancing EU’s relations with key players in the global arena, including the BRICS and other emerging powers; recommends that this instrument be used by the EU to pursue both multilateral and bilateral agendas and to develop meaningful linkages between the two; underlines that internal coherence is vital for the EU to act and be perceived as a genuine strategic interlocutor to the BRICS and other emerging powers;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the BRICS have embarked on quasi-permanenta coordination of their foreign policyies by abstaining from the vote on UNSC Resolution 1973 (2011) on Libya (South Africa was not yet part of the BRICS at that time), by deferring the vote on the EU'’s role in UNGA, and through their coinciding positions on Côte d'’Ivoire, Sudan and the placement of weapons in outer space, as well as by coordinating their action through the BRICS Leaders'’ meetings; points out that the BRICS seem to be challengingand other emerging powers have expressed dissatisfaction with the current system of international governance; believes that if the EU will duly take into account the new weight, in political and economic terms, of the BRICS and other emerging powers, this may contribute to an orderly reform of global governance without any destabilising effects;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes, however, the considerable divergences in the political and economic systems, demographic and social trends, and foreign policy outlooks of the BRICS, which should inform, and be reflected in, a nuanced EU policy towards these countries; urges, in this context, the EU and its Member States to discourage the entrenchment of and strategic competition between blocks of emerged and emerging powers, respectively; contends that, in order to promote international collective action and the reform of global governance, the EU must leverage a diverse range of bilateral, multilateral and non-state interactions, and harness issue- based coalitions that cut across the emerged/emerging world divide;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underscores the importance of Brazil as a leading power of the MERCOSUR regional integration process; welcomes the renewed EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan 2012-2014, and the mutual commitments made in the areas of democracy promotion and reforms of the multilateral system of governance; urges both sides to honour their commitments and contribute to the reform of the world's financial architecture; recalls the offer made by President Rousseff regarding the support for the EU to overcome its sovereign-debt crisis, and acknowledges the interrelation between both; expresses its support to a balanced and fair conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda and the EU- MERCOSUR Association Agreement, which will be the most important association agreement ever signed by the EU, encompassing 750 million people and commerce worth 125 billion dollars a year; takes note of Brazil's request to have full visa liberalisation and asks the Commission to present a proposal in that regard;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Highlights the indispensable role of EU-Russia strategic partnership in maintaining peace and security in Europe, enhancing trade and economic development, preserving energy security, and addressing transnational challenges; urges the EU and Russia to resolve outstanding issues related to Russia’s entry into the WTO and finalize negotiations on a comprehensive and legally-binding Agreement opines that, in the long-term, the rise of Asian powers is likely to facilitate further alignment of interests and closer strategic cooperation between the EU and Russia; believes that such cooperation is vital for progress on issues of global importance, such as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, climate change or illegal migration;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Highlight the importance and potential of the EU-India strategic partnership; considers that, in the current global economic crisis, issues such as social crisis, climate change, migration flows and global security should be addressed in a more comprehensive partnership between India and the EU; also notes that the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations are reinforcing the EU-India relations: considers, however, that this relationship should not be limited to trade issues; calls on the re- establishment of a India-Europe Friendship Group, including representatives of the European Parliament and of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Underscores the importance of China as a major economic power and highlights its essential role in global economic recovery; in this regard, recalls the necessity for China to fulfil its agreed WTO obligations, ten years after its accession; furthermore, calls on the European Union and its Member States and China to tackle common challenges and threats to international peace and security, including improved cooperation on a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear crisis; urges both sides to foster a more balanced trade among them, notably by intensifying their efforts to conclude negotiations on new partnership and cooperation agreement, in order for this framework to fulfil the potential of EU- China strategic partnership;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Underscores the strategic nature of EU-South Africa relations; welcomes the positive outcome of the fourth EU-Africa summit of September 2011, in particular the convergence of views on the situation in Libya; urges the EU and South Africa to conclude, as soon as possible, negotiations on a new Economic and Partnership Agreement; contends that South Africa, given its record of successful and peaceful transition to democracy and its role as a regional power, can be a major force in promoting democracy and good governance, fostering regional economic integration, and supporting national reconciliation across Africa, and a key partner for the EU in these efforts; stresses the importance of close cooperation between the EU and South Africa on climate change, sustainable development and reforms of international institutions;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that, in light of the increasing relevance of the BRICS and other emerging economiepowers and the looming multi- polar system of global economic governance, the G- 20 is the appropriate forum for consensus building and for a decision-making process which is inclusive and able to foster convergence, including regulatory convergence; takes the view that notwithstanding the increasing relevance of the G-20, the G-7 maintains a key role as a consultative, coordinating and consensus- building forum for the emerged powers with a view to dialogue with the BRICS and other emerging economiepowers, and ahead of G-20 meetings; supports the G-20 parliamentary dimension and believes that it should be further consolidated and involved in the decision-making processes to ensure a reinforced democratic dialogue and scrutiny;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that, given the increasing global and regional relevance of China, the United Statesthe BRICS, and of Aemerica may progressively shift its primary attention, political investment and resources to the Pacific andging Asian powers in particular, the United States of America may perceive the North Atlantic dimension and cooperation with the EU as less strategic; further notes that Asia will have to play a progressively important role on the foreign agenda of the European Union and European Union Member States; expresses concernnotes that the stance of the United States and the EU towards China and other emerging countries in Asia may not be sufficiently coordinated and may lead to a decoupling of US and EU policies towards such countries; strongly believes that only by coordinating their efforts will the USA and the EU attain the required economies of scale to engage in an effective dialogue with the emergingthe BRICS, and emerging Asian powers in particular, may lead to a decoupling of US and EU policies towards such countries; takes the view that, in addition to the G-7, regular EU-US summits would provide the opportunity to identify common objectives and coordinate strategies;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the importance that the overall coordination of EU foreign policy towards the BRICS and other emerging economiepowers should lie with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; believes that the EU should strive to achieve, under the coordination by the High Representative, a better linking of foreign and security policy with EU sectoral policies, such as development, energy security, trade, access to raw materials and rare earths, climate change and, migration etc., with a view to valorising synergies and ensuring a coherent and systemic foreign policy approach;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the EU should have capacity to adjust and reform its internal governance structures in order to ensure a decision- making process able to reflect its plurality and create consensus; urges the Council and the EEAS to devise horizontal and vertical coordination mechanisms that will enable EU foreign policy to benefit from EU institutional synergies and from the density and depth of Member States' bilateral ties with strategic partners, including the BRICS and other emerging powers; stresses the importance that a coherent foreign policy approach at EU level towards the BRICS and other emerging countriepowers be reflected in the organisation of the EEAS; takes the view that with regard to the BRICS, in addition to its organisation along geographical and thematic lines, the EEAS should establish an ad hoc coordinating unitnetwork to ensure that all individual policies towards BRICS are compatible from a systemic point of view and that the policy lines adopted are reflected in the EU dialogue with emerged powers such as the USA, Canada and Japan; believes that the EU delegations in BRICS countries and other relevant emerging countries should form a network aimed at providing continuous monitoring and analysis on relations amongst the BRICS and relevant cross-sensitivities, thus enabling a more systemic approach; believes that the EU ; believes that the EU should direct its resources to leading the reform process of a global system of governance and of international organisations with a view to ensuring a more inclusive consensus- building and decision-making process at global level;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the key, positive role of Parliament's Liaison Office in Washington DC in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Parliament and the US Congress, and believes that, building on this kind of positive experience,at the staff of EU Delegations in BRICS countries should include Parliament liaison officers in order to foster a greater understanding of the national parliamentary dimension in each of those countries and promote closer cooperation and dialogue between the European Parliament and national parliaments on a bilateral basis; believes that, in addition to its existing delegations for relations with Russia, India, China and South Africa, respectively, a delegation for relations with Brazil should also be considered;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the aforementioned Commission Communication on ‘A Budget for Europe 2020’, which draws up a proposal for the design of financial instruments and programmes under the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020; shares the view of the EEAS that the new partnership instrument aimed at supporting EU economic interests in the rest of the world and including non-ODA- eligible activities should be a foreign policy instrument; believes that such a partnership instrument could help consolidate stronger economic ties and thereby stronger political ties with select countries, and welcomes the promotion of regulatory convergence as one of its aims; believes that the new design of financial instruments and programmes should give particular relevance to ad hoc financing lines supporting emerging countriepowers and potentially emerging countriepowers in consolidating democratic structures and developing good governance and the rule of law, good educational systems and progressive social inclusion; welcomes the proposal by the Commission to include the principle of conditionality in all EU programmes and instruments and believes that this is key to achieving more leverage in promoting universal values and good governance;