32 Amendments of Franziska Katharina BRANTNER related to 2010/2124(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 11 November 2010 on strengthening the OSCE: a role for the EU,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the statement given by the High Representative in the plenary of the European Parliament on the basic organisation of the EEAS central administration of 8 July 20101, 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2010)0280, annex.
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU should further develop its foreign policy objectives and advance its values and interests worldwide with the overall aim of contributing to peace, security, solidarity, gender equality, the protection of human rights, the respect for international law and the support for international institutions, multilateralism and mutual respect among nations, sustainable development, free and fair trade and the eradication of poverty,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Lisbon Treaty has broughtis creating a new dimomension to European external action and will be instrumental in enhancing the coherence, consistency and effectiveness of EU foreign policytum in EU foreign policy, notably enabling the Union to take on an international role compatible with its prominent economic status and its ambitions and to organise itself in such a way as to be an effective global player, able to share responsibility for global governance and security and take the lead in defining common responses to common challenges,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the new momentum in European external action also requires the EU to act more strategically so as to bring its weight to bear internationally; whereas the EU'’s ability to influence the international order depends not only on coherence between its policies, actors and institutions, but also on a real strategic concept of EU foreign policy which must unite all Member States behind the same set of priorities and goals, so that they speak with a strong single voice in the international arena; whereas the EU foreign policy must be provided with the necessary means and instruments in order to enable the Union to act effectively and consistently on the world stage,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas a substantial transformation of the international order is taking place, challeng with the emergence of new challenges, requiring the EU to engage more actively with current and emerging world powers as well as with bilateral and multilateral partners and institutions in order to promote effective solutions to problems which are common to European citizens and the world at large,
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Council not to limit the scope of the CFSP annual report to a mere description of CFSP activities; takes the view that the report should provide more than a catalogue of country-based events and developments and should also address the question of the effectiveness of the EU foreign policy and of the means necessary to pursue the objectives of EU external action; calls on the Council to also include into the report an evaluation of the coordination and coherence between the CFSP and other external policies of the Union;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the VP/HR to make full use of her role and competences as defined by the treaties, in particular Art. 18 TEU, in order to provide more leadership to the Union's external action; recalls in this respect that the treaties envisage that the VP/HR drives forward the CFSP and coordinates all aspects of EU external action; believes that only if the VP/HR assumes the role of principal agenda- setter and decision-shaper, will EU external action, including in the field of the CFSP, become more effective, more coherent, more visible and more accountable; calls on Member States to fully and pro-actively support the VP/HR in assuming this role;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that coherence will need to be sought between the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Member States and the CommissionCommission and the Member States, synergies improved between the EU and the national level and coordination enhanced between institutional actors, with a view to better integrating all relevant instruments and policies and delivering a single EU message on key political issues; considers cooperation at all levels between the EEAS and the relevant services in the Commission to be essential with a view to shaping a strategic approach to our neighbourhood and to candidate and partners countries with membership prospects, as well as to policy areas such as trade, development, energy security and justice and home affairs;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expects the EEAS, by promoting closer coordination between the CFSP and other external policies, to help strengthen the EU'’s role and influence on the global stage and enable it to project its interests and values more efficiently, in a manner commensurate with its existing international trade and economic status; calls on the VP/HR to set up the necessary coordination structures and mechanisms inside the EEAS;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes, however, that fullmore coherence and consistency across EU foreign policy will not be achieved simply by setting up the EEAS, but will also require EU Member States to overcome their differing outlooks on key foreign policy issues; considers it essential, in this regard, that EU Member States not only agree on a common strategy for foreign and security policy, but also ensure that their national policies are supportive of EU positions;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls the VP/HR's statement to Parliament of 8 July 2010 on the basic organisation of the EEAS central administration, in which she committed herself to creating an appropriate structure for crisis management and peace building, in which the relevant units from the Commission transferred to the EEAS and dealing with planning and programming of crises response, conflict prevention and peace building, and the CSDP structures, would work in close cooperation and synergy, both under her direct responsibility and authority; recalls further that, in her letter of 7 September 2010 to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the VP/HR stated her intention to create a dedicated crisis response and peace building department that would stand on an equal footing with other crisis management departments, such as the Crisis Management and Planning Directorate, the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, and the Military Staff, and would inter alia be tasked with the preparation of crisis response actions under the Stability Instrument; expects the VP/HR to swiftly implement these commitments; believes that, in order to provide the Union with effective, efficient and coherent crisis management and peace building structures, the different departments mentioned above should be brought together under a single Managing Director and a crisis management board should be established within the EEAS;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that the revised 2006 Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management must provide for more transparency in the CFSP budgetary procedure and properly address the information requirements of the budgetary authority in order for that authority to be fully and regularly informed on the background, context and financial implications of political decisions in this policy area; takes the view that the European Parliament should receive adequate information prior to the adoption of mandates and strategies in the CFSP sphere; welcomes the support expressed by the VP/HR for the proposal that all important CSDP missions should be identified in the budget but believes that full transparency and democratic scrutiny require separate budget lines for each and every mission; reiterates its position that, in order to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the CFSP, Parliament'’s competent bodies should be consulted prior to the launch of CSDP missions and should be able properly to monitor CSDP missions in particular;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that CSDP actions should be embedded in a comprehensive policy targeting countries and regions in crisis; stresses, further, the need for a shift away from the current focus and emphasis on the successful deployment of CSDP missions and towards greater attention to their successful implementation and lasting impact on the ground; calls on the VP/HR to make conflict prevention, peaceful conflict mediation, security sector reform a priority of CFSP and CSDP; urges the VP/HR to use the newly established EEAS in order to introduce impact assessments as a standard procedure for qualitatively evaluating the multiple security, human rights, gender, social and economic effects of each CSDP mission on the host country or region;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the VP/HR, the Council and the Member States to overcome the imbalance between civilian and military planning capabilities in the EEAS 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 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises the need for optimal coordination between EU disaster responses and other EU instruments – such as CSDP civilian or military missions – which are already being deployed on the ground or which could be set up in the aftermath of a crisis; believes that aremains concerned about the attempts to use combat forces of the EU Battle Groups for disaster response and recalls that an increased use of CSDP capabilities but also the EU's Instrument for Stability for disaster response, relief and reconstruction will seriously limit and weaken the EU ability to solve political crisis and to engage in peace-enforcement, peace-keeping and peace-building; believes that in many cases a too rigid distinction between military and civilian crisis-management operations reflects outdated institutional patterns rather than the reality on the ground, and therefore emphasises the fact that responses to crises may require a combination of military and civilian instruments; recalls that while 16 out of 24 CSDP missions are of civilian nature, 7 have been military and only one of civilian military nature; urges the VP/HR not to appoint military personnel as Head of Mission of purely civilian missions as has been done regarding EULEX;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Urges the VP/HR and EU Member States to include references to UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820 in CSDP- related Council Decisions and mission mandates and to make sure that all CSDP missions have at least one gender advisor and an action plan on how to pursue the objectives of Resolutions 1325 and 1820; urges the VP/HR, EU Member States and Heads of Mission to make cooperation and consultation with local women's organisations a standard element of each mission;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that effective multilateralism and global governance should be the overriding strategic concern of the Union and that, in this context, the EU should take a leading role in international cooperation, facilitate international consensus, support international institutions and advance global action; emphasises the urgent need to address global issues of common concern for EU citizens, such as terrorism, organised crime, energy security, climate change, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the eradication of poverty, the non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, peaceful conflict-resolution and disarmament, migration management and the promotion of human rights and civil liberties; takes the view that, in order to speak with a strong single voice on global issues within the UN system, the EU, while retaining its observer status, should be granted complementary rights at the UN as a natural consequence of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; calls on the EU to improve its strategy and tactics for consultations with UN member countries, including by giving clear explanations concerning the nature of the EU and how, on the basis of its Treaty- based powers, it differs from other regional organisations; recommends placing the issue of the EU'’s rights at the UN high on the agenda for bilateral and multilateral summits with strategic partners; considers it essential to engage with the EU'’s strategic partners in order to find solutions to major regional and global problems; recommends, furthermore, that strategic partnerships be given a multilateral dimension by including global issues on the agendas for the EU's ’s bilateral and multilateral summits; reminds of improved monitoring of EU funds in line with the 2009 European Court of Auditors Special Report No 15;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the EU should take advantage of the adoption of NATO'’s new Strategic Concept in order to strengthen its partnership with NATO, bearing in mind the development of the EU'’s foreign, security and defence policies; deplores the fact that NATO leaders weren't able to adopt a roadmap for nuclear disarmament including the withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons from Europe in line with the action plan of the 2010 NPT Review Conference declaration; points to the need to find pragmatic ways of solving the difficulties – in particular the differences between Cyprus and Turkey – which are hampering the development of closer cooperation between the EU and NATO, given the importance of ensuring that existing forces and capabilities which are shared to a large extent by both organisations are used as efficiently as possible; urges NATO to refrain from developing a civilian crisis management capability which would only duplicate EU structures and capabilities and which would severely obstruct force generation for EU missions;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recognises that the OSCE needs to be strengthened and all its values reaffirmed; firmly believes that the EU should engage effectively in the task of strengthening the OSCE, including by ensuring that the process does not result in the weakening of any of that organisation'’s three dimensions (politico-military, economic and environmental, and human) and by contributing CSDP capabilities to OSCE mandated missions; stresses that the EU should also draw attention to the importance of continuing the Corfu Process and of holding regular high-level meetings in order to give political backing to and enhance the visibility of OSCE activities; deplores the fact that OSCE Heads of State weren't able to agree on an Action Plan that would outline a road map towards a charter for a security community in the OSCE area and to mandate preparation of a follow-up summit two to four years from now;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines the need for close and continuous coordination of EU foreign policy with the EU'’s closest ally and strategic partner, the US, ensuring a joint approach to global governance by supporting and reforming international institutions and promoting the respect for international law and to challenges such as nuclear non- proliferation and terrorism; reiterates its view that the fight against terrorism cannot take place at the expense of human rights and civil liberties; calls on the VP/HR to coordinate closely and develop synergies with the US with a view to ensuring stability and security, security and the peaceful resolution of the existing conflicts on the European continent, including on the basis of cooperation with Russia, and with regard to stability in the greater Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Draws attention to the EU membership prospects of all the Western Balkan countries and underlines the importance of a continuous commitment to the process from both the countries of the region and the EU as stated by the European Council of June 2003 with the endorsement of "The Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans: Moving towards European Integration";
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the fact that the situation in Kosovo remains stable and peaceful, but is concerned at the serious problems and breaches of electoral law which occurred in several municipalities during the recent elections; stresses the importance of electoral reform and fair elections as part of Kosovo's ongoing democratic transition; urges the new Government of Kosovo to improve future electoral processes in order to secure the democratic rights of Kosovo citizens and to strengthen the country's European perspective; calls for the planned talks between Kosovo and Serbia to start without delay, after the formation of the new parliament and government in Kosovo, under the sponsorship of the EU, and stresses that they have vast potential to contribute to stability in Kosovo and to improving the situation for local people, including as regards upholding the rule of law in the north of the country; reiterates the need for the EULEX Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo to ensure that it can function effectively throughout the entire territory of Kosovo, by stepping up its activities in the north of the country, and to enjoy the trust and support of the entire population; points out that Kosovars remain the only citizens in the region excluded from the visa free regime with the EU and calls, in this respect, on the Commission to start immediately the visa dialogue with the Prishtina authorities in order to define the road-map for visa liberalisation;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Regrets the lack of any substantial progress as regards the resolution of the frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus; stresses that this is a stumbling block that hinders the development of a genuine multilateral and regional dimension of the Eastern Partnership; expects an enhanced engagement of the EEAS in the region and calls for a more pro-active role aimed at facilitating the dialogue between the parties, developing confidence- building measures, encouraging people- to-people contacts thus paving the way for a lasting settlement;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the VP/HR to ensure that the EU'’s approach towards Russia, including in the negotiations on a new EU-Russia Agreement, is coherent and driven by a commitment to the values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, including international law; emphasizes that such a commitment must be an integral part of this new agreement; stresses the importance of the Partnership for Modernisation in this context; underlines at the same time the need for a reinvigorated partnership with Russia, based on mutual respect and reciprocity, on the issues of the fight against terrorism, energy security and supply, climate change, disarmament, conflict prevention and resolution with regard, in particular, to the frozen conflicts and nuclear non- proliferation, including with reference to Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East, in pursuit of the goal of strengthening global security and stability; takes the view that cooperation on such issues should form the basis for the new EU-Russia Agreement, and therefore looks forward to speedy progress in the current negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement that is expected substantially to enhance EU- Russia relations;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Supports the resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and stresses the need for meaningful negotiations to be conducted within a limited time frame and in a climate of mutual trust; recalls that the EU is the largest contributor to the PA and Israel'’s main trading partner; deplores the decision of the Israeli government not to extend the moratorium on the freeze of building in the settlements in the West Bank and points out that this is seriously affecting the continuation of the peace process;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Remains concerned at the absence Stresses that the ongoing events that starting from Tunisia and Egypt are shaking the EU's Mediterranean policy of a clear long-term strategic vision for the development and stabilisatSouthern shore of the Mediterranean and more in general the Arab world show unequivocally the desire of those people for change and reforms; regrets that the Euro-Mediterranean partnership was mainly focused on economic reforms and was unable to bring about the necessary political and institutional reforms; points out that the Union ofor the region, which is experiencing an increase in political, economic and social crises, despite the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM); stresses the urgent need for the Euro-Mediterranean integration process to become a political priority for the EUMediterranean, that was supposed to enhance the EU policy in the region, has been unable to meet the growing mistrust and the basic needs of the people concerned; considers that it is of the utmost importance and urgency to rethink and overhaul the EU strategy towards the Mediterranean and calls, in the regard, on the Council and the Commission to review the ENP for our Southern neighbours providing the means for a genuine democratic transition, which take into account women's participation at all levels as formulated by relevant civil society actors, and laying the basis for deep political and institutional reforms;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Stresses that the starting point for any long-term solution to the Afghan crisis must be Afghan citizens‘ interests as regards their internal security, civil protection, and economic and social protection, as well as reconciliation mechanisms, an end to opium production, a robust state-building exercise, the integration of Afghanistan into the international community and the banishing of al-Qa'ida from the country;Expresses its grave concern over the developments in Afghanistan and reiterates its position that the EU and its Member States and the international community at large should support the Afghanistans in building itstheir own state, with stronger democratic institutions capable of ensuring national sovereignty, state unityrepresenting the people, ensuring the rule of law, peace, territorial integrity, sustainable social and economic development and the prosperity of its citizens, while respecting the historical, religious, spiritual and cultural tradimproving living conditions for all its citiozens of all of the country's ethnic and religious communitiesand notably women and children;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reiterates its view that Pakistan has a key role in the region and that a stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan is of vital importance to stability in Afghanistan and the wider region; stresses, furthermore, Pakistan's key role in the Afghan peace process;welcomes that the country has returned to a civil democratically elected government and recognises that the devastating floods of August 2010 have been a setback for Pakistan'’s new government, which had been starting to make progress in dealing with numerous challenges; remains strongly concerned about the lack of rule of law, the systematic violations of human rights, as well as the reported acceleration in the build up of the nuclear arsenal, an oversized military budget combined with lack of state revenue due to missing taxation, an unaccomplished land reform and the neglect of millions of the country's poor; urges the Council and the Commission, together with the wider international community, to respond with a strong show of solidarity and concrete support to Pakistan'’s urgent need for post- flood reconstruction and rehabilitation and the country's aspirations to build a strong and prosperous society; welcomes and further encourages EU efforts to bolster political support for stepping up; welcomes and further encourages EU support for institution- and capacity- building in Pakistan and helping Pakistan'’s democratic institutions to combat extremism;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Fully endorses the commitment of the E3+3 to seeking an early negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran'’s nuclear programme, while respecting Iran'’s legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy; supports the Council'’s twin-track approach aimed at finding a diplomatic solution; welcomesregrets that UNSC Resolution 1929(2010) became unavoidable, introducing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme and the additional restrictive measures announced by the EU, the US, Japan, Canada and Australia; and strongly condemns Iran's continuing provocative and inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and particularly deplores the threats made by President Ahmadinejad against the very existence of the State of Israel; is deeply concerned at Iran's attempts to further its aim of gaining political influence in Afghanistan by manipulating a range of political, economic, and military outcomes;; is extremely disheartened by the exponentially rising numbers of executions in Iran which come down to extrajudicial state murder in view of the lack of any due process as well as the continued systematic repression of citizens aspiring to more freedom and democracy; deplores the threats made by President Ahmadinejad against the very existence of the State of Israel and stresses that official mutual contacts between the delegations of the European Parliament and the Majlis should also be used to address human rights issues;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Commends India's involvement in international actions, notably in Afghanistan and with the Atalanta operation; calls for more collaborative action on issues relating toWelcomes the increased engagement of India on the multilateral level for example in the UN anti-piracy mission; calls for closer cooperation on issues relating to nuclear disarmament, climate change, global economic governance and, the promotion of democracy and, human rights; looks forward to substantial progress in the current negotiations on a free-trade agreement and the rule of law; highly welcomes India's extraordinary development in recent years, but expresses its concern that the country still holds the record of the highest numbers of absolute poor in the world and that extreme discrimination on the basis of caste continues; underlines the importance that the current negotiations on a free-trade agreement should by no means jeopardize efforts to reduce poverty in India and elsewhere, such as through the production of cheap generics; expects the strategic partnership with India to develop in accordance with the Joint Action Plan, so as to yield concrete results;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Welcomes the conclusion of the negotiations on the Association Agreement with Central America and onInvites the Commission to swiftly tackle unsolved problems such as precarious regional integration, human rights violations and growing economic and social imbalances after the conclusion of the negotiations on the Association Agreement with Central America and deplores the abandonment of an Association Agreement with the four countries of the Andean Community in favour of a the Multi- Party Trade Agreement with Peru and Colombia; stresses, nonetheless, that the EU should continue to give priority to regional integration processes in Latin America; notes with satisfaction thatasks for a new mandate to be given to the Commission before relaunching the negotiations on the Association Agreement with Mercosur have resumed, and calls for their swift conclusion, after a meaningful consultation of the EP;