Activities of Franziska Katharina BRANTNER related to 2012/2050(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Main aspects and basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy (Article 36 TEU) - Annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the common foreign and security policy (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Annual Report from the Council to the European Parliament on the Common Foreign and Security Policy PDF (348 KB) DOC (243 KB)
Amendments (36)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas in order to achieve these goals the EU should be able to create synergies and develop strategic partnerships with those countries that share the same values and are willing to adopt common policies and engage in mutually agreed actions;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the ongoing financial and sovereign debt crisis is deeply affecting the credibility of the European Union in the international arena and undermining the effectiveness and the long term sustainability of the Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls its Treaty prerogative to be consulted in the CFSP and CSDP spheres, to have its views duly taken into account and to make recommendations; recogniszes in this regard the availability of the HR/VP to the European Parliament; notes, however, that a solution needs to be found whereby the European Parliament is appropriately informed and consulted in the lead up to, and on the final outcome of, the Foreign Affairs Council; looks forward to the review of the external assistance instruments and to an outcome that recogniszes the European Parliament's rights over strategy papers and multiannual action plans, as established in Article 290 of the TFEU; calls, furthermore, for improved provision of information at all stages of the procedure for CFSP Council Decisions on agreements with third countries, including frameworks for the participation of third countries in EU crisis management operations;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that in the second decade of the twenty-first century there is a growing awareness amongst Europe's citizens, and further afield, that only comprehensive approaches that integrate diplomatic, economic and, in the last resort and within the framework of international law, military means are adequate for addressing global threats and challenges;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the role of political leadership expected of the HR/VP in ensuring the unity, consistency, credibility and effectiveness of action by the Union; calls on the HR/VP to use to the full her powers to initiate, conduct and ensure compliance with the CFSP, involving Parliament's relevant bodies fully in that endeavour; welcomes theinvites the HR/VP in her important lead role, on behalf of the international community, played under difficult circumstances byin the HR/VP in the negotiations with Iran to take account of the important historical relationship between Europe and Iran and its role as one of Europe's neighbours; calls for such leadership in enhancing the European Union's role in support of the Middle East Peace Process and in the Neighbourhood;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the essential role of the EEAS (including its Delegations and EU Special Representatives) in assisting the HR/VP in pursuing a more strategic, coherent and consistent political approach to the Union's external action; affirms its intention to continue monitoring the geographic and gender balance of staff in the EEAS, including in senior positions, and to assess whether the appointment of Member State diplomats as Heads of Delegation is in the interests of the Union, not of Member States; underlines that the EU should be represented through ambassadors in all countries of strategic importance; stresses the importance of strengthening relations between the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States with a view to achieving synergies in the effective implementation of external action and in delivering a single EU message on key political issues;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the commitment by the Member States in the Lisbon Treaty to playing their full role in the development and implementation of the Union's foreign policy; stresses the importance of the Member States‘' solidarity, during a time of economic constraints, on improving the effectiveness of the Union as a cohesive global actor; notes in particular the importance of the Member States’' making available civilian and military capabilities for the effective implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy; regrets, nevertheless, that still on many occasions bilateral relations of some Member States with third countries overshadow or undermine the consistency of EU action and calls, in this respect, for more efforts by Member States to align their external policies with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses the importance of ensuring coherence between policy planning, formulation and implementation through an appropriate mix of external financial instruments in the area of foreign affairs; calls among other things for continued complementary between the CFSP and the Instrument for Stability in the areas of mediation, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict peace- building, as well as for further work towards complementarity with the geographical instruments for long-term engagement with a country or region; welcomes the innovative introduction of a new Partnerships Instrument as requested by the European Parliament which brings important added value to the EU's CFSP by providing a financial framework for cooperation with the EU's Strategic Partners and in the follow-up to important intof the EU with third countries on objectives which arise from the Union's bilateral, regional or multilateral relationships and are outside of the scope of the Development Coopernational summits Instrument;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that the Union has developed relationships over time with countries and regional organisations that have differing contractual and legal bases, some having been termed ‘'strategic’'; observes that there is no clear formula for determining the Union's choice of a strategic partner; notes that leveraging and that, in this respect, the European Parliament is neither informed nor consulted; notes that leveraging genuine and accountable bilateral relationships can be an important force multiplier for EU foreign policy both regionally and within multilateral fora, and that therefore the choice of strategic partners deserves careful reflection in the light of the values and strategic objectives the Union wants to project;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Believes, therefore, that future decisions on strategic partners should be carefully framed in accordance with the foreign policy priorities of the Union vis-à- vis a country or region, or in international fora, and that due consideration should be given to ending partnerships that become obsolete or counter-productive or are in open contradiction with the EU founding values; calls therefore for a follow-up debate with the European Parliament on the September 2010 European Council discussion on the strategic partnerships and for Parliament to be regularly informed ahead of decisions on future partnerships, particularly where such partnerships receive financial support from the Union budget or entail a closer contractual relationship with the EU;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Supports the EU's strategies towards the Western Balkans promoting stabilisation, peaceful conflict resolution and socio-economic modernisation of both individual countries and the region as a whole; notes with concern that political instability, institutional weaknesses, widespread corruption, organised crime and unresolved regional and bilateral issues are hampering further progress of some countries towards EU integration; calls on the EU to maintain its central role in the region and to consider it a top priority;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates its support for improving the accession process of the Western Balkans by making it more benchmark-driven, transparent and mutually accountable; calls on the EU to make fresh, convincing and genuine efforts in order to revitalise the enlargement process as well as to continue to prioritise in its enlargement policy conditions such as constructive political dialogue, consolidation of the rule of law, including ensuring the freedom of expression, the effective fight against corruption and organised crime, enhancing the effectiveness and independence of the judiciary, improving administrative capacities and track records in enforcing acquis-related legislation, tackling inter- ethnic and inter-religious tensions, and addressing of the situation of refugees and displaced persons as well as resolution of open bilateral issues;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes the reconfiguration of the EULEX mission and its refocusing on the rule of law and the executive mandate; expects it to be fully operational all over the territory of Kosovo including the North and stepping up the fight against corruption at all levels and organized crime; takes the view that this mission together with the structured dialogue on the rule of law and the one on visa liberalization with the roadmap recently launched by the EU are important and fundamental steps with a view to paving the way for the full integration of Kosovo in the region and the strengthening of its European perspective;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Regrets that over the last two years no new chapters were opened for negotiations with Turkey; welcomes, in this regard, the recent launch of the positive agenda in EU and Turkey relations in order to provide new momentum to Turkey's accession process but points out that this agenda must be complementary to regular negotiations and should be aimed at overcoming the present deadlock with a view to paving the way for Turkey's EU membership once all the conditions are fulfilled;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Regrets, nevertheless, the overall situation concerning democratic standards and the respect for human rights in the Eastern Partnership countries has hardly made any progress; stresses, furthermore, that the full development of the Eastern Partnership can only take place once all the frozen conflicts are solved; calls, in this respect, for a more active involvement of the EU in the relevant peace-processes with a view to starting credible initiatives aimed at overcoming the current stalemates, facilitating the resumption of dialogue between the parties and creating the conditions for comprehensive and lasting settlements;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Considers Russia as an important strategic partner, but continues to have concerns regarding Russia's commitment to the rule of law, pluralist democracy and human rights; deplores, in particular, the continuous intimidation, harassment and arrests of the representatives of the opposition forces and non-governmental organisations as well as the increasing pressure on free and independent media; takes the view that the deepening of bilateral relations with the Russian Federation should be linked to substantial progress as regards democratic standards and the respect for human rights;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Supports the EU's promotion of a regional approach in Central Asia, which is essential to tackling the regional dimension of issues including organised crime, trafficking in drugs, radioactive materials and human beings, terrorism, natural and manmade environmental disasters and management of water resources; regrets, nevertheless, the lack of substantial progress due only partly to the limited financial resources available; calls for such engagement to be differentiated and conditional upon progress in democratisation, human rights, good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, the rule of law and the fight against corruption; notes that the EU cooperation Strategy for Central Asia identifies seven priorities, but provides resources too limited to have an impact in all policy areas; calls therefore for the EU to define priorities better according to the resources available, whilst ensuring that development cooperation is not subordinated to economic, energy or security interests;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. Stresses that the exploitation and management of natural resources with regard, in particular, to water are still a matter of contention in the region and a source of instability, tension and potential conflict; welcomes, in this regard the Water Initiative launched by the EU in Central Asia but calls for a more effective and constructive dialogue between mountainous and plain countries with a view to achieving sound and sustainable ways of dealing with water issues and adopting comprehensive and long lasting water-sharing agreements;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Takes note, with great concern for the affected population, that the military intervention in Afghanistan has not achieved the building of a viable state with democratic structures, the improvement of living conditions for the majority - particularly women and girls - and the substitution of narcotics production by other forms of agriculture, but instead has embroiled the country in an unprecedented level of corruption; in view of the accelerated withdrawal of European troops calls on the EU and the member states as a priority to prepare a safety plan for those Afghans who have closely supported the European state building efforts and whose existence could be threatened by the European departure, notably women's activists; calls on the EEAS to make an honest evaluation of the EU and Member States' policy in Afghanistan since 2001 and to present a realistic plan of future EU activities in the region by the end of the year;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that, given the increasing global and regional relevance of China, India and other emerging countries in Asia, both the United States of America and the EU may progressively shift their primary attention, political investment and resources to the Pacific; further notes that Asia should have a more important place on the foreign agenda of the European Union and EU Member States and insists that Asia should have a more important place on the foreign agenda of the European Union and EU Member States - considering in particular that the cultural and geographic delimitation between Europe and neighbouring Asia has historically been fluid; calls therefore for greater coordination of the USMember States and EU policies towards ChinAsia, Iandia and o particularly ther emerging countries in Asia in order to avoid a decoupling of approaches to key policies;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Notes that the joint Africa-EU Strategy has initially focused on the African Union and on technical support for institutional capacity building and policies across the range of peace and security, human rights, democracy promotion, the rule of law and achieving the MDGs; recalls that whilst such a comprehensive approach remains valid, there is a pressing need to move beyond institutional capacity building at continental level towards developing a political partnership for peace, security and socio-economic development at regional and sub-regional level; calls for an extension of such political partnerships to include the Regional Economic Communities, not only as a strategy for strengthening the African Union, but also as a means of deepening the EU-Africa partnership at regional and sub-regional level, thus addressing the political, security and economic interests of African and European citizens(JAES) covers 8 sectors : Peace and Security, Democratic governance and Human Rights, Regional Integration, Trade and Infrastructure, MDGs, Energy, Climate Change and Environment, Migration, Mobility and Employment and Science, Info Society and Space; recalls that whilst such a comprehensive approach is commendable there was no specific budget attached for the implementation the strategy; reminds that the EU has signed various agreements with overlapping effects, such as the Cotonou Agreement between African Caribbean and Pacific countries, Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union, the European Neighbourhood Policy for Maghreb countries and joint Africa-EU strategy; calls on the EU to address these overlapping agreements to make them more coherent and effective, based on Policy Coherence for Development;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. WelcomesTakes notes of the EU's strategies for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel as important steps towards focusing political, diplomatic, financial and crisis management resources on a more pregion; believes that the structural causes of the conflict in these regions need to be addressed in order to pave the way for a viable peaceful soliutically strategic and cost-effective approach to difficult security complexeson of the problems and give a better perspective for the population, which implies fair access to resources, ensuring sustainable development of the regions and redistribution of wealth; calls for similar re-an evaluation of Union polices towards other important regions where considerable financialdevelopment aid and diplomatic resources are deployed to assess the impact on the population; calls also for closer association between the European Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament and regional parliamentary arrangements in order to ensure greater accountability for political and budgetary decisions vis-à-vis the citizens of both continents, and as a basis for measuring and evaluating progress in the implementation of political declarationcies;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53 a. Deplores the fact that the content of both strategic documents shows that under the rhetorical umbrella of a comprehensive approach, a piecemeal approach by the European Union is still prevalent and that by not linking individual measures and by not designing a political chain-of-command among the many heads of missions and delegations and the EU Special Representatives the EU thus fails to make sure that it speaks with one voice; regrets Council Decision of 23 March decision to extend the mandate of EU NAVFOR ATALANTA which allows onshore EU military operations in Somalia and which contributes to the further militarization of the EU's approach and raises the risk of collateral damage among coastal populations in Somalia;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Calls for the EU to be more active in South Asia in support of democratic developments and improvement in the area of governance and the rule of law; welcomes, therefore, the commitment to a democratic and secular Pakistan, stable and socially inclusive Pakistan and India; calls on the EU to seek closer cooperation with India, free from reciprocal post-colonial prejudices and aiming at the promotion of common values in the region and in multilateral fora;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Strongly believes in the need to build partnerships in the area of conflict prevention, civilian and military crisis management, and peace-building, and, with this in mind, to make the EU-UN Steering Committee more operational in the context of crisis management; calls on the EU and its Member States to generate further progress on the operationalisation of the. Responsibility to Protect principle and to work with UN partners towards ensuring that this concept becomes part of prevention and post-conflict reconstruction; calls for the elaboration of an Interinstitutional "Consensus on R2P and a common Conflict Prevention Policy " between the EEAS, the European Parliament and the member states in parallel to the already existing 'Consensus on Humanitarian Aid' and 'Consensus for Development', that could ensure more EU consistency in UN fora on those issues;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62 a. Calls on the EU HR/VP and the Council with regard to the UN negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to work for the highest possible standards of protection of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by setting standards that go beyond those already agreed upon at the EU level and enshrined in the EU Common Position on Arms Exports; stresses thus that EU states parties positions must refrain from accepting lower standards which would undoubtedly be detrimental to success and effectiveness of the ATT;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)
Paragraph 63 a (new)
63 a. Notes the results of the May NATO Summit in Chicago; questions NATO's decision to develop a civilian crisis management capability which will duplicate the EU's already existing capabilities and instruments and which might put EU Member State's national capabilities under additional pressure; regrets NATO's decision to develop a NATO Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability which might technically not be reliable but nevertheless trigger an arms race with countries such as Russia, China and India and will consume considerable financial investments in times of austerity, economic and financial crisis; urges the US to remove all tactical nuclear weapons from European territory and Russia to do the same with regard to the Western part of the country;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Expects the EU to develop a real strategic partnership with the Gulf Cooperation Council, including an open, regular and constructive dialogue and structured cooperation on human rights and democracy as well as the transition process and crisis management in the Southern Neighbourhood; to support this objective, reiterates that the EEAS should devote more human resources to the region and open delegations in the main GCC countries;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
Paragraph 67
67. Acknowledges the increasingly important role of the Arab League in regional mattersregional organizations, in particular the Arab League, but also the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and calls on the EU to strengthen cooperation, especially on questions related to transition processes and crisis management in the Southern Neighbourhood; welcomes EU efforts to assist the Arab League in its integration process;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)
Paragraph 69 a (new)
69 a. Is concerned about past arms exports by EU Member States to authoritarian regimes in particular in North Africa and the Arab World; deplores the fact that EU Member States continue to export arms to countries such as Saudi Arabia, but also Armenia and Azerbaijan thus contributing and facilitating armed conflict, regional instability and serious violations of international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL); urges EU Member States such as Germany and Cyprus to fully respect and implement the EU arms embargo against Syria; reminds that EU Member States are responsible for more than one third of global arms exports; urges the EU Member States to comply not only with the eight criteria of Common Position 2008/944/CFSP (the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports) but also with EU development policy principles; reminds EU Member States that developing countries should first and foremost invest financial resources in sustainable social and economic development, democracy and the rule of law; urges HR/VP and the EU Member States to use the ongoing review of EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP in order to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the EU criteria for arms exports; calls on the HR/VP and the EU Member States to speak with one voice in the context of the UN negotiations on a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and to promote a strong and robust ATT which requires State Parties to deny any arms export in case there is a serious risk that the arms would be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHRL and IHR, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes;
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Calls for the HR/VP to put forward proposals for boosting the capacities of the EEAS on conflict prevention and peace- building, with particular reference to the Gothenburg Programme, and to further expand the EU's capacity to prevent conflict and provide mediation capacities alongside its better-resourced crisis management capacities; calls as a matter of priority for stock to be taken of EU policies in the area of conflict prevention and peace-building with a view to the HR/VP reporting back to Parliament on proposals for strengthening the Union's external capacity and responsiveness in this area; welcomes the proposal by the Commission and EEAS to introduce a budget line amounting to EUR 500 000 for Conflict Prevention and Mediation Support Services in the EEAS budget for 2013, following the successful completion at the end of this year of a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)
Paragraph 70 a (new)
70 a. Considers the proposal for an autonomous or semi-autonomous European Institute of Peace with close links to the EU a very promising idea, which could contribute to strengthening conflict prevention and mediation capacities in Europe; calls for such an institute to be based on a clearly defined mandate which avoids duplication of existing governmental and non- governmental organisations and focuses on informal mediation diplomacy and knowledge transfer among and between EU and independent mediation actors; looks forward to the results of the pilot project on a European Institute of Peace launched this year; expects to be fully involved in the discussions leading to the possible creation of such an institute;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Reiterates its call on the Member States to increase European cooperation in defence, which is the only feasible way to make sure that European military forces continueare sustained to be credible and operational in the face of diminishing defence budgets; nNotes the progress made under the EU's pooling and sharing and NATO's smart defence and considers it essential that further synergies are achieved between the two organisations; stresses the need to make further progress in pooling and sharing of assets, and the potential for synergies in research, development and industrial cooperation in defence at Union level;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Notes that Article 194 of the Lisbon Treaty specifies that the EU is entitled to take measures at European level to ensure security of energy supply; stresses, in this regard, that in order to enhance energy security and at the same time strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy it is of the utmost importance to reduce energy dependency from third countries with regard, in particular, to those that don't share or act against EU values and believes that the best way to achieve this goal is to further increase energy conservation and energy efficiency and develop renewable energies; believes that diversification of supply sources and transit routes is urgent and essential for the EU, which is highly dependent on external sources of energy; notes that the main directions for diversification are North Africa and the Southern Corridor from Turkey to Central Asia; believes that it should be ensured that the current main source of imports – Russia – complies with internal market rules, regulations under the Third Energy package and the Energy Charter Treaty.;