Activities of Franziska Katharina BRANTNER related to 2009/2057(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
2008 annual report on the CFSP - The implementation of the European Security Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy - Non-proliferation Treaty (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT Report on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in 2008, presented to the European Parliament in application of Part II, Section G, paragraph 43 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 PDF (257 KB) DOC (148 KB)
Amendments (33)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the role of the European Union as a global player has increased over the 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA-PROV(2009)0057 2 Texts adopted, P7_TA-PROV(2009)0057 last decades, and whereas a new approach isand further financial means are needed if the EU is to act collectively and meet global challenges in a coherent, consistent and efficient manner,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Treaty of Lisbon brings a new dimension to the external action of the Union as a whole, including the CFSP, which together with the legal personality of the EU and the relevant institutional innovations, notably the creation of the office of Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (“the Vice-President/High Representative”) and the setting-up of the European External Action Service (EEAS), could be a decisiven important factor in the coherence, consistency and effectiveness of the Union's external action and could significantly enhance its visibility as a global playershaping power in the international arena,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas further efforts are needed to improve the timeliness of the response of the EU to political crises and regional conflicts; whereas the present decision- making and funding mechanisms can hamper timely and comprehensive reactions and whereas ways must be found to further limit and overcome the unanimity rule,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Treaty of Lisbon, and specifically Articles 3 and 21 thereof, further develops the objectives of the EU's foreign policy and puts the promotion of human rights – particularly the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms – at the centre of the EU's external action,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the new security challenges require a stronger emphasis to be placed on combinstrengthening, combining and balancing different civilian and military instruments across the spectrum of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, crisis management and peace- building activities,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is of the view that the merging of the inter-governmental and Community pillars and functions into one single post of the Vice-President/High Representative, who is subject to a collective vote of consent by the European Parliament, can increase the democratic legitimacy of CFSP activities provided a continuous strategic dialogue is established on an equal footing between Parliament, the Council and the Commission at all levels;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates that, in order to allow the EU to play an active role in the world, sufficient funds need to be allocated in the EU budget; regrets that the relevant budget continues to be underfunded and expresses its serious concern over the consequences of under-financing for the Union’s ability to conduct a credible and proactive foreign policy; also underlines the need to equip the Union with the necessary financial means for a consistent and adequate response to unforeseen global challenges and, in this regard, looks forward to being consulted oand involved in the procedures for granting rapid access to appropriations in the Union budget for urgent financing of CFSP initiatives;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Vice-President/High Representative, the Council and the Member States to overcome the imbalance between civilian and military planning capabilities in the Council Secretariat and to increase the number of staff in the fields of justice, civilian administration, customs and mediation so as to ensure that adequate and sufficient expertise can be provided for CSDP missions;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls in this respect for adequate staffing of the civilian component and urges the Member States to use the great opportunity provided by the EEAS to pool currently available resources in order to achieve a coherent, effective and efficient crisis management planning capability;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls for the setting-up of a Directorate-General for Civilian Crisis Management and Peace-building within the EEAS bringing together the Civil Military Planning Department (CMDP), the Crisis Platform of the Commission and other relevant actors from the Commission and the Council Secretariat;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses once again that the scope of the report should not be limited simply to a description of CFSP activities but should provide the opportunity to establish a dialogue with the European Parliament aimed at developing a more strategic approach to the CFSP; recommends that the annual CFSP report be turned into a yearly report discussing the implementation and evaluating the effectiveness of the EU's foreign policy strategy and that more references be made to the budgetary needs and financial impact of external actions in such reporting;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the role to be played by the Vice-President/High Representative in chairing the Foreign Affairs Council and the fact that her representative is to chair the Political and Security Committee (PSC); expects these new functions to consolidate inter-institutional contacts and foster a more stable dialogue between the institutions; invites the Vice- President/High Representative to build on the experience of the periodic appearances by the outgoing High Representative and External Relations Commissioners before Parliament in plenary and before its Committee on Foreign Affairs, and on the practice of informal meetings, in order to step up and develop regular, systematic and substantive consultations with Parliament and its competent bodies;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to seize the opportunity offered by the setting-up of the EEAS to create a more coherent, consistent and effective foreign policy; expects in this regard that the basic values and objectives of the Union's foreign policy such as respect for and promotion of human rights, and priorities of the Union's foreign policy such as crisis management and peace building, will be duly mirrored in the structure of the EEAS, including in the human resources;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the Treaty of Lisbon includes new financial procedures for the CFSP, strengthens the dialogue between the Council and Parliament on the CFSP by introducing two annual debates to be held with the Vice-President/High Representative, and details the role and responsibilities of Parliament in relation to the CSDP; calls, therefore, for a review and extension of existing inter-institutional agreements, with the involvement of its Committee on Foreign Affairs, so as to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the budgetary and consultation procedures for the CFSP and the CSDP and to improve, enhance the transparency and accountability of CFSP spending and improve and broaden access to sensitive information; draws particular attention in this regard to the above- mentioned Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 and to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 20 November 2002 between the European Parliament and the Council concerning access by the European Parliament to sensitive information of the Council in the field of security and defence policy; expresses its determination to exercise its budgetary power and its democratic scrutiny with regard to the CFSP in connection with all institutional innovations, including the funding arrangements for the EEAS;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to establish greater clarity on the criteria for the appointment and evaluation of EU Special Representatives (EUSRs); considers that relevant EUSRs should gradually take over and carry out the functions of country- based EU Heads of Delegation while EUSRs with regional responsibilities coulmust coordinate and provide political guidance to EU Heads of Delegation under the authority of the Vice-President/High Representative in the countries concerned in order to ensure coherent and consistent European external action; calls on the Vice-President/High Representative to take steps with a view to entrusting EUSRs with the task of coordinating and providing political guidance also with regard to CSDP missions within their remit;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes that the Treaty of Lisbon extends the consent procedure to all agreements related to fields to which the ordinary legislative procedure applies and strengthens the right of Parliament to be duly informed by the Commission of the progress of the negotiation of international agreements as referred to in Article 218 of the TFEU; considers therefore that the negotiation of a new Inter-Institutional Agreement with Parliament should be explored so as to provide Parliament with a substantive definition of its involvement in every stage of the negotiations leading to the conclusion of an international agreement;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Continues to be concerned about the repeated gas crises such as the Russian- Ukrainian crisis of January 2009, which highlighted the EU’s increasing energy dependency on sources of supply and transit channels which face threats to their stability; stresses that energy dependency of the EU on non-democratic countries deeply undermines the coherence and consistency of its foreign policy; recalls the urgent need to address energy challenges by implementing a common European external energy policy; calls in this regard on the Vice- President/High Representative to pursue with determination Parliament's recommendations for the development of such a policy, in particular by promoting EU cohesion in negotiations with energy suppliers and transit countries, supporting EU energy priorities and defending the common interests of the Member States, by developing effective energy diplomacy and more efficient mechanisms for responding to crisis situations and, finally, by promoting the diversification of energy supplies, sustainable energy use and the development of renewable energy sources;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that significant potential conflicts arise from intensified competition over access to, and control of, energy resources, and consequently that the EU should further develop mitigation, and adaptation and energy conservation policies with a view to addressing the security risks posed by climate change; considerstresses in this regard that the EU needs to continue tomust strengthen its leadership in global climate governance, given that climate change has become a key element of international relations;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the need to strengthen capacities so as to provide for better monitoring of the Union’s civilian and military missions and to enable lessons to be learned from the manner in which they are conducted, so as to improve the planning and management of future missions; underlines also the need for a more strategic approach to ESDP missions;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States to redouble their efforts to find and deploy sufficient numbers of suitable and qualified personnel to take part in CSDP civilian and military endeavours throughout the world in a coherent and well coordinated framework, including in specific high-risk areas, since the success of CSDP missions largely depends on the skills and knowledge of well-trained staff; calls, in this respect, for common training of the personnel of CSDP missions;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recommends that the EU strengthen the political dialogue with third countries and regions, particularly with major partnerstrategic partners with whom to coordinate positions in the international organisations and support and promote democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights; reiterates in this regard the important role that parliamentary diplomacy plays as a supplementary tool in the Union’s relations with third countries and regions; is therefore of the view that the Vice-President/High Representative and her services including the EUSRs should engage with Parliament in devising common strategies towards partner countries and regions and should be available to assist Parliament orally and in writing with regard to specific issues and visits;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. BWithout prejudice to the international obligations of the EU under the UN Charter, believes that the EU and NATO should develop a more intense partnership, taking into account the progressive development of the EU's foreign, security and defence policies; to that end, recommends a review of the so-called Berlin-Plus arrangements and the development of a more strategic dialogue on shared strategic interests and contingency planning;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its commitment to the transatlantic partnership as the cornerstone of the EU's external action; urges the Vice- President/High Representative to ensure that the EU acts as a coherent and active partner of the US in strengthening global security and stability, promoting peace and respect for human rights, and adopting a united approach to global challenges such as nuclear proliferation, terrorism, climate change and energy security; calls on both partners, the EU and the US, to encourage China, India, Russia, Brazil and other emerging powers to share responsibility for the global order and for the settlement of conflictsprevention and peaceful settlement of conflicts in compliance with international law; encourages the Vice- President/High Representative to work towards strengthening EU-US institutional mechanisms in line with Parliament's resolutions;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. CStresses that the countries of the Western Balkans are part of the enlargement process; considers that stability in the Western Balkans should remain a top priority in the Union’s external action, and therefore attaches the utmost importance to the efforts to bring the countries of that region closer to the EU, inter alia by promoting reforms and enhancing regional cooperation and inter- ethnic reconciliation in order to meet the Copenhagen criteria and prepare for accession;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes with satisfaction the generalincreasingly peaceful and stable situation in Kosovo and the efforts to build a multi-ethnic society, as demonstrated by the successful local elections held on 15 November 2009; welcomes the fact that the EULEX rule of law mission in Kosovo, which is the largest civilian CSDP mission launched so far by the EU, is working at full operational capacity; underlines the mission’s importance in promoting inter-ethnic reconciliation, the rule of law, public order and security throughout the whole of Kosovo, by assisting the Kosovo institutions, to implement the Ahtisaari plan and in particular the decentralisation process and helping the judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies in their progress towards sustainability and accountability; in this respect, welcomes the decision to open a new EULEX office in the north; however, notes the need to increase the number of prosecutors working in EULEX, and calls on the Member States to provide additional personnel;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Continues to support the development of the Eastern Partnership with the Union's European neighbours, integrating them economically into the internal market and intensifying political cooperation; underlines the importance of tangible middleproviding this partnership with credible projects and of tangible medium- and long-term incentives for reform, which would strengthen the commitment of societies in the partner countries to the process of modernisation and integration with the EU; in particular, points out the need – while maintaining security for all EU citizens – to progressively remove all obstacles to the free movement of persons (including, eventually, visa-free travel) and to enhance cooperation in all aspects of security, especially energy security; reiterates its view that the partnership needs to be provided with adequate financial resources;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Vice-President/High Representative to ensure that the EU's approach towards Russia is coherent and driven by a commitment to the values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, including international law; underlines at the same time the need to enhance cooperation with Russia, which should be an integral part of the new agreement due to replace the present Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, and to find ways to coordinate actions, facilitate consultation and improve communication between the Member States with regard to bilateral issues with the Russian Federation of common concern; underlines at the same time the need to enhance cooperation with Russia on the issues of disarmament, conflict prevention and nuclear non-proliferation and with regard to Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East, pursuing the goal of strengthening global security and stability;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Urges the Council to insist on full implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Russian Federation and Georgia and calls on the EU to uphold the principles of Georgia's territorial integrity and respect for minorities in the whole of the South Caucasus; welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the EU Monitoring Mission and urges the Council to ensure that EU monitors are granted full access to all areas affected by the conflict including the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and, to that end, to use the financial instruments of the EU to assist the populations in the whole conflict area; calls on the EU, with reference to the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, to draw the lessons of the past in order to develop effective conflict- prevention mechanisms including the promotion of people-to-people contacts;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Urges the Vice-President/High Representative to intensify the EU's efforts to work towards peaceful settlement under international law of the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria and, above all, that between Russia and Georgia and its breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia by giving fresh impetus to the Geneva talks;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the EU to assume a stronger political role in the ongoing international efforts to re-launch the Peace Process, commensurate with its financial engagement in supporting a Palestinian economic recovery and; stresses the urgent need to addressing the dramatic humanitarian crisis in Gaza; by ending the Israeli blockade; calls in this respect on the Council and the Commission to endorse and implement the recommendations laid down in the EU Heads of Mission report on East Jerusalem and calls on the Vice- President/High Representative to consider all means to promote a lasting peace in the region;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recognises that Pakistan continues to face very serious challenges and endorses the EU's firm support for the government ofPlan to strengthen action in Pakistan; stresses Pakistan's key role in the region and reiterates that a stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan is also central to addressing global issues such as counter- terrorism, nuclear non- proliferation, counter-narcotics and human rights, and strongly encourages it to adopt a comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism and address its root causes;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Expresses its grave concern over the political developments in Iran and the reported massive electoral fraud during the presidential elections of June 2009, which has ignited the biggest protest movement in the 30-year history of the Islamic Republic, with demonstrations and violent repression by the security forces still ongoing; is very concerned not only about the arrests, torture and murder of political opponents but also about the continuous stalemate in the negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, and calls on the Iranian Government to enter into serious negotiations on the nuclear issue; regrets that the visit by the Iran delegation of the European Parliament in January 2010 has been cancelled by the Iranian authorities and expresses its solidarity with those Iranians who, risking their lives, continue to publicly demand respect for human rights and greater democratic freedoms in Iran; condemns Iran's efforts to block freedom of information by jamming foreign broadcasts and the Internet; calls on the Council and Commission to consider sanctions against individual members of the administration and the security services responsible for the widespread human rights violations and to devise measures in support of those participants in the 'Green movement' who suffer persecution and/or exile in their plight;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Notes with great satisfaction that EUNAVFOR Atalanta continues to make a successful contribution to maritime security off the coast of Somalia by protecting vessels chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering aid to Somalia, vessels supplying critical shipments to the African Union peace support operation in Somalia and other vulnerable vessels; calls on the Council to extend the operation for another year when the current mandate comes to an end on 12 December 2009; expresses its support for a possible southward extension of the operation zone depending on pirate activity, but underlines that such an extension should not affect the mission's essential goal, namely the protection of WFP convoys and other vulnerable vessels such as the merchant fleet and fishing vessels; welcomes; expresses its reservations about the approval by the Member States on 17 November 2009 of the Crisis Management Concept for a possible new CSDP operation for Somalia butand insists that the adoption of this concept should in no way prejudge the decision on launching a mission, which can be takencan be decided only after a more detailed examination of the situation on the ground, making sure that human rights are respected, salaries are paid and equipment is provided and that the trained security forces are integrated into state and command structures so that, once they return, they will not turn against the government they are supposed to be protecting;