Activities of Werner SCHULZ related to 2011/2050(INI)
Plenary speeches (3)
New EU-Russia agreement (A7-0338/2012 - Hannes Swoboda) (vote)
New EU-Russia agreement (debate)
New EU-Russia agreement (debate)
Amendments (23)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU's evolving common foreign and security policy should include Russia as a strategic partnerimportant partner provided that the fundamental values upon which the Union is based are shared and upheld; whereas Russia is a country whose cultural roots lie in Europe and which is an important global and regional player, with membership in the United Nations Security Council, the G8, the G20 the Council of Europe and OSCE;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU and Russia are mutually interdependent, both economically and politicallyeconomic interdependence of the EU and Russia is constantly growing, and whereas enhanced cooperation and good- neighbourly relations between the EU and Russia are therefore of major importance for the stability, security and prosperity of both Europe and Russia;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas these changes, along with the new challenges and opportunities facing the EU-Russia relationship, have to be addressed on both the bilateral and the multilateral level; whereas the basis for a genuine strategic partnership should be an ambitious and comprehensive new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement covering the most important areas of cooperation could provide the basis for a genuine strategic partnership that goes beyond the present critical engagement; whereas the need for building a genuine partnership based on shared common values between the EU and Russian societies should be emphasised;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the negotiations on a new agreement have been taking place for more than three years without substantial progress in several priority areas as trade, energy and human rights;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the continuous intimidation, harassment and arrests of the representatives of opposition forces and non-governmental organisations, the recent adoption of a law on the financing of NGOs, on the right of assembly, the law on defamation, the law on internet restrictions as well as the increasing pressure on free and independent media and minorities in sexual orientation and religious belief result in a further degradation of the human rights and democratic principles in Russia;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas these new or amended laws have been adopted by a partly illegitimate State Duma whose election were neither free nor fair as stated by the OSCE observation mission and concluded by the European Parliament;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ensure that the new agreement provides a comprehensive and forward- looking framework for the further development of relations with Russia in upcoming years, and take the necessary action to ensure that the negotiations with Russia continue at a steady paccarry out an in-depth and frank evaluation of the progress that has been made and success that has been achieved in the negotiations up to date, take into consideration, in the light of recent developments in Russia, whether an ambitious agreement is still feasible and desirable or if a re-definition of aims and a re-start of negotiations under new premises should be made;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) actively work on the conclusion of the negotiations for an agreement which willcould be beneficial for both parties and in line with their increased and ever deepening cooperation; as long as core issues such as democracy and human rights are an integral part of it;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) remain vigilantresolute on the requirements that the EU intends to set as regards respect for democratic principles, and consider this respect as an absolute prerequisite for the signature of a EU-Russia Agreement;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) reiterate that modernisation of Russia is a common interest for both parties and that the EU wishes to further promoaccelerate the process initiated through the Partnership for Modernisation; underline that Russia's policies of economic modernisation cannot be limited to the economic field and should be accompanied by a fully-fledged political reform; deplore, in this regard, the only few efforts and poor progress in the fields of civil society, rule of law, an independent judiciary and the fight against corruption;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) take an active stance in coordinating the different bilateral modernisation partnerships of the EU Member States with the Russian Federation ensuring a coherent and more efficient EU policy;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) follow closely Russia's internal evolution, broaden dialogue with Russia's civil society and all major political protagonists, support institution building in Russia on a regular basis and actively support Russia's independent civil society, support institution building in Russia and the exchange and networking between Russian NGOs and their European counterparts and the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) insist on strengthening the EU-Russia human rights dialogue, so that it becomes an effective and result-oriented tool for advancing human rights in Russia; call, in particular, on the Russian authorities to refrain from undue restrictions o and regret once again that so far all the rounds have taken pelaceful assembly, ensure protection of human rights defenders, s only in the EU with the refusal of the Russian authorities top impunvitye for past abuses and for murder of activists, particularly in the North Caucasus, create a climate in which of civil society organisations can operate without fear of harassment or intimidation, and ensure full compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rightsurther involved ministries and to take part in the preparatory meetings with Russian and international NGOs; take into account the possibility to suspend the format if no progress can be reached;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
(ja) call, in particular, on the Russian authorities to refrain from undue restrictions on peaceful assembly, ensure protection of human rights defenders, stop impunity for past abuses and for murder of activists, particularly in the North Caucasus, create a climate in which of civil society organisations can operate freely without fear of harassment or intimidation, stop the entry into force of the new bill on NGOs and start an in- depth-dialogue with civil society, ensure full compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) incorporate in the Association Agreement clauses and benchmarks on the protection and promotion of human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of Russia and drawing to the fullest possible extent on the Council of Europe and OSCE frameworks to which Russia has committed itself with a clear mechanism of suspension in case of violations or non- compliance;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) stress that the Russian society as a whole would be stimulated by, and would benefit from, a political system that ensures a level playing field for all political parties, offering real competition and effective political alternatives and call, in this respect, on Russia to address concretely all the recommendations concerning the last elections made by the OSCE;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) promote strategicgenuine partnership between the EU and Russia in meeting global challenges, such as, inter alia, non- proliferation, counter-terrorism, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the security of energy supply, the Arctic dimension, climate change, poverty reduction;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) urge Russia to actively facilitate the peaceful resolution of frozen conflicts and step up the EU-Russia cooperation on the resolutioncrisis management of protracted conflicts in Moldova and South Caucasus, on the basis of international law and peaceful conflict resolution;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
(pa) call, in this regard, on Russia to withdraw its military forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia and allow the full and unfettered access of the EU Monitoring Mission to these Georgian territories;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) pursue the efforts for full implementation of common steps towards visa-free short-term travel, with a view of a gradual phasing out of the visa regime between the Schengen countries and Russia; facilitate as much and as quick as possible visa facilitation for academics, students and researchers and harmonize the application of the visa code by the member states on a minimal level regarding requirements;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w
Paragraph 1 – point w
(w) encourage Russia to pursue the restructuration of its economy, and accelerate its evolution from a model oriented to and focussed on energy towards an industry- and services-driven model based on efficient use of resources and the use of renewable energies; stress that oil prices are volatile and that current high prices should not be a pretext for postponing the necessary modernisation of the economy;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point y a (new)
(ya) call on Russia to shut down all Chernobyl- type and first generation nuclear reactors with regard, in particular, to the ones located nearby EU borders and express deep concern at nuclear power plants projects in Kaliningrad Oblast and Sosnovyi Bor; urge Russia, in this regard, to ratify and comply immediately with the UNECE ((Espoo) convention concerning environmental impact assessments in a trans-boundary context;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point z a (new)
(za) express deep concern at the commercial drilling in the Arctic and widespread pollution around drilling sites all over Russia;