Activities of Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ related to 2011/2286(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Development cooperation with Latin America (short presentation)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on defining a new development cooperation with Latin America PDF (251 KB) DOC (156 KB)
Amendments (45)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Points out that although aid can act as a leverage for LA countries, it is not enough to guarantee sustainable and lasting development; therefore calls on LA countries to strengthen and mobilise their domestic resources, set up transparent taxation systems, involve effectively the private sector, local governments and civil society in the EU- LA agenda and for their greater ownership of projects;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the principle of differentiation and concentration of aid proposed by the Commission; stresses that differentiation must be carried out gradually in the programming phase, as regards both the beneficiary countries and the actual tools of cooperation, developing other forms of cooperation more suited to MICs; recommends that the criteria for application of the principle of differentiation be objective and common to all countries;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that the differentiation approach should not result in a drastic decline in the region’s importance in the outreach of the EU, which is and should behave like a global actor, being an active member of international society and not just the principal global donor. Otherwise, the EU may condemn itself to irrelevance in entire regions, leaving a space open to the intervention of other global actors;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Considers that the message that the EU is sending to the region is very troubling, since, in practical terms, it is a declaration that it does not give it the importance that it deserves, in spite of the multiple political and trade commitments made and shared global interests;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Underlines the need, as expressed in the European Consensus on Development in paragraph 66 , to give appropriate attention to MICs, especially to lower middle-income countries, many of which face problems similar to those of low- income countries;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Asks the Commission to present a coherent strategy for gradual withdrawal of bilateral aid to MICs, which would permit them to strengthen their position as ‘graduates’ from aid, thus following the principle of predictability of aid recognised at the Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Calls on the Commission to present a coherent strategy for theensure that said gradual withdrawal of bilateral aid to the remainder of the eleven MICs, commencing when the new DCI enters into force, and incorporatinges the following criteria:
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
an explicit link between the objectives and the sectoral concentration of bilateral aid in order to strengthen social cohesion, especially through the co-financing of active policies and programmes to reduce inequality in terms of income and opportunities, as well as other more advanced programmes supporting competitiveness and promoting sustainable development, including the promotion of technological and scientific cooperation and technical assistance, priorityeferential access to thematic programmes,regional and sub-regional thematic programmes, and to the Partnership Instrument that includes a guaranteed minimum amount; moves towards reimbursable aid and scholarship programmes;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to boost the Partnership Instrument by over EUR 1 billion to foster the new shape of cooperation with MICs and LMICs, ensuring that funds can be planned, quantified and scrutinised; stresses the need to ensure that it is an instrument that intensifies the EU’s response to global challenges such as the fight against inequality, climate change, security, or the fight against drug trafficking;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Takes the view that the EU-LAC partnership’s objective of social cohesion will be achievable only insofar as it generates a high level of development and fairness of income and wealth distribution, and that this objective requires ensuring the eradication of poverty through more just and progressive fiscal policies, strengthening tax-paying capacity and the fight against fraud and tax evasion;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that it is important to maintain the 20% target for education and health programme importance of maintaining the 20% target for education and health programmes; Reiterates that education and investment in human capital are the foundation of social cohesion and socio-economic development; calls for the implementation of effective policies and adequate funding to fight illiteracy, the rate of which remains high in some countries in the region, in particular among girls and women, and for the promotion of access to non-fee-paying public education (at primary and secondary levels), which is often restricted owing to a lack of the necessary budgetary resources in some countries; in this context, supports the project drawn up by the OEI, ‘Educational goals 2021: the education we want for the generation of the bicentenaries’;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Underlines that, although coverage and spending on education in Latin America have improved in a sustained way during recent decades, the quality remains low and access unequal; points out the work done by the European Union through the Erasmus, Alban and Alfa programmes and asks the Commission to maintain the budgetary appropriation made to date;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Stresses that the large differences in terms of academic performance in Latin America have continued to increase in recent years if comparisons are made based on rural and urban areas, the type of school (public or private), gender or socio-economic status, thus worsening the problem of lack of social cohesion;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Notes the importance of such programmes as EuroSocial, URB-AL and AL-INVEST; COPOLAD, as well as programmes to further Dialogue and Cooperation between the EU and Latin America for the establishment of management models on Migration and Development policies; notes that in the new DCI these programmes should be strengthened, exploring their potential in terms of triangular cooperation;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the EC to enhance the visibility of its projects conducted in the Latin American countries and make them more understandable to their citizens demonstrating the added value of cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Recalls the obligation to respect the principle contained in Article 208 on PCD and avoid imposing on the region the double penalty that would arise from the exclusion of 11 countries from the EU’s bilateral cooperation and the elimination of the trade preferences based on the SPG Plus regime;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Emphasises that in keeping with the concept of democratic ownership, parliaments, local and regional authorities and civil society should be supported in their efforts to play their proper role in defining development strategies, holding governments to account, monitoring and assessing past performance and achieved results; underlines especially the importance of empowering the Latin American parliamentarians' role in decision making processes;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Notes that support for civil society should continue to be one of the priorities of the next DCI; underlines that this support should be included in its country strategies and in the regional programmes, thus highlighting its decisive role in the fight against inequality, corruption and the scrutiny of the use of financial resources;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Calls on the EC to provide enhanced financial, technical and expertise support to the national parliaments´ administrations of the Latin America countries within the regional strategy programmes in order to strengthen their efficiency, transparency and accountability, which is crucial if the parliaments are to play their proper role in the democratic decision making processes;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Recalls that criminality and insecurity have a large impact on the trust that citizens have in public and democratic institutions, as well as on the safeguarding of human rights;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Recalls that one of the priority objectives of the European Union’s external action is to encourage the strengthening of democratic systems and the defence of human rights around the world, and consequently in Latin America;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Notes that although it has 30 % of the planet’s water resources, the distribution of water in Latin America is very irregular and unequal; urges the Commission to maintain its assistance to partner countries in support of a better management of the supply and sanitation of water resources;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Recalls the EU’s commitment to contribute to increasing the role of sustainable energy as one of the vectors of sustainable development;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Points out in particular the importance of support for small and medium-sized enterprises because of their contribution to development, to the region’s economic growth and to social and economic consolidation; underlines that SMEs are the main sources of job generation; expects that advancement of the corporate social responsibility activities of their European partners will also be necessary in order to further the objectives of the EU’s inclusive growth policy;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Underlines the need to foster urgently the construction of infrastructure in Latin America in order to sustain the current high rates of growth and encourage social inclusion; recommends the use of instruments such as the LAIF to support transportation, energy and telecommunications infrastructure projects, since the current investment by Latin American countries in these areas is very far below what is necessary; recalls that the use of ODA for these projects must be justified based on their contribution to reducing poverty, fostering social cohesion and the provision of high-quality public services for the population;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Takes the view that temporary mobility of researchers and support for universities and research centres in such areas as health, food security, marine and maritime research, renewable energies and the fight against and adaptation to climate change should be promoted;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the region is part of the group of middle-income countries that have achieved notable successes in reducing poverty — from 44 % to 33 % in a single decade — and inequality through economic growth and political and social reforms, but nevertheless, one in three Latin Americans still lives below the poverty line – 180 million people, of whom 52 million live on less than EUR 2 a day – and 10 countries in the region remain among the 15 most unequal countries in the world12; 1 Data from ECLAC and OECD. 2 Data from ECLAC and OECD. whereas some countries have malnutrition rates above 20 % and 28 million citizens do not know how to read or write, with 44 million people outside the welfare systems;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas middle-income countries are a driving force for development and regional integration, and a crisis in these countries hinders the progress of low- income countries in their regions;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas social cohesion has been a main objective of the Strategic Partnership since its launch at the Guadalajara Summit in 2004, because of the importance to the region of achieving a better redistribution of income and wealth, by means of appropriate policies that promote sustainable development and greater justice and social cohesion;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas human rights, democracy and good governance are of particular relevance in the Agenda for Change; whereas LA is a continent where democracy is generally established, with which Europe shares democratic values and principles, and where it is necessary to support the governance and institutional structure of the State, which is threatened by violence and insecurity;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Latin America and the EU have formed a Bi-regional Strategic Partnership based on common values and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; whereas 2 of the EU’s 9 strategic partners in the world are in Latin America (Brazil and Mexico); whereas the EU is the principal investor and the second largest trade partner, as well as the principal donor of development aid, providing 53 % of the total Official Development Assistance (ODA) that the region receives;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas most of the people in poverty around the world live in these Middle- Income Countries; these countries often face significant inequalities and weak governance that endangers the sustainability of their own development process; many middle-income countries play an important role in global policy, security and trade issues, producing and protecting global public goods, and acting as ‘anchor countries’ at the regional level; and beyond periods of economic prosperity, they remain vulnerable to global risks of an economic, environmental or security nature;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas some countries of Latin America have begun to get involved in development cooperation efforts by means of regional cooperation and South–South cooperation (SSC) mechanisms;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
D c. whereas Latin America cannot cease to be a priority for the EU, as is reflected in EU–LA bi-regional relations, where there have been considerable advances in recent years, such as the Association Agreements with Central America, Chile and Mexico; the multi-party trade agreement with Colombia and Peru; the negotiations with Mercosur; the Madrid Action Plan and the launch of the EU– LAC Foundation;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU, by means of the agreements made with partners in the region, including the Association Agreements and its development aid, continues to provide significant support for the development and stabilisation process in the region; whereas the possibility that it may no longer do so when the results of this process are consolidated is a cause for serious concern;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the European Commission’s current proposal on DCI provides for the reduction of bilateral aid from the EU to the middle-income countries in Latin America, and basic services have disappeared from the list of priorities for the region;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the budget allocation of the current DCI for Latin America reflects that it is the most financially neglected region in structure of chapter IV of the EU budget in relation to other areas that receive European aid;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
E d. whereas the main challenges of the donors in the region include policy coherence, as well as greater coordination and complementarity within the framework of a better division of labour, entailing greater concentration and predictability of aid;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the GDP index is inadequate as the sole indicator for measuring inequality and for making decisions on the allocation of EU development assistance with the main objective of eradicating poverty;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas education and training, as well as universal access to public health services, are of vital importance in the fight against poverty and the promotion of social exclucohesion;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
H c. whereas the private sector is referred to explicitly as a key actor in the generation of sustainable development and the contribution to the social cohesion included in the Agenda for Change;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Recital H d (new)
H d. whereas the structured bi-regional and global dialogue on migration between the EU and Latin America is important, and it is important for migration policies and practises of both regions to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of all migrants;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas the European Commission’s proposal for the partnership Instrument centres on the implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy in the region; whereas this proposal concentrates preferentially on its strategic partners and on emerging economies, while also having a global focus centred on global challenges and threats;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas the corruption linked to criminal networks that are specially dedicated to the distribution and trafficking of narcotics, and that penetrate institutions, distribute among themselves zones of territorial influence, and cause collateral damage, poses a threat to the democratic systems and the collective security of LA, giving rise to serious problems of instability and political governance;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
- having regard to the European Consensus on Development12, in particular point 61 thereof, which recognises the importance of Middle-Income Countries in achieving the MDGs and shows the difficulties that these countries, as well as Middle-Upper Income Countries, face,