1119 Amendments of Enrique GUERRERO SALOM
Amendment 5 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the 2018 State of the European Union address of 12 September 2018 by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker,
Amendment 15 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union is an example of supranational integration without equal andhich has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples ever since the groundbreaking Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the Union has achieved fundamental transformations, such as the free movement of goods, services, capital and people, the single currency, the Erasmus programme, regional, agricultural and cohesion policies, and Horizon 2020, among many others, that contribute to the well-being of European citizens;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the 2014-2017 period has seen more socially balanced and effective monetary and macroeconomic policies that have contributed to the economic ans social recovery, such as the non-standard policies of the ECB, the flexibility of the Stability and Growth Pact, and the Investment Plan for Europe;
Amendment 27 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas although Europe has managed to overcome the most critical moments of the economic crisis, important and urgent reforms still lie ahead in the area of economic governance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery and development of the social standards of our welfare state;
Amendment 34 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, demographic decline, terrorism, security, climate change, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and defence, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe shouldmust continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together in order to complete the process of European political integration, so these challenges can be effectively tackled;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas theEuropean Parliament is very concerned about the rise of populist, xenophobic and anti-European movements all over Europe; whereas the Union and its Member States must strengthen their efforts to defend and promote the democratic values, founding principles and objectives of European integration;
Amendment 41 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’s announcementnotification on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. Whereas the negotiation on the envisaged departure of the UK from the EU have revealed the high level of interdependence of the member states, the degree to which we all rely on joint instruments and policies and the costs of any departure;
Amendment 46 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas according to the Eurobarometer the EU is at its highest level of popularity since 1983; whereas the latest Eurobarometer survey, conducted between 17 and 28 March 2018, shows that a majority of Europeans have a positive image of the EU (40 %) and that this proportion continues to exceed that of those who have a neutral image of the EU (37 %); whereas just above a fifth of Europeans have a negative image of the EU (21 %);
Amendment 57 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the task of implementing greater and better integration requires working in three different and related levels: a) defending past achievements and the acquis; b) exploiting to the full extent the current provisions of the Treaty Lisbon; c) reforming the Treaties in order to improve the institutional decision- making and the balance of competencies;
Amendment 67 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
J a. whereas the promotion of an European dimension of culture and education are vital for the reinforcement of European citizenship, taking into account that the Union suffers from a knowledge deficit which causes that the Unions achievements tend to be taken for granted by the younger generations;
Amendment 75 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europe can only be solved together, thus full political integration is required;
Amendment 79 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as an example method of deeper European integration, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutionsalthough this must not be confused with "à la carte" method; insists on the need to avoid any perception of the creation of first-class and second-class membership within the European Union in the current debate on the evolution of differentiated integration;
Amendment 84 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Suggests to render the requirements for establishing enhanced and structured cooperation less restrictive, inter alia by lowering the minimum number of participating Member States and recalls that differentiated integration should not be a way to reduce the political integration;
Amendment 88 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’s right of initiative by reinforcing the intergovernmental method;
Amendment 94 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates that the unanimity, which the Treaties require in some fundamental matters, is an almost insurmountable obstacle in important moments and decisions, and advocates therefore, with regard to decision-making procedures, the principle of qualified majority voting (QMV) in Council and for legislation the use of the ordinary legislative procedure; recalls that under the current Treaties this can be achieved by using the various passerelle clauses or, in the case of enhanced cooperation, by using Article 333 TFEU;
Amendment 103 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes in particular the fact that the Commission and some Member States are also contemplating using QMV for the common foreign and security policy, given the importance of speeding up decision- making and making it more effective, and the need for the Union to speak with one voiceclearly;
Amendment 109 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its suggestion to transformcalls that the Council into a trues a legislative chamber and toreiterates that this should be made more visible to the public by improveing the transparency of its decision-making process; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency from the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect;
Amendment 112 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Reminds that the number of European Commissioners should be reduced in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon (art. 17 TUE);
Amendment 114 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Recalls the need to provide the European Parliament with a legislative initiative power, taking into account that is the only institution directly elected by citizens, and without prejudice to the basic legislative prerogative of the Commission;
Amendment 116 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Insists that Parliament’s right of inquiry should be reinforced and that it should be granted specific, genuine and clearly delimited powers which are more in line with its political stature and competences;
Amendment 119 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’ of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working; recalls, in this respect, that the effective application of the principle of subsidiarity is one of the ways of combating euroscepticism and underlines the fundamental role of local and regional authorities in the application of Union law;
Amendment 130 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of local, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should receive particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that social dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law- making and that the more it offers a high level of social protection to its citizens, the less the question of its legitimacy will arise;
Amendment 134 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Points out that horizontal social clause enshrined in article 9 TFEU requires the Union to give careful consideration to the impact of EU legislation on social standards and employment and with a due consultation of social stakeholders,
Amendment 140 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Suggests that the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU should become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member States;
Amendment 143 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls that all Member States excepting those with a derogation in the Treaty shall adopt the euro and should take all the necessary steps to meet the legal and economic requirements for its adoption in a timely fashion; Calls for the establishment of a maximum of a 10-year transition period for joining the EMU for new Member States;
Amendment 151 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the Commission communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance; points out that merging the positions of Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability at European levelnd the democratic control of economic governance at European level, as well as avoid a duplication of roles that is confusing for the public; recalls in this respect its wish to progressively see the coordination of economic policies, as presented in Article 5 TFEU, become a shared competence;
Amendment 156 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls for the completion of the Banking Union with the implementation of the European Deposit Insurance Scheme;
Amendment 157 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Supports the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism into a European Stability Fund, accountable to the European Parliament;
Amendment 158 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Reminds the need to issue European bonds in order to generate additional own resources and provide the Eurozone with a European Safe Asset;
Amendment 159 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14 d. Calls for the development of a European Unemployment Insurance linked to the Euro Area fiscal capacity;
Amendment 160 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14 e. Calls on the Commission to activate article 116 TFEU in order to circumvent the hijacking of the Council by certain Member States in the field of tax harmonization and calls for the fight against tax fraud and avoidance to become an objective of the Union;
Amendment 162 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Commission proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by Parliament; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 because it suffers from the lack of financial engagement to face the current as well as the new challenges ahead for the EU, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources; points out that spending at EU level can save money at national level by avoiding duplication and through economies of scale;
Amendment 173 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Stresses that Europe is, and should continue to be, a positive force in the world, by upholding its values, multilateralism and International law; recalls that the Union and its Member States are the largest contributor to international development aid;
Amendment 175 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Considers that the Union should continue to advance international trade while defending social, labour and environmental standards; warns against tradewars that only produce losers and increase political and security tensions;
Amendment 186 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. DStrongly deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate migratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project which suffers directly from an instrumentalisation of the migration issue by the Eurosceptic parties;
Amendment 200 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the social legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereigntdemocracy;
Amendment 203 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 210 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Underlines the need for a stronger assessment of the social and environmental consequences of EU policies, by keeping in mind also the cost of non-legislation at European level (so- called “cost of non Europe”);
Amendment 216 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the need to strengthen the European public sphere as a supranational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not just from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity, a genuinelyto protect all the fundamental values and principles of our democratic system while promoting the development of an European idemosntity, more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework;
Amendment 223 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the approach taken to the current negotiations on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; notes that experience in the negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such decisions; recalls that there is still time for the UK to reconsider its intension to leave;
Amendment 229 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines once more that neither national sovereignty nor subsidiarity can justify or legitimise the systematic refusal on the part of a Member State to comply with the fundamental values of the European Union which inspired the introductory articles of the European Treaties and EU laws, which every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding these values is fundamental for the cohesion of the European project, the rights of all Europeans and the mutual trust needed among the Member States; recalls its recommendation to establish a European mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights which based on a codecision procedure between the Parliament and the Council would sanction clear infringements of these principles;
Amendment 236 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates that the process of reflection on the future of Europe and on a review of the Lisbon Treaty should eventually lead toaking into account the present state of the integration project, the EU must exhaust every possible avenue to ensure the full implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Points out that a subsequent revision of the Treaties should be based on a Convention being convened –- guaranteeing inclusiveness through its composition of representatives and providing a platform for reflection and engagement with stakeholders and citizens – with a view to discussing and drawing conclusions from the various contributions to the reflection process on the future of Europe by the institutions and other bodies of the Union and the proposals put forward by heads of state or government, national parliaments and civil society and in citizen consultations;
Amendment 240 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Recalls the pending Union’s accession to the European Convention of Human Rights;
Amendment 242 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24 b. Affirms the importance to proceed towards a simplification of the constitutional amendment and ratification procedure, insists in this regard on the added value of a potential EU-wide referendum for the improvement of legitimacy and democracy of the Union;
Amendment 243 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24 c. Suggests the reform of article 7 of the TEU in order to abolish the unanimity requirement for the imposition of sanctions;
Amendment 244 #
2018/2094(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Calls for the absorption of the Euratom Treaty´s provisions in the Constitutional Treaty;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of P8_TA(2015)0459 on preparing for the World Humanitarian Summit: Challenges and opportunities for humanitarian assistance (2015/2051(INI)) of 18 November 2015,
Amendment 2 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106),
Amendment 17 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas humanitarian innovation must be consistent with the humanitarian principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence) and the dignity principle;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas humanitarian innovation must be conducted with the aim of promoting the rights, dignity and capabilities of the recipient population, and it should be possible for all members of a crisis-affected community to benefit from innovation without discriminatory barriers to use;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)
Recital K c (new)
Kc. whereas under no circumstances should humanitarian digitalisation and innovation lead to intentional harm;
Amendment 22 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K d (new)
Recital K d (new)
Kd. whereas risk analysis and mitigation must be used to prevent unintentional harm, including those relating to privacy and data security and impacts on local economies;
Amendment 23 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K e (new)
Recital K e (new)
Ke. whereas experimentation, piloting and trials must be undertaken in conformity with internationally recognised ethical standards;
Amendment 24 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K f (new)
Recital K f (new)
Kf. whereas the work started at the World Humanitarian Summit for the creation of a global network aimed at addressing critical gaps in capacity and relationships must continue in order to generate a more supportive and enabling environment for innovation efforts that help comply with the humanitarian objectives;
Amendment 36 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD); underlines that access to internet connectivity and digital payment methods are pivotal to enabling digital trade, sustainable development and inclusive growth; notes in this regard the potential of the Trade Facilitation Agreement to supporting digital initiatives in developing countries to facilitate cross- border trade;
Amendment 39 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for the development of an action plan in technical innovation for humanitarian assistance to ensure compliance with the legal and ethical principles laid down in documents such as the New European Consensus on Development - 'Our world, our dignity, our future' and ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’;
Amendment 40 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Underlines that all aspects of humanitarian innovation should be subject to evaluation and monitoring, including an assessment of primary and secondary impacts of the innovation process; notes that ethical review and risk analysis should be undertaken prior embarking on humanitarian innovation and digitalisation projects, and should incorporate external or third party experts where appropriate;
Amendment 41 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Calls for the implementation in EU external action of the principles embodied in The Digital Single Market for Europe (DSM) strategy through the support to EU partners’ regulatory frameworks;
Amendment 47 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for digitalisation to be incorporated into the national strategies for development of EU Member States;
Amendment 51 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a more concerted and holistic cross-sectoral effort from the international community, including non- state actors such as representatives of civil society, the third sector, private companies and academia, to ensure that the shift towards a more digital economy leaves no one behind;
Amendment 54 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for the improvement of political articulation between the EU, the EU Member States and other relevant actors, with a view to enhancing their coordination, complementary and the creation of synergies;
Amendment 69 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the persistent digital divides across gender, geography, age, and income, ethnicity, and health condition or disability, among other factors of discrimination, within each country; insists, therefore, that international development cooperation should use digital technologies for greater inclusion of disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 76 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for increased efforts to address the challenges of digital exclusion through education and training on essential digital skills and initiatives to facilitate the use of ICTs; stresses the importance of e- learning and distant learning to reach remote areas and people of all ages;
Amendment 81 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the introduction of digital literacy in school curricula at all levels of education, from primary school to university, in developing countries, with a view to the acquisition of the skills needed to improve access to information;
Amendment 106 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that MSMEs in developing countries make up the majority of businesses and employ the majority of manufacturing and service sector workers; reiterates that facilitating cross-border e- commerce will have a direct impact on improving livelihoods, fostering higher living standards and boosting economic development; reaffirms the contribution that such endeavours could make to gender equality, since a great number of these companies are owned and run by women; stresses the need to reduce legal, administrative and social barriers to women’s entrepreneurship;
Amendment 117 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Points out that ICT tools can be used for information dissemination during both natural and technological disasters and emergencies, as well as in fragile and conflict affected contexts; highlights that digital technologies can enable low-income communities and other vulnerable communities to have access to quality basic services such as health, education, water and electricity, as well as to humanitarian relief and other public and private services;
Amendment 119 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines that technological innovation in humanitarian assistance is a priority, most especially in the context of forced displacements, for contributing to sustainable solutions that bring stability and dignity to people’s lives and may facilitate the humanitarian development nexus; welcomes global initiatives to facilitate humanitarian innovation, such as the Global Alliance for Humanitarian Innovation (GAHI), the Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) and UN Global Pulse, and calls for the EU to promote open data and strongly support the global communities of software developers and designers who are building practical open technology with a view to solving international development and humanitarian problems;
Amendment 125 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that e-government applications contribute to making public services faster and cheaper to access, improve consistency and citizen satisfaction, facilitate the articulation and activities of civil society, and increase transparency, thus contributing significantly to promoting democratisation and fighting corruption; stresses the vital role of technology and digitalisation for effective fiscal policy and administration, enabling an effective increase in domestic resource mobilisation; insists that it is imperative to create secure digital identities, as this could help determine the numbers of those in need of certain basic services;
Amendment 132 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Acknowledges the central role of digital technology in access to health services and in training for health workers andmanagement of health services, emergency response to epidemics, dissemination of public health campaigns, public access to health services and in training for health workers, support and promotion of basic research, and development of health and e-health information services; calls, therefore, on policymakers to introduce the appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks to scale up e-health projects; asks the Commission to provide the necessary financial resources in this regard;
Amendment 136 #
2018/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights the importance of digital technologies in the fight against climate change, the improvement of the environment, and the development of renewable energies and agroecology; underlines the need to reduce the ecological impact linked to digitalisation;
Amendment 101 #
2018/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates that only an enabling environment makes quality education possible, including parents’ involvement, nutritional aspects, health and safety, and access to electricity and water, in order to enable pupils to genuinely benefit from school and to increase completion rates, especially in primary education;
Amendment 112 #
2018/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines the obligation of governments to ensure that their people enjoy the right to education; stresses therefore the need for a national education plan based on significant consultation and strategic involvement of key stakeholders, including civil society, with specific objectives and monitoring mechanisms, continuous assessments and inspections, a clear and transparent demarcation of responsibilities, and allocation of resources subject to independent monitoring; encourages the adoption of national regulatory frameworks for the establishment and operation of education services;
Amendment 118 #
2018/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Encourages the Commission and Member States to promote the role of local authorities and civil society organisations in the preparation and implementation of education support programmes, including in the framework of budget support;
Amendment 57 #
2018/2080(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex - article 12 – paragraph 2
Annex - article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The officials and servants of the Ombudsman's secretariat shall be subject to the rules and regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European Union. Their number shall be adopted each year as part of the budgetary procedure and be adequate for the proper performance of the Ombudsman's duties and workload.
Amendment 61 #
2018/2080(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex - article 15 – paragraph 1 - point a
Annex - article 15 – paragraph 1 - point a
(a) procedural rights of the complainant and the institution, body, office or agency concerned; and on ensuring the protection of persons reporting cases of breaches of Union law or whistleblowing within the institutions, body, office or agency of the Union, in accordance with Article 22a of the Staff Regulations.
Amendment 24 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Given the dramatic situation in the field of humanitarian aid, insists to mobilise more funds from the emergency aid reservehat the current global humanitarian needs are reflected with a significant funding increase for humanitarian aid budget lines; reiterates that education plays a key role in preventing man-made humanitarian crises by avoiding conflicts and welcomes that already a significant amount of humanitarian aid is spent on education in emergencies; calls, however, for a steady increase of this share and for more support to the Erasmus+ DCI budget line;
Amendment 29 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the exhaustion of margins and flexibility mechanisms within the Union budget and in the Union’s external action, which are often used to mobilise additional funds to respond unforeseen needs, including humanitarian crises; in relation to this, opposes the Commission’s proposal for the funding of the second tranche of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRT) that has not left sufficient margins under the Heading IV and MFF special instruments for unforeseen humanitarian crisis, due to the unfulfilled commitment by the Members States to contribute with EUR 2 billion by means of bilateral to the FRT; is concerned by the continued mobilisation of the European Development Fund (EDF) reserve to top- up contributions to the Union Trust Fund for Africa, most recently by EUR 500 million; stresses that this transfer of founds not only diverts money away from the EDF objectives of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development and towards migration management, but also severely limits the possibility to mobilise additional funds for future humanitarian crises in the ACP region in the coming years; calls again on Member States to increase their contributions to the FRT and the EU Trust Fund for Africa, for which pledged contributions currently amount to EUR 3 billion (before the additional EUR 500 million) from the Union budget and European Development Fund, and only EUR 430 million from EU Member States and other donors;
Amendment 32 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recalls the importance to support expenditure directly linked to the achievement of the objectives of the humanitarian aid policy, inter alia, expenditure on technical and administrative assistance;
Amendment 33 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Emphasises the importance of maintaining payment appropriations in the humanitarian aid chapter at least on the same level as commitment appropriations, in order to avoid severe and constant lack of funds for payments, complicated urgent interventions and led to the accumulation of unpaid bills, with negative effects also on implementing partners;
Amendment 36 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Calls for sufficient financial resources to UNRWA in order to ensure continuous support for Palestinian refugees in the region;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Welcomes the increase on the appropriations to support development initiatives in developing countries carried out by or for civil society organisations and local authorities; in the area of Humanitarian aid reminds the Commission and the Council of the Grand Bargain commitment on localization, which commits to paying at least a quarter of all humanitarian aid funding as directly as possible to local and national responders, therefore calls for a revision of the current Humanitarian Aid Regulation (dating from 1996) to ensure that the future financing for humanitarian aid continues to be based on needs and in line with the Humanitarian Aid Consensus, but is also adapted to a changing context and becomes more effective, notably in terms of advancing the humanitarian/development nexus and contributing to implement the commitments made at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit, and as part of the Grand Bargain;
Amendment 38 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Reiterates the importance of focusing on main humanitarian crises, including forgotten humanitarian crises; calls to guarantee humanitarian funding for the following crises: Yemen (22 million people in need of humanitarian aid), Syria crisis including neighbouring countries (more than 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria), as well as for forgotten humanitarian crises such as Sahel (1,6 million children at risk of suffering from severe acute malnutrition and 6.8 million people food insecure) and DRC (13 million people in need and more than 2 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition);
Amendment 39 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4g. Highlights the need to guarantee humanitarian and development aid for the Sahel; stresses that chronic poverty, climate change, intensification of conflicts and a nearly lean season this year have resulted in 6.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid in a region with structural fragilities restricting access to basic social services; therefore calls to increase humanitarian and development funding for the region to cover both life- saving interventions and longer term efforts to tackle the root causes of vulnerability to food and nutrition insecurity and to strengthen basic social services;
Amendment 40 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4h. Stresses that the need to implement the humanitarian/development nexus should be reflected in the budget 2019, in focusing on key sectors such as nutrition; calls therefore on the Commission, and in particular ECHO and DEVCO to close the humanitarian and development gap by dedicating both humanitarian and longer term funding to nutrition in the budget 2019, hence enabling children with severe acute malnutrition to access the treatment in all contexts, emergency and development alike;
Amendment 45 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the effects of climate change have a tangible impact on several aspects of human life and are increasingly being felt in the development countries; calls for an increased allocation in climate action, which better reflects the strong commitment to and increased engagement in climate diplomacy in order to tackle climate change; stresses, that the allocation shall come from other funds than development funding.
Amendment 47 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that in the context of climate change and the need for climate adaptation, investments in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Preparedness in development programmes are crucial, to prevent human suffering and the loss of lives, to help preserve results achieved through development cooperation in partner countries and to reduce the need for emergency responses;
Amendment 26 #
2018/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The Fund should comply with the UN Agenda 2030 and the commitments at the international level in relation to migration and asylum, notably the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
Amendment 54 #
2018/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) An efficient return policy is an integral part of the comprehensive migration approach the Union and its Member States pursue. The Fund should support and encourage efforts by the Member States with a view to the effective implementation and further development of common standards on return, in particular as set out in Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council15 , and of an integrated and coordinated approach to return management. For sustainable return policies, tThe Fund should equally support related measures in third countries, such as the reintegration of returnees to facilitate and guarantee safe and dignified return and readmission as well as sustainable reintegration. _________________ 15 Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98).
Amendment 75 #
2018/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Measures in and in relation to third countries supported through the Fund should complement other actions outside the Union supported through the Union’s external financing instruments. In particular, in implementing such actions,taken under the Fund in relation with Third countries should be fully coherence should be sought with the principles and general objectives of the Union’s external action and foreign policy in respect of the country or region in question and the Union international commitments. In relation to the external dimension, the Fund should target support to enhance cooperation with third countries and to reinforce key aspects of migration management in areas of interest to the Union's migration policyCooperation with Third countries should not be intended to support actions that are directly oriented towards development and should not undermine the principle of policy coherence for development, as set out in Article 208 of the TFEU.
Amendment 104 #
2018/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that actions in relation with third countries are taken in coherence with other actions implemented through Union instruments, respect the principle of policy coherence for development and focus on non- development-oriented measures.
Amendment 127 #
2018/0248(COD)
8. Whenever a Member State decides to implement projects with or in a third country with the support of the Fund, the Member State concerned shall consultrequest the approval of the Commission prior to the start of the project.
Amendment 138 #
2018/0248(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) heavy migratory pressure in third countries, including where persons in need of protection may be stranded due to political developments or conflicts, notably where it might have an impact on migration flows towards the EU.
Amendment 655 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Rapid response actions shall be complementary to geographic and thematic programmes. These actions shall be complementary to those funded through the Humanitarian Aid Regulation and be designed and implementapplied to enable, where relevant, their continuity under geographic or thematic programmes.
Amendment 719 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Article 8 – paragraph 6
6. Programmes and actions under this Regulation shall mainstream climate change, environmental protection and gender equality(environmental co-benefits shall amount to 50% of the Official Development Assistance funded under this Regulation, based on Rio Markers), disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and gender equality (at least 85% of new programmes shall score G1 or G2 on the Gender Equality Policy Marker of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (G- marker)) and shall address interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goals, to promote integrated actions that can create co-benefits and meet multiple objectives in a coherent way. These programmes and actions shall be based on an analysis of capacities, risks and vulnerabilities, integrate a people and community centred approach to resilience approach and be conflict sensitive. They shall be guided by the principle of leaving no one behind.
Amendment 818 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1
When drawing up the programming documents for countries and regions in crisis, or post-crisis, fragile and vulnerable situations, due account shall be taken of the special needs and circumstances of the countries or regions concerned as well as vulnerabilities, risks and capacities in order to increase resilience.
Amendment 916 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. The Commission, before the adoption or extension of rapid response actions and exceptional assistance measures, must take account of Commission's relevant services, as identified on the basis of the nature and objectives of the action foreseen, building upon their expertise, including on humanitarian issues. The Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council before making significant substantive changes to rapid response actions and exceptional assistance measures already adopted.
Amendment 85 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
Amendment 86 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
(27a) The Union's principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination suggest that Union citizens and long-term residents in the Union of all walks of life and age should be able to engage as active citizens. In view of the specific challenges of humanitarian action, participants in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative should be at least 18 years of age and may represent a wide variety of profiles and generations whose skills are relevant to the successful conduct of such humanitarian operations.
Amendment 102 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Programme is to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity activities as a means to contribute to strengthening cohesion, solidarity and democracy in the Union and abroad, and to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing societal and humanitarian challenges on the ground, with particular effort to promote social inclusion.
Amendment 105 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) participation of young people in solidarity activities addressing societal challenges and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as referred to in Article 6;
Amendment 113 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Commission shall continue, maintain and update the EU's aid volunteer database, regulate access thereto and use thereof, including with regard to the availability and suitability of EU aid volunteers, thus enabling the continued participation of returning volunteers. The processing of personal data collected in or for this database shall be carried out, where relevant, in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC and Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
Amendment 28 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
1a. The rule of law, as enshrined in Article 2 TEU, is the backbone of European democracy and is one of the fundamental values of the European Union stemming from the common constitutional traditions of all Member States. Full respect and promotion of the rule of law and democracy is the basic condition for building citizens' trust in the Union. Respect for the rule of law within the Union is also a prerequisite for the protection of fundamental rights, as well as for upholding all rights and obligations deriving from the Treaties.
Amendment 29 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
Amendment 41 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) Freedom of expression and information is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Community. Free access to information, evaluation of media framework conditions and the responsible and safe use of information and communication networks are directly linked to free public opinion and are essential for guaranteeing a functional democracy. It is necessary for the public to acquire the media literacy skills necessary for critical thinking and discernment and the ability to analyse complex realities, recognise differences between opinions and facts and resist any form of incitement to hatred. To this end, the Union should promote the development of media literacy for all citizens, regardless of their age, through training, awareness raising, studies and other relevant activities.
Amendment 59 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) preventing and combating inequalities and discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and supporting comprehensive policies to promote gender equality and anti- discrimination and their mainstreaming as well policies to combat racism and all forms of intolerance;
Amendment 63 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) increasing citizens’ understanding of the Union, its history, cultural heritage andand its integration, history, institutions, values and cultural heritage, which make up European identity in its diversity;
Amendment 94 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding (in particular when promoting the actions and their results), by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public and, where appropriate, beneficiaries of actions funded in this way and participants therein.
Amendment 100 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point e
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools development and maintenance and measures to promote media literacy among the public;
Amendment 102 #
2018/0207(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point f
Annex I – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) strengthening citizen's awareness of European integration, culture, history and remembrance as well as their sense of belonging to the Union;
Amendment 1 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recalls TFEU art 208 in which the Union policy in the field of development cooperation shall be conducted within the framework of the principles and objectives of the Union's external action, which primary objective is the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty; stresses that the Union's development cooperation policy and that of the Member States complement and reinforce each other; recalls article 21(2) TEU sets out that the development cooperation policy contributes to the objectives of EU external action; Calls for full respect of the TFEU and the TUE legal commitments and for a development oriented external instrument in the next MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 5 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the proposal for a Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) reflects a new approach to foreign and development policy; recalls thatunderlines that poverty eradication, sustainable human and economic development, good governance and peace and security are essential for achieving the goal of eradicating povertytackling inequality, injustice and exclusion, good governance and peace and security must be the EU´s external financial instruments primary objectives in the next MFF, as well as achieving its Sustainable Development Goals commitments honouring the TFUE art.208.2;
Amendment 13 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that the next MFF must ensure that the external instruments are policy driven, serving the most effective way possible to the pursuit of the objectives of the relevant policies, as laid down in the Treaty ; recalls that EU domestic interest should not drive its neighbourhood, development, humanitarian and international cooperation agenda; underlines its opposition to the instrumentalisation of aid;
Amendment 18 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the new financing needs resulting from the deterioration of security conditions in the European Union's neighbourhood and the increase in migration flows to the Union are reflected in the mobilisation of new funds; notes that thmust be supported by Member States and Union's freseh new challenges must be added to existing sustainable development goalsfunds in the next MFF;
Amendment 22 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that country aid allocations within the EUs international cooperation programs should complemented foreign policy, while ensuring that development funding is used only for development related objectives and purposes and not to cover expenses related to the achievement of different objectives, such as border control or anti-migration policies;
Amendment 23 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Notes that the design of the cooperation instrument should leave sufficient flexibility for tailoring programmes to the specific needs of third countries; reiterates that a substantial share of EU aid should be allocated to Least Developed Countries, as primary target of ODA; stresses that ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, visibility and policy coherence for development in the implementation; ensuring the participation of CSOs and implementing the rights-based approach to development cooperation, as well as introducing a benchmarking of 20% of funds for basic social services, are key development features to be maintained and improve in the next MFF cycle;
Amendment 24 #
2018/0166R(APP)
2c. Stresses that gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment must be a significant objective, across all programmes, geographic and thematic; considers that the EU budget should be gender-and conflict-sensitive;
Amendment 27 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the NDICI appears to not substantially contain thcore elements for a more pragmatic implementation of the Union's development cooperation policy and reiterates its position that a single instrument for this policy is necessary and will allow for better cooperation with partner countries and stakeholders; notes with concern the lack of explicit reference in the objectives to eradication of poverty , sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals and combating inequality; underlines that these priorities must be reflected explicitly in the objectives of the proposed instrument;
Amendment 36 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Draws attention to the European Union's international commitments to increase its official development assistance to 0.7% of GNI and to contribute at least0.2% of GNI towards Least Developed Countries by 2030 and to provide new and additional funding for climate action in developing countries; asserts that these commitments must be properly reflected in MFF 2021-2027;
Amendment 44 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its support for the integration of the European Development Fund (EDF) in the EU budget, with provision also being made for the total additionality of the funds thus transferred; stresses the opportunity that the NDICI represents for boosting the development of the sub-Saharan region through a more targeted neighbourhood policy.
Amendment 49 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Acknowledges the significant efforts made by the EC to increase the allocation given to humanitarian aid budget line in the next MFF. However, notes that this increase does not respond yet to the level of needs, which have more than doubled since 2011;
Amendment 52 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Welcomes the extension scope and allocation increase of the Emergency Aid Reserve to respond also to internal crises. Reminds that priority should be guarantee to sudden onset humanitarian crises outside the EU;
Amendment 53 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses the need to seize the opportunity y of the next MFF to financially support Linking Relief , Rehabilitation and Development operations; underlines that implementing the humanitarian-development nexus requires ensuring complementarity of development and humanitarian activities, and a culture shift from the EU as a donor, towards more operational flexibility and risk taking to support LRRD, people and their communities resilience, early recovery and reconstruction; call for more multi-year planning and funding in EU humanitarian activities, and the systematic introduction of crisis modifiers in EU development activities in order enable EU´s partners to effectively contribute to the nexus implementation;
Amendment 54 #
2018/0166R(APP)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Underlines that the MFF 2021- 2027 must preserve and improve the EP oversight and scrutiny over the use of funds, with a clear mechanism and decision making process for the disbursement of unallocated funds, ensuring the EP impact in the programming and implementation phase of the external financial instruments; reiterates that any proposal for increased flexibility must be balanced by an improvement of transparency and accountability;
Amendment 29 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The rule of law is one of the essential values upon which the Union is founded. As recalled by Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, these values are common to the Member StatesRespect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, are the essential values upon which the Union is founded. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non- discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail. These values are enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and in the criteria for Union membership as recalled by Article 49 of the Treaty.
Amendment 31 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) In accordance with Article 2 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union, the Member States and the institutions of the Union are obliged to respect, protect and promote the principles and values referred to therein.
Amendment 32 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1 b) Member States shall duly and sincerely cooperate to take on the obligations of Union membership as recalled in the Treaty on the European Union.
Amendment 45 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The identification of a generalised deficiency requires a qualitative assessment by the Commission. That assessment could be based on the information from all available sources and recognized institutions, including judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union, reports of the Court of Auditors, resolutions of the European Parliament and conclusions and recommendations of relevant international organisations and networks, such as the bodies of the Council of Europe and the European networks of supreme courts and councils for the judiciary.
Amendment 49 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14 a) It is essential that the legitimate interests of the final recipients and beneficiaries are properly safeguarded when measures are adopted in the event of generalised deficiencies. The Commission should take into account the potential impact on final recipients and beneficiaries when considering the measures to be adopted. To strengthen the protection of the final recipients or beneficiaries, the Commission should actively monitor the respect of the legal obligation of the Member States to continue making payments after adopting measures in accordance with this Regulation, and inform the final recipients or beneficiaries of their rights in case any infringements occur.
Amendment 50 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to ensure uniform implementation of this Regulation and in view of the importance of the financial effects of measures being imposed pursuant to this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Council which should act on the basis of a Commission proposal. To facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to protect the financial interests of the Union, reversed qualified majority voting should be usedmmission.
Amendment 53 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15 a) In view of their effect on the Union's budget, measures imposed pursuant to this Regulation should only enter into force after the European Parliament and the Council have approved a transfer to a budgetary reserve of an amount equivalent to the value of the measures adopted. To facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to protect the financial interest of the Union, that transfer should be considered adopted unless, within a set period, the European Parliament or the Council, the latter acting by a qualified majority, amend or reject it.
Amendment 55 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Before proposing the adoption of any measure pursuant to this Regulation, the Commission should inform the Member State concerned why it considers that a generalised deficiency regarding the rule of law might exist in that Member State. The Commission should immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council about the notification and its content. The Member State concerned should be allowed to submit its observations. The Commission and the Council should take those observations into account.
Amendment 57 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The Councilmmission should lift measures with suspensive effect onand send a proposal from the Commissto the European Parliament and the Council to lift in full or in part the budgetary reserve of the measures in question, if the situation leading to the imposition of those measures has been sufficiently remedied.
Amendment 59 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
Amendment 61 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) 'the rule of law' refersshall be understood having regard to the Union values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union whichand the membership criteria; it includes the principles of legequality, implying a transparent, accountable, democratic and pluralistic process for enacting laws; legal certainty; prohibition of arbitrariness of the executive powers; effective judicial protection by independent courts, including of fundamental rights; separation of powers and equality before the law;
Amendment 63 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) 'generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law' means a widespread or recurrent practice or omission, or measure by public authorities which affects the rule of lawvalues of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 69 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the proper functioning of investigation and public prosecution services in relation to the prosecution of fraud, including tax fraud,corruption or other breaches of Union law relating to the implementation of the Union budget;
Amendment 73 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) the prevention and sanctioning of tax evasion and the proper functioning of authorities contributing to administrative cooperation in tax matters;
Amendment 79 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(c a) endangering the ability of a Member State to respect the obligations of Union membership, including the capacity effectively to implement the rules, standards and policies that constitute the body of Union law;
Amendment 91 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Unless the decision adopting the measures provides otherwise, the imposition of appropriate measures shall not affect the obligation of government entities referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 or of Member States referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 to implement the programme or fund affected by the measure, and in particular the obligation to make payments to final recipients or beneficiaries. The Commission shall actively monitor whether the legal entitlements of final recipients or beneficiaries are respected. If the Commission finds evidence that the Member State is not fulfilling its obligation to secure the payments and legitimate interests of final recipients or beneficiaries, it shall take all appropriate measures to assist those recipients or beneficiaries in enforcing their claims.
Amendment 96 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may take into account all relevant information, including decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union, reports of the Court of Auditors, resolutions of the European Parliament and conclusions and recommendations of relevant international organisations.
Amendment 98 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. The Member State concerned shall provide all required information and may make observations within a time limit specified by the Commission, which shall not be less than 1 month or more than 3 months from the date of notification of the finding. In its observations, the Member State may propose the adoption of remedial measures.
Amendment 99 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall take into account the information received and any observations made by the Member State concerned, as well as the adequacy of any proposed remedial measures, when deciding whether or not to submit a proposal foradopt a decision on the appropriate measures.
Amendment 100 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6
Article 5 – paragraph 6
6. Where the Commission considers that the generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law is established, it shall submit a proposal for an implementing act on the appropriate measures to the Counciladopt a decision on the appropriate measures to the European Parliament and the Council by means of an implementing act.
Amendment 103 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. At the same time as it adopts its decision, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal to transfer to a budgetary reserve and amount equivalent to the value of the measures adopted. By way of derogation from paragraphs 4 and 6 of Article 31 of the Financial Regulation, the European Parliament and the Council shall deliberate upon the transfer proposal within four weeks of its receipt by both institutions. The transfer proposal shall be considered to be approved unless, the Parliament acting by a majority of the votes cast, or the Council acting by qualified majority, amend or reject it. The decision shall enter into force if neither the European Parliament nor the Council reject the transfer proposal within this period.
Amendment 108 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 7
Article 5 – paragraph 7
Amendment 111 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 8
Article 5 – paragraph 8
Amendment 115 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall assess the situation in the Member State concerned. Once the generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law which on the grounds of which the appropriate measures were adopted cease to exist in full or in part, the Commission shall submit to the Council a proposal for a decision liftingadopt a decision lifting those measures in full or in part. At the same time, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal to lift in full or in part, the budgetary reserve referred to those measures in full or in partadopted. The procedure set out in paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 6 and 76a of Article 5 shall apply.
Amendment 117 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7
Article 7
Amendment 1 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the Paris Agreement on climate change, Decision 1/CP.21,
Amendment 2 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Communication 'Lives in Dignity: from Aid-dependence to Self-reliance Forced Displacement and Development' of 26 April 2016 (COM(2016)0234),
Amendment 9 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Recital E
E. whereas a multifaceted approach to resilience is needed in the EU’s external action and this can be fostered by increasing coherence between different EU policies, particularly development aid and, where appropriate, humanitarian assistance, and with a clear focus on reducing vulnerability and disaster risk reductions; whereas the EU’s foreign and security policy also has a central role to place in promoting resilience notably by promoting political dialogue, fostering early warning systems and working for the prevention of violent conflict and for conflict resolution when this occurs;
Amendment 18 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Recital G
G. whereas while a lack of resilience can result in immediate needs –, including a humanitarian response to save lives or political and diplomatic efforts to end conflict –, fostering resilience needs to be understood as a long-term effort embedded in the promotion of sustainable development - development will only be sustainable if it is resilient to shocks, stresses and change; whereas as part of the EU’s foreign policy and development cooperation programmes promoting resilience needs to be context-specific and seek to contribute to the strengthening national resilience strategies owned by partner countries’ governments that are also accountable to their populations;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Recital H
H. whereas early warningunderstanding risk, strengthening risk governance and investing in early warning, early response, prevention and promoting disaster risk reduction, in line with the priorities of the Sendai framework, are essential in achieving resilience;
Amendment 22 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Recital I
I. whereas a focus on communities should remain central to the EU’s approach to resilience, including by, wherever possible, working with and building capacities to support this focus at national, regional and local levels and by recognising and supporting the central role of civil society organisations;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the current EU approach to resilience, including commitments to address the underlying causes of crises and vulnerability, as set out in the 2012 Communication and 2013 Council Conclusions, remains fundamentally valid and should be continued, whilst recognising the need to incorporate lessons learnt from the implementation of this policy into the new Joint Communication; believes that the 2013-2020 Action Plan for resilience should be fully implemented;
Amendment 37 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that building resilience in partner countries is a long-term process and that this therefore needs to be integrated into development programmes that are inclusive of the most vulnerable segments of the population; stresses that the new Joint Communication should recognise this and support the promotion of resilience as essential element of the sustainable development strategies of partner countries, particularly in fragile states; notes that these strategies need to be context-specific and in line with the principles of effective development including country ownership and shared accountability to European citizens and those from partner countries; underlines in this regard the important monitoring and scrutiny role of the European Parliament and of national parliaments;
Amendment 47 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of disaster risk reduction in building resilience; calls on the EU to ensure that its promotion of resilience in the new Joint Communication is aligned with the commitments and targets made in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and being implemented through the EU Action Plan, and to ensure that sufficient resources are devoted to this priorityuropean Commission Sendai Action Plan promoting a disaster risk informed approach for all EU policies, and to ensure that sufficient resources are devoted to this priority; Stresses that risk management is essential to achieve sustainable development and calls for the development of inclusive local and national disaster risk reduction strategies and the development of an all-of-society and all-hazards approach in disaster risk management, with a view to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience; Calls to reinforce the links between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and urban policies and initiatives;
Amendment 52 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for community resilience and a focus on vulnerable groups – including the poorest in society, minorities, women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly – to remain central to the promotion of resilience in the external action of the EU; highlights the central role played by civil society organisations in building resilience; underlines also the importance of collecting and disseminating disaggregated data to understand and address the situation of vulnerable groups;
Amendment 59 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 8
8. Notes the particular challenge which forced displacement represents for many fragile and conflict-affected countries and their neighbours; underlines that building the resilience and self- reliance of affected populations and their host communities is of outmost importance, as outlined in the Commission Communication on forced displacement and development5 ; _________________ 5European Commission Communication ‘Lives in Dignity: from Aid-dependence to Self-reliance Forced Displacement and Development’ of 26 April 2016 (COM(2016)0234)"Lives in Dignity"; and recalls the importantance of self-reliance in fostering dignity and resilience;
Amendment 68 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 11
11. Emphasises the importance of early-warning systems and early response capabilities as a mechanism to promote resilience and calls on the EU to increase its efforts on this area, notably by promoting closer cooperation between different actors on the ground, particularly in EU Delegations, and developing joint analysis in fragile contexts that would allow a better understanding and a more coordinated response across EU policies and between EU institutions and Member States;
Amendment 72 #
2017/2594(RSP)
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for sufficient resources to be devoted to the promotion of resilience, in line with its place as one of the strategic priorities of the EU; would welcome a strategic reflection ahead of the next multi- annual financial framework of how the EU can better use existing external financing instruments and innovative mechanisms like Trust Funds, to promote resiliencesystematically embed resilience within development and assistance strategies and programmes; stresses that actions can be financed from different instruments working in a complementary manner and underlines that resources drawn from development cooperation instruments need to maintain poverty reduction as their central objective;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas according to the Treaty of Lisbon (Article 214) and the European Consensus on Humanitarian aid, humanitarian assistance must be delivered according to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality and guided by a needs-based approach; whereas humanitarian aid must not be a crisis management tool;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the main objective of the DCI is to reduce and in the long-term eradicate poverty in developing countries that do not benefit from funding under EDF, ENI or IPA, to provide thematic support for development-related global public goods and challenges for civil society organisations and local authorities in partner countries, and to support the strategic partnership between Africa and the EU. Whereas the DCI is largest geographic instrument in the area of development cooperation under the EU Budget, with €19.6 billion allocated for the period 2014-2020;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the main objective of the EDF is to reduce and in the long-term eradicate poverty in African, Caribbean and Pacific States and attain sustainable development of Overseas Countries and Territories. Whereas the EDF is largest EU development cooperation instrument, with €30.5 billion allocated to the 11th EDF for 2014-2020;
Amendment 33 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the main objective of HAI is to provide assistance, relief and protection to people affected by natural or manmade disasters and similar emergencies, putting the focus on the most vulnerable victims regardless of nationality, religion, gender, age, ethnic origin or political affiliation, and based on real needs and on international humanitarian principles and the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
Dd. whereas HAI extends beyond the core task of lifesaving operations to also include relief to people affected by longer- lasting crises, short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work, disaster preparedness, and addressing the consequences of population movements; whereas the EU Global Strategy aims at extending the scope of humanitarian aid to increased resilience of communities and reduced vulnerability;
Amendment 36 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)
Recital D e (new)
De. whereas the DCI and the EDF included a number of indicators linked to the MDGs and, from 2015, to the SDGs, to measure global progress; whereas, however, the overall effectiveness of the DCI and the EDF in meeting their objectives is difficult to measure due to problems in defining adequate evaluation and monitoring systems, in assessing the role played by external factors and due to the variety of countries and themes concerned;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)
Recital D f (new)
Df. whereas to the difficulties in measuring the long-term impact of the EDF and the DCI at the mid-point of their implementation it should be added that implementation of some programmes have only recently started;
Amendment 40 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D g (new)
Recital D g (new)
Dg. whereas the EP has been faced with very short deadlines for the scrutiny of draft implementing measures; whereas these deadlines do not take proper account of the characteristics of parliamentary activities; whereas at times this was compounded by the sending to the EP of draft implementing measures after the deadline or before recess periods, which restricted even further the ability of EP to adequately exercise its scrutiny powers;
Amendment 50 #
2017/2258(INI)
2a. Notes with satisfaction that the DCI and EDF priorities are aligned with the SDGs’ values and objectives, due to the instrumental role that the EU played in their adoption, and that this fact has largely facilitated and simplified the mid- term review of these instruments;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the fact that a large number of countries have graduated from the EDF and the DCI in the last few years as they have become upper-middle income countries (UMICs); considers that development aid coupled with successful national policies may lead to positive outcomes;
Amendment 68 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the DCI’s relevance lies primarily in its flexibility to respond to unforeseen events as regards the choice of programming and implementation methods and with regard to reallocations within and between instruments and to the use of reserve funds; highlights that flexibility in the multi-annual programming also allowed for the adaptation of the duration of the programming to the situation on the ground, for a swift reallocation of funding in case of major changes, and for the use of special measures;
Amendment 71 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is satisfied with the simplification, harmonisation and broader implementation modalities introduced in Regulation 236/2014 on common rules for the implementation of the EFIs, which has brought about more effectiveness in the DCI; notes, however, that the implementation procedures, some of them originating from the Financial Regulation, are still perceived as lengthy and burdensome; reminds, to this effect, that some of these procedures stem from the Financial Regulation, and not from the EFIs, while other requirements are based on the application of fundamental principles of development cooperation such as partnership and ownership;
Amendment 78 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned at the perceived lack of compliance with the requirement to allocate at least 20 % of assistance under the DCI to basic social services and to secondary education, as established in the European Consensus on Development;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is satisfied with the objectives and results of the thematic programme dedicated to civil society organisations and local authorities (CSOs/LAs), and calls for its retention in future instruments; is concerned, however, at the shrinking space awarded for CSOs/LAs in the programming and implementation phases of the programmes, and calls for a strengthened role for these bodies, as well as for more tailored made cooperation modalities and increased strategic approach;
Amendment 103 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is satisfied that the HAI has achieved its objective of providing aid in emergency situations on a basis of full respect of international public law, while ensuring that humanitarian aid is not instrumentalised and that the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence are respected;
Amendment 105 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Reminds that Parliament, while recurrently acknowledging the efforts of the European Commission to respond to the increasing challenges, has regularly highlighted the need to increase funding for humanitarian aid and has insisted on closing the widening gap between commitments and payments and on increasing the effectiveness and reactivity of humanitarian and development assistance available under the EU budget;
Amendment 106 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that people and communities should remain the core targets and stakeholders of the HAI, and that a context-specific approach that takes on board the views of local governments and authorities as well as local communities and civil society actors should be adopted in all circumstances;
Amendment 114 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes that complementarity between development instruments and the HAI must be improved, in particular in the context of the humanitarian- development nexus, the new strategic approach to resilience and the EU’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and preparedness, without undermining their respective objectives and mandates;
Amendment 115 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) has become a major factor in the definition and implementation of the EFIs and in the adoption of other EU policies and instruments by reason of the interconnection between internal and external EU policies; is of the view, however, that overall coherence between instruments could be further improved; in particular by reducing the boundaries between geographic and thematic programmes, and by greater coordination and complementarity and with other EU policies;
Amendment 119 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Reminds that the SDGs must be achieved worldwide through joint endeavour and partnership of all international actors, thus including developing and development nations as well as international organisations; stresses that, at EU level, this calls for internal and external policies designed and implemented in a joint, coherent and coordinated fashion, in accordance with PCD principles;
Amendment 127 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is of the view that EFIs should continue to support both EU and local CSOs as well as local and regional governments / local authorities in partner countries and their partnerships with European local and regional governments, and systematically facilitate their active participation in multi- stakeholder dialogues on EU policies and on all programming processes across all instruments; considers, furthermore, that the EU should promote the role of CSOs as watchdogs both inside and outside the EU, as well as decentralisation reforms in partner countries;
Amendment 131 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Confirms its determination to monitor the fulfilment of the EU commitment to provide continued support for human development in order to improve people’s lives, in line with the SDGs; reminds that, in the case of the DCI, this results in the need to allocate at least 20 % of assistance to basic social services, with a focus on health and education, and to secondary education;
Amendment 139 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Warns against abusive recourse to trust funds, and insists that they should be used only when there is an exceptional need to act quickly and there are guarantees of their added value compared to other aid modalities; is concerned at the fact that contributions from Member States and other donors to trust funds have been below expectations, with negative consequences for their effectiveness;
Amendment 142 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that the Commission should ensure transparency when trust funds are used; recalls, moreover, that trust funds should apply the full range of development effectiveness principl by providing, amongst others, regular information to the European Parliament, and through their proper involvement in relevant governance structures, in accordance with applicable EU legislation; recalls, moreover, that trust funds should apply the full range of development effectiveness principles, and should be coherent with long-term development priorities, principles and values, national and EU country strategies and other relevant instruments and programmes;
Amendment 148 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to implement the HAI in a way consistent with the commitments agreed at the World Humanitarian Summit in the Grand Bargain and with the conclusions of the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report No 15/201610 ; calls on the Commission, in particular, to increase transparency in the strategic programming and funding selection procedure, pay due attention to the cost-efficiency of actions while maintaining the capacity to sustain the humanitarian imperative by reaching the most vulnerable and operating where the most urgent needs are, improve monitoring during implementation, allocate greater funding for national and local responders, cut bureaucracy through harmonised reporting requirements, and make provision on a multiannual basis in terms of strategy, programming and funding, so as to ensure greater predictability, flexibility, rapidity and continuity in humanitarian response; _________________ 10 European Court of Auditors, Special Report No 15/2016, ‘Did the Commission effectively manage the humanitarian aid provided to populations affected by conflicts in the African Great Lakes Region?’, 4 July 2016
Amendment 152 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to ensure that, in addition to immediate response to humanitarian crises, the HAI builds up resilience to future shocks, provides longer-term development benefits, together and in complementarity with the DCI and the EDF, builds up resilience to future shocks by promoting early warning and prevention strategies and structures provides longer-term development benefits, in line with the need to link relief, rehabilitation and development, and keeps a focus on forgotten crises;
Amendment 158 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Is of the view that the EU Delegations should be more involved in the programming choices of the development cooperation under the different EFIs they manage; considers that this would also allow for improved complementarity and synergies, and for increased adequacy to needs and partner countries’ ownership;
Amendment 159 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Calls for increased EP political scrutiny over EDF11 programming documents as a means to enhance transparency and accountability;
Amendment 160 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30c. Is unsatisfied with the very short deadline allowed for Parliament’s scrutiny of draft implementing measures under the DCI; urges the Commission to modify the Rules of Procedure of the DCI and Humanitarian Aid Committees by December 2018 so Parliament and Council are given more time to adequately exercise their scrutiny powers;
Amendment 161 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Paragraph 30 d (new)
30d. Urges the Commission and the EEAS to increase and improve donor coordination through joint programming and joint implementation with other Member States and donors, aligned with partner countries’ national development programmes, under the lead and coordination of the EU Delegations;
Amendment 173 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Is convinced of the importance of promoting a human rights- and principle- based approach to development thus promoting democratic principles, fundamental values and human rights worldwide; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to adequately combine assistance under the EFIs and political dialogue, both bilaterally and in the framework of regional and global organisations, to promote these principles, values and rights;
Amendment 181 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Is of the view that, without prejudice to increased flexibility and/or reserves, the post-2020 architecture of EFIs should continue to make provision for a mix of both geographic and thematic multiannual programmes, allowing for development actions on different scales;
Amendment 185 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Considers that a separate reserve should be maintained specifically for humanitarian aid, and that the relevant budget should be increased to take account of the fact that, due to increasing needs worldwide, the humanitarian aid reserve has been constantly activated during the current MFF period;
Amendment 188 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that any gain in terms of financial flexibility and simplification should not be achieved at the expense of less monitoring and scrutiny capacity on the part of the co-legislator, which would jeopardise the principles of accountability and transparency;
Amendment 189 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Points out that expenditure for pursuing the EU’s internal objectives under the headings of migration, asylum and internal security on the one hand, and that geared to supporting the implementation of objectives stated in the European Consensus on Development such as tackling the causes of forced displacement, increasing the benefits of migration and mobility for development and poverty reduction, and protecting all people on the move;
Amendment 195 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Proposes, in this context, that societal and state resilience be further strengthened through development aid and that more financial and political means be dedicated to conflict prevention and disaster preparedness, and to taking early action in the face of both conflicts and natural disasters;
Amendment 196 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)
Paragraph 42 b (new)
42b. Calls on the Commission not to base funding allocations to partner countries and cooperation modalities not only on GDP but on a broad range of criteria taking into account inclusive human development, human rights and levels of inequality;
Amendment 205 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Considers that the architecture of the new EFIs should take into account the proven good functioning of the current EFIs, ODA eligibility and the need to deliver on the SDGs;
Amendment 206 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Is convinced that PCD should be a driving force of EU’s political action, allowing for a consistent and mutually reinforcing nexus between external policies, that should be reflected in coherent and coordinated EFIs, as well as between internal and external policy objectives;
Amendment 207 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 c (new)
Paragraph 45 c (new)
45c. Considers that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the global dimension of many SDGs call for a new political approach whereby all political actors, both from developing and developed countries, must endeavour to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through consistent, coordinated internal and external policies, and considers that the new EFIs post-2020 and the European Consensus on Development will be instrumental to this end;
Amendment 208 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 d (new)
Paragraph 45 d (new)
45d. Stresses that in the new post-2020 architecture the co-legislators should be empowered to exert fully their scrutiny power both at legal and at political level, all through the design, adoption and implementation phases of the instruments and their implementing programmes; underlines that sufficient time must be allowed for this purpose;
Amendment 209 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 e (new)
Paragraph 45 e (new)
45e. Is of the view that the potential for cooperation with EU Member States in the design and implementation of development programmes, notably through joint programming and based on, and synchronised with, national development programmes, should be fully exploited;
Amendment 210 #
2017/2258(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 f (new)
Paragraph 45 f (new)
45f. Calls for a mid-term assessment and review of the post-2020 architecture of EFIs to further improve their management and look at ways for greater coherence and simplification, as well as to ensure continued relevance and alignment with the development principles; calls for full involvement of stakeholders in this exercise;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2233(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Commission President will be elected by the European Parliament on a proposal by the European Council, taking into account the outcome of the elections to the European Parliament and after appropriate consultations have been held, and that therefore, as was the case in 2014, European political parties shall come up with lead candidates (‘Spitzenkandidaten’), preferably of a transnational list in order to give the European citizens the choice whom to elect as Commission President in the European Parliament elections;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2233(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the Spitzenkandidaten process is a further step in strengthening the EU’s parliamentary dimension, and therefore warns that the European Parliament will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to the elections of the European Parliament and will avoid submitting a candidate who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority;
Amendment 47 #
2017/2233(ACI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that all major European political parties embraced the Spitzenkandidaten process in the run-up to the 2014 European electionsor indicate their candidate to the presidency of the Commission in the run-up to the 2014 European elections and also public debates were held among the candidates to chair the Commission, which is itself a sign of its success, and stresses that the 2019 European elections will be the occasion to cement the use of that process;
Amendment 5 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that gender disparities in the ownership of and access to resources (such as land, credit and technology), coupled with sociocultural barriers, increase the exposure of those resources to climatic risks; points out, furthermore, that these have more of an impact in developing countries, giving rise to poverty and scarcity of resources, particularly among women; takes the view that gender considerations, as well as climate change programmes, should therefore be a central focus of policies and programmes in developing countries;
Amendment 25 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that women’s empowerment is central to the achievement of the SDGs; urges the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to mainstream gender into their climate policies and development cooperation; calls, furthermore, for gender diversity in decision-making bodies, as well as the actual empowerment of women, to be looked at once again, so as to guarantee women’s participation in the processes of decision-making, planning and implementation;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need to address the gender-differentiated investment risks to sustainable agriculture; calls for the EU to help developing countries reform laws that restrict women’s ownership of and access to productive resources; highlights, furthermore, how vulnerable women are in certain sectors, such as the rural sector, which is still more affected by climate change;
Amendment 36 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the fact that the Paris Agreement includes references to gender balance, and insists that helping countries implement their climate objectives or attain their intended nationally determined contributions under COP21 will only be possible if we take advantage of the knowledge, foresight, participation and action of all sections of our societies, especially women;
Amendment 56 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for gender-sensitive action to ensure that women are not only seen as beneficiaries of climate action, but also as clean energy technology entrepreneurs, guaranteeing that women, with their unique abilities and knowledge, are involved in designing and implementing programmes;
Amendment 60 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls for consideration to be given to the introduction of the term ‘climate refugee’ in the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2086(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on the Commission to promote gender equality in the context of climate justice in regional aid programmes, in the Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan, and in dialogue with third countries;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment, education and youth, human rights, the rights of the child and gender equality;
Amendment 73 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the role played by civil society, the private sector, trade unions and local authorities in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa;
Amendment 82 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society and trade unions in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap;
Amendment 100 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development, emphasises the need to boost the political engagement of women, their rights, resources and representation;
Amendment 152 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possible to support the private sector in African countries and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs; recalls the importance of guaranteeing everyone the right to quality employment, decent work and inclusive growth;
Amendment 192 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision; stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, along with the rights of the child, in building a resilient society;
Amendment 199 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses also the importance of high-quality and accessible education at all levels, ensuring that the poorest communities have access to it, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational training;
Amendment 219 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems, guaranteeing access to them at all levels, particularly for the most vulnerable, such as women, children and the LGBT community;
Amendment 254 #
2017/2083(INI)
26. Supports the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently , and at the same time for humanitarian aid to be handled in a transparent manner;
Amendment 22 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines, in this context, the need to focus on the health, food, education, water and sanitation, energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure and governance SDGincrease the level of resources allocated to development cooperation in order to implement Agenda 2030 in an integrated and holistic way; emphasises the need to fulfil EU commitments to allocate 20% of its ODA to social inclusion and human development with a focus on education and health; recalls EU commitment to gender mainstreaming in the next MFF and the need to invest in powerful enablers to sustainable human development such as sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 28 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines, in this context, the need to focus on the health, food, education, water and sanitation, energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure and governance SDGs; stresses, moreover, the importance of the gender and environmental dimensions of these areas
Amendment 53 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points to the crucial role of official development assistance (ODA) in least developed countries and fragile states; notes its potential to facilitate the mobilisation of financing for development from other sources, private and public, domestic and international; supports the EU’s new efforts at stimulating private investment through blending grants and loans and providing guarantees, also in countries where the needs are great, but the risks are high; notes that important funding needs will arise as a result; however, it emphasises that blending should be duly justified and should complement, not substitute, traditional development financing;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the next MFF also to reflect the unprecedented needs for humanitarian aid, caused by natural and man-made disasters driven, inter alia, by climate change, through a higher allocation from the start, the unprecedented needs for humanitarian aid and for disaster risk reduction, disaster and epidemic preparedness and the building of resilience in developing countries; notes, in addition, the upward pressure on these needs stemming from the effects of conflicts and wars, human rights violations, bad governance and corruption, poor provision of basic social services, growing inequality, as well as climate change and competition for scarce resources;
Amendment 73 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers it necessary to strengthen transparency, accountability and reporting of the resources for the development and humanitarian aid, as well as the financial means for this aid, with rapid approval by the budgetary authority, whenever needed, especially bearing in mind the newly established 2030 Agenda, and with a view to fulfilling the policy coherence for development (PCD) principles;
Amendment 81 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls for the next MFF to be consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, underlines the need of scaling up financing for climate action in developing countries, supporting climate mitigation and adaptation and the protection of biodiversity; calls for effective mainstreaming of climate change and environment issues in EU external financing instruments;
Amendment 94 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls the key role played by special instruments in the current MFF, in particular the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) to respond to unforeseen events including the most acute humanitarian crises outside the EU;
Amendment 95 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses that the next MFF should also enable the EU to implement the commitments taken at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, across the different policy sectors to shrink the needs and improve the delivery of humanitarian aid;
Amendment 97 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores the EU’s failure to achieve the 0.7 % ODA/GNI commitment for 2015 and draws attention to the ODA commitments entered into by the EU and its Member States, including that of increasing their ODA to 0.7 % of GNI by 2030; recalls that EU-managed ODA contributes towards the honouring of Member States’ commitments and can significantly increase the development effectiveness of ODA expenditure, including through reduced fragmentation and the facilitation of an incentive-based approach with partner countries.
Amendment 108 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Requests the Commission to make a proposal on making payments systematically equal to commitments for humanitarian aid actions;
Amendment 111 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Urges the EU and its Member States to stop inflating aid and to exclude inflated aid items from ODA reporting (e.g. refugee costs, imputed student costs, tied aid, interest on loans and debt relief);
Amendment 114 #
2017/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls for mid-term evaluation of the MFF development programmes.
Amendment 1 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that the development assistance from the EU budget needs to be kept at least at the level foreseen in the MFF and maintain its focus on long-term efforts to eradicate poverty; welcomes the phasing out of ODA for and on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); considers that since the majority of the world’s poorest people (some 75 per cent) live in middle-income countries, in which inequalities persist among different geographical areas and between urban and rural areas, and affect women and minorities in particular, withdrawing aid to middle -income countries would be a backward step as regards the achievement of SDGs in such countries;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CNotes that the requirement that 20 % of the assistance under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) be allocated to basic social services, in particular health and education, is not being fulfilled for the period 2014-20171a; considers that an increase in the investment in human development, especially in access to reproductive health care is necessary to help counter the negative impact of the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule; _________________ 1a https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco /files/draft-eval-report-dci_en.pdf
Amendment 23 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its rejection of the use of development funds for non-development objectives and underlines that funding that does not fulfil ODA criteria must be sourced from other instruments than the DCI and the EDF; points to its opinion of 5 July 2017 on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument contributing to stability and peace, which excludes any contribution from the Development Cooperation Instrument to finance the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Reiterates that the United Kingdom’s contribution amounts to 15 % of the EU's development aid budget;calls on the Commission and the Council to engage in a reflection on the ambition and priorities of EU development aid after Brexit;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2043(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls for maintaining the EU support to sports policy, the sports chapter of the Erasmus+ programme and the financing of Special Events, such as the Special Olympics in 2017;
Amendment 1 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the inclusion in the agreement of provisions geared towards sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Cuba; recalls that Cuba has benefited from EU development assistance or humanitarian aid since 1984, and it is currently receiving assistance from the EU under the DCI regulation, in particular the commitment to work towards the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals (SDGs) taking into account the Addis Ababa Programme of Action on financing for development;
Amendment 2 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the diplomatic relations between the EU and Cuba were established in 1988 and that Cuba has benefited from EU development assistance and humanitarian aid since 1984; for the programming period 2014 - 2020 EUR 50 million have been allocated to Cuba under the DCI regulation;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned by the risk that Cuba, which is classed as an ‘upper middle income country’ by the DAC/OECD, could see its development assistance under the DCI regulation phased out; considers that the economic crisihallenges and social inequality affecting the country justify the adoption of measures that will enable EU assistance to Cuba to be continued, and this should be given particular consideration as part of the forthcoming mid-term evaluation of the DCI regulation;
Amendment 6 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Supports the Parties' reaffirmation of the need for all developed countries to provide 0.7% of their gross national income for official development assistance, and for emerging economies and upper-middle-income countries to set targets for increasing their provision of international public finance;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Welcomes the promotion of the gender perspective in all the relevant fields of cooperation, including sustainable development;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Supports the emphasis put on greater civil society involvement in the formulation and implementation of relevant development cooperation activities, including through capacity- building;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Urges the Parties, once the PDCA is ratified, to rapidly establish the dedicated dialogue on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Amendment 16 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that the EU, through this agreement and other forms of engagement, can play a crucial role in accompanying Cuba’s economic and social evolution, based on its own experiences in relation to moving towards a sustainable and social market economy, developing renewable energy sources and creating inclusive social protection systems, as well as supporting the agricultural sector and preventing natural disasters;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Hopes that this agreement, by supporting the inclusive role of the private sector and Cuban entrepreneurs, as well as various sections of civil society, will contribute to the development of the private sectoreconomy and the blossoming of a strong, independent civil society.;
Amendment 5 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part A – point 2
Annex I – part A – point 2
2. The objective of the revision is, in compliance with the Treaties, to enable Union citizens both to register and to submit a citizens’ initiative successfully and in a cost-effective manner, and to provide for their petitioconcerns to receive appropriate follow-up from the Commission, in order to encourage as many Union citizens as possible to become involved in taking the European integration process forward.
Amendment 9 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 (new)
(-1) Recital 3 is amended as follows: [...] similar possibilities [...] instead of [...] similar conditions [...] And the following is added: [...], in particular for people with disabilities.
Amendment 11 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point –1 a (new)
(-1a) In recital 7, the following sentence is deleted: “That should be set as the age at which citizens are entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament.” And amended as follows: “That should be set as the minimum age of 16 years.”
Amendment 31 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 1
Amendment 40 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
"5. Following the example set by similar legal systems, the Citizen´s Initiative shall respect the principle of material unity to safeguard the wishes of citizens participating;
Amendment 42 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
6. Initiatives cannot be presented on recently adopted legislation and during a period of two years;";
Amendment 89 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point b – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 5 – point b – paragraph 2 a (new)
In article 10, the following paragraph is added: "3. Once the initiative has been successfully registered, the Commission will keep updated the organisers about its plans and the evolution of the legislative procedure.";
Amendment 93 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
In article 11, the following paragraph is added: "An additional administrative channel will be available for those initiatives that have been rejected because they fall outside the Commission´s remit but which could be dealt by using other policy instruments, given their public interest, such as recommendations to the Member States or opinions, with the aim of avoiding the failure of worthwhile citizen´s initiatives and thereby strengthening citizen´s democratic involvement.";
Amendment 103 #
2017/2024(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Annex I – part B – point 1 – point 9 – paragraph 2
Member States and Union Institutions, and in particular the European Commission , shall carry out information campaigns in order to raise public awareness of the existence of the ECI, thereby maximising its added-value and promoting the active participation of citizens in the political life of the Union.” Registered ECIs may, on reasoned request, receive financial support from the Commission out of EU funds for technical and organisational purposes.
Amendment 13 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,
Amendment 20 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas civil society represents the third sector of society, along with governments and businessethe public and private sectors; whereas it comprises non-governmental and non- profit organisations that have a presence in public life, expressing the interests and values of their members or others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU is the largest donor to local civil society organisations in developing countries and has been a leading actor in the protection of civil society actors and human rights defenders through the use and implementation of a range of instruments and policies, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), the European Endowment for Democracy, the DCI thematic programme for Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities (CSOs-LAs), the Civil Society Roadmaps implemented in 105 countries and country strategy papers;
Amendment 42 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas an increasing number of governments in developing countries are clamping down in legal or administrative terms on civil society organisations, including by imposing restrictive laws, limits on funding, strict licensing procedures and punitive taxes;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas civil society’s ability to act relies on the exercise of three fundamental freedoms, namelyincluding the right to freedom of association, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression;
Amendment 57 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that a genuinely independent, pluralistic and vibrant civil society is pivotal to a country’s development and stability, to ensuring democracytic consolidation and respect for human rights, and to building inclusive societies; further recalls that civil society is a key actor in achieving the SDGs;
Amendment 61 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the central role played by civil society in developing countries in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance, in particular in the fight against corruption, and its potential implicationsdirect impact on country’s economic and human development;
Amendment 66 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned that the closing down of civil society space in developing countries is being carried out inand in particular at the increasingly subtcomplex and sophisticated waycomprehensive means, which are harder to tackle and range from legislation, administrative, reporting and banking requirements, to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of CSO representatives, defamation, administrative harassment, online repression, censorship, arbitrary detention, torture and assassination;
Amendment 89 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU to continue to work towards greater autonomy of the civic space not only by tackling thethrough EU development and human rights policies, but by integrating all other EU internal and external policies, including justice, home affairs, trade and security policies, in accordance with the principle of policy coherence for development;
Amendment 101 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that tackling shrinking civil society space requires a unified and consistent approach in the EU’s relationship with developing countries, and calls for the EU and Member States to proactively address the root causes of shrinking civil society space, in particular by mainstreaming the promotion of civil society organisations and their participation in bilateral and multilateral cooperation at all stages, including in political dialogues at the highest level, taking into account their different sizes, capacities and expertise;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. ENotes the importance of the EU and Members States working with CSOs, the private sector, opposition political parties, governments and local authorities to maintain an open environment for civil society; encourages the EU to become an active facilitator and to promote institutional mechanisms for reinforced dialogues and partnerships amongin developing countries governments, CSOs, local authorities and the private sector on an enabling civil society environment; calls on the Commission to strengthen the role of civil society actors in trade agreement institutions including Domestic Advisory Groups and EPA Consultative Committees;
Amendment 110 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls equally that the private sector is a key partner in achieving the SDGs, and has an important role to play in fostering civic space; responsibilities in fostering civic space including Corporate Social Responsibility reporting, transparency in supply chain due diligence and full recognition and engagement with trade unions;
Amendment 123 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls the importance of regional cooperation to strengthen enabling environments for civil society; encourages developing countries to promote dialogue and best practice of protection of and engagement with civil society;
Amendment 125 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the EU to strengthen its support for the full participation of minorities including indigenous people and other vulnerable groups in cultural, social, economic and political processes;
Amendment 131 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the critical role played by women in social progress; calls on the EU to insist on the need for supporting the creation of a safe and enabling environment for women’s CSOs and women’s rights defenders, particularlyCSOs defending and promoting women’s rights, and in conflict- affected regions;
Amendment 153 #
2016/2324(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the EU to take steps to maximise engagement with and support the CSOs through its funding modalities and mechanisms beyond those which currently have on-going contracts;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned at the substantial increase in both private and public debt in many developing countries and the harmful effect thereof on their ability to finance investment expenditure for health, education, the economy and, infrastructure and combating climate change;
Amendment 59 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that structural adjustment plans that were developed in the 1990s for over-indebted countries have seriously compromised the development of basic social services and undermined the ability of those countries’ ability to assume their essential responsibilities they have as sovereign nations, in combating insecurity and terrorism for example to maintain security;
Amendment 73 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for legislation to be drawn up to prevent the repayment of loans to creditors that have been complicit in granting loans to manifestly corrupt governments;
Amendment 74 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Advocates the drafting of a code of conduct on credit management that is binding on institutional, political and private stakeholders;
Amendment 128 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on institutional and private creditors to agree to a debt moratorium in the aftermath of a natural disaster or acute humanitarian crisis, including the occasional arrival of large numbers of immigrants, in order to enable a debtor country to devote all its resources to securing a return to normality;
Amendment 13 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, also known as ‘atrocity crimes’, are the most serious crimes against humankinda reason of concern for the entire international community;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the Kampala amendments to the Rome Statute on the crime of aggression, added in 2010, have been ratified by 32 States, reaching the 30 acceptances required for its activation and opening the possibility for the Assembly of States Parties to adopt, after January 1st 2017, the activation of the Court's treaty- based aggression-related jurisdiction;
Amendment 21 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the international community and the European Union have an obligation to take in refugees who have been the victims of atrocity crimes or are seeking to escape them;
Amendment 24 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas universal accession to the Rome Statute is essential for the full effectiveness of the ICC; whereas 124 countries, including all EU Member States, are States Parties tohave ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the African Union (AU) on 31 January 2017 adopted a non- binding resolution including an ICC Withdrawal Strategy and calling on AU member states to consider implementing its recommendations;
Amendment 28 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the ICC is currently conducting ten investigations in nine countries (Georgia, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Libya, Kenya, Darfur (Sudan), Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and two investigation in the Central African Republic);
Amendment 29 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in accordance with the Preamble to the Rome Statute, as well as with the principle of complementarity, the ICC only acts in instances where national courts are unable or unwilling to hold trialinvestigate or prosecute atrocity crimes, so that States Parties retain the primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting atrocitysuch crimes;
Amendment 43 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas several reports by UN bodies, including by the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and reports from reputable non- governmental organisations have stated that acts committed by so-called ‘ISIS/Daesh’ may constitute atrocity crimes;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to support the reform of the UN which would lead to a more effective protection of Human rights in war times. In particular, calls on the EU to support a quick reform of the functioning of the UN Security Council notably on the use of the right of veto; in this context requests to support the proposal initiated by France to refrain from the right of veto when evidence of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity occur;
Amendment 59 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. welcomes the meeting on 6 July 2016, between EU and ICC representatives in Brussels for the 2nd EU-ICC Roundtable meeting set up to allow relevant staff at the ICC and in the European Institutions to identify common areas of interest, exchange information on relevant activities and ensure better co- operation between the two organisations;
Amendment 70 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the international community to establish instruments that can minimize the warning-response gap in order to prevent the emergence, re- emergence and escalation of violent conflict such as the EU´s early warning system.
Amendment 72 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the EU to step up its efforts to develop a coherent and efficient approach to identifying and responding to crisis or conflict situations that might lead to an atrocity crime being committed; underlines, in particular, the importance of exchanging information and coordinating preventive actions between EU institutions, including EU delegations, common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations and Member States, together with their diplomatic representations; and, therefore, welcomes the new initiative of the White Paper by the European Commission which would lead to a more effective external action of the EU
Amendment 81 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Encourages the EU Member States to continue their financial support for the ICC either as State Parties' contributions or through EU funding such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) with a particular attention in funding for civil society actors working on ICC- related issues; expresses its concern that the lack of resources remains an impediment to the optimal functioning of the Court;
Amendment 86 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Welcomes the efforts of the EU Member States and the EEAS to find the best use for the EU financial instruments, in particular the European Development Fund (EDF) and encourages the EU and its Member States to further increase their effort in support of the ICC through their development programmes aimed at strengthening the rule of law;
Amendment 90 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Reaffirms that maintaining the independence of the ICC is crucial not only to ensure that it is fully effective, but also to promote the universality of the Rome Statute;
Amendment 92 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reaffirms the paramount importance of universal adherence to the Rome Statute of the ICC; calls on the states which have not yet done so to ratify the Rome Statute and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court in order to support accountability and reconciliation, which are key elements in preventing future atrocities; reaffirms, equally, the crucial importance of the integrity of the Rome Statute;
Amendment 95 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls the Assembly of States Parties to adopt the Kampala amendments on the crime of aggression;
Amendment 97 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with regret the recent announcements of withdrawals from the Rome Statute, of Burundi, The Gambia and South Africa, which represent a challenge in terms of victims’ access to justice; calls on the countries concerned to reconsider their decision; welcomes the fact that one of theseThe Gambia and South Africa hasve already retracted itstheir withdrawal notification;
Amendment 102 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes with regret that four signatory states (Israel, Russia, Sudan, and the United States) have informed the UN Secretary General that they no longer intend to become parties to the Rome Statute;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Welcomes that the ICC's Assembly of State Parties responded in November 2016 by agreeing to consider proposed amendments to the Rome Statute to address the AU's concerns raised during the special summit of the African Union;
Amendment 105 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls, furthermore, on all ICC State Parties to step up their efforts to promote universal accession to the ICC and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court; considers that the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) should continue to encourage third countries to ratify and implement the Rome Statute and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court and conduct an assessment of the EU’s achievements in this regard;
Amendment 112 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Strongly encourages the EU and its Member States to use all the diplomatic tools at their disposal to support effective cooperation with the ICC, including in relation to the execution of pending arrest warrants and with a particular regard to the 13 suspects who are at large as fugitives; calls on the Commission, the EEAS and the Council to agree on the adoption of concrete measures for responding to non-cooperation with the ICC that could complement political statements;
Amendment 115 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the EEAS to ensure that the ICC is mainstreamed across the EU's foreign policy priorities, by systematically taking into account the fight against impunity;
Amendment 120 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Encourages the EU Member States to amend Article 83 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union to add the "atrocity crimes" to the list of crimes for which the EU has competences;
Amendment 124 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the EU and its Member States to engage with third countries – in particular countries with situations under investigation by the ICC and countries under preliminary examination by the ICC – in order to bolster their political will and to support their capacity to launch national proceedings on atrocity crimes; and to offer them full support to those countries in order to help them comply with the ICC requirements;
Amendment 132 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Highlights the essential role of the European Parliament in monitoring EU action in this matter; Welcomes the insertion of a section on the fight against impunity and the ICC in the EP Annual Report on Human Rights and democracy in the world and further suggests that the European Parliament plays a more proactive role by promoting and mainstreaming the fight against impunity and the ICC in all EU policies and institutions, in particular in the work of the European Parliament's committees responsible for External Policies of the Union and the European Parliament's delegations with third countries;
Amendment 158 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that international criminal law and particularly the mandate and jurisprudence of the international criminal courts and tribunals have clearly defined the responsibility of non- state actors in international crimes;
Amendment 163 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reaffirms, in this context, its strong condemnation of the heinous crimes and human rights violations committed by Boko Haram in Nigeria and ‘ISIS/Daesh’ in Syria and Iraq, including killings, torture, rape, sexual slavery, forced religious conversions and the systematic murder of religious minorities and crimes against children, including conscription, enlistment or use of children to participate actively in hostilities; believes that the prosecution of the perpetrators should be a priority for the international community;
Amendment 187 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the Commission of Inquiry on Syria set up by the Human Rights Council and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) set up by the UN General Assembly, and; calls on all EU Member States, all parties to the conflict in Syria, civil society and the UN system as a whole to cooperate fully with the IIIM and to provide it with any information and documentation they might possess to assist in the delivery of its mandate; thanks EU Member States who have contributed financially to the IIIM and calls on those who have not to do so as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 194 #
2016/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the EUʼs efforts to support the work of the Commission for International Justice and Accountabilityorganisations documenting atrocity crimes in Iraq and Syria; calls for the EU to give direct support to Iraqi and Syrian civil society in gathering, preserving and protecting evidence of crimes committed by ‘ISIS/Daesh’any side to the Syrian conflict; supports the United KingdomBritish and Belgian initiative at UN level to gather evidence of the crimes committed by ‘ISIS/Daesh’ in Syria and Iraq in order to facilitate its prosecution internationally;
Amendment 25 #
2016/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Strongly believes that the private sector has a role in ensuring respect of human rights when taking activity in a country and believes that this role can be maximised by the conclusion of more public-private partnerships;
Amendment 43 #
2016/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Warns against the increase of populism and extremism that legitimise breaches of human rights as well as the constitutional abuse of some elected officials to remain in power;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Insists that all international agreements negotiated by the EU must include binding and non-negotiable human rights clauses and regrets that the Economic Partnership Agreements negotiated until now fail to meet this standard; notably insists that the future agreement between the ACP and the EU must reinforce the existing dialogue on human rights and enable a system of sanction when failure to respect human rights is demonstrated;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Welcomes the creation of new EU instruments to address the root causes of migration but urges for human rights to be at the centre of the programmes that are financed by these instruments; recalls that human rights of migrants must be fully respected in origin, transit and destination countries;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls in this connection on the EIB to ensure that companies participating in projects co-financed by the EIB shall be required to adhere to the principle of equal pay and pay transparency and to the principle of gender equality as set out in Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation.
Amendment 20 #
2016/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Furthermore, when deciding which projects to finance, the EIB shall take into account the corporate social responsibility measures taken by candidate companies;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), as provided for in the Treaty on European Union (TEU), shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy that might lead to a future common defence; calls on the Council and the Commission to do what they can to place common European defence on an institutional footing by strengthening a comprehensive EU approach to external conflicts and crises, involving the various stakeholders and instruments more closely in all stages of the conflict cycle;
Amendment 17 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that achieving the objectives of the CSDP to strengthen the Union’s operational capacity to act externally for peace-keeping, conflict prevention, humanitarian crisis response and strengthening international security as provided for in the TEU is more than ever necessary in a fastnecessary than ever in a rapidly deteriorating security environment;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that more needs to be done to tap the Lisbon Treaty’s potential to establish a comprehensive framework on strategic interests that might extend beyond the CFSP, in order for security and defence decisions to be taken by qualified majority, excluding measures with military or defence implications;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Council, the Commission and the VP/HR to ensure, as provided for in the TEU, consistency between the different areas of external action and to address these areas through a global and comprehensive approach; calls, furthermore, for information to be provided to Parliament on a much more regular basis to facilitate parliamentary scrutiny of external action, including in relation to the negotiation and conclusion of international agreements at all stages of the process;
Amendment 45 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need to make the financial rules for external action more flexible in order to avoid delays in the operational disbursement of funds and to step up the capacity to respond to crises in a speedy and effective way;
Amendment 50 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its support for the adoption of a White BookPaper on defence on the basis of the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, which should be based on a joint accurate appraisal of the existing military capabilities of the Member States, with the basis being the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy drawn up by the VP/HR;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2052(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the need to ensure and to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO. and to improve this cooperation at all levels;
Amendment 9 #
2016/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. StressRecalls that violations of fundamental rights and failure to observe the rule of law continue to affect Europe and underlines that in case of systemic threats to the rule of law, Article 7 and Rule of Law Framework procedures should be launched to provide remedies; considers it important to establish a new consensus between the EU and its Member States regarding respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; urges the EU institutions and the Member States to establish a further mechanism for the effective monitoring of respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law in the Member States;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that further efforts should be made towards a consistent and uniform implementation of the Charter, including through awareness-raising measures among practitioners and the general public and stresses that European institutions must be at the forefront of this effort;
Amendment 46 #
2016/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. RStresses that the EU's accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) contributes to the protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of EU citizens and Member States; reiterates its call on the Commission, following Opinion 2/13 of the European Court of Justice, to identify the necessary steps forward for the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human RightsCHR, in line with Article 6(2) TEU.
Amendment 50 #
2016/2009(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the importance of extending the mandate of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights to include powers to monitor respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law in all Member States; calls for improved cooperation between the EU institutions and national parliaments and between the Council of Europe and other organisations;
Amendment 4 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The amount of the Guarantee Fund in surplus exceeding 10% of the Union's total outstanding capital liabilities should be paid back to the general budget of the Union in order to better protect the budget against potential additional risk of default of the EIB financing operations addressing root causes of migrationmigratory pressures stemming from poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, demographic growth, lack of employment and economic opportunities as well as from climate change.
Amendment 10 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The financial management of the Guarantee Fund should be transferred from the EIB to the Commission, which has an established practice of managing similar investments. By taking over the asset management of the Guarantee Fund, the Commission should be able to further streamline and consolidate its asset management activities, building on existing structures and a good track record.
Amendment 18 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
By 31 March of each year, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Court of Auditors, in the context of the financial statements of the Commission, all the required information on the situation of the Guarantee Fund.
Amendment 19 #
2016/0274(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
In addition, it shall, by 31 May of each year, submit to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Court of Auditors an annual report on the management of the Guarantee Fund in the previous calendar year. The annual report shall contain the presentation of the financial position of the Guarantee Fund at the end of the previous calendar year, the financial flows during the previous calendar year as well as the significant transactions and any relevant information on the financial accounts. The report shall also include information about the financial management and performance and the risk of the Guarantee Fund at the end of the previous calendar year. Finally, it shall include an assessment of the adequacy of the 9% target and of the 10% threshold/ceiling, and of the asset management of the Guarantee Fund performed by the Commission.
Amendment 12 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it necessary to reform the system of financing of the MFF, particularly through the creation of new and genuine own resources; urges the Cou, such as the tax on financial to commit to reflecting on this issue, without prejudice to the final report from the High-Level Group on Own Resources;ransactions, ECB profits, and other European tax revenue, and accordingly urges the Council alsoto commit to reflecting on the provision of budgetary resources in the euro area to help Member States implement agreed structural reforms; stresses that any new instrument should be entered in the EU budget, while remaining outside MFF ceiling limits, and be funded from genuine ois issue, without prejudice to the final report from the High- Level Group on Own rResources;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Urges the Council also to reflect on the provision of budgetary resources in the euro area to help Member States implement agreed structural reforms; stresses that any new instrument should be entered in the EU budget, while remaining outside MFF ceiling limits, and be funded from genuine own resources;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union is resolved to frame a common defence policy leading to athe implementation of a truly common defence approach which reinforces its European identity and autonomy in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU now has the political will and has competence to define and implement a common security and defence policy that includes the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy; whereas the Union should use this competence to coordinate and supplement the actions of the Member States, without thereby prejudicing or superseding their competence in defence, as well as better coordination and efficiency;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas framing a common Union defence policy and establishing common defence without the European Parliament’'s political and institutional support and democratic scrutiny would undermine the representative and democratic foundations of the Union;
Amendment 166 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that where the TEU provides that the Council acts by a qualified majority to adopt decisions under the CSDP, in particular those under Articles 45(2) and 46(2) TEU, all expenditure to which the implementation of such decisions gives rise should be charged to the Unionfinanced with new additional resources to the EU budget and to be charged to that budget; considers that, to that end, there is a need for additional funding or co-funding from Member States;
Amendment 217 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. IStrongly believes the security and defence threats faced by the EU and directed at its citizens and territory are common and cannot be addressed by a Member State alone and is convinced that the Union’'s security and defence will be stronger as wetogether as Member States standy united ; takes the view that the EU needs to develop an effective system for European burden-sharing for its own security and defence, which is not yet the case; calls on the Member States to show full political engagement and cooperate to this end;
Amendment 258 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the projected increase in national defence expenditure to 2 % of EU GDP; highlights that this would mean extra expenditure of nearly EUR 100 billion on defence by the end of the coming decade; considers that this boost should be used to launch more strategic cooperative programmes within and through the Union, by better structuring the demand and supply sides and making both sides more efficient and more effective; supports the view that investment on R&I is dual-use and is crucial for the achievement of such goals; notes this extra expenditure should also ensure extra accountability, transparency and scrutiny on the use of European public funds, namely in national and European defence needs;
Amendment 273 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights the continued need for the establishment of a Council format of Defence Ministers under the presidency of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in order to provide sustained political leadership and coordinate the implementation of the CSDP;
Amendment 282 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the Steering Board of the EDA, made up of the representatives of Member States’' defence ministries, is thea body that is suitable to exercise the advisory and supervisory functions required to implement Articles 42, 45 and 46 TEU;
Amendment 321 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Is convinced that the competences of the Agency need to be strengthened, namely regarding the management of common public procurement, the promotion of inter-operability among Member-States armed forces and lead of R&I projects. To that end, appropriate resources and founding should be allocated;
Amendment 336 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Encourages the Member States to establish and join PESCO within the Union framework, with a view to sustaining and improving their military capabilities through doctrine and leadership development, personnel development and training, defence material and infrastructure development, and interoperability and certification, which should lead in due time to the establishment of the European Armed Forces;
Amendment 337 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Is convinced that PESCO should not exclude any Member-State willing to advance its defence integration to the highest level of ambition;
Amendment 344 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Urges the establishment of a permanent EU headquarters for initiating and coordinating civilian and military CSDP missions and defence joint operations, including in the framework of PESCO if so agreed by participating Members, where an integrated operational staff supports the entire planning cycle, from the initial political conceptualisation to detailed plans;
Amendment 357 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the EU Battlegroup system should be brought under PESCO, alongside the creation of a European-level permanent headquarters; considers that other European multinational structures such as the European Air Transport Command, Eurocorps and OCCAR should also be brought under PESCO; considers that the EU’'s privileges and immunities should apply to those multinational structures being part of PESCO;
Amendment 394 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates that the relationship between the CSDP and NATO offers a political opportunity for collaboration and complementarity at every level; recalls that, within the current international context and in view of the deterioration of security, a comprehensive and wider partnership is needed, with the aim of developing joint capabilities and avoiding duplication of actions; calls on the VP/HR to immediately engage with transatlantic partners in order to clarify their position on the different topics addressed by the Global Strategy.
Amendment 421 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls on the Council and the VP/HR to elaborate a EU White Book on Security and Defence that will include a roadmap with clear phases and a calendar for progressiven appropriate definition of the threats and dangers to European security that the EU and its Member States are facing as a first step towards establishing the capacities that European defence requires,a roadmap a calendar for steps to be taken towards the establishment of a European Defence Union and a common defence policy; believes that such a White Book should be the result of contributions from the various EU institutions and be as comprehensive as possible and should integrate the different measures foreseen by the Union;
Amendment 452 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. Underlines that the EU must step up its efforts to strengthen global governance, which will result in an improved strategic and security situation; calls on Member States to promote the reform of the UN in order to enhance its legitimacy, transparency, accountability processes and effectiveness; takes the view that the UN Security Council must be reformed, especially as regards its composition and voting procedures, in order to boost its capacity to act decisively to address global security challenges, moving beyond its purely military focus;
Amendment 457 #
2015/2343(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41 a. Underlines that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union explicitly states that the "Union's action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law";
Amendment 22 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in 2015 , 65 million people – including 40.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 21.3 million refugees – have been forcibly displaced because of conflicts and violations of International Humanitarian Law , violence and human rights violations, further to people displaced on account of natural disasters;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the current data available underlines an increase of refuges of more than 50% In the last five years; whereas a number of elements contribute to this staggering number, including the fact that the voluntary repatriation of refugees has been the lowest since the 1980s, that the number of refugees offered local integration remains limited, and that resettlement numbers are steady at around 100,000 annually;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas no State can manage current movements of refugees on its own and neighbouring and transit countries, being mostly developing countries, are disproportionately affected by the current level of displaced people and suffer from stretched capacities and further destabilisation of their own social and economic cohesion and development;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants are legally two distinct categories but in reality often people are part of large-scale mixed movements of people – with political, economic, social, developmental, humanitarian and human rights implications that cut across borders; whereas this legal distinction should not be taken to indicate that migration for economic reasons or for seeking a better life is less legitimate or noble than for fleeing persecution, thereby putting political and civic rights or freedom of religion above socio-economic rights; whereas in most cases both political and economic rights, among other core human rights, are threatened in situations of conflict, instability or unrest and continue to be challenged as a result of the forcible displacement;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas vulnerable people, in particular women, but alsoall along their journey, migrants are exposed to all kinds of dangers, namely violence, trafficking and abuse. This is particularly the case for vulnerable people, such as women, children, people with disabilities, people in need of urgent medical treatment and the elderly, who are particularly exposed to all kinds of dangers, namely violence, trafficking and abuse, should be urgently protected and granted humanitarian protection as part of theira complement to resettlement;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas humanitarian aid base on needs and the respect of the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as well on the respect on international humanitarian law and the human rights provided by the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocols thereto, must be at the core of all EU external actions; whereas aid independence, i.e. aid that is free from any political, economic or security considerations or any type of discrimination, must prevail;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the EU should consider to what extent its current policy increases the vulnerability of refugees and migrants and contributes to irregular flows;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas so far the EU's response to migration flows has mainly put the burden of management on third countries at the expenses of internal and regional stability; whereas any EU political response that does not live up to its declared values and commitments severely impacts on its credibility -particularly in front of partners/third countries- thereby undermining its capacity to defend its interests and an effective external action;
Amendment 90 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the increase in human mobility, if managed in a safe, orderly, regular and responsible manner, can provide significant benefits, as recognised by the 2030 Agenda, but these are often largely underestimated; whereas the ageing of the European population requires, among other measures, relying on foreign workers in order to guarantee an adequate balance between activepersons in remunerative work and retired people;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the EU has a responsibility to supports its implementing partners to carry out rapid, effective, quality assistance and protection and be accountable to affected-population; in that regard the EU's partners require timely and predictable funding, decisions on allocations of funding for changing or new priorities should give them sufficient time for planning and mitigation measures;
Amendment 103 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas decentralised cooperation can help get a better grasp of the needs and cultures of IDPs, migrants and refugees and raise awareness of the local population about the challenges faced by migrants in their countries of origin; whereas local and regional European governments can play a key role in helping address these root causes, through capacity-building;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the fact that we are witnessing in today’´s world an unprecedented level of human mobility, and stresses that one of the most urgent actions the international community must urgently undertake is the strengthening of a common response to address the challenges and opportunities that this phenomenon represents; stresses that this response must be guided by the full protection of the rights and dignity of everyone forced by any circumstance to flee their homes in search of a better and safer life, ; underlines that, though their treatment is governed by separate legal frameworks, refugees and migrants (including migrants in an irregular situation) have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, which need to be safeguarded regardless of their legal status; recalls that the EU must abide by its values and principles in all common policies and promote them in its external relations, recognises that the effects of externalisation of EU migration and asylum policies and the lack of legal avenues to the EU are worrying, and translate in significant abuses at all stages of the migratory and refugee movement; recalls that the external dimension of the EU asylum and migration agenda should be rooted in solidarity and in the principle of protection of the fundamental rights;
Amendment 156 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that the humanitarian aid system is dangerously overstretched and that it will never be sufficient to respond to forced displacement crises, in particularnotably given the protracted nature of a majority of them; welcomes therefore the new policy framework outlined in the Commission communication on ‘"Forced Displacement and Development’" of April 2016 and calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to implement its content within the new Partnership Framework with third countries; notes the importance of promoting closer humanitarian-development links, and the need to engage with different partners – governments, local authorities, civil society, including refugees themselves, and the private sector – to develop targeted evidence-based strategies to tackle this challenge while respecting that humanitarian aid is not a crisis management tool as stated in the EU Consensus for Humanitarian Aid;
Amendment 169 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises the rights and dignity of millions of fellow human beings will be further diminished if they languish in refugee camps or on the margins of cities without access to basic needs, livelihoods and income opportunities;
Amendment 190 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that EU development cooperation should continue to address the root causes of forced displacementmigration by promoting peace, democracy and security, reducing poverty and inequality, strengthening basic services, addressing state fragility and promoting human rights and good governance, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16 in the new 2030 Agenda;
Amendment 198 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Member States to make use of any existing possibilities to provide for humanitarian visas, particularly for vulnerable persons, at Union embassies and consular offices in countries of origin or transit countries;
Amendment 209 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 221 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recognises statelessness as a significant human rights challenge; asks the Commission and the EEAS to fight statelessness in all EU external action, in particular by addressing discrimination in nationality laws on the basis of gender, religion or a minority status, by promoting children's right to a nationality and by supporting the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) campaign aimed at ending statelessness by 2024;
Amendment 248 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Underlines that the EU can benefit from closer cooperation and synergy with multilateral development banks and specialized UN bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the now UN-related International Organization for Migration (IOM); takes note of the recent ideas by the World Bank on the situation of forcibly displaced people and welcomes the recognition of the need to develop mitigation and asylum policies that support the forcibly displaced people to integrate and, at same time, the host communities to meet their development goals;
Amendment 303 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Considers it crucial to overcome the current narrative on refugees depicted only as a burden and stresses the positive contributions they can make, if given the chance, to their host communities; recommends the involvement of refugees in the definition and design of the political answers that affect them directly, creating or strengthening the necessary programmes; Calls on the European Institutions and agencies to launch within their administrations traineeships especially targeted at young graduated refugees legally residing within the European Union as a way to lead by example and demonstrate the benefit of investing in the young generation;
Amendment 312 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that EU external action should be forward-looking instead of mainly reactive with changing objectives in response to new crises; recalls that the migration phenomenon stems from a complex set of causes such as a growing population, poverty, insufficient job creation, political instability and climate change; considers that trade policy with developing countries should be mutually beneficial while taking proper account of the economic disparities between them and the EU;
Amendment 356 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the establishment of a genuine, value-based common European migration policy – with adequate legal channels for a safe and orderly migration as a sustainable long-term policy to promote growth and cohesion within the EU – in order to set a clear framework for EU relations with third countries; welcomes the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling (2015-2020), which envisages closer cooperation with third countries, but underlines that the implementation of a common EU legal migration policy would be instrumental in breaking the business model of smugglers;
Amendment 386 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Expresses concerns regarding the list of identified partners in the foreseen migration compacts include governments with poor human rights records; considers that cooperation with these countries, and making significant payments to such regimes is setting worrying precedents, and risk reinforcing some of the root causes that force people to migrate.
Amendment 393 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concerns regarding the quantitative approach in the new Partnership Framework and the related ‘migration compacts’, which see the ‘measurable increases in the number and rate of returns’ as one of the EU’s main goals, as the number of returns clearly depends on the nature of migration flows and on the situations in the countries of origin; stresses that the short-term objectives of the compacts should focus on how best to address the challenges faced by third countries, including by developing legal migration channels, as a result of which the levels of irregular migration and death tolls in the Mediterranean will decrease; stresses that focusing only on controlling borders with the aim of stopping irregular flows and without facilitating legal avenues for migration often leads to an increase in irregular ways of mobility including the exploitation of migrants and refugees by traffickers and criminal groups, which as a result highly increases their vulnerability;
Amendment 400 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses concerns regarding the quantitative approach in the new Partnership Framework and the related ‘migration compacts’, which see the ‘measurable increases in the number and rate of returns’ as one of the EU’s main goals, as the number of returns clearly depends on the nature of migration flows and on the situations in the countries of origin; stresses that the short-term objectives of the compacts should focus on how best to address the challenges faced by third countries, including by developing legal migration channels such as family reunification, resettlement or humanitarian visas, as a result of which the levels of irregular migration and death tolls in the Mediterranean will decrease;
Amendment 407 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Underlines that partnership agreements such as mobility partnerships, should ensure that migrants can be received in countries of transit and origin safely, in a manner entirely consistent with their fundamental rights. Stresses that the European Parliament has a clear say in EU readmission and mobility agreements as state in the Lisbon Treaty (Article 79(3) TFEU) and specifically states that the EP must give its consent prior to the conclusion of association and similar agreements (Article 218(6)(v) TFEU) and that shall be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure (Article 218(10) TFEU;
Amendment 415 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the high-level dialogues carried out by the VP/HR and the Commission, and in some cases by Member States on behalf of the EU as a whole, as good and effective practices fostering coordination; stresses that coordination should be undertaken by the Commission and the EEAS; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to keep Parliament regularly informed of these dialogues and to report on the exact operational implementation of the Rabat and Khartoum processes and the priority initiatives agreed at the Valletta Summit; notes that the packages designed for priority countries as part of the new Partnership Framework, by the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States, have neither been presented nor debated by the elected representatives of European citizens; denounces this lack of transparency and demands the involvement of the Parliament in the development of the migration compacts and the scrutiny of their implementation, which must ensure the full respect of human rights, international humanitarian law and the EU treaty commitments on development; warns that any policy that contradicts the EU core values is damaging for the EU's credibility and its capacity to influence developments internationally;
Amendment 429 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Underlines that EU cooperation assistance is tailored to achieve poverty reduction, the empowerment of individuals and the promotion of the rule of law; recalls that both donors and the governments of aid-receiving countries must work to improve the effectiveness of aid, especially by tackling root cause for migration and strengthening democratic ownership, increasing civil society participation, and improving accountability for the use and distribution of aid; underlines that development assistance should not be made conditional to the willingness and/or capacities of States to engage in migration management activities, including through return and readmission clauses or border controls;
Amendment 432 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses that in order to avoid duplication of effort, maximize the impact and effectiveness of global aid and ensure that the main focus is on development, and not on border control and security to the detriment of migrants, calls therefore on the Commission, to maintain a strong dialogue with local and international NGO, Civil society and local governments in partner countries as well as the UN for design, implementation and evaluation of the migration, displacement and refugee policies;
Amendment 433 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recalls that according to Article 208 of the TFEU, development assistance aims at reducing and eventually eradicating poverty in third countries and not at incentivising them to cooperate on readmission of irregular migrants or forcibly deterring people from moving; recalls in this sense that management of migration flows cannot be a new conditionality for EU assistance and cooperation;
Amendment 435 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Calls for a balanced discussion to take place between the EU and its external partners, recommends that the EU and its Member States commit to implementing increased legal migration opportunities to the EU, be it for seeking protection, for employment and educational purposes, or for family reunification;
Amendment 436 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Calls on the member States to overhaul their development assistance, in line with the 0.7% of GNI commitment, with a view to achieving the sustainable development goals;
Amendment 437 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15e. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to take all the necessary measures to promote faster, cheaper and safer transfer of migrant remittances in both source and recipient countries, including through a reduction of transaction costs as stipulated in the New York Declaration for refugees and Migrants of 19 September 2016;
Amendment 446 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is extremely concerned by the continuing conflict in Syria, in which violence against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law over the past five years have led to the forced displacement of half of the country; expresses its full support to Lebanon and Jordan, which continue to demonstrate extraordinary solidarity in hosting millions of refugees in spite of limited resources; is deeply concerned by the fate and the humanitarian situation of the 75 000 people trapped at the Jordanian border in the informal camp of Rukban;
Amendment 459 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Regrets the lack of consultation and transparency in the formulation of the recently signed Joint Way Forward on Migration Issues between Afghanistan and the EU mainly focused on readmissions and which contemplates unlimited returns of Afghan citizens, whether on a voluntary basis or not; is worried about the possible consequences on Afghan asylum-seekers, who in 2016 constitute the second largest national group in the EU applying for asylum; reminds that returns can only take place after due consideration of each individual case in full respect of their rights and calls on the EU and the member States to allocate the necessary resources to speed up current administrative and judicial procedures;
Amendment 463 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Strongly regrets than in the EU migration policy framework and refugee movements response, the EU and its Members States have opted for the conclusion of agreements with third countries, which avoid the parliamentary scrutiny attached to the Community method; calls on the Commission to include at least biannual evaluation mechanism of any political declaration signed with third countries in order to assess the continuation or conclusion of these agreements ; stresses the need for the inclusion of human rights safeguards in any agreements concluded in the framework of migration and refugees policies;
Amendment 467 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
Paragraph 16 e (new)
16e. Condemns the increasing criminalisation of migration at the expense of the human rights of the people concerned, and the ill-treatment and arbitrary detention of refugees in third countries; calls on the VP/HR and the EEAS to address this issue, including in the course of its human right dialogues and in justice, freedom and security subcommittees and to develop protection capabilities in third countries of transit;
Amendment 509 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Call for the trust funds to follow the same rules and regulations applying to EU traditional funding instruments in relation to transparency, equal treatment of partners and capacity to provide predictable and timely funding to partners;
Amendment 529 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Welcomes the use of common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions such as EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUNAVFOR MED, cooperation with NATO, and EU initiatives such as Europol’s Joint Operational Team (JOT) Mare to gather intelligence and fight smugglers, while underlining that global mobility should not be considered a threat but an opportunity; recommends the use of CSDP tools for early warning (forecasting), mediation and conflict resolution, while stressing the importance of starting to plan for durable solutions as early as possible in conflict situations;
Amendment 542 #
2015/2342(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the EU to carefully and systematically evaluate the impact of the actions funded on migration, displacement and refugees base on the quality delivery of humanitarian aid and development aid;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to the Bekou Trust Fund established in 2014
Amendment 2 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to the European Consensus for humanitarian aid
Amendment 11 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the Bekou Trust Fund has shown positive results in the Central African Republic;
Amendment 12 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Union and its partners in the humanitarian field must be able to ensure assistance and protection, based on needs and the respect for the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence of humanitarian action, enshrined in International Law, in particular International Humanitarian Law.
Amendment 15 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EUTF is intended to be a development tool that pools resources from different donors in order to enable a quick, flexible, transparent and collective response by the EU to the different dimensions of an emergency situation;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EUTF has been conceived in order to assist a band of countries across three African regions (the Horn of Africa; the Sahel and Lake Chad basin; North Africa) that contain some of the most fragile African countries, are affected by migration as countries of origin, transit or destination if not all three, and will draw the greatest benefit from this form of EU financial assistance; whereas the eligible countries’ African neighbours may also benefit, on a case-by-case basis, from Trust Fund projects having a regional dimension with a view to addressing regional migration flows and related cross-border challenges;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas trust funds are part of an ad hoc response – thus laying bare the scarcity of recourses within and limited flexibility of the EU's financial framework – but are vital for ensuring a rapid and comprehensive response to humanitarian crises, including long-term crises;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that financial allocation is characterised by three main phases: promise, commitment and action/payment; however, deplores the fact that, as has been the case with previous EUTFs, a multitude of promises are always followed by only a few commitments and actions; reminds the Council and Commission that effective aid is characterized by timely and predictable funding;
Amendment 31 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the EU’s financial allocation for the EUTF for Africa comes mainly from the 11th EDF; stresses that the EUTF was established because the EU budget lacks the resources and the flexibility needed to address crises such as those in question promptly and comprehensively; calls for the EU to agree a more holistic solution in the framework of next year’s revision of the 2014-2020 MFF and the revision of the Financial Instruments in 2016, with a view to increasing the effectiveness and reactivity of humanitarian and development assistance available under the EU budget;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes that further funding has been drawn from other financial instruments under the EU budget, such as the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), for EUR 125 million, the Instrument for humanitarian aid, for EUR 50 million, and the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), for EUR 200 million; calls for disbursement of this funding to be expedited;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the need for contributions by Member States and other different sources; notes that the contributions from the Member States are still too low and do not match up the contribution from the European Commission;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Strongly underlines that funds from EDF and ODA sources must be devoted exclusively to development ends; recalls that all other expenses related to security, counter-terrorism and border controls, migration management, etc have to be funded from different sources that are pooled in the Trust Fund; stresses the need for contributions by Member States and other different sources, and recalls that leveraging is one of the foremost reasons for the creation of this instrument devoted to such different and heterogeneous ends; condemns any use of ODA sources, even a small percentage, for any purposes different from development;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Strongly underlines that funds from EDF and ODA sources must be devoted exclusively to development ends; recalls that all other expenses related to security, counter-terrorism and border controls, migration management, etc have to be funded from different sources that are pooled in the Trust Fund; stresses the need for contributions by Member States and other different sources, and recalls that leveraging is one of the foremost reasons for the creation of this instrument devoted to such different and heterogeneous ends; condemnsstresses that any use of ODA sources, even a small percentage, for any purposes different from development must serve, first and foremost, the economic and social development of the host country;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Insists that national authorities must be consulted and that they must be full partners as long as there is full guarantee of efficiency and good governance in accordance with the principles of aid effectiveness;
Amendment 55 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that the EU Trust Fund for Africa should contribute to the strengthening and improving of local services (health, education, nutrition) and of governance, mainly through community-based projects, and that civil society, non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and international NGOs should play a pivotal role in addressing the root causes of migration and improving local services;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that the EU Trust Fund for Africa should contribute to the strengthening and improving of local services (health, education, nutrition) and of governance, and that local governments, civil society, non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and international NGOs should play a complementary and pivotal role in addressing the root causes of migration and improving local services;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that regional and local authorities, civil society and NGOs are natural partners for an effective development policy; stresses the need for a stronger cooperation with local authorities and NGOs in states demonstrating unsufficient guarantees of good governance and transparency; calls for respect for the principle of subsidiarity also in this field of action; stresses that NGOs and civil society should be strongly involved in the implementation phase of the EUTF;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that regional and local authorities, civil society and NGOs are natural partners for an effective development policy; calls for respect for the principle of subsidiarity also in this field of action; stresses that NGOs and civil societylocal governments, local civil society and other NGOs should be strongly involved in the programming and implementation phase of the EUTF; calls on the European Commission to clarify and formalise the consultation procedures with these stakeholders so as to ensure their effective participation in the discussions taking place at the Operational Committees; strongly advice for operational flexibility for implementing organisations;
Amendment 69 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. SRecalls the importance of a people and community centred approach to resilience and strongly believes that the Trust Fund should focus not only on macroeconomic issues but also on grassroots projects with the specific aim of improving quality and equity of services, particularly in the health sector, which is key to increasing inclusiveness and enhancing the wellbeing of local populations, as it can respond to the needs of vulnerable communities while also being able to provide better and more equitable and sustainable services to the general population;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly believes that the Trust Fund should focus not only on macroeconomic issues but also on grassroots projects with the specific aim of improving quality and equity of services, particularly in education and the health sector, which is key to increasing inclusiveness and enhancing the wellbeing of local populations, as it can respond to the needs of vulnerable communities, including minorities, while also being able to provide better and more equitable and sustainable services to the general population;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Strongly believes that the Trust Fund should focus not only on macroeconomic issues but also on grassroots projects with the specific aim of improving quality and equity of services, particularly in the health, education and vocational training sectors, which isare key to increasing inclusiveness and enhancing the wellbeing of local populations, as it can respond to the needs of vulnerable communities while also being able to provide better and more equitable and sustainable services to the general population;
Amendment 110 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls that the rules and criteria that govern development aid for projects financed by the Trust Fund must respect Europe’s fundamental values; in this respect, underlines that EU policy regarding cooperation on security, border controls and organised crime with governments that do not respect human rights or the rights of people on the move should include specific provisions aimed at enhancing respect for human rights and the rule of law, with particular attention to women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, children’s rights, and the rights of minorities and other particularly affected groups;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the need to carefully and systematically check how the funds from the EU Trust Fund for Africa are employed and what the EU is actually financing through the Trust Fund, given the extraordinary lack of clarity in its objectives, the lack of solidarity and consensus among Member States, and the clear desire to achieve security goals by means of an instrument theoretically conceived to pursue development ends; in particular, calls on the Council and the Commission to inform Parliament in detail on the specific actions undertaken by both the EU and the African states when employing these funds;
Amendment 120 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Recalls the need for a better communication between the Commission, the Member States and the European Parliament in programming and implementing actions of the Trust Fund in general for further planning of potential further Trust Funds
Amendment 121 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. underlines that the Trust Fund should function only as a complementary flexible and rapid instrument and should not undermine the long-term development cooperation of the European Union;
Amendment 123 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines that the lack of involvement of Parliament thus far in the establishment of the Trust Fund should at least give rise to detailed and regular reporting by the Commission on how the African Trust Fund is been implemented, enabling Parliament to play its role of watchdogscrutiny;
Amendment 125 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that, given the extraordinary flexibility and rapidity proper to a Trust Fund, periodical reporting to Parliament should be undertaken at least once every six months; strongly underlines the need for transparent performance monitoring, evaluation and auditing;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Believes that transparency, communication and visibility in relation to projects developed in the framework of the Trust Fund are of the utmost importance with a view to disseminating the results and involving and sensitising European private actors, local authorities, NGOs and civil society in order to create the conditions for broader involvement and facilitate participation by Member States;
Amendment 130 #
2015/2341(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines the need for a thorough monitoring of the implementation of the provisions on the creation of ‘hotspots’, redistribution, replacement in countries of origin, and Member States’ financial commitments, paying particular attention to human rights;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the importance of the Member States in increasing the effectiveness and popularity of the programme, including by taking on a greater role in defining the priorities of the programme and maximising the potential of the national contact points (NCP) by making it possible for them to work and exchange experience with entities responsible for similar projects – Erasmus and Creative Europe, for example; calls in addition for greater involvement of the European Parliament, for example in the form of an annual public assessment of programme monitoring within the Culture Committee;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2329(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
(1) Takes the view that the programme should also serve to publicize those channels of direct participation that already exist in the European Union such as: the European Citizens' Initiative, citizens’ forums, public consultations, etc. so as to raise public awareness of the possibilities of direct participation within the EU institutional framework.
Amendment 1 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that migration is a human right enshrined in Article 13 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights; urges the Commission and, the EU Member States and the international community to respect this article and all otherthe relevant international obligations concerning refugees and migrants, and to recognise the contribution that refugees and migrants make to our societies; considers that forced migration has root causes (notably economic, political and social reasons) that must be tackled; underlines the need for urgent action to address all human rights violations faced by migrants, which are most acute in situations of pressure due to security challenges and natural disasters; stresses that the EU and its Member States must lead by example in the promotion and the protection of the human rights of migrants, notably within its own borders, in order to be credible when discussing migration and human rights in third countries;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the integration of migration into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely in SDG 10, which sets the framework for global development policy until 2030; recalls that the States committed to cooperate internationally to ‘ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants regardless of migration status, of refugees and of displaced persons’; notes that forced displacement is not only a humanitarian issue but also a development challenge, therefore there should be a better coordination between humanitarian and developmental actors; considers that the implementation of the SDGs is an opportunity to reinforce a rights-based approach in the asylum and migration policies and to mainstream migration into development strategies; calls on the international community to adopt measurable indicators of the SDGs on migration, as well as to collect and publish disaggregated data on migrants access to decent work, healthcare and education, especially in developing destination countries, in order to improve migration governance;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 16 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the EU and its Member States to assume their responsibilities with respect to forced migration and human rights viRecognises the complexity of the ‘development-migration nexus’, without denying that development can help mitigate forced migration by increasing development cooperation, improving capacity-building, supporting conflict resolautions and promoting third countries, and to address the root causes both of human rights violations in third countries and of forced migration from third countries to Europee respect of human rights; considers that development aid should address effectively the root causes of migration, either economic, political, social or environmental; stresses that development assistance programmes should not be used for purely migration and border management purposes; notes that EU development policy main objective should be the eradication of poverty;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the EU and Member States to ensure efficient and effective Policy Coherence for Development, and to prioritise respect for human rights in their migration policy in respect of third countries;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises the positive contribution of refugees and migrants to our societies, benefiting destination countries, transit countries, countries of origin - amongst which developing countries; calls on the EU and the international community to identify specific actions that governments can take to amplify the potential of legal migration as a development enabler; stresses that political leadership and strong advocacy are required, especially in destination countries, to combat xenophobia and to facilitate the social integration of migrants;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that the majority of the world’s refugees and migrants are being hosted by developing countries; recognises the efforts carried out by third countries in the reception of migrants and refugees; stresses that the support systems of these countries face critical challenges which may cause severe threats to the protection of a growing displaced population; calls on the EU to pursue policy coherence and to use various policy instruments in its relations with developing countries in order to promote human rights and the rights of migrants, especially of women and children who are particularly vulnerable to violence, trafficking and abuse; in this regard, calls on the EU and its Member States to systematically incorporate migration issues as a component of development programmes and in the political dialogue with third countries, as well as to provide technical assistance to improve national and local-level migrant integration policies, always ensuring the proper involvement of NGOs and civil society;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Urges the EU to integrate the migration dimension in the post-Cotonou framework which will define the future relations between the EU and ACP countries; notes that a greater involvement of third countries in the design and negotiation of GAMM instruments would enhance the ‘partnership’ nature of these instruments, improving their local ownership and their efficiency;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Asks the Commission to enhance the transparency and flexibility of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and calls on EU Member States to contribute, at least at the same level as the Commission, to this Fund; underlines that it is essential to make sure, through proper monitoring and evaluation of the programmes, that the Trust Fund serves its purpose, namely helping those in need, fighting bad governance, corruption and promoting the rule of law in African countries;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Urges EU development projects aimed at migrants and asylum seekers to implement the ‘leave no-one behind’ principle, by focusing on access to basic social services, notably health and education, and by paying a special attention to vulnerable persons and groups, such as women, children, minorities and indigenous people, LGBT persons and persons with disabilities;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 32 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 37 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 38 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 40 #
2015/2316(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the cancellation of the exInsists that sustainable debt solutions, including standards for responsible lending and borrowing, must be facilitated through a multilaternal debt of impoverished countries, as such debt makes it impossible for their governments to develop public policies that guarantee respect for human rights. legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes, with a view to alleviating the debt burden and avoiding unsustainable debt in order to create the conditions for the protection of human rights in the long term;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the package of better regulation measures adopted on 19 May 2015; believes however that material criteria for establishing the existence of a violation of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles should be proposed with the aim of ensuring that EU legislation better serves the interests of citizens, and welcomes the agreement reached in December 2015 between the Commission, Council and Parliament on the new Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Regulation;
Amendment 16 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets the significant decrease in the number of reasoned opinions received from national parliaments in 2014; takes note of the Commission’s view that, far from reflecting a decrease in interest on their part, this might be the result of the declining number of legislative proposals from the Commission; nevertheless encourages national parliaments to play a more active part in the European debate and to cooperate even more closely with each other;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes, nevertheless, that it is important to raise the awareness of national parliaments on subsidiarity issues and to support them with tools permitting information exchange; stresses that, especially since the volume of reasoned opinions received from national parliaments in 2014 remained unchanged in proportion to the number of Commission proposals, a mechanism should be developed for the improved participation of national parliaments in the EU legislative process;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the period of eight weeks given to national parliaments to issue a reasoned opinion under Article 6 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality should be extended significantlyapplied flexibly in order to foster more active participation by national parliaments in the European debate; notes that consideration will need to be given to extending the current deadline for national parliaments before the next modification of the Treaties;
Amendment 54 #
2015/2283(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the Commission should provide an adequate response to the request by a number of national chambers for a stronger subsidiarity control procedure; supports the request made by some national chambers to play a more crucial role, by proposing that the Commission should be bound to withdraw or amend its proposal when a yellow card is triggered; believes, at the same time, that the idea of a ‘green card’ should be considered as one means ofall institutions involved in the legislative process should redouble their efforts to guarantee control of the subsidiarity principle; takes the view, finally, that it would be useful to know the Commission’s opinion on the idea of a ‘green card’ aimed at raising the participation and activity of national parliaments in the EU legislative process.
Amendment 31 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas improvements in nutrition gaps in Africa are central to the sustainable development agenda; whereas poor nutrition derives from a host of interacting processes that link health care, education, sanitation and hygiene, access to resources, women's empowerment and more;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that several CCFs focus on the development of special economic areas with the goal of maximising investments through initiatives ranging from road or energy infrastructure to tax, customs or land tenure regimes; stresses the need also to improve and ensure focus on access to water , scaling up Nutrition-Education and sharing best practice strategies;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Observes that agricultural investment policies tend to encourage large-scale land acquisitions and focus on export-oriented agriculture that is usually unrelated to local economies; accordingly, questions the ability of mega-PPPs to contribute to poverty reduction and food security; recalls that the FAO Tenure Guidelines recommend to secure access to land to allow families to produce food for household consumption and to increase household income; stresses the need to base large-scale land based investment in Africa on these guidelines, ensuring smallholder and local communities' access to land, promoting local SME investment and ensuring that PPPs contribute to food security and to reducing poverty and inequality;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the EU Member States to strive to transform NAFSN into a genuine tool for sustainable development and into an instrument of support for family farming and local economies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), recalling that family farmers and smallholders produce about 80 % of the world’s food and provide over 60 % of employment in SSA;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the inclusion in all CCFs of the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT); calls for the effective implementation and systematic assessment of compliance with the VGGT and with the SDG framework within the review process for the CCFs;
Amendment 69 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on African countries to recognise all legitimate rights to land, including customary tenure rights; and as recommended by the VGGT , calls to promote new laws and/or effectively enforce existing laws that put effective safeguards to large-scale land transactions, such as ceilings on permissible land transactions and ensure regulating how transfers exceeding a certain scale should be approved by national parliaments;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Supports a robust and innovative monitoring mechanism within the CFS; calls on the EU to build a strong position, in consultation with Civil Society organizations, in order to contribute to the global monitoring event during the 43rd CFS session in October 2016, in order to ensure a comprehensive and thorough assessment of the use and application of the Tenure Guidelines;
Amendment 79 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls the need to make all efforts to achieve improved nutrition, food security and to combat hunger as embedded in the SDG 2; insists on better support for empowering farmers' cooperatives which are key for agriculture development and food security;
Amendment 82 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges African governments to invest in local food systems in order to boost rural economies and, ensure decent jobs, equitable social safety nets and labour rights, as well as guarantee local people’'s rights of access to and control over resources;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Urges the G8 member states not to support GMO crops in Africa; that have not been endorsed by an international organisation or by the health authorities in every African state;
Amendment 114 #
2015/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the EU to withdraw its support to NAFSN as long as theseek and ensure that all NAFSN deficiencies outlined above are not duly addressed;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2275(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that emphasis should be on political, humanitarian and development policy efforts should be used initially, supported by civilian peacekeeping operations, and should be transformed intothat they should be complemented by military operations only when necessary; demands that military peacekeeping should be supported by humanitarian and development policy both during operations,part of a wider comprehensive approach, considering the security-development nexus to aid peaceful resolution of the conflict, and afterwards, so as to make the settlement sustainable; stresses that humanitarian needs should be met by independent, impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance, on the basis of thorough needs assessment.
Amendment 6 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 1
Indent 1 – paragraph 1
1. Expresses the view that the Member States of the European Union should set an example by genuinely fulfilling their obligations and move towards a shared culture of the meaning of the rule of law in the 28 Member States to be applied by all concerned even-handedly;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Indent 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that recent events in some Member States have shown that the failure to observe the rule of law and fundamental values is not being properly prevented, given the resulting problems among Member States and the fact that there is no swift, effective response coming from the European institutions;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Indent 1 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points to the importance of continuing to promote and strengthen the protection and full development of core Union values and the requirements of democracy and compliance with the rule of law in accordance with the Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 2
Indent 1 – paragraph 2
2. Considers that the procedure under Article 7 TEU is virtually unusablewill hardly be used to its full potential, due to the unanimity requirement in the European Council; notes that the Union has no legally binding mechanism in place to monitor regularly the compliance of the Member States and EU institutions with the EU's fundamental values;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
3. Takes notStresses the importance of the rule of law Framework established by the Commission in 20141 and of the creation of an annual dialogue on the rule of law in the General Affairs Council as established in December 2014; and looks to the formulation of common ground as between these different rule of law mechanisms; , in order to make sure they are effective in ensuring compliance with fundamental rights and democratic values in the entire Union; __________________ 1 Communication of the Commission of 11 March 2014 on "A new EU Framework to strengthen the Rule of Law" (COM(2014)0158).
Amendment 27 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
Indent 1 – paragraph 3
3. Takes note of the rule of law Framework established by the Commission in 20141 and of the creation of an annual dialogue on the rule of law in the General Affairs Council as established in December 2014; and looks to the formulation of common ground as between these different rule of law mechanisms and calls on the Commission and Council to make full and regular progress reports to Parliament; __________________ 1 Communication of the Commission of 11 March 2014 on “A new EU Framework to strengthen the Rule of Law” (COM(2014)0158).
Amendment 30 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 1 – paragraph 4
Indent 1 – paragraph 4
Amendment 47 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Indent 2 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the European Parliament under Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure has developed a scrutiny over third States in the case of breach of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; considers that on the basis of Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU and Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure, the European Parliament should take motions for resolutions on the respect for the rule of law, democratic values and the state of fundamental rights within the European Union and its Member States;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 6
Indent 2 – paragraph 6
6. Recommends the establishment on an EU mechanism for Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights which would include all relevant stakeholders; considers that this would, however,, provided such mechanism does not jeopardize or rival with but rather complements and paves the way for the procedure under Article 7 TEU, it may not require a Treaty change;
Amendment 55 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Indent 2 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that if the EU lays down requirements in its international agreements to protect and promote human rights, then it must likewise ensure that the institutions and all Member States comply with the rule of law and respect fundamental rights;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 8
Indent 2 – paragraph 8
8. Recommends the conclusion of a pact between all EU institutions and national parliaments in order to establish an annual 'fundamental rights policy cycle' as part of a multi-annual structured dialogue among all stakeholders; in this context, suggests that the European Parliament holds a yearly debate on the respect for democracy, the rule of law and the state of fundamental rights within the European Union; believes that this debate should be organized in such a way that it can involve setting benchmarks and goals to achieve and providing the means to evaluate changes from one year to another;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 9
Indent 2 – paragraph 9
9. Recommends the organisation of an annual pan-EU parliamentary debate on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights as part of a multi- annual structured dialogue between the European Parliament and the national parliaments, on the one hand, and the Commission and the Council, on the other, and also involving civil society, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the Council of Europe;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 10
Indent 2 – paragraph 10
Amendment 80 #
2015/2254(INL)
Draft opinion
Indent 2 – paragraph 10 a (new)
Indent 2 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers it essential, for the purpose of following up the above parliamentary debate, to provide for the option of tabling an annual resolution in plenary;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that climate change poses a major threat to poor and least developed countries (LDCs); stresses that failure to limit global warming to 2°C may undermine development gains; calls on the EU to lead the fight against climate change by forcing concrete global measures to deliver this target;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that climate change poses a major threat to poor and least developed countries (LDCs); stresses that failure to limit global warming to 2°C may undermine development gains; and acknowledges that whereas the Paris agreement aims to put the world on a course for not more than a 2°C warming scenario; a 2°C warming scenario will still bring significant loss and damage to environment and communities and more than this will bring catastrophic effects;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises that the impacts of Climate changes will guide the Global actions to eradicate poverty and end displacement and conflicts; urges for a stronger Policy Coherence for human and sustainable development in order to implement the t international summits conclusions of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Financing for development Conference, UN SDGs, the COP 21 and the first World Summit for Humanitarian action;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Supports a global mitigation and adaptation finance goal, based on national regional adaptation plans, to help to close the efficiency gap and to ensure an strategy for Disaster Risk reduction as stated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk reduction;
Amendment 50 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Expects the European Commission to assume a pro-active role in negotiations; calls on it to make it clear that the climate challenge is the top strategic priority to this Commission and to organise itself in a way which reflects this, at all levels and across all policy areas.
Amendment 52 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Calls for a commitment for an allocation of climate finance towards supporting development goals that are at risk of being undermined by climate change, with particular reference to the food security objectives as laid out in the Millennium Development Goals and reiterated in the Post 2015 development Agenda.
Amendment 54 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Calls on the EU and its Member States to clearly define the role of private finance in the context of additional leverage of funding, while recognising that this cannot replace the need for public finance, in particular for adaptation, to emphasise the need for transparent reporting and accountability of such finance and to ensure the implementation of relevant social and environmental safeguards;
Amendment 55 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Calls on the EU to help settle ongoing discussions around additionality of climate finance to development aid and to stop the diversion of existing aid to climate finance by providing guarantees to developing countries that climate finance that qualifies as ODA will be part of an overall ODA budget that is rising at least at the same rate. Calls for a robust monitoring and accountability framework for effective follow-up of the implementation of climate finance commitments and objectives to help provide clarity on these issues;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 g (new)
Paragraph 7 g (new)
7g. Stresses the importance of the role that the Development Community, OECD and OECD DAC should play in working closely with stakeholders and relevant organisation to assess and mitigate the worst human impacts of climate change, which are expected to be challenging even below a 2°C warming level.
Amendment 57 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 h (new)
Paragraph 7 h (new)
7h. Recalls the principle of EU Policy Coherence in this, the European Year for Development, which seeks to take account of development objectives in all policies that are likely to affect developing countries and therefore calls on negotiators to aim with their COP strategy to minimise contradictions and ensure synergy between the EU negotiating position and different EU policies to benefit developing countries and increase the effectiveness of development cooperation.
Amendment 58 #
2015/2112(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 i (new)
Paragraph 7 i (new)
7i. Highlights the importance of policy scrutiny to ensure that policies aimed at mitigating climate change do not inadvertently undermine communities rights to land, water and food; such as in the case of biofuels.
Amendment 4 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that organised crime has a transnational dimension and encompasses a various range of criminal activities including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, money-laundering, trafficking in counterfeit goods, firearms, wildlife and cultural property; highlights the need for a joint action based on accessible information and increased cooperation between the police and the judicial authorities of various Member States and developing countries, which should be assisted by ad hoc joint coordination bodies;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the costs of corruption cannot only be calculated in economic terms, and that these costs are very high, especially in developing countries, which undermines public trust in public authorities and democratic institutions, increases inequalities that disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable, and reduces the effectiveness of development aid;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls that illicit financial flows, estimated at $1 trillion a year, are major obstacles to the mobilisation of domestic revenue for development, and drain resources that should be invested in developing countries;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Recalls that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises the need to fight corruption in all its forms, calling on States to reduce illicit financial flows, bribery and corruption and to build effective, accountable and transparent institutions;
Amendment 11 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Calls on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy for corruption risk management in developing countries and to implement fully the anti-fraud strategy issued in 2013, especially when implementing EU aid in all its modalities, including the EDF and trust funds, and when delegating development projects to third parties;
Amendment 12 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Calls on the EU to support the establishment of strong national systems and institutions to address corruption in developing countries, including central and local government systems, tax authorities, law enforcement agencies, but also NGOs, media and parliaments; stresses that budget support to developing countries should be accompanied by a clear strategy to minimise corruption risks;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that whistleblowing is an essential anti-corruption tool, and that a proper system to protect whistleblowers should be established both inside and outside the EU; stresses in particular a direct reporting mechanisms is needed for citizens in EU aid recipient countries who bring attention to irregularities in EU- funded aid programmes;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that open trade ismust be an engine for growth, development and wealth creation and sustainable development; recalls that the countries most integrated into the world economy are also among the richest;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the importance of the potential contribution of trade policy to sustainable development was recently reaffirmed in the Addis Ababa outcome document and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; recalls that the Sustainable Development Goals include several trade-related targets across a number of policy areas;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes that the communication "Trade for All" reaffirms the principle of policy coherence for development and aims at 'a more responsible' trade and investment policy, namely by contributing to the SDGs and the inclusive growth in developing countries; welcomes also the commitment to undertake in-depth analysis of the potential effects of new FTAs on LDCs; urges the Commission to put its words into action and to make all EU trade-related instruments consistent with the SDGs;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the advances made at the World Trade Organisation’'s Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, in particular in the area of agriculture (e.g. the elimination of trade-distorting agriculture export subsidies, and progress on market access for the least developed countries (LDCs)); calls on the Commission to support developing and LDCs in the implementation of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation and welcomes, in this regard, EU's initiative of targeting EUR 400 million in funding over five years for supporting trade facilitation reforms and projects such as improving the customs systems of developing and LDCs;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to enforce supply chain due diligence; calls on the Commission to support developing countries to increase their domestic value added in order to upgrade along the global value chains;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the crucial role of Aid for Trade (AfT) in trade-related capacity-building, technical assistance, business support policies for SMEs and regional integration; notes, however, that without serious efforts by the countries directly concerned and significant improvements in governance, trade cannot – in isolation – help countries to overcome development constraints; calls the EU and its Member States to commit to increase Aid for Trade (AfT) support for developing countries, LDCs, while addressing fair and ethical trade in the upcoming revision of its Aid for Trade strategy, as announced in the communication "Trade for All";
Amendment 44 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) arcan be a key development instrument for helping to alleviate poverty in the long run; stresses, however, that their scope is still mainly limited to goods, and that expanding them to services and investment would considerably increase potential for growth and promote human rights; calls on the EU to establish specific monitoring structure in the EPAs dedicated to sustainable development and that ensure the proper involvement of civil society organisations and trade unions as well as to include stronger human rights clauses with coherent means of implementation;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Regrets that the communication "Trade for All" does not make any reference to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in 2020; calls on the EU to engage in a broad consultation and dialogue process, including with our ACP countries, about the post-Cotonou framework;
Amendment 52 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission to include strong and comprehensive sustainable development chapters, which are effectively implemented and enforced, in EU's trade and investment agreements; calls in particular for provisions that ensure human rights, labour rights, environmental and social protection as well as gender equality;
Amendment 54 #
2015/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls on the Commission to improve policy coherence for development in trade policy in particular as it relates to public health; asks the Commission to support developing countries in making effective use of the flexibilities built into the TRIPS Agreement and recognised by the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health adopted on 14 November 2001, in order to be able to provide essential medicines at affordable prices under their domestic public health programmes; calls on the Commission to provide full transparency of the content of its intellectual property related assistance programmes for low and middle income countries and ensure that parallel assistance on intellectual property does not undermine other health-related development projects;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the complexity of the development-migration nexus, diverging from the common view of development as a means to reduce, if not eliminate, migration, without denying that development can help mitigate some of thesignificantly contribute to address the root causes of forced migration, such as conflicts or state fragilityresponding to political and economic instability, human rights violations, conflicts, global inequalities, poverty, unemployment and climate change; recalls that emigration rises with economic development until countries reach an upper-middle-income country status (around USD 7000-8000 per capita), at which point it begins to decrease;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Takes note of the creation of an ‘Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of illegal immigration in Africa’ and strongly encourages the Member States to contribute to the Fund in order to effectively help to foster stability and to address the root causes of migration; asks the Commission to enhance the transparency of the Fund and underlines that monitoring and evaluation of the projects and programmes financed will be essential, to make sure the Fund serve its purposes helping directly those in need and not financing governments responsible for human rights violations;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the EU to fully respect the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) in its migration and Mediterranean policies, and in particular in the implementation of its European Agenda on Migration; underlines the need for a more systematic incorporation of the development dimension in migration policies;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Draws attention to the humanitarian emergencies in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Yemen and Ukraine, and to the situations in the countries worst affected by natural disasters, such as Haiti and Nepal, and by the Ebola virus; underlines that the extraordinary scale of the current global humanitarian needs must be reflected in the funding for the Directorate- General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO);
Amendment 9 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need to pay greater attention to the issue of development and clarify the sources of funding in the new action plan to combat irregular migration; calls for sufficient funding to be provided for action to address the root causes of irregular migration, and stresses that the immediate response must focus on providing humanitarian assistance and making sure that development policies are consistent;
Amendment 12 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the importance of maintaining commitment and payment appropriations in the humanitarian aid chapter at least on the same level as commitment appropriations, so as to avoid a return to the situation in recent years where a severe and constant lack of funds for payments complicated urgent interventions and led to the accumulation of unpaid bills, with negative effects also on implementing partners; points to the need for equal appropriations also in the Emergency Aid Reserve.
Amendment 13 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that re-establishing the rule of law and promoting human development in failed states is a much longer and more costly process, and therefore insists that special attention should be paid to the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa and Central America in the 2016 budget.
Amendment 7 #
2015/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that the economic and financial crisis which began in 2008 has highlighted the lack of economic governance in the world and the need to establish supranational bodies with the ability to intervene and operating rules for greater coordination of national economic policy decisions;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that Parliament should be duly informed of the Union’s activities within existing economic and financial institutions with the aim of ensuring accountability and strengthening democratic legitimacy;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers it necessary to create strong information and transparency mechanisms with the national parliaments in relation to EU activities in existing economic and financial institutions;
Amendment 52 #
2015/2060(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Considers it advisable for the EU to defend, in all international economic fora, the coordination and strengthening of world economic governance, the European Social Model, tax cooperation and a culture of business sustainability;
Amendment 84 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that effective mobilisation of domestic resources and a strengthening of tax systems will be an indispensable factor in achieving the post-2015 framework that will replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which represents a viable strategy to overcome foreign aid dependency in the long term, and that efficient and fair tax systems are crucial for poverty reduction, fighting inequalities, good governance and state- building;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that tax avoidance and tax evasion represent a considerable financial loss for developing countries, and that taking appropriate measures at national, European and international level against these practices should be a top priority for the EU, taking into account the needs and constraints that developing countries face in gaining access to their tax revenues; considers that the EU should be taking a leading role in driving international efforts to combat tax havens, tax fraud and evasion, leading by example; and that it should cooperate with developing countries in counteracting aggressive tax avoidance practices by certain transnational companies, as well as in seeking ways to help them withstand pressures to engage in tax competition;
Amendment 108 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges that information on beneficial ownership of companies, trusts and other institutions be made publicly available in open-data formats, in order to prevent anonymous shell companies and similar legal structures from being used to launder money, finance illegal activities or terrorist activities, conceal the identity of corrupt and criminal individuals, hide the theft of public funds and profits from illegal traffic and illegal tax evasion;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the adoption of an Automatic Exchange of Information mechanism, a fundamental tool for enhancing global transparency and cooperation in the fight against tax avoidance and tax evasion; acknowledges, however, that support and time is needed for developing countries to build the required capacity to send and process information; therefore stresses the importance of ensuring that the new OECD Global Standard on Automatic Exchange of Information include a transition period for developing countries, recognising that by making this standard reciprocal, those countries that do not have the resources and capacity to set up the necessary infrastructure to collect, manage and share the required information might effectively be excluded; moreover, considers that a single standard on confidentiality should be envisaged;
Amendment 142 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. UStrongly supports the range of existing international initiatives to reform the global system, with a focus on the increased participation of developing countries in the structures and procedures of international tax cooperation; urges the EU and the Member States to ensure that the UN taxation committee is transformed into a genuine intergovernmental body equipped with additional resources, ensuring that developing countries can participate equally in the global reform of existing international tax rules;
Amendment 149 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission , the Council and our partner governments to ensure that tax incentives do not constitute additional options for tax avoidance; underlines that incentives should be made more transparent and ideally geared towards promoting investment in sustainable development;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2058(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the EIB to ensure that companies that receive EIB support do not participate in tax evasion and avoidance via offshore centres and tax havens, and to increase its transparency policy by, for example, making publicly available all of its reports and investigations;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989 and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict of 25 May 2000; and the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict (updated 2008);
Amendment 3 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas urbanization, population growth, demographic changes, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and resource scarcity are adding to the consequences of poverty, inequality and fragility; whereas as consequently the need for humanitarian response throughout the globe has significantly increased;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas all parties in a conflict, including state and non-state armed parties, must grant humanitarian actors the necessary access to serveassist vulnerable, conflict- affected civilian populations;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the consolidated humanitarian appeal for 2015 reached a record high in UN history at close to EUR 19 billion; whereas, despite record contributions by donors, only a quarter of the global appeal was funded, and the EU has struggled to fund global humanitarian appeals and DG ECHO supported operations; therefore reinforcing the need for globally coordinated, timely, predictable and flexible funding tailored to different contexts and sustained by a new public- private partnership for innovative preparedness and by delivery methods; whereas the EU has struggled to fund global humanitarian appeals and ECHO operations;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas there is a need to develop greater trust and further cooperation between private sector actors , NGOs, international organizations and Governments; whereas business resources, expertise, supply chains , research and development capabilities, and logistics can serve for more effective preparedness and humanitarian action;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the EU humanitarian aid chapter, EUR 909 million in 2015, represents less than 1% of the total EU budget; whereas an improved linkage between relief and long-term assistance constitutes one element in order to reduce the current discrepancy between the extraordinary humanitarian needs and means available;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
Hc. whereas NGOs and international organizations such as the Red Cross and UN agencies are currently the main implementers of humanitarian support, providing life-saving assistance and protection to some 120 million people per year;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Recital H d (new)
Hd. whereas humanitarian aid must remain based on the needs as assessed by humanitarian actors and donors should abstain from using aid as a crisis management tool;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H e (new)
Recital H e (new)
He. whereas prevention and domestic response and capacities play an important role in best meeting needs and reducing the need for international aid; whereas in 2015, of total international humanitarian assistance, only 0.2% went directly to local and national NGOs of affected states; whereas there is an increasing demand to ensure accountability to crisis- affected people and communities;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the humanitarian response and the tools used should rely on jointly assessed needs and should depend on varying contexts; whereas significantit is essential that all efforts should bare made to ensure that respect for human rights and the specific needs of women, children, the elderly, persons withe disabledilities and other vulnerable groups are integrated into humanitarian response efforts;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to be held in Istanbul from 23 to 24 May 2016 should result in reshaping the humanitarian architecture to make it more inclusive, effective, transparent and truly global, in order to respond to anticipated increases in humanitarian needs linked to current and future challenges, such as food security, population growth, climate change, fragility, aid workers’' safety, forced displacement and socioeconomic development;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the WHS will follow a number of intergovernmental negotiations on disaster risk reduction, financing for development, the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and climate change that will shape the development and humanitarian landscapes for years to come, and will thus be a unique and critical opportunity to align objectives, principles and actions, and for the world to address the needs, and build the resilience, of the most vulnerable in a more coherent manner;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the UN Secretary-General’'s decision to call for the first multi- stakeholder World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) and the willingness of Turkey to host it.; calls on the EU Member States to support the WHS and to reach firm Council conclusions with specific commitments and priority areas for action, while pursuing operational efficiency, common quality standards, better coordination and partnerships with emerging donors, based on politically non- biased aid as well as on a common understanding and appliance of humanitarian principles and respect for obligations under international humanitarian law;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s decision to call for the first multi- stakeholder World Humanitarian Summit (WHS); calls on the EU Member States to support the WHS and to reach firm Council conclusions, while pursuing operational efficiency, common quality standards, better coordination and partnerships with emerging donors, based on politically non- biased aid as well as on a common understanding and appliance of humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and respect for obligations under international humanitarian law;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that today’'s enormous humanitarian challenges require a more inclusive, diverse and truly global humanitarian system to be built at the WHS; calls on the EU to promote a Global Consensus on Humanitarian Action that reaffirms the principles of humanitarian aid and promotesthe obligations and entitlements under International Humanitarian law ( IHL), while ensuring people-centred protection responses, and also holds governments accountable for their roles and responsibilities in protecting people;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, in order to be meaningful, the WHS outcome document should include a five-year roadmap for the development and operationalisation of the political commitments undertaken, including an intergovernmental monitoring and accountability framework with full participation of other stakeholders;
Amendment 50 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the WHS to commit to a systematic results based and participatory approach by establishing specific indicators and work methodology, to be reinforced and shared by donors and implementing agencies, for affected people to take part in the whole cycle of humanitarian action; and to work towards the institutionalisation, better monitoring and evaluation of the UN Accountability to Affected Populations framework;
Amendment 51 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines that the WHS is also an opportunity for all stakeholders to reflect on the vital need for UN reform towards an inclusive, transparent and effective coordination system, with a more inclusive and operative IASC, better engagement with partners to enhance complementarity and the full operationalization of the Transformative Agenda, and to strengthen the multilateral humanitarian architecture for all crisis by establishing a reliable system of needs assessments serving as a basis for joint appeals, ensuring comprehensive financial tracking, a system of cost comparison between agencies and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism;
Amendment 52 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Insists that without comprehensive and substantial means such a Global action will not be successful; underlines that addressing new and chronic disasters and vulnerabilities requires long term predictable investments and compliance with the new sustainable development agenda, mainly by promoting joint risk assessment, planning and financing between humanitarian, development, peacebuilding and climate change actors; recalls the longstanding international commitment to raise development and humanitarian aid to 0.7% of GDP;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the EU to place protection at the heart of humanitarian action within a needs based response by creating a compliance system and by mainstreaming it into programming; stresses the need for the institutionalisation of the role of protection officers and for the development of strategic and integrated approaches with sufficient funds for protection activities also in the first phase of emergencies; urges the EU to commit more strongly to a human rights-based approach in humanitarian action to ensure that bothdignity and the needs and rights of specific vulnerable groups are respected;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the EU to promote at the WHS a comprehensive agreement on practical ways to reinforce the respect and compliance of the IHL, Human Rights Law( IHRL) and the Refugee Law, such as dissemination of the rules of IHL among the regional and national administrations, security forces, local authorities and community leaders; and to support the International Criminal Court role to end impunity for violation of IHL and IHRL;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the need to expand the Refugee Convention and the Kampala Convention to protect and assist displaced people around the world as well as the population affected by other forms of violence, such as human trafficking since they may have a well-founded fear of persecution or be at risk of serious harm;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses the need of a fundamental shift in support of refugees and host countries and communities; supports the Synthesis report for the Global Consultation which calls the Summit to examine comprehensive "refugee hosting deal" by recognizing host countries' contributions; arranging longer-term, predictable and sustainable financial packages to assist them; giving refugees Self-reliance through access to livelihood opportunities; and creating More equitable arrangements for their resettlement in third countries;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the EU and its Member States to work towards a global shared understanding and operationalization of humanitarian principles in preparation for the WHS, with the promotion of aand to jointly develop a wide participatory code of conduct among current and new donors in order to share best practices, facilitate access to people in need and to enhance existing commitments for good donor practices such as the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles;
Amendment 72 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EU to advocate the inclusion of transparency and accountability as guiding principles in the WHS declaration, by using specific markers and disaggregated data (i.e.: gender, age, children specific) as the basis for programme design and evaluation and by promoting an international humanitarian aid transparency standard initiative with the aim of ensuring a global accountability results framework for measuring progress;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the need to include child protection as an integral part of humanitarian response in order to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children; emphasizes that children are the main derivers of change, therefore the importance of creating child-friendly spaces as part of the humanitarian response;
Amendment 74 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Highlights the central role that women play in conflict and post-conflict situations since they are the first responders in crises, holding their families and communities together; Calls on Donors and Governments to mainstream gender equality in humanitarian programming and to support the empowerment of women and girls;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Urges for a global commitment to ensure that women and girls are safe from the start of every emergency or crisis by addressing the increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian situations and their physical and psychological consequences, by assuring the prosecution of their perpetrators and by ensuring victim´s health rights, as an essential contribution to the peace and state-building process in conflict-affected area;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on governments to live up to their primary responsibilities to protect and assist civilians and to put in place legal and policy frameworks to facilitate humanitarian access in accordance with IHL and aid delivery in order to ensure that professional and quality assistance reaches those who need it, even in remote areas; suggests that these frameworks include humanitarian tax exemptions, cuts of transaction cost of the remittances flows and simplified customs procedures;
Amendment 84 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the need for a continued dialogue on the complementary roles and mandates of the different humanitarian actors; underlines that better coordination is key for an efficient, effective and appropriate humanitarian response; Stresses the need for better analysis on local operational capacities and for better needs assessments and accountability of the humanitarian action;
Amendment 90 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that global action is needed to address the funding gap; calls for the establishment of a global fund for humanitarian assistance that(GFHA) that supports the participation and inclusion of non-DAC donors and brings together all existing international financial mechanisms, domestic resources and pooled funds (UN emergency response funds, CERF funds, trust funds, etc.), and that is complemented by voluntary and compulsory financial payments by governments, the private sector and regional organisations; suggests that the mandatory payments could be used to fill gaps in humanitarian pledges for Level 3 crisemergencies, support preparedness, provide social protection resilience package for long-term refugees or to cope with unforeseen emergencies, such as Ebola, among others;
Amendment 91 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that to better preserve and guarantee life and dignity of the affected population local NGOs must have access to direct financing; Urges EU Member States and Donors to substantially increase direct funding for local humanitarian actors that have the capacity, expertise and capabilities to act in the field while ensuring accountability;
Amendment 92 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls for EU Member States and other donors to strengthen and develop national legal frameworks for humanitarian action and disaster risk reductions with specific means for implementation;
Amendment 93 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Underlines the needs for the international financial institutions to fully engage and remodel their soft lending window focus, mainly by redefining their concessional fund eligibility criteria, , to enable a more flexible institutional response to fragile situations and to reflect more closely on national capacity to raise domestic resource;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Urges Governments, Donors and their enabling environments to simplify administrative requirements for implementing partners by streamlining procedures and mapping administrative, contracting and reporting best practices while ensuring accountability; and to support initiatives that are designed to continuously help to strengthen the capacity and monitoring of local actors and to reinforce national coordination structures;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 e (new)
Paragraph 13 e (new)
13e. Calls for the WHS to stablish a new deal for engagement with fragile states and protracted crisis with sustainable programmes, implementation plans and predictable financing for development; underlines that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda emphasizes the need for investments in social protection systems and safety nets to more rapidly and effectively scale up the response in fragile contexts;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises the need to adapt the humanitarian response system to local, national and regional requirements, and the need to empower and engage regularly affected populations, and women and children in particular, by building on their capacitieof all ages , children and persons with disabilities in particular, by ensuring their participation in programming and building on their capacities as well as by being accountable to them and on their needs and rights;
Amendment 104 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need for a new global model forof complementarity between humanitarian/ and development actor´ cooperation starting with joint analysis and programming, the inclusion firstly of entry strategies for development actors in order to build bridges in the field, secondly of crisis modifiers in development programmes and thirdly of exit strategies in humanitarian responses that allow a more flexible approach; including accountable and flexible multiannual funding mechanism to respond to protracted crisis;
Amendment 105 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the European Commission to present an initiative to link more systematically humanitarian aid, development cooperation and resilience so as to enable the EU to be more flexible and effective in responding to growing needs, and to also promote a reflection for a better link a the WHS ; Calls on the EU to take advantage at the mid-term review of the current Multiannual Financial Framework to further enhance humanitarian/development linkages;
Amendment 106 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses the importance of disaster risk reduction for resilience in four priority areas: 1) understanding disaster risks, 2) strengthening risk governance to manage disaster risk, 3) investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, contingency plans and early warning systems, and 4) enhance disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "build back better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction;
Amendment 107 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Underlines that disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience should be incorporated systematically in the response planes to be provided by local, regional and national actors, supported by sufficient financing and increase innovation on forecasting and risk modelling;
Amendment 108 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Emphasises that more work is needed to improve the access, safety and training of humanitarian workers; Calls on donors, host governments and implementing actors to fulfil their responsibilities to better facilitate professional, safe, coordinated and appropriate humanitarian access and response; supports the systematic inclusion of specific clauses strengthening accountability for the protection of humanitarian workers into the humanitarian legislation and plans of donors for all countries as well as a firm systematic monitoring of attacks against aid workers;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that innovation should draw from multiple sources and in particular from the knowledge of affected people and local communities in the front line of response, but also from the business sector; believes that public-private and cross- sectorial partnerships can be a means to improve the response to growing humanitarian needs; notes that cash-based assistance is an efficient example of innovation in humanitarian assistance;
Amendment 117 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Welcomes the Council Conclusions on common principles for multi-purpose cash-based assistance to respond to humanitarian needs; acknowledges that while only a small proportion of humanitarian assistance is currently cash-based, the use of cash-based assistance has significant potential as an innovative, dignifying, safe, gender sensitive, flexible and cost efficient modality to cover emergency basic needs of the most vulnerable; calls on the EU and its Member States to promote the common principles and the use of unconditional cash assistance base on context and response analysis, while supporting a monitoring mechanism, in the run-up to the WHS;
Amendment 120 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the development of ethical standards in line withon the EU to impulse and support a global humanitarian innovation alliance for the development of global shared ethical approaches in line with the UN principles for innovation and technology in development and humanitarian principles andthat guarantees that all investment in humanitarian innovation is designed to improve outcomes for affected populations; calls for the establishment of humanitarian innovation funds at regional and national level;
Amendment 122 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission and the EU Member States to support, while respecting humanitarian principles and ethical standards, business involvement, especially of SMEs, by building a business guide for action and promoting local and regional partnership platforms for a structured, coordinated and sustainable engagement of companies in emergencies; encourage EU Member States to better integrated businesses into national emergency response plans and accountability mechanisms;
Amendment 123 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls on the EU to explore and encourage partnership with start-ups, insurance and technology companies, amongst others, to develop tools for preparedness and deployment in emergencies; Underlines the need to support and further develop OCHAs works for a private sector global mapping of available assets and capacities to enhance technical cooperation for disaster response efforts;
Amendment 124 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Calls on the EU and its humanitarian partners to advocate at the WHS for better engagement of young people in humanitarian preparedness and recovery processes and to promote volunteering schemes;
Amendment 125 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Calls on the EU and its Member States to promote at the WHS the important role of humanitarian advocacy as this can be an effective way to strengthen protection and innovation;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)
Paragraph 17 e (new)
17e. Underlines that the commitments taken in Istanbul must be implemented at the level of the EU and its Member States; therefore calls on the EU and its Member States to jointly design with humanitarian actors, an agenda for the operationalisation of the Summit outcomes after Istanbul; Emphasizes the need to ensure predictable and timely funding for humanitarian aid through the EU budget by ensuring that the EU's humanitarian commitment appropriations are systematically fully funded through an equal amount of payment appropriations;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 f (new)
Paragraph 17 f (new)
17f. Calls for a coherent and solid new Action plan of the European Consensus on humanitarian aid that guarantees an impartial and effective European humanitarian response, tailored to the local context while being age and gender specific and acting without discrimination and in proportion to needs;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas eradicating poverty and inequality can only be achieved by mobilising sufficient and appropriate resources for all, and better targeting marginalized groups, such as children, women, elderly people or persons with disabilities; whereas despite a significant reduction in extreme poverty, progress for children has been slower making the need for investing in children - both through domestic resources mobilisation and international public financing- a key factor to create enabling environments for sustained and equitable long-term growth;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas most of the world's poor people are now in middle-income countries; a new development paradigm therefore requires programmes targeted both for poor people and poor countries;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the implementation of the post-2015 agenda requires both financial and non-financial means;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the private investment of major direct value for the pursuit of the SDGs has huge potentialsector, when properly regulated, has an important role on the implementation of the SDGs while respecting its global principles and accountability mechanisms, with the objective to tackle poverty, inequality and achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries; whereas private investment, in particular, has huge potential for the pursuit of the SDGs and can be encouraged in many ways, as reflected in UNCTAD’'s proposal for an Action Plan for SDG investment;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas civil society plays a key role in ensuring a universal and inclusive process, both at national and at global level, and contributes to good governance and accountability;
Amendment 74 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the EU and its Member States, as the largest donors of development aid, must lead the FfD process and help bring about a credible response to the development finance challenges, ensuring policy coherence for development;
Amendment 83 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the UN Secretary-General’'s Synthesis Report and its transformative, universal, holistic and integrated approach to an ambitious global partnership; insists that without comprehensive and substantial means of implementation such an ambitious partnership will not be successful;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that ODA should remain the standard measure of financial efforts made; supports the inclusion of concessional loans based on calculation of their grant equivalents, despite due consideration of total official support for development, despite due consideration of total official support for development; notes that while most ODA is provided in the form of grants, concessional loans are an important part of it, despite the need for their impact assessment; welcomes the agreement by the OECD-DAC to modernise the reporting of concessional loans by introducing a grant equivalent system for the purpose of calculating ODA figures;
Amendment 134 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the EU and its Member States to promote an aid effectiveness agenda by reducing aid fragmentation through greater coordination between different aid mechanisms and donors and ensuring that all development finance is pro-poor, gender-sensitive, environmentally sound and climate-proof;
Amendment 141 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that ODA should prioritise basic social services for all and 'public goods' that are less effectively provided by the private sector, such as primary education, social safety nets, health care and infrastructure for sanitation and water supply; stresses that accessibility should be a key criteria in international public financing to promote universal and inclusive services and infrastructures;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the EU and its Member States to actively crack down on tax havens, tax evasion and illicit financial flows; encourages the automatic exchange of tax information with developing countries and the elaboration of public registers of beneficial ownership; supports the setting- up of an intergovernmental body for tax cooperation under the auspices of the UN;
Amendment 169 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the decisive importance of good governance, human rights protection, the rule of law, institutional framework and regulatory instruments; especially supports investment in capacity- building, inclusive education, and health, nutrition, public services, and social protection for all, and the fight against poverty and inequality, including among children and in terms of gender; recognises the need for accessible infrastructures and selective public investments, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources, including by the extractive industries;
Amendment 178 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that financing for development must strengthen the resources available to promote gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment; emphasises that this should include both targeted investments in key sectors such as health and education and steps to ensure all development finance takes full account of the situation of women and girls;
Amendment 189 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recognises the role of local authorities in the implementation of the SDGs which requires the allocation of the necessary means;
Amendment 201 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the importance of favourable conditions for private enterprise in developing countries; calls for alignment of the private sector with the sustainable development goals through appropriate partnerships, financial instruments, incentives, accountability framework and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); recalls the need to comply with agreed international standards such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 219 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for the EU to set up a regulatory framework that stimulates responsible, transparent and accountable investment which contributes to the development of thea socially conscious private sector in developing countries;
Amendment 242 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Recalls the role of civil society, including NGOs, as an essential development partner for a more inclusive and accountable implementation of the post-2015 agenda; calls for an increased civil society voice in the discussions of development priorities and, the set-up of operations on the ground and the development of accountability mechanisms; calls for increased consultation of young people in the discussions for the post-2015 agenda, namely through innovative communication technologies;
Amendment 251 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls the UN’s central role, in complementarity with other existing institutions and forums, in global economic governance and development; supportscalls for more efforts to further enhance the voice and equal representation of developing countries in multilateral institutions and other norm- and standard-setting bodies;
Amendment 281 #
2015/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for an agreement at the Addis Ababa conference on a robust, transparent and accessible monitoring and accountability framework for effective follow-up of the implementation of the SDG commitments and objectives; calls for an international initiative to improve the quality of statistics, data and information, including data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity and migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts; asks all parties to ensure transparent and efficient implementation of aid and financing, in particular by signing and effectively implementing the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to its decision of 15 April 2014 on the modification of the inter- institutional agreement on the Transparency Register1 (EU lobby register); __________________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0376.
Amendment 18 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, according to Transparency International, six out of ten European citizens consider their government to be seriously influenced or entirely co-opted by a few vested interests;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas non-transparent, one-sided lobbying lobbying constitutes one of the key corruption risks facing Europe and poses a significant threat to policy-making and to the public interest;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas non-transparent, one-sided lobbying can poses a significant threat to the integrity of policy-makers, policy-making and to the public interest;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Introducing a legislative footprint, making the lobbtransparency register as mandatory as possible
Amendment 37 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the Commission, Parliament and the Council should record and discloseevaluate if all input received from lobbyists/interest representatives on draft policies, laws and amendments as a ‘legislative footprint’could be collected centrally, e.g. by the Committees’ secretariats, and made public online; suggests that thisa legislative footprint should consist of a formbe annexed to reports, detailing all the lobbyists with whom thoseconsisting of a form, detailing organizations with which the rapporteur in charge of a particular file have mets been in contact with in the process of drawing up each report and a second document listing all written input received;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to expand andfurther improve its existing initiative as laid out in its decision of 25 November 2014 on the publicby expanding the practice to meet only organizations of information onr self-employed individuals which are registered in the Transparency Register to all Commission staff; considers that the publication of scheduled meetings held between Members of the Commission and organiszations or self-employed individuals; considers that the recording of meeting data sh with the purpose of influencing EU-legislation could be expanded to include everyoneall Commission staff involved in the EU’s policy-making process, by publishing the Commission unit(s) and the external organisation(s) present at the meetings;
Amendment 70 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Suggests that the Code of Conduct should be amended so as to make it mandatory for rapporteurs and committee chairs toshould adopt the same practice of exclusively meeting lobbyists registered lobbyin the Transparency Registser and publish information on such meetings online and for rapporteurs to publish a legislative footprscheduled meetings having the purpose to influence EU-legislation onlinte;
Amendment 79 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 88 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its longstanding call to back up the EU lobbtransparency register with a legal act, if it is not possible to close all loopholes and achieve a fully mandatory register for all lobbyists with an inter- institutional agreement; considers that the proposal for this legal act could take into account the progress achieved by changes in the inter- institutional agreement and Parliament’s Code of Conduct;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its call to the Council to join the lobbtransparency register as soon as possible;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Suggests advocating the approval of a code of ethics concerning the activities of lobbyists;
Amendment 101 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers lobby transparency through monthly reporting by lobbyists about their meetings as a keyof lobbying activities as an essential element for future EUa better legislationve process in the EU;
Amendment 104 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that, when interpreting ‘inappropriate behaviour’ within thBelieves that the Rules of Procedure should be ameanded ing of point (b) of the Code of Conduct, this expression should be taken to include turning down formal invitations to hearings or committees without sufficient reasonrder to withdraw access badges to the European Parliament from representatives of organisations that have refused to cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry; believes that repeated incidents should lead to a temporary suspension from the EU transparency register;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that registered law firms which are also active in lobbying should declare in the lobbtransparency register all clients on whose behalf they perform covered activities with the purpose of influencing EU- legislation; points out that law firms can only refer to the attorney client privilege when giving legal advice;
Amendment 124 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks the Bureau to restrict access to Parliament’s premises for non-registered organisations or individuals by makEmphasises that the European Parliament as the European citizens’ chamber should retaing all visitors to its premises sign a declaration that they are not lobbyists falling within the scope of the register or otherwise declare their n open door policy towards the citizens and that no unnecessary obstacles should be created, which could discourage citizens from visiting the European Parliament’s pregmistrationes;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes it to be necessary, as a matter of urgency, to introduce a proper monitoring system for submitted information in order to ensure that the information that registrants provide is meaningful, accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive; calls in this regard to substantially increase the resources of the Transparency Unit within the European Parliament and the Joint Transparency Register Secretariat;
Amendment 143 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that at least 5 % of declarations should be checked by the Transparency Unit each year;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that representations of national, regional and local governments should not fall under the EU lobby register if they have their own mandatory lobbtransparency register, and do not offer workspace for private or corporate actors within their representationss they are part of the EU’s multi-level system of governance;
Amendment 170 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the members of the Advisory Committee chosen from among Members of the European Parliament should be complemented by a majority of externally chosen members who must be qualified experts in the field of ethics regulation and should be drawn from an open call and include members of civil society; omposed of MEPs should be chosen according to their expertise, inter alia in accounting, legal affairs and ethics regulation; underlines that the composition of the Advisory Committee must at the same time reflect the political balance in the European Parliament, for example through a rotation system;
Amendment 183 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that the Code of Conduct should be amended to additionally empower the enlarged Advisory Committee to adopt final decisions instead of the Presidentinitiate the procedure for investigating a possible breach of the code of conduct for MEPs, and to empower the Conference of Presidents to adopt final decisions instead of the President; requests that the Advisory Committee is informed about the final decision in due course;
Amendment 186 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Deems it necessary that the Advisory Committee has access to information and documents relevant to cases it has to examine, including the results of OLAF investigations;
Amendment 195 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that the Rules of Procedure should be amended with regard to Members’ declarations of financial interests to task the Advisory Committee andintroduce more accurate categories for income from external sources and to task the supportive administration with factual checks in samples and to empower them to ask for proof where necessary;
Amendment 207 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Members should be rephrased to include a clear ban on Members holding paid side jobs or other paid work, except where previously authorised by the Advisory Committee, and provided that it could not lead to a conflict of interest; takes the view that in such cases the parliamentary salary paid to Members by Parliament should be reduced by half;
Amendment 222 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 247 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Believes that the Code of Conduct should be amended to provide for a three-wo years ‘cooling-off period’ during which former Members may not engage in lobbying work in the area of their parliamentary responsibilitieshave to notify the European Parliament of any post-term-of- office occupation they intend to take up;
Amendment 260 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that for Members of the Commission the ‘cooling-off period’ should be extended to threewo years and that a two-year cooling-off period should also apply to all Commission staff involved believes that all EU officials including the drafting or implementation of EU legislation or treaties, includemporary, contract agents and national experts must undergo full training contract staff how to deal with lobbyists;
Amendment 277 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Supports the Ombudsman’s call for entry in the lobbtransparency register to be made a requirement for appointment to expert groups provided that the Members concerned are not government officials and do not receive all or the vast majority of their other income from state institutions such as universities;
Amendment 290 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers control by Parliament of the financing of European political parties to be an unnecessary conflict of interestNotes that under Regulation No 1141/2014 applying from 1 January 2017 the total amount of Union funding awarded to the eligible European political parties and foundations is determined under the annual budgetary procedure and that the distribution between the eligible European political parties and foundations follows a fixed distribution key; notes further that the control with respect to Union funding is exercised by the independent Authority for European political parties and European political foundations on the basis of external audit reports, whose decisions may be the subject of court proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union;
Amendment 293 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 310 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for citizens to have the same right of appeal whenon all EU-institutions to handle citizens’ requestings for information asin they enjoy when requesting specific documents most favourable manner, without prejudice to the right of citizens to get access to specific documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001;
Amendment 315 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on access to documents should be updated as a matter of urgency, as required by the Treaty of Lisbon, by widening its scope to encompass all EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies currently not covered, such as the European Council, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Justice, Europol and Eurojust;
Amendment 326 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Requests that the Commission make sure that non-EU actors which receive EU funds should be as aceffectively countable as EU institutions are wrols then spending such fundof EU funds by non-EU actors;
Amendment 338 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 351 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Believes that the chairs of Parliament’s committees should proactively publish minutes and all documents used in trialoguesInsists that Parliament’s negotiators in trilogues fulfil their obligation under Rule 73 (4) of the Rules of Procedure to report back to the following meeting of the responsible committee and to make documents available which reflect the outcome of the last trilogue; calls for both the oral report and the documents to contain information on the state of the trilogue negotiations; calls furthermore for a list of the dates of trilogue meetings and the names of the direct participants to be made publicly accessible;
Amendment 361 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the Presidency of the Council to include allonsiders that Parliament and the Council ought to provide for more transparency in trialogue documents in the documents register to allow for access in accs and conciliation procedures; recalls the need to improve the transparency of legislative negotiations and underlines the impordtance with Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001of publishing the progress of negotiations after each trilogue;
Amendment 369 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. TakWelcomes the view that Members should have access to all Commission documents, where necessary under exceptional circumstances through a reading roomagreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission of 2 December 2015, which gives Members full access to all documents with regards to the TTIP negotiations;
Amendment 378 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Deems it unacceptable that Parliament has less, or less open,Members of the European Parliament have less access to documents in trade negotiations than some members of national parliaments;
Amendment 388 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Calls on the Council to publish the negotiation mandates for international trade negotiations;
Amendment 396 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Believes that, when the Commission engages in trade negotiations, it should publish the negotiation mandates, all negotiating positions, and all requests and offers and all consolidated draft negotiation texts prior to each negotiation round, so that the European Parliament and national parliaments, as well as civil society organisations and the wider public, can make recommendations thereon before the negotiations are closed for comments and the agreement goes to ratification; underlines that the Commission must also persuade negotiating partners to increase transparency at their end to make sure that this is a reciprocal process in which the EU's negotiating position is not compromised;
Amendment 404 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to propose an inter-institutional agreement in order to codify those principles for all trade negotiations, as foreseen under paragraph 40 of the draft inter-institutional agreement on Better Law-Making;
Amendment 422 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. RegretNotes the Ombudsman’'s finding that mostsome EU institutions have not yet properly implemented rules to protect whistleblowers; points out that to date onlythe European Parliament, the Commission, the Ombudsman and the Court of Auditors have adopted such rules;
Amendment 426 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Believes effective whistleblower protection to be a key weapon against corruption and therefore reiterates its call to the Commisscalls on the Member States and the EU-institutions to prepare a whistleblower protection directive, including minimum Europe-wide standards of protectionensure the protection of whistleblowers on their respective level;
Amendment 440 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. "Believes that the ongoing review of EU elecpolitical parties are best placed to contribute to the fight against corruption lawand should include a rule thattherefore play a stronger role on this issue by excluding persons found guilty of high-level corruption against the EU’'s financial interests or within Member States may not run for office in the next two terms of the European Parliamentfrom electoral lists for European elections";
Amendment 460 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Calls for the candidate nominated for the Presidency of the European Central Bank to appear before the corresponding committees and undergo an evaluation process;
Amendment 461 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Suggests that it should be possible, as part of the accountability process, for the European Parliament to table a motion of censure against a Commissioner in connection with management activities for which that Commissioner is accountable;
Amendment 466 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Recalls that the power to set up committees of inquiry is an intrinsic feature of parliamentary systems around the world, and the Treaty of Lisbon provides for a special legislative procedure for the adoption of a regulation on the right of inquiry in Article 226(3) TFEU; stresses that, in accordance with the principle of sincere cooperation, Parliament, the Council and the Commission should agree on the adoption of a new regulation;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Parliament has the right to initiate the reform of its own electoral procedureArticle 223 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union gives Parliament the right to initiate the reform of its own electoral procedure, with the aim of drawing up a uniform procedure which applies throughout the EU or a procedure that is based on principles common to all the Member States, and to give its consent thereto;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the reform of Parliament's electoral procedure should aim at enhancing the democratic dimension of the European elections, reinforce the concept of citizenship of the Union, improve the functioning of the European Parliament and the governance of the Union, make the work of the European Parliament more legitimate and efficient, enhance the effectiveness of the system for conducting European elections, and provide for greater electoral equality for citizens of the Union, and bring MEPs closer to their voters, in particular the youngest amongst them;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the steadily decreasing turnout in European elections, in particular among the youngest voters, and voters’ lack of interest in European issues is posing a threat to the future of Europe and whereas there is therefore a need for ideas that will help to revive European democracy;
Amendment 77 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
Pa. whereas the establishment of a joint constituency in which international lists of up to 50 candidates, headed by each political family’s nominee for the post of President of the Commission, would stand for election would help to revitalise European democracy;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P b (new)
Recital P b (new)
Pb. whereas a central electoral authority along the lines of those which already exist in a number of Member States should be set up at European level;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas the official establishment and consolidation of political parties at EU level are fostering the development of European political awareness and giving expression to the wishes of Union citizens, and whereas this has also facilitated the process of gradually bringing electoral systems closer together;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas postal, electronic and internet voting, and the introduction of digital citizenship to facilitate it, could make the conduct of European elections more efficient and more appealing for voters, provided that the highest possible standards of data protection are ensured;
Amendment 192 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages Member States to use postal electronic and internet voting in order to make voting easier for people with reduced mobility and for those living abroad, and calls for the introduction of digital citizenship;
Amendment 207 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. EncouragesCalls on Member States to take measures toand the European institutions to take measures to foster gender-equal democracy in the EU by promoteing gender balance in every aspect of European elections;
Amendment 212 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Member States and the European institutions to take steps to ensure that members of minorities have seats in all representative bodies;
Amendment 12 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas experience has highlighted the organisational and technical difficulties involved in launching a European Citizens’ Initiative, and the rules must be designed to make them as accessible as possible to citizens and organisers;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to provide as much guidance as possible – especially of a legal nature – to organisers of ECIs via the Europe Direct Contact Centre, so that they are aware of the possibilities open to them and will not fail by proposing an ECI that is outside the Commission’s powers, or else to assign the task of giving advice to another independent company or body so as to avoid a possible conflict of interest within the Commission itself; notes, however, that under the Treaty of Lisbon the issues raised by ECIs may not correspond entirely to the Commission’s jurisdiction and it should be possible to propose an initiative that also concerns the primary law of the Union or non- regulated acts; takes the view, furthermore, that the Commission should consider setting up a dedicated ECI office in each Member State;
Amendment 38 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for the principle of material unity to be enshrined in the regulation to safeguard the wishes of citizens participating in an initiative, following the example set by similar legal systems;
Amendment 39 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for a budgetary and time restriction to be set (so that initiatives cannot be presented on recently adopted legislation);
Amendment 42 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need to provide more detailed guidelines on the interpretation of legal bases and more information on data protection obligations in each Member State in which the organisers run their campaigns, so as to provide them with legal security, and on the possibility for organisers to take out insurance;
Amendment 52 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that under the terms of Article 4 of Regulation 211/2011, in the event of a refusal by the Commission to register an ECI, ‘the Commission shall inform the organisers of the reasons for such refusal and of all possible judicial and extrajudicial remedies available to them’; acknowledges, in this connection, the many complaints from organisers about not receiving detailed and exhaustive reasons for the rejection of their ECIs, and invites the Commission to provide as many elements as possible in order to explain the reasons and guide organisers to a possible solution, reducing as much as possible the Commission’s power of discretion as judge and party in the assessment of an initiative’s admissibility;
Amendment 66 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to introduce the necessary reforms to stop certain groups of citizens, such as those who are blind or living abroad, from being prevented from exercising their right to support citizens’ initiatives, as such exclusion limits equality among citizens;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deems it too complicated for organisers to provide different personal data in support of ECIs in the 28 Member States, as laid down in Regulation 211/2011 on the basis of the various national provisions, and suggests that consideration be given to establishing an EU digital citizenship, and also suggests providing an interim solution until this EU digital citizenship is established, with a view to resolving the current problems caused by multiple registration; calls on the Commission, therefore, to explore this issue in its digital agenda;
Amendment 76 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers the possibility of recommending to the Member States that the age limit for participation be reduced from 18 years to 16;
Amendment 79 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Takes the view that participation in a citizens’ initiative should not be restricted only to nationals of a Member State but that it should also include permanent residents who have been living in a Member State for more than five years;
Amendment 93 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to consider incorporating an additional administrative channel into Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 for initiatives that have been rejected because they fall outside the Commission’s remit but which could be dealt with using other policy instruments, given their public interest, such as recommendations to the Member States, opinions, etc., with the aim of avoiding the failure of worthwhile citizens’ initiatives and thereby strengthening citizens’ democratic involvement;
Amendment 101 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for action to be taken to enhance the viability of citizens’ initiatives that have not achieved the threshold of 1 million signatures but whose proposals have received support from a quarter of the Member States;
Amendment 109 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on organisers and institutions, but above all on the Commission, to ensure that contacts between those involved are not limited to the stage prior to the presentation of initiatives, since there should also be more transparency in the stage after an initiative has been accepted;
Amendment 114 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to explore the possibility of funding ECIs through the EU budget, via European programmes such as the Europe for Citizens programme and the Rights, Equality and Citizenship programme, given that equality between citizens must be guaranteed and there is a real need for financial support for the organisation of ECIs and that numerous amendments to the EU budget have been submitted to this end;
Amendment 117 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for the institutions to show greater commitment to making Union citizens aware of European Citizens’ Initiatives;
Amendment 125 #
2014/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the Commission’s report of 1 April 2015 on the ECI and calls on it to ensure that, in its revision of this instrument, all the appropriate legal measures are implemented when an ECI is deemed to have been completed successfully; this should include the presentation of a legislative proposal in the event of a successful ECI, and a duly reasoned reply in the event that it is rejected;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that in a European Union founded on the rule of law and on the certainty and predictability of laws, EU citizens must bhave the firsright to be made aware in a clear, transparent and timely manner (including via the internet) whether and which national laws have been adopted in transposition of EU laws, and which national authorities are responsible for ensuring they are correctly implemented;
Amendment 11 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the introduction of the EU Pilot mechanism which, via its online platform, and with the involvement of citizens, civil society and the European Parliament itself, facilitates communication between the Commission and Member States so as to avoid, where possible, the need for infringement proceedings beingto be initiated wherever possible, but reminds the Commission; reminds the Commission that this is a cooperative instrument rather than a proxy one, meaning that this system must not in any way undermine the rights of EU citizens under the rule of law or serve to justify direct or indirect discrimination within the meaning of Article 9 TEU, and calls on the Commission to itself inform citizens in an appropriate and timely manner on the follow-up given to their reports of potential non-compliance;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Warmly welcomes the innovation in the Lisbon Treaty under which the Commission will be able to impose penalties on Member States for late transposition without needing to wait for an initial ruling;
Amendment 19 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that the European Parliament, which is now a fully-fledged co-legislator and an institution directly representing the citizedirectly represents European citizens and fully co-legislates, being increasingly closely involved in complaints procedures, in particular via parliamentary questions or through the activities of the Committee on Petitions, does not yet automatically receive transparent and timely information on the implementation of EU laws, when such information is essential, including for purposes of adopting amendments aimed at improving those laws;
Amendment 23 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Regrets the fact that REFIT was the result of a unilateral decision by the Commission, with no real social and parliamentary dialogue;
Amendment 29 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Given the fact that the persistent delay in the transposition of directives is hindering the development of citizens’ rights, calls for the creation of a mechanism to prioritise the infringements that pose the greatest risks and have the greatest impact on citizens and businesses.
Amendment 30 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Emphasises that a certain degree of homogeneity is needed with regard to the transposition of legislation, without prejudice to the time required for the application thereof.
Amendment 31 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls for a higher degree of cooperation between the Commission, the Member States, the European Parliament and the national parliaments.
Amendment 32 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Calls for the legal status of ‘EU Pilot’ acts to be defined in order to guarantee the citizens’ right to an effective remedy, including at the pre-litigation stage.
Amendment 3 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 13 March 2014 on the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon with respect to the European Parliament,
Amendment 4 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the report to the European Council by the Reflection Group on the Future of the EU 2030,
Amendment 5 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to the report by the five Presidents (Commission, Council, Eurogroup, Parliament and ECB) on completing the Economic and Monetary Union,
Amendment 13 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Union is experiencing a recurrent ‘crisis of legitimacy’ or of ‘democratic deficit’ and effectiveness in combating the economic crisis that is having an effect in terms of European voter abstention in European elections and the increased presence of Eurosceptic or openly anti-European political forces in the European Parliament and the Member States;
Amendment 17 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the provisions offered by the Lisbon Treaty and its protocols with a view to improving the functioning of the EU to benefit its citizens have not yet been exploited to their full potential; whereas some proposals can only be fully realised by Treaty change, emphasising a two-step approach to EU reform (within and beyond the Treaties);
Amendment 22 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Community method must be preserved and not be undermined by intergovernmental solutions, not even in areas where not all Member States fulfil the conditions for participationone factor adding to the EU’s institutional crisis is the prevalence of intergovernmentalism, both institutional and political, as opposed to the Community method, which represents the common European interest; whereas the Commission’s role should be strengthened so that it can play its part as the engine of the Community method fully and effectively;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the European Parliament is the parliament of the wholonly directly elected EU body and it is therefore the heart of democracy at the Union level and plays an essential role in ensuring the legitimacy and accountability of EU decisions;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas political dialogue between national parliaments and the European Parliament should be enhanced and practical possibilities for the use of the ‘yellow’ and ‘orange card’ improvedit would be useful to know what view the Commission takes of the idea of a ‘green card’ geared to boosting the participation and activity of national parliaments in the EU legislative process;
Amendment 50 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the EU should promote the highest level of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and it must be guaranteed that the EU, its institutions and the Member States respect and foster those rights and freedoms;
Amendment 61 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the Commission’s executive activity should be strengthened in the field of external and internal affairs;
Amendment 65 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the European institutions should take account of the role played by the CoR and EESC in the legislative framework and the importance of taking their opinions into consideration;
Amendment 135 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)
Recital R a (new)
Ra. whereas strengthening the single market should be accompanied by improved fiscal coordination;
Amendment 159 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
Va. whereas the Member States’ failure to comply with agreements adopted at European Summits and Councils seriously undermines the credibility of the European institutions, and their implementation should therefore be more effectively guaranteed;
Amendment 174 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that these challenges cannot be tackled individually by the Member States, but need a collective response from the Union, from a federal perspective and based on respect for the principle of multitier governance;
Amendment 196 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the Community method is superior tobetter suited to the functioning of the Union than the intergovernmental method as it is the only one that allows for greater transparency, QMV in the Council, and the equal right of co- legislation by the European Parliament and Council, as well as preventing a fragmentation of institutional responsibilities and the development of competing institutions;
Amendment 227 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers it vital to strengthen institutional transparency and openness in the EU as well as the way in which political decision-making in the EU is communicated; urges that efforts be stepped up with a view to the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, and Directive 93/109/EC, laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals;
Amendment 228 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Considers it necessary to increase citizens’ active participation and strengthen the concept of ‘political citizenship’ by revising Regulation No 211/2011 on the European citizens’ initiative with a view to improving its functioning and the use of digital media (e-democracy);
Amendment 229 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Recalls that the power to set up committees of inquiry is an intrinsic feature of parliamentary systems around the world, and the Treaty of Lisbon provides for a special legislative procedure for the adoption of a regulation on the right of inquiry in Article 226(3) TFEU; stresses that, in accordance with the principle of sincere cooperation, Parliament, the Council and the Commission should agree on the adoption of a new regulation;
Amendment 248 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Considers it necessary for the European Parliament to be involved in the drafting of the Commission’s multiannual work programme by means of an Interinstitutional Agreement (Article 17), with the aim of participating fully in the shaping of the Union’s future political strategy;
Amendment 270 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the exchange of best practices in parliamentary scrutiny between national parliaments, such as the holding of regular debates between the respective ministers, visits to national parliaments for exchanges with MEPs and the specialised committees in national parliaments before and after Council meetings, and with Members of the European Commission in an appropriate timeframe;
Amendment 292 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the European Council to start activatingmake more frequent use of the ‘passerelle clause’ (Article 48 (7) TEU) in order, authorising the Council to switch from unanimity to QMV voting in the remaining policy areas where this is not yet the casepolicy areas relating to matters where the Treaties require unanimity;
Amendment 299 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the President of the European Parliament to inform the Conference of Presidents in advance of the views he intends to uphold in his speech to the European Council;
Amendment 373 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Proposes that the institutional roles of the Court of Auditors of the Union should be changed, so that control of the legality of the EU accounts occupies less than the current 100% of its time; suggests that the Court of Auditors could redirect its activity to legislative performance and that this would require jurisdiction to be able to review the adequacy of the laws in the Member States and monitor regulatory enforcement nationally, in accordance with the European framework for strengthening ex post evaluation;
Amendment 465 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers it necessary for Parliament to be invested with a more substantial role in negotiations within the framework of the European Semester, in particular as regards the adoption of Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP) and Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and sanctions, by allowing it to call hearings with governments of Member States affected by Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP), Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Alert Mechanism Reports (AMRs);
Amendment 592 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Believes that the Single Market is one of the cornerstones of the European Union and is fundamental for prosperity, growth and employment in the Union; points out that the Single Market, which offers tangible benefits to both companies and consumers, contains a growth potential that has not yet been fully exploited, particularly with reference to the Digital Single Market; calls, therefore, for better control of the correct application, and better enforcement, of the existing acquis in this domain;
Amendment 692 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Points out the importance of promoting the idea of a European statutory or collectively agreed minimalum wage framework, determined by each Member State, and suggests that, under current Treaty provisions, an ‘Employees Mobility Directive’ could be adopted to reduce still- existing barriers for employees, guaranteeing the principle of equal work for equal pay;
Amendment 726 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)
Paragraph 75 a (new)
75a. Calls for the creation of a social protocol establishing a common set of appropriate social and labour standards to promote upward economic and social convergence and to reduce inequalities within and between Member States. This protocol could include minimum income mechanisms and unemployment protection frameworks;
Amendment 747 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)
Paragraph 82 a (new)
82a. The European Parliament has the right to be informed at all times of procedures for concluding international agreements (Article 218(10) of the TFEU), and the negotiating team is obliged to inform Parliament on its activities;
Amendment 748 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 b (new)
Paragraph 82 b (new)
82b. Calls, pursuant to the interinstitutional agreement, for the inclusion of MEPs as observers in Union delegations at international conferences to be facilitated;
Amendment 805 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 a (new)
Paragraph 93 a (new)
93a. Stresses the external impact of all EU policies, both internal and external, which should therefore be designed to address or at least contribute towards eradicating poverty in developing countries, and thus helping achieve greater protection, social equity and a decent income and ensuring respect for human, economic and environmental rights;
Amendment 806 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 b (new)
Paragraph 93 b (new)
93b. Calls for decisive action to ensure policy coherence for development (Article 208 of the TFEU) and demands the improvement of the PCD impact assessment system and the establishment of an arbitration mechanism to remedy any discrepancies in the EU's various policies, giving the President of the Commission political responsibility for its broad guidelines and settling matters in accordance with the EU's commitments on PCD;
Amendment 869 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 a (new)
Paragraph 103 a (new)
103a. Considers that the EU must guarantee the highest possible protection for human rights and fundamental freedoms and continuity with the 'Copenhagen criteria', and ensure that all Member States respect the common values enshrined in Article 2 of the TEU;
Amendment 870 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 b (new)
Paragraph 103 b (new)
103b. Stresses the importance of completing the 'package of procedural guarantees', particularly by drafting legislation on preventive detention, administrative detention and the detention of minors, areas in which the rules of many Member States are not fully compatible with human rights and other international standards;
Amendment 871 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 c (new)
Paragraph 103 c (new)
103c. Stresses the importance of making further progress in developing European criminal law, particularly concerning the mutual recognition and enforcement of criminal-law rulings;
Amendment 872 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 d (new)
Paragraph 103 d (new)
103d. Stresses the importance of developing a European judicial culture, as a key prerequisite for making the area of freedom, security and justice a reality for citizens and ensuring better application of EU law;
Amendment 873 #
2014/2249(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 103 e (new)
Paragraph 103 e (new)
103e. Takes the view that a European Public Prosecutor needs to be appointed to combat organised crime, fraud and corruption, protect the financial interests of the European Union and remedy the fragmentation of the European law- enforcement area;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the MFF and the interinstitutional agreement as finally adopted on 2 December 2013 and published in the Official Journal of 20 December 20134 , __________________ 4 OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p.884.
Amendment 10 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 18-19 February 2016 concerning a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union6 , which is rendered void due to the decision of the UK to leave the Union, __________________ 6 EUCO conclusions of 19 February 2016.
Amendment 12 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
– having regard to the decision to leave the European Union resulting from the UK referendum on EU membership,
Amendment 17 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution 24 June 2015 on the review of the economic governance framework: stocktaking and challenges8a, __________________ 8a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0238.
Amendment 22 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of XXXXX on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights,
Amendment 35 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the ‘polycrisis’ currently faced by the Union, including its financial, economic, social and migratory consequences, have all led to the rejeincreased dissatisfaction byfrom a growing parsegment of the population of the currentregarding the functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 45 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas progress towards a Union that can really deliver on and achieve its goals are impaired by a failure of governance owing to a continuous and systematic search for unanimity in the Council (which is still based on the so- called Luxembourg Compromise) and the lack of a credible single executive authority enjoying full democratic legitimacy and competence to take effective action across a wide spectrum of policies; whereas recent examples such as the uncontrolled migrationinadequate management of refugee flows, the slow clean-up of our banks after the outbreak of the financial crisis and the lack of an immediate common response to the internal and external threat of terrorism have aptly demonstrated that the Union’s incapacity, paralysed by Member States, has not been able to respond effectively and quickly;
Amendment 51 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Union cannot fulfil the expectations of the European citizens, because its primary law does not provide all the necessary instruments, competences and decision- making procedures to effectively tackle common challenges like migration, internal and external security, the economic and fiscal policies as well as social investment;
Amendment 80 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas despite the flexibility offered by the Treaties numerous opt-outs on primary law level have been granted to several Member States; whereas these ‘à la carte’ solutions increased the complexity of the Union, created an opaque system of intersecting circles of cooperation, and impede democratic control and accountability;
Amendment 111 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, last but not least, this ‘variable geometry’opt-outs for individual Member States endangers the uniform application of EU law, leads to excessive complexity in terms of governance, jeopardises the cohesion of the Union and undermines solidarity among its citizens;
Amendment 150 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas this is also the case for the necessary reform and modernisation of the financial resources of the whole European Union; whereas the agreement on the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) was only reached after long and strenuous negotiations and was accompanied by the decision to establish a high-level group to review the Union’s revenue system of ‘own resources’, due to report in 2016; whereas the current MFF severely limits the financial and political autonomy of the Union, as most of the revenue consists of national contributions by the Member States and a large part of the expenditure is already preordained by means of returns to these same Member States; whereas although designed as a balancing system, GNP/GNI-based national contributions have become by far the largest source of revenue;
Amendment 156 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the European Union is a constitutional system based on the rule of law; whereas the Treaties must be changed to give the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction over all aspects of EU law, in particular common foreign and security policy (founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; whereas the European Union’s existing instruments to assess and sanction breaches of these principles by Member States have proven insufficient; whereas infringement procedures launched against specific legal acts or actions by a Member State violating EU law are inadequate to address systemic breaches of the EU’s fundamental values; whereas under Article 7 (1) TEU the Council acts by a majority of four fifth of its members when determining a clear risk of a serious breach of the fundamental values, and pursuant to Article 24(17 (2) TEU) and monetary and economic policy (Article 126(10 the European Council acts by unanimity when determining the existence of a serious and persistent breach; whereas as a consequence neither the preventive measure under Article 7 (1) TEU nor the sanctioning mechanisms of Article 7 (2) and (3) TFEU); have been invoked;
Amendment 171 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the Treaties must be changed to give the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction over the common foreign and security policy (Article 24(1) TEU);
Amendment 178 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas this review is also needed to rebalance the functioning of the Union, with the aim of less bureaucratic regulation and more effective policymaking; whereas this exercise also concerns the competences conferred on the Union that impair the abilitymore effective policymaking closer to the needs of the citizens; whereas the European Union requires the necessary competences to make progress towards some of its stated objectives such as the energy union, common migration managementand asylum management, social rights, combating unemployment, taxation and security policy;
Amendment 180 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas building systematic dialogue with civil society organisations and strengthening social dialogue, at all levels and in accordance with the principles laid down in Articles 11 TEU and 152 TFEU, are key to overcoming Euroscepticism and to reasserting the importance of Europe’s solidarity based dimension, social cohesion and the construction of a participatory and inclusive democracy, as a supplement to representative democracy;
Amendment 201 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the decline of Europe’s defence capabilities has limited its ability to project stability beyond our immediate borders; whereas this goes hand in hand with the reluctance of our US allies to intervene if Europe is not ready to take its fair share of responsibility; whereas this leads inevitably to the need for more intense cooperation among the Member States and an integration of some of their defence capacities into a European defence community, both in line with a new European security strategy;
Amendment 206 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas these changes in the Union’s primary law have become unavoidable, as regrettably none of the ‘passerelle clauses’ provided for in the Lisbon Treaty with a view to facilitating the reform ofstreamlining the Union’s governance have been deployed, and are unlikely to be so in the present circumstances; whereas this is in sharp contrast with the attitude of the European Council in the matter of the envisaged reduction in the number of members of the European Commission, where the ‘let-out’ clause was used instantlyo the contrary due to the European Council decision of 18/19 June 2009 the reduction in the number of Commissioners as envisaged in the Lisbon-Treaty could not be implemented;
Amendment 296 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that recent Eurobarometer polling demonstrates that, contrary to popular belief, EU citizens are still fully aware of the importance of, and in support of, genuine European solutions19 , inter alia in the fields of security and migration; __________________ 19 Standard Eurobarometer 84 - Autumn 2015 & Special Eurobarometer EP - June 2016.
Amendment 309 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes with great concern the prolifermultiplication of subsets of Member States undermining the unity of the Union by causing a lack of transparency, as well as diminishing the trust, and that some Member States openly break Union law, by refusing to implement two Council Decisions of September 2015 ofn the peoplereallocation of refugees;
Amendment 344 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the fracturing process of ‘variable geometry’ has found its way into the European decision-making process every time the European Council decides to apply intergovernmental methods and to bypass the ‘Union method’ (‘Community method’) as defined in the Treaties; this not only leads to less effective policy- making but also contributes to a growing lack of transparency, democratic accountability and control;
Amendment 360 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the ‘Union method’ is the only democratic method for legislating which ensures that all interests, especially the common European interest, are taken into account prevails; understands by ‘Union method’ that the Commission as the executive initiates legislation, Parliament and the Council representing respectively the citizens and the states decide by majority voting, and the Court of Justice oversees and provides ultimate judicial control;
Amendment 385 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Proposes that the next revision of the Treaties should rationalise the current disorderly ‘variable geometry’, i.e. ‘l’Europe à la carte’, by ending the disruptive practice of opt-outs, opt-ins and exceptionsput an end to opt-outs by individual Member States on the level of EU primary law;
Amendment 399 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 410 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 437 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the fact that, until the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom, it will continue to participate in all decision-making of the Union throughout itsin the EU institutions, with the exception of the negotiations and the agreement concerning its own withdrawal; considers that for the time of the withdrawal negotiations, intermediate arrangements will need to be madeshould be considered concerning the UK’s participation in European decision-making, as it will be politically difficult to allow a Member State in the process of leaving to influence decisions affecting the Union of which it will soon cease to be a member;
Amendment 451 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
New Economic Governance and establishment of a Social Europe
Amendment 453 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls as stated in its resolution of XXXX on a budgetary capacity for the eurozone that the various crises require the euro area to make, as soon as possible, a qualitative leap of integration to deliver on its promise of stability, convergence, growth and jobs;
Amendment 538 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Proposes therefore merging the deficit and debt procedures, the macroeconomic imbalance procedure and the country-specific recommendations into a singleReiterates its call for the adoption of a ‘convergence code’ of, as a legally binding nature, setting minimum and maximum standards, where only compliance with this code would allow access to EU funds for investment projects or participation in new instruments that combine economic reform with fiscal incentiv act by ordinary legislative procedure, to streamline the existing coordination of economic policies into a more effective convergence of economic policies; such as a fiscal capacity for the euro area or a common debt instrument; the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU would therefore become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member Statggests that the code should be focusing for the first period on convergence criteria regarding taxation, labour market, including among others minimum wages, investment, social cohesion and public administrative and good governance capacities;
Amendment 545 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Proposes that compliance with this code would allow access new instruments that combine economic reform with fiscal incentives such as a budgetary capacity for the euro area or a common debt instrument;
Amendment 546 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Suggests that the coordination of economic policies as provided for in Article 5 TFEU should become a ‘shared competence’ between the Union and the Member States;
Amendment 744 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the Treaties provide ample means to set up a humane, well- functioning migration management and asylum system including a European Border and Coast Guard and welcomes the progress in this regards; believes, however, that the Treaties, particularly Article 79(5) TFEU, are too restrictive regarding other aspects of migration, especially on the establishment of a genuine European legal migration system; insists that democratic scrutiny by Parliament is needed on the implementation of border control, asylum and migration policies, and that the safeguarding of national securityinterests cannot be used as a pretext to circumvent European action;
Amendment 771 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Regrets, as stated in its resolution of XXXXX on the improvement of the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty, that the EU has not made more progress in developing its capacity to agree and to implement a common foreign and security policy (CFSP); notes that its efforts in initiating a common security and defence policy have not been particularly successful, especially with regards to the sharing of costs and responsibilities;
Amendment 802 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses that for the Union to strengthen the defence of the EU territory, as a pillar within NATO, which remains the cornerstone of the European security architecture, and toe need to create a proper European Defence Union, which in strategic partnership with NATO could enable the Union to act autonomously in operations abroad, mainly with a view to stabilising its neighbourhood, the Treaties should provide for the possibility of establishing a; stresses that the European Parliament should be fully involved in all steps of the creation of the European dDefence uUnion and have the right of consent in case of operations abroad;
Amendment 809 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Considers that the Union should have a Commissioner for Security and Defence under the authority of the High Representative/Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as a more intense cooperation and integration of Member states defence capacities as the basis for the establishment of European Armed Forces;
Amendment 826 #
Amendment 833 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Proposes to amend Article 258 TFEU in order to explicitly allow the Commission to take ‘systemic infringement action’ against Member States violating fundamental values; understands ‘systemic infringement action’ as the bundling of a group of related individual infringement actions suggesting a serious and persistent violation of Article 2 TEU by a Member State;
Amendment 879 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes the successful new procedure whereby European political parties promote their top candidates for the President of the European executive, but believes that they should be able to stand during the next elections as official candidates in all Member States; proposes, therefore, following its legislative proposal on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union, empowering the electorate by giving them two votes, one for the national or regional lists and a second one for the European party lists; these European lists will be headed by the European political parties’ nominees to become President of the European executive or government and will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the Member States;
Amendment 905 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Stresses the need to better inform citizens about the EU, their role in European decision-making and their rights, which can be achieved amongst other means through civic education across the EU; reiterates its call from 28 October 2015 to reform the European Citizens Initiative to ensure that citizens engage directly with the EU institutions and become more actively involved in the framing of European policies and legislation;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A
Paragraph A
A. Stresses that EU trade and development policies are interlinked andAsks the Commission to respect thate Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty, which establishes the principle of policy coherence for development, requiring that the objectives of development cooperation be taken into account in policies that are likely to affect developing countries;
Amendment 61 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph E a (new)
Paragraph E a (new)
Ea. Asks the Commission to move towards a fairer approach in its negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements and suggests the loss of value in preferences from the TTIP be recognised;
Amendment 70 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph F
Paragraph F
F. Sees, however, the potential of the TTIPRequests the Commission to promote the highest global standards of this century on decent work, environmental protection, and food and product safety. within the negotiations;
Amendment 77 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph F a (new)
Paragraph F a (new)
Fa. Asks the Commission to support developing countries in pursuing stronger regional integration in order to diminish possible negative effects of TTIP and enable them to become thriving trade partners of the EU and US;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph F b (new)
Paragraph F b (new)
Fb. Calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and democratic nature of negotiations by enhancing dialogue with civil society and other stakeholders.
Amendment 1 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that respect for human rights, including economic, cultural and soci, social and environmental rights, good governance, peace and, security and food, is a prerequisite for the reduction of poverty and inequality and the achievement of the MDGs;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the EU to redouble its efforts to ensure in the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations that the human rights-based approach (HRBA) and the reduction of inequalities become underpinning concepts of post-2015 global development and are also included in concrete fashion in the goals and targets themselves; stresses the need to ensure that the post-2015 agenda includes, inter alia, women’s rights, children’s rights, good governance, democracy, freedom of association and expression, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, as being key elements for development;
Amendment 8 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights the need to address human rights in a holistic and indivisible fashion by emphasising and stronglymaking a strong and binding committingment to economic, social and cultural rights, since without these rights there can be no development; stresses the need to tackle the root causes of poverty; highlights the obligation to respect international labour standards, in line with the fulfilment of the ILO Decent Work Agenda, and calls for the setting-up of a universal social protection floor; takes the view that social issues should have a more central place in the EU’s external relations; urges the EU to incorporate a chapter on development and a social clause reflecting ILO core labour standards into all its external trade agreements;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the need for the EU and its delegations to implement the human rights- based approach in developmentits programmes, policyies and technical assistance in development aid, especially the new toolbox; also encourages the Member States to adopt a human rights-based approach in their development policies and aid, for example by emphasising the importance of transparency, human rights, good governance and, democracy and political participation in budget and sector support dialogues; at the same time, calls on the EU itself to respect democratic ownership, participation of civil society and transparency of development aid (the last- named under the EU Transparency Guarantee);
Amendment 18 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the European Union to help strengthen national, regional and international accountability mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court, national judicial authorities, parliaments, and national human rights and civil society institutions in foreign policy activities;
Amendment 19 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Commission to act more forcefully and coherently in combating discrimination against the most disadvantaged groups, and those who are most frequently discriminated against and excluded on grounds such as race, disability, migrant or indigenous status, age, sexual orientation or gender identity;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2216(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes with deep concern that vulnerable groups are particularly affected by human rights violations related to environmental degradation, since the expansion of monoculture plantations, logging, infrastructure, and support for gas and oil development, biofuels, mining or large scale hydropower are all driving deforestation and forest degradation; calls on the Commission to implement the 7 EAP and to put in place a comprehensive plan to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and its environmental, social and human rights impacts;
Amendment 69 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas growing worldwide poverty and inequality is listed as one of the biggest problems for global stability;
Amendment 128 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls the Commission to prioritise investment in domestic small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), as they offer the greatest potential to drive equitable development in countries;
Amendment 172 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls for European development efforts to play a significant role in implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including working with European enterprises and investors to ensure full compliance with the guiding principles and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprise in their business activities and in their supply chains in developing countries;
Amendment 211 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Urges the EU to develop a robust regulatory framework, based on development effectiveness criteria, within which the private sector must operate, including for the promotion of long term contractual PPPs; urges the EU to only promote PPPs if other less expensive and risky financing options are not available, on the basis of a cost-effective analysis; calls on the EU to implement effective safeguard policies for PPP projects to ensure human rights, including women's rights; insists that PPPs should be excluded for the provision of essential public services, such as health and education;
Amendment 229 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the criteria outlined in the Commission's communication on private sector and development, for the provision of direct support to the private sector; calls for the setting up of a clearly defined framework agreement governing all partnerships with the private sector that can confer the implementation benchmarks that need to be followed, and which are currently lacking in the Communication such as, actions directed to micro- enterprises, strategies for access to credit and job inclusion of disadvantaged groups, women and young people;
Amendment 254 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Urges the Commission to give the highest primacy to the full compliance with development effectiveness principles like ownership, accountability and transparency, before expanding the scope of blending operations; insists that the Commission clearly demonstrates the financial and development additionality of EU grants for blended projects, as recommended by the Court of Auditors; calls on the Commission to democratise the governance structure of the EU Blending Platform and the regional blending facilities, by properly engaging with all relevant stakeholders at the local level, including partner governments, national parliaments, private sector actors, trade unions and local communities;
Amendment 267 #
2014/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that partnerships and loans to the private sector in low-income countries and fragile states are associated with direct grants to CSOs and be aligned with the country's development priorities, to ensure citizens engagement, and involve multi- stakeholder processes among CSOs, local governments and trade unions;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2143(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
Amendment 152 #
2014/2143(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Reiterates that poverty eradication, equality and sustainable development is only possible if all vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, are explicitly taken into account;
Amendment 205 #
2014/2143(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that the Post-2015 needs to address the underlying drivers of conflict and fragility, from global factors to grass- root level power dynamics, which serve to perpetuate human rights violations, poverty and inequality and fuel continuous cycles of conflict; therefore calls for targets on governance, accountability and promotion of democratic institutions in fragile states as well as on global cooperation on cross- border influences;
Amendment 207 #
2014/2143(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses that humanitarian assistance and disaster reduction should be incorporated as a major element in a post-2015 international development framework in order to strengthen international assistance, coordination and resources for emergency response, recovery and reconstruction in supporting government-led efforts in post-disaster situations; Mainly by ensuring early warnings systems , assistance for the evacuees and reinforcing their capacity for initiating recovery as early as possible and facilitate a smooth transition from disaster response to recovery situation based on sound assessments;
Amendment 274 #
2014/2143(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for all Post 2015 initiatives regarding education, health, nutrition and water, being among the most basic of needs, are inclusive and accessible to all;
Amendment 3 #
2014/2077(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that EFD programming must be predictable but sufficiently flexible to focus resources where they are most needed, guaranteeing an effective impact and a greater capacity to react swiftly to unforeseen situations;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the increased focus of the discharge process on improving performance to achieve the best possible results with EU taxpayers’ money; encourages the Commission, in this regard, to redouble its efforts to improve the feedback loop of the evaluations cycle, so that lessons learnt from past practice and evaluation recommendations contribute to an even greater extent to better decision- making, programming and implementation of EU aid in the future;
Amendment 2 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern the growing discrepancy between the EU’s international commitments, its ambitious policy frameworks and new tools (such as the post-2015 development agenda and the External Financing Instruments for the period 2014-2020) on the one hand, and on the other hand its inability to honour the commitments it has taken vis-à-vis its global partners and other bodies, in particular with regard to humanitarian aid, due to the availability of insufficient payment credits;
Amendment 3 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that 2013 was the second consecutive year that humanitarian aid through the EU budget exceeded EUR 1.3 billion in commitments due to the occurrence of a high number of humanitarian crises that caused immense human suffering; regrets deeplydeplores the impact that the lack of payment appropriations had in this crisis year on DG ECHO's activities, which could only be maintained through rearranging payment schedules, resulting in a carry-over of EUR 160 million in payment arrears at year end; calls on the Council to comply with the payment plan agreed with Parliament;
Amendment 18 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Disputes over oil, gas, minerals, timber and other natural resources rank second as a source of conflicts worldwide; competition over resources, such as land and water, is on the rise, and exacerbates existing conflicts or triggers new ones; the mismanagement of land and natural resources is compounded by environmental degradation, population growth and climate change.
Amendment 20 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 b (new)
Recital 1 b (new)
(1b) Human rights abuses are common within the extractive industry and include child labour, sexual violence, disappearance of people, violation of the right to a clean environment, loss of land and livelihoods without negotiation and without adequate compensation, forced resettlement and the destruction of ritually or culturally significant sites.
Amendment 29 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Union citizens and civil society actors have raised awareness with respect to companies operating under the Union’s jurisdiction for not being held accountable for their potential connection to the illicit extraction and trade of mineralnatural resources from conflict regions. The consequence is that such mineralnatural resources, potentially present in consumer products, link consumers to conflicts outside the Union. To this end, citizens have requested, notably through petitions, that legislation be proposed to the European Parliament and the Council holding companies accountable under the Guidelines as established by the UN and OECD.
Amendment 32 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In the context of this Regulation, and in line with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, supply chain due diligence is an on-going, proactive and reactive process through which business operators monitor and administer their purchases and sales with a view to ensuring that they respect human rights and do not contribute to conflict and adverse impacts thereof.
Amendment 44 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Member State competent authorities are responsible to ensure the uniform compliance ofwith the self- certification of responsible importers by carrying out appropriate ex-post checks so as to verify whether the self-certified responsible importers of the minerals and/or metals within the scope of the Regulation comply with the supply chain due diligence obligationobligation of operators to carry out due diligence by carrying out appropriate ex-post checks. Records of such checks should be kept for at least 5 years. Member States are responsible to lay down the rules applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation.
Amendment 57 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a (new)
(a) increase certainty and transparency as regards the supply practices of companies sourcing from conflict-affected and high- risk areas,
Amendment 58 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b (new)
(b) curtail opportunities for the sourcing, transport and trade of natural resources to fund conflict and/or fuel human rights violations or abuses,
Amendment 59 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point c (new)
(c) help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their activities and sourcing decisions.
Amendment 60 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Amendment 61 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. This Regulation lays down the supply chain due diligence obligations of all Union importers who choose to be self-certified as responsible importers of minerals or metals containsource minerals and metals falling within the scope of this Regulation, in accordance with the OECD Guidance. It is designed to guarantee transparency and traceability in respect of their sourcing practices in conflict- affected or high-risk areas, ing or consisting of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, as set out in Annex Ider to minimise or prevent violent conflicts and human rights abuses by curtailing the opportunities for armed groups and security forces, as defined in Annex II to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, to trade in these minerals and metals.
Amendment 66 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point a a (new)
Article 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) ‘OECD Due Diligence Guidance’ means the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Second Edition, OECD Publishing (OECD (2013))1a including all Council Recommendations, Annexes and Supplements, as may be amended or replaced periodically; _________________ 1a OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Second Edition, OECD Publishing (OECD (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264185050- en.
Amendment 70 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point a e (new)
Article 2 – point a e (new)
(ae) ‘operator’ means any natural or legal person that places any covered product on the market for the first time;
Amendment 71 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point a f (new)
Article 2 – point a f (new)
(af) ‘placing on the market’ means the supply by any means, irrespective of the selling technique used, of products for the first time on the internal market for distribution or use in the course of commercial activity whether in return for payment or free of charge, including the supply by means of distance communication as defined in Directive 97/7/EC1a. ‘Placing on the market’ also includes the supply on the internal market of products derived from covered products already placed on the internal market. ________________ 1a Directive97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, p. 19).
Amendment 81 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point e
Article 2 – point e
(e) ‘conflict-affected and high-risk areas’ means areas in a state of armed conflict, fragile post-conflict as well as areas witnessing weak or non-existent governance and security, such as failed states, and widespread and systematic violations of international law, including human rights abuses; dentified by the presence of armed conflict, widespread violence or other risks of harm to people and, for these purposes, it is recognized that: (i) armed conflict may take a variety of forms, such as a conflict of international or non-international character, which may involve two or more states, or may consist of wars of liberation, or insurgencies, civil wars; and (ii) high--risk areas may include areas of political instability or repression, institutional weakness, insecurity, collapse of civil infrastructure and widespread violence, both of which areas are often characterized by widespread human rights abuses and violations of national or international law;
Amendment 107 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Any importer of minerals or metals within the scope of the Regulation may self-certify as responsible importer by declaring to a Member State competent authority that it adheres to the supply chain due diligence obligations set out in this Regulation. The declaration shall contain documentation in which the importer confirms its adherence to the obligIn accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, operators shall take all reasonable steps and make good faith efforts to conduct their due diligence obligations pursuant to Article 4 and 5. Each operator shall ensure that they make progressive, measurable and timely improvement in complying with its obligations. The nature and extent of specific due diligence that is appropriate depends on individual circumstances and is affected by factors such as an operator’s position in the supply chain, the size of the operator, the location of the operator’s activities, the situations including results of the independent third-party audits carried out a particular country, the sector and nature of the products or services involved.
Amendment 132 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) reporting findings of the supply chain risk assessment to its designated senior management of the operator,
Amendment 133 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii – introductory part
(ii) devising and adopting a risk management measures consistent with Annex II and the due diligence recommendations of the OECD Due Diligence Guidanceplan, considering its ability to influence, and where necessary take steps to put pressurbuild leverage on suppliers who can most effectively prevent or mitigate the identified risk, by making it possible either to:
Amendment 134 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 136 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. A responsible importeEach Annex II operator shall, in order to design conflict and high-risk sensitive strategies for mitigation in the risk management plan, relydraw on the measures and indicators under Annex III of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance and measure progressive improvement in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance.
Amendment 137 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. If an operator other than an Annex II operator pursues risk mitigation efforts while continuing trade or temporarily suspending trade it shall, as appropriate and in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, consult suppliers and affected stakeholders, including local and central government authorities, international or civil society organisations and affected third parties, and agree on a strategy for measurable risk mitigation in the risk management plan.
Amendment 138 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Amendment 139 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Amendment 143 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
All operators may cooperate through their industry organizations to ensure that the independent third-party audit is carried out in accordance with the second paragraph.
Amendment 144 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By 31 March of each year at the latest, the responsible importer of minerals or metals within the scope of this Regulation all operators shall submit to the Member State competent authority the following documentation covering the previous year’s calendar period:
Amendment 146 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. By 31 March of each year at the latest, the responsible importer of minerals wioperators other thian the scope of this RegulationAnnex II operators shall also submit to the Member State competent authority the documentation covering the previous year’s calendar period as regards the proportion of minerals originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas relative to the total amount of minerals purchased, as confirmed by independent third-party audits in accordance with Article 6 of this Regulation.management reports containing the following documentation covering the previous year’s calendar period:
Amendment 147 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a (new)
(a) the operator’s supply chain due diligence policy, including the operator’s management structure responsible for its due diligence and the person directly responsible,
Amendment 148 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b (new)
(b) the operator’s system of control and transparency over the resources supply chain, including the steps taken to identify upstream actors in the supply chain and to assess their due diligence practices,
Amendment 149 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c (new)
(c) name and address of each of the Annex II actors in its supply chain, as identified by the operator in accordance with Article 4 and 5,
Amendment 150 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point d (new)
(d) independent third-party audits regarding each of the Annex II actors in its supply chain carried out in accordance with the scope, objective and principles set out in Article 6 of the Regulation, as identified by the operator in accordance with Article 4 and 5,
Amendment 151 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point e (new)
(e) potential or actual risks identified by the operator and action taken by the operator to manage risks during the reporting period in accordance with Article 5,
Amendment 152 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point f (new)
(f) action taken by the operator to strengthen its due diligence efforts during the reporting period.
Amendment 164 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. On the basis of the information provided by the Member States in their reports as referred to in Article 15, the Commission shall adopt and make publicly available a decision listing the names and addresses of responsible smelters and refiners of minerals within the scope of this RegulationAnnex II actors.
Amendment 170 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission shall update the information included in the list in a timely manner but not less than every six months. The Commission shall remove from the list the names of the smelters and refineAnnex II actors that are no longer recognised as responsible importeAnnex II actors by Member States in accordance with Article 14(3), or the names of the smelters and refiners in the supply chain of the no longer recognised responsible importers.
Amendment 182 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) examination of the reporting requirements in accordance with the scope, objective and principles set out in Article 7,
Amendment 184 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The competent authorities of the Member States shall publish a report detailing the full findings of any ex-post checks, together with a reasonable explanation for making those findings and any documentation on which the competent authority based its findings.
Amendment 188 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
Amendment 189 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. WThere reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the opinion of the committee is to be obtained by written procedure, that procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time-limit for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the committee so decides or a simple majority of committee members so request power to adopt delegated acts referred to in the relevant Articles shall be conferred to the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from the date that this Regulation enters into force.
Amendment 191 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The delegation of powers referred to in the relevant Articles may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision of revocation shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
Amendment 192 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 193 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. A delegated act adopted pursuant to the relevant Articles shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed by either the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.
Amendment 194 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a Amending Annex I and Annex II 1. The Commission shall regularly review developments with regard to the contribution of global trade in natural resources to conflict and human rights abuses and violations in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, the development of international responsible sourcing standards and the experience gained in the implementation of this Regulation. In the course of the review, the Commission shall take into account, in particular, the information obtained by the Commission under and for the purposes of Article 15 and information provided by international or civil society organisations and affected third parties. 2. The Commission shall regularly review the scope of Annex I and II, in the light of the information obtained pursuant to paragraph 1 so as to achieve effectively the purpose of this Regulation, as stated in Article 1. Annex I shall be reviewed with a view to expanding the list of covered resources. Annex II shall be reviewed with a view to identifying additional choke points of transformation and traceability in covered resources supply chains with a view to strengthening supply chain due diligence with regard to all Annex I resources. Such a review shall take place not less than every 6 months. 3. The Commission may adopt delegated acts in order to expand the list of covered resources as stated in paragraph 2. 4. Delegated acts adopted under this Article shall enter into force without delay and shall apply as long as no objection is expressed in accordance with paragraph 5. The notification of a delegated act adopted under this Article to the European Parliament and to the Council shall state the reasons for the use of the urgency procedure. 5. Either the European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act in accordance with the procedure referred to in this Article. In such a case, the Commission shall repeal the act without delay following the notification of the decision to object by the European Parliament or the Council.
Amendment 209 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a Accompanying measures 1. In order to effectively break the link between the exploitation of natural resources and conflict and to ensure their responsible sourcing, the Commission and the External Action Service shall implement accompanying measures to this Regulation aimed at the enhancement of responsible sourcing, the effective establishment of national and international due diligence frameworks and related support systems, including reliable certification and traceability systems, and the addressing of development needs linked to (a) the exploitation and trade in natural resources originating from conflict- affected and high-risk areas and (b) the implementation of this Regulation, including: (i) support to companies to responsibly source from conflict-affected and high risk areas providing technical and other assistance and guidance to operators, taking into account the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises and their position in the supply chain, in order to facilitate compliance with the requirements of this Regulation. (ii) targeted, rights-based development cooperation, particularly addressing the challenges of implementing responsible sourcing in the local context of conflict- affected and high risk areas, including poverty reduction, good governance and the security sector; (iii) meaningful policy dialogues on responsible sourcing with third countries and other stakeholders; (iv) close cooperation with the Member States, in particular complementary initiatives in the area of consumer, investor and customer information and when providing technical and other assistance in accordance with point (i). 2. The European Commission and the European External Action Service shall, as appropriate, implement the objectives of accompanying measures through political and policy dialogues, programming, and relevant internal and external policies. Where appropriate, legislative proposals should be presented to the European Parliament and the Council. 3. The European Commission shall present to the European Parliament and to the Council an annual report of the accompanying measures implemented pursuant to this Article and their impact and effectiveness.
Amendment 212 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I -- title
Annex I -- title
List of minerals and metalresources within the scope of the Regulation classified under the Combined Nomenclature
Amendment 213 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I -- table
Annex I -- table
Amendment 214 #
2014/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex Ia (new)
Annex Ia (new)
Annex Ia List of choke points identified in the supply chains of covered resources -‘smelters’ -‘refiners’
Amendment 13 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas under the principle of sincere cooperation the Union and national institutionMember States assist each other, in full mutual respect, in carrying out tasks which flow from the Treaties and whereas the latter institutions facilitate the achievement of the Union's tasks and refrain from any measures that could jeopardise the attainment of the Union's objectives;
Amendment 16 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Article 12 of the TEU, covering the activities of national parliaments, fleshes out the principle of sincere cooperation by stating that the national parliaments should contribute actively to the good functioning of the Union;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the European Parliament and the national parliaments are, in their respective spheres, the pillars of the Union’'s two-fold democratic legitimacy, the former as the institution in which EU citizens are directly represented and the latter as the national institutions to which the governments represented in the Council are directly accountable;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
Amendment 33 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
Amendment 39 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
Amendment 42 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
Amendment 46 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
Amendment 58 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas, what is more, at the current stage in the integration process, although they do not have a direct legislative role at Union level, the national parliaments have their own special role to play in bolstering ‘European awareness’ in the Member States and bringing citizens closer to the EU;
Amendment 68 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
Amendment 71 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
Sa. whereas the changes made to its Rules of Procedure have taken into account the Lisbon Treaty provisions on the role of national parliaments in the EU;
Amendment 74 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
Recital T
Amendment 78 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital U
Recital U
Amendment 87 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out the two-fold democratic legitimacy of the Union, as a union of peoplecitizens and of sMember States, is embodied, in the EU legislative process, by the European Parliament and the Council; believes that, if the Member States are to be represented in a unitary, fully democratic manner in the EU, the stances taken by national governments in the Council must reflect the views of their national parliaments; stresses that, by guiding and scrutinising the work of their governments, national parliaments help to make the Council more democraticshould take in due account the views of their national parliaments;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that proper legitimacy and accountability must be ensured at national and EU levels by national parliaments and the European Parliament respectively; recalls the principle set out in the conclusions of the December 2012 European Council meeting that 'throughout the process, the general objective remains to ensure democratic legitimacy and accountability at the level at which decisions are taken and implemented';
Amendment 89 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 98 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognizes the role played by the European Parliament committees and National Parliaments committees through the EU legislative process;
Amendment 101 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the lack of transparency of Council deliberations on legislative acts preventsmakes it difficult for governments from beingto be genuinely accountable to their national parliaments;
Amendment 105 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that only two ‘'yellow cards’' - and no ’'orange cards’' at all – have been shown in the subsidiarity scrutiny process to date, and points out that the purpose of the early warning mechanism is not to block the European decision-making process but to improve the quality of EU legislationmake sure that the EU acts in the framework of its competences;
Amendment 108 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view, therefore, that subsidiarity compliance monitoring by national parliaments and European institutions should be seen not as an undue restriction but as a very necessary duty, in that it helps to mould the form and substamechanism to guarantee the competences of EU legislation to the needs of EU citiznational parliaments;
Amendment 111 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the early warning mechanism should be viewed and used as a key means ofone of the tools for ensuring proactive cooperation between European and national institutions;
Amendment 114 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the fact that this mechanism is in practice being also used as a channel for consultation and cooperative dialogue between the various institutions in the EU’'s multitier system;
Amendment 119 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes, given that subsidiarity scrutiny is a dynamic process, that reasoned opinions delivered by national parliaments should be viewed by the institutions not least as an opportunity to gain a clearer picture of how best to achieve the objectives set for legislative acts, and calls on the Commission to reply promptly and fully to reasoned opinions and contributions sent in by national parliaments;
Amendment 126 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – point d
Paragraph 11 – point d
Amendment 129 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Views interparliamentary meetings as places where EU policies and national policies come together and feed off each other, to the benefit of both; believes that a key function of such meetings is to allow national parliaments to take account of the European perspective in national debates, and the European Parliament to take account of the national perspective in European debates; reiterates that the aim of such cooperation is not to form a new joint parliamentary body for inclusion in the Union’s current decision-making set- up, as this would be both ineffective and undemocratic and unconstitutional;
Amendment 133 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 137 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Welcomes the actions that - following the recommendations of the steering group on relations with national parliaments - have been taken since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon to intensify cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament, in particular the planning and the increase of the number of interparliamentary committee meetings (50 since 2010), the information to members and relevant political bodies of national parliament submissions (reasoned opinions and contributions), the introduction of videoconferences, the promotion of bilateral visits, technical improvements to the InterParliamentary EU information eXchange (IPEX); the increase in collaborative projects within the framework of the European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation (ECPRD); visits of administrative officials and exchange of information and of best practices; believes that these actions help to make interparliamentary relations more efficient and more focused, whilst contributing to parliamentary democratisation;
Amendment 144 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that the development of formal interparliamentary conferencemeetings should be based on common ground rulepractical arrangements which make allowance for the special features of each type of conference;
Amendment 148 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Draws attention to the need forTakes note of the role of the EU Speakers’' Conference to lend greater political impetus to and shape interparliamentary cooperation, in keeping with the remit for each conference and meetingin the interparliamentary cooperation;
Amendment 151 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out, furthermore, thatEncourages the effectiveness of interparliamentary committee meetings are more effective and calls for closer cooperation between rapporteurs on specific legislative issues;
Amendment 152 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Welcomes the effective meetings between political groups and European political parties to be held as part of the arrangements for EU interparliamentary cooperation;
Amendment 157 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that, not least in the light of the new interparliamentary conferences on the CFSP/CSDP and economic and financial governance, COSAC should take on a more specialist role as, primarily, a forum for discussion of the state of the Uncan act as a forum for discussion;
Amendment 161 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that interparliamentary cooperation must be open and inclusive and voices its concern about restricted interparliamentary meetings, to which some parliaments are not invited, being organised without proper consultation in order to adopt positions on EU affairs which are not consensus-based; points out that this practice is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Treaties, as is interparliamentary cooperation conducted at administrative level;
Amendment 166 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 173 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – introductory part
Paragraph 24 – introductory part
24. Proposes that an interparliamentary agreementunderstanding should be concluddeveloped between the national parliaments and the European Parliament, to form the basis for organised,an efficient cooperation pursuant to Article 9 of Protocol No 1 to the Lisbon Treaty and Rule 130 of its own rules of procedure and to cover, inter alia:;
Amendment 174 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point a
Paragraph 24 – point a
Amendment 175 #
Amendment 177 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point c
Paragraph 24 – point c
Amendment 178 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point d
Paragraph 24 – point d
Amendment 179 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – point e
Paragraph 24 – point e
Amendment 181 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 183 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 187 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 194 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 197 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
Amendment 200 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 203 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Recalls that with respect to the conference on economic governance, which is based on Article 13 of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance, an agreement reached by the EU Speakers in their Conference in Nicosia in April 2013 provides for a number of arrangements for that conference and for a review of these arrangements to be completed in 2015 in the Rome EU Speakers' Conference; takes the view accordingly that any procedure for adoption of practical arrangements for the conference on economic governance prior to that review would be premature and should therefore be avoided;
Amendment 205 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 42 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. RequestsIs of the opinion that some Members of the next Commission arshould be chosen from among newly-elected Members of the European Parliament; invites the governments of the Member States to duly consider the votes of their fellow citizens when they propose personalities for appointment as members of the European Commission;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is of the opinion that the elected President of the Commission should act more autonomously in the process of selecting the other Members of the Commission; calls upon the governments of the Member States to each propose a list of at least thremore than one candidates for the office of European Commissioner, allowing the elected President of the Commission to choose one of the candidates from that list; urgescalls on the newly elected President of the Commission to guarantee the respect for a women's quota in the composition of the upcoming European Commission, also by insisting with the governments of the Member States that the list of candidates for the office of Commissioner must enable him to ensure thes gender- balanced composition of the European Commission;.
Amendment 55 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 62 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that, as mentioned in paragraph 2 of the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission, the candidate for President of the Commission should be requested to present to the European Parliament, after his designation by the European Council, the political guidelines for his mandate, followed by a comprehensive exchange of views, including the portfolios' definition of next college of commissioners, before Parliament elects the proposed candidate for President of the Commission;
Amendment 79 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Requests that, at the nexta future revision of the Treaties, Parliament’s right of legislative initiative be fully recognised by making it mandatory for the Commission to follow up all requests for legislative proposals submitted by Parliament under Article 225 TFEU;
Amendment 103 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Stresses that, under Article 17 (1) TEU, the Commission is to take initiatives with a view to achieving interinstitutional agreements on the Union’s annual and multiannual programming; draws attention to the need to involve at an earlier stage the Parliament and the Council in the preparation of the Commission’s annual work programme and stresses the importance of ensuring realistic and reliable programming that can be effectively implemented and provide the basis for inter-institutional planning; in this respect, the Parliament could explore the possibility to draft and present its own Multiannual Programming, at the beginning of the legislature, with the aim to be negotiated with the Commission; Takes the view that, in order to increase the political accountability of the Commission to the Parliament, a mid- term review to assess the overall achievement of the announced mandate by the Commission, could be envisaged; in case of negative assessment, this might lead, among others, to a possible a reshuffling of the College.
Amendment 17 #
2013/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for a re-evaluation of the comparative advantages of the EU and its Member States in the division of tasks in the development field by assessing strengths and weaknesses, which should involve the Member State concerned (or the Commission), as well as other donors and partner countries;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of a differentiated approach to aid effectiveness, taking into account the level of development of the partner countries (least developed, fragile or middle-income) and their specific needs; this differentiated approach should be based on multidimensional development indicators going beyond GDP such as the poverty, vulnerability and ECHO crisis index, and the Gini and inequality coefficients; warns that the classification of countries according to level of income is based on calculations that conceal inequality and poverty;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that, as a result of their voluntary, non-binding nature, current EU initiatives to enhance donor coordination have not completely exploited the full potential of the EU to render its development aid more effective and efficient; therefore calls on the EU and its Member States to establish a new instrument for coordination in the form of a Regulation;
Amendment 27 #
2013/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Requests the Commission to submit, preferably by 31 December 2015 and in any case no later than the first semester of 2016, on the basis of Articles 209 and 210 TFEU, a proposal for an act on EU donor coordination on development aid, setting up a road map of concrete steps towards enhanced coordination, with the purpose of finally ending with a Regulation, following the detailed recommendations set out in the Annex hereto;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Asks the Commission to evaluate this road map on the basis of a set of indicators previously agreed. In this process would participate, on the one hand EU delegations together with Member States' diplomatic representations in partner countries and on the other hand, DG DEVCO together with representatives of Member States;
Amendment 2 #
2013/2034(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. to demonstrate leadership at the 68th United Nations General Assembly, since the EU faces a great challenge and has great responsibility in relation to the new framework for cooperation in the context of the post-2015 MDGs; to call for the following elements to be taken into account in the work leading to the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) framework:
Amendment 5 #
2013/2034(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 4 – point c a (new)
ca) the results and lessons learned from the assessment of the MDGs should be taken into account in the process of considering the new post-2015 framework for cooperation; this should be a broadly- based and inclusive process, incorporating contributions from all developed and developing countries, and in particular from national parliaments and civil society;
Amendment 6 #
2013/2034(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. to call for the new post-2015 framework for cooperation to be accompanied by a predictable and realistic funding agenda, in line with the objectives agreed on;
Amendment 7 #
2013/2034(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. to use innovative financing mechanisms for the new framework, such as public- private partnerships, the blending of grants and loans, and the mobilisation of domestic resources by helping developing countries to implement fiscal reforms and strengthen the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion; to call for an international tax on financial transactions that could act as an additional source of funding for development, and to remind the EU Member States that they have already agreed to introduce the financial transaction tax in their respective countries, and that they have undertaken to set aside a share of the funds to finance global public assets, including development.
Amendment 10 #
2013/2034(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. to ensure full consistency and compliance of possible further developments and applications of the Responsibility to Protect principle with international humanitarian law, while working towards its universality as a tool for preventive diplomacy and a driver for human development.
Amendment 1 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the Treaty of Lisbon brought important positive elements to the area of freedom, security and justice but deplores certain shortcomings in its implementation; is no longer willing to accept that the Council and the Commission, in many instances, continue to act as if the Treaty of Lisbon had not entered into force; requests the fulfilment of the obligation to inform the Parliament ‘immediately and fully at all stages of the procedure’ leading to the conclusion of international agreements; regrets the unacceptable delays in bringing the acts of the former third pillar in line with the Treaty of Lisbon; calls for a case-by-case assessment of the former third pillar acts with regard to how they impact on fundamental rights, with a view to bringing them in line with the new hierarchy of norms of basic, delegated and implementing acts; and the new institutional order/structure after the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that, even in the absence of an agreement on a uniform electoral procedure, electoral systems are gradually becoming more similar, in particular as a result of the establishment of political parties and political foundations at European Union level4 , the work on drawing up a European statute based on the Commission proposal for a reform of the rules governing European political parties5 and the ban on holding a dual mandate6 , which has made the office of Member of the European Parliament incompatible with that of Member of a national parliament;
Amendment 32 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Takes the view, therefore, that a reform of the electoral procedure must be European, autonomous, homogeneous and will be required in the future in order to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of Parliament by strengthening the democratic dimension of Europe and dividing up the seats in Parliament more proportionally among the Member States, in accordance with the principles laid down in the Treaties; considers that a reform of this kind will encourage EU citizens to take part in European elections in their Member State of residence if they are not nationals of that State; for this purpose, more efforts must be put into the fields of communication and publicity of the elections;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes, nevertheless, as a first step, the adoption of Council Directive 2013/1/EU of 20 December 2012 amending Directive 93/109/EC as regards certain detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals7 , in that it relaxes the requirements which EU citizens resident in a Member State of which they are not nationals must meet if they wish to stand as candidates in European elections; urges to settle down the bureaucratic barriers in the EP elections which still hamper the participation of EU citizens residing in a Member State but not nationals and encourages the cooperation among Member States to delete this scourge to the democratic EU standards.
Amendment 43 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes the view that the citizens' initiative can play a key role in identifying matters which should be dealt with at EU level and enhances the legitimacy of the policies' procedure at EU level;
Amendment 47 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. (new paragraph) Points out that the effective application of the Citizens' Initiative is hampered not only by technical problems, but also by financial problems due to a lack of budgetary resources.
Amendment 71 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Fears that the economic crisis may develop into a crisis of democracy and believes that both a strong political leadership is necessary to defend democratic achievements;and well-established institutional structure are necessary and crucial to defend democratic achievements and to check its control and possible devaluation; encourages the European Commission to fully assume its active role to strongly defend the Human Rights referred in the Treaties.
Amendment 78 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that the accession of the Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as provided for by Article 6(2) of the Treaty on European Union, will strengthen even further the protection of fundamental rights in the Union, as guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the case law of the Court of Justice; but regrets also the delay in the completion on the Accession of the EU to the Convention.
Amendment 98 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers the continued blockage of the review of the Access to Documents Regulation unacceptable and urges the immediate freeing-up of the negotiations;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas global challenges remain and are expected to increase – hunger, lack of proper and safe sanitation, insufficient levels of primary education, and gender inequality;
Amendment 74 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the EU to show leadership and responsibility in the process and to adopt a common and effective position on the principles and goals that should be part of the new post- 2015 development framework; points out, at the same time, that this framework must be universal and global in nature, promoting prosperity and well-being for all and signifying the direct and active involvement of developingall countries in its construction;
Amendment 106 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Insists that the post-2015 framework must include targets on accessibility, affordability, quality health care and also concrete work towards the establishment of basic health care systems that ensure prevention, treatment, care and support for all people, including the most marginalised and vulnerable groups such as minorities, prisoners, migrants, undocumented people, sex workers, and drug users;
Amendment 135 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the international community to pay special attention to creating an enabling and participatory environment enablingfor civil society organisations (CSOs) as independent development actors at local, national and regional level, national parliaments local authorities to play a proper role in the post-2015 framework;
Amendment 187 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Emphasizes the importance of having a budget of the Union that is capable of meeting the challenges facing it, especially in times of crisis and particularly in terms of financing for development; in this regard and in order for the EU budget to no longer be hostage to the single question of the level of payment appropriations, calls for the creation of own resources, such as a financial transaction tax, a share of which should go to Heading IV of the EU budget;
Amendment 193 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers that innovative sources of financing and new partnerships will play a crucial role in a new development landscape; and reiterates its call for a financial transaction tax as an additional source of financing for development;
Amendment 195 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Also reminds EU Member States that have agreed to establish the Financial Transaction Tax to devote part of those funds to the financing of global public goods, including the new development goals;
Amendment 216 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Points out that a new set of indicators other than GDP is necessary in order to overcome new challenges, and should therefore include the human development index, the poverty headcount ratio, the poverty gap index and the Gini coefficient, the Gender Development Index, the Gini coefficient, the Vulnerability Index and other multidimensional poverty indexes;
Amendment 223 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on developing countries to establish a genuine business regulatory framework focusing on a business code of conduct, promotion of full and productive employment and decent work, respect for human rights, and social and environmental protectionstandards;
Amendment 255 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 – point a
Paragraph 39 – point a
a. the architecture of the post-2015 development agenda should reflect new global and national realities and challenges;
Amendment 273 #
2012/2289(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 – point e
Paragraph 39 – point e
e. it is indispensable to mobilise all possible financial recourses and innovative financing mechanisms for development, paying particular attention to: i) the fight against corruption, tax havens and tax evasion; ii) the responsibilities of emerging economies in the development agenda, also encouraging south-south and triangular cooperation; iii) the improvement of monitoring mechanisms; and iv) PCD;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring better coordination and good governance on development issues at the international level, in order to allow the EU to speak with one voice and gain visibility;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the EEAS plays a major role in the planning and programming of the EU's bilateral development cooperation with partner countries and regions and is in charge of preparing, jointly with the Commission and under the responsibility of the Commissioner for Development Policy, all strategic, multiannual programming documents associated with the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and the European Development Funds (EDF); welcomes the Joint Programming exercise initiated by EEAS and believes it will strongly contribute to the internal and external coordination and to a better alignment with the Paris Declaration principles;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the efforts ofDespite the initial difficulties, encourages the EEAS and the Commission to continue in its efforts to coordinate more closely the development cooperation policies of the Union and of its Member States; encourages them to promote such coordination further and to build on the positive experiences of the joint programming of development aid in the next programming cycle, starting in 2014;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that the EU should be an example of good coordination towards its development partners. Also encourages EEAS and the Commission to explore ways to get involved in triangular cooperation initiatives;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages the Commission and the EEAS to improve further the balance of shared responsibilities between the two institutions in the field of development and to ensure that their respective staffing needs are met;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2248(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation has been recognized as a universal human right, and is of fundamental importance for human health and well-being, that ensuring such access is a long-standing objective of development assistance, that halving the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation is part of the Millennium Development Goal 7, but that the UN's 2012 MDG reports forecasts that 600 million people will still lack access to safe drinking water in 2015 and that in Sub-Saharan Africa, progress towards this target is hugely insufficient, with serious consequences for millions of people, being the most vulnerable women and children under 5 years of age;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2248(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that more resources should be mobilised, including by the EU, especially to improve sanitation, where unmet needs are particularly big; stresses that determined efforts must be made to obtain maximum benefits from all projects, to eliminate recurring quality problems and to strengthen the EU Water Facility financially as well as in terms of management capacity and efficiency in building local capacity; requests the Commission to ensure that the EU Water Facility is properly funded in the next MFF, in order to allow the Union to meet our development and sustainability commitments after 2015.
Amendment 5 #
2012/2248(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Finds it remarkable that the Commission did not make good use of its own management procedures covering sustainability; considersTakes note of the Commission's reply, notably that most of the projects were approved before the establishment in 2005 of quality support groups, unsatisfactory;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2248(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets the scarcity of data on many of the projects in the Court of Auditors Special Report and the absence of ex-post evaluation by the Commission of all but two of these projects; Encourages the Commission to improve the traceability and follow up mechanisms of all programming and projects with a significant impact on access to water and sanitation.
Amendment 8 #
2012/2248(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 3 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the development of the concept of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), which clarifies and strengthens the existing obligations of states to ensure the protection of civilians; stresses that this concept, born from the international community’s failures in Rwanda in 1994, is critical for the survival of the community of nations; calls for further development of the concept and asks the EU to work towards its universality, as an essential part of a collective security model based on multilateralism and the primacy of the United Nations;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls, however, that international humanitarian law (IHL) is the prime body of law in times of armed conflict and that its improved implementation should be the focus of the international community; emphasises that R2P is not a legal concept and is narrowly focused on the four crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, whether in armed conflicts or in peacetime; calls on the EU to promote the R2P principle at the UN, together with the strengthening of the International Criminal Court.
Amendment 13 #
2012/2143(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that R2P is primarily a preventive doctrine and that military intervention should be the last recourse in R2P situations; calls for R2P, whenever possible, to be carried out first and foremost through diplomatic and long-term developmental activities that focus on capacity-building in the fields of human rights, good governance, the rule of law, conflict prevention and the strengthening of early warning systems; furthermore, recalls that there are many non-military coercive alternatives, such as preventive diplomacy, sanctions, accountability mechanisms and mediation;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that owing to the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR, with different companies having developed different standards on accounting, auditing and reporting, levels of CSR are hard to compare; emphasises that compulsoryinternationally agreed regulation in the context of CSR would create trust and fairness in business relations and have the benefits of certainty, progressive enforceability, universality and stakeholder empowerment;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that CSR is the best tool for companies to show their commitment, solidarity and responsibility towards society, and its also essential to achieving the objective of policy coherence for development (PCD); welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promote CSR in full consistency with current international guidelines; regrets, however, that the language of CSR is mostly voluntary;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, as a purely voluntary commitment,even if CSR is insufficient to deal with externalities resulting from the operations of multinationals, including environmental degradation and human rights violations; reiterates its call for the establishment of legally binding obligations is a very positive first step in order to prevent them; reiterates its call for foreign investors and companies operating in developing countries to respectfully comply with international legally binding obligations regarding human rights and environmental and ILO core labour standards;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights that companies should be encouraged to implement CSR practices, moreover those which have already implemented these practices shall be encouraged to pursuit its goals; asks the Commission to consider incentives, such as priority in EU public procurement contracts, in order to make CSR seen by companies as an opportunity and not as a threat;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the way in which extractive industries operate in developing countries requires moving beyond a voluntary approach; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field; a legislative proposal for country-by-country reporting founded on the standards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), reporting on sales and profits, as well as taxes and revenues, in order to discourage corruption and prevent tax avoidance; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field; also calls on European extractive industries operating in developing countries to set an example of social responsibility and the promotion of decent work;
Amendment 28 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that EU companies should be legally liable in their home countries for violations committed abroad by their subsidiaries and entities they controland different kinds of accountability and liability mechanisms should be implemented between them and their subsidiaries and entities they control in developing countries, also encourages the work of the EU civil society that has been actively engaged in raising awareness for violations committed by these companies abroad;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that owing to the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR, with different companies having developed different standards on accounting, auditing and reporting, levels of CSR are hard to compare; emphasises that compulsoryinternationally agreed regulation in the context of CSR would create trust and fairness in business relations and have the benefits of certainty, progressive enforceability, universality and stakeholder empowerment;
Amendment 7 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that CSR is the best tool for companies to show their commitment, solidarity and responsibility towards society, and its also essential to achieving the objective of policy coherence for development (PCD); welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promote CSR in full consistency with current international guidelines; regrets, however, that the language of CSR is mostly voluntary;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, as a purely voluntary commitment,even if CSR is insufficient to deal with externalities resulting from the operations of multinationals, including environmental degradation and human rights violations; reiterates its call for the establishment of legally binding obligations is a very positive first step in order to prevent them; reiterates its call for foreign investors and companies operating in developing countries to respectfully comply with international legally binding obligations regarding human rights and environmental and ILO core labour standards;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights that companies should be encouraged to implement CSR practices, moreover those which have already implemented these practices shall be encouraged to pursuit its goals; asks the Commission to consider incentives, such as priority in EU public procurement contracts, in order to make CSR seen by companies as an opportunity and not as a threat;
Amendment 22 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the way in which extractive industries operate in developing countries requires moving beyond a voluntary approach; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field; a legislative proposal for country-by-country reporting founded on the standards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), reporting on sales and profits, as well as taxes and revenues, in order to discourage corruption and prevent tax avoidance; reiterates that CSR should be applicable to all enterprises so as to create a fair and equal playing field; also calls on European extractive industries operating in developing countries to set an example of social responsibility and the promotion of decent work;
Amendment 28 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that EU companies should be legally liable in their home countries for violations committed abroad by their subsidiaries and entities they controland different kinds of accountability and liability mechanisms should be implemented between them and their subsidiaries and entities they control in developing countries, also encourages the work of the EU civil society that has been actively engaged in raising awareness for violations committed by these companies abroad;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2069(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the principle of sincere cooperation between the European institutions is enshrined in the Treaties, specifically in Article 13(2) of the TEU;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2069(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Treaties and other legal texts provide that the Council must consult Parliament and obtain its assent before certain legal acts can be adopted;
Amendment 3 #
2012/2069(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Deplores the fact that the interinstitutional agreement did not set out more clear-cut arrangements on access to classified information concerning the common foreign and security policy than the ad hoc decisions; stresses, therefore, that it is of the utmost importance that Parliament and the Council begin negotiations with a view to amending the Interinstitutional Agreement of 20 November 2002 to reflect both the reforms carried out since it was concluded and the current situation;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2059(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the EEAS to implementSupports the Court of Auditors' recommendation to systematically assess the food security situation and the scope for relevant EU assistance in each country and to base this on FAO, WFP and other data and analyses; also calls on the EEAS to develop early warning systems for food insecurity, and to implement prevention strategies;for a structured assessment of the food security situation in each country and systematic consideration of the potential scope for relevant EU support during the EEAS and the Commission's programming of EU development aid; calls on DEVCO to ensure the incorporation of data and analyses from ECHO´s field offices and from other sources and to help ensure that effective early warning systems for food insecurity are in place; also calls on the EEAS to help ensure that corresponding government capacity is built to run these systems in a sustainable manner, and that prevention strategies are implemented, fostering the resilience of the most vulnerable.
Amendment 2 #
2012/2059(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that after the 2008 food crisis, which severely affected different sub- Saharan African countries, food prices have gradually returned to similar levels and that volatility and speculation are likely to continue; calls on the Commission to elaborate response strategies for different contingencies, making any relevant proposals; takes the view that a Food Facility should be included in the 2014-2020 MFFcalls for the inclusion in the 2014-2020 MFF of a new Food Facility or a comparable mechanism ensuring the EU's ability to swiftly respond to new food crises using similar funds, given the predictability of new food crises and the increased volatility of food prices; believes that financial speculation exacerbates food price volatility and that it is therefore also necessary to take effective action against such speculation, for instance,including through regulation and control of derivative markets;
Amendment 10 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) TFollowing the adoption of the Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism, the provision for a sSingle sSupervisory mMechanism, is thekey to break the vicious circle between banks and sovereigns; to have the possibility to recapitalise banks directly; as well as a first step towards the creation of an European bBanking uUnion, which needs to be complemented with common mechanisms to resolve banks and guarantee customer deposits underpinned at EU level by a true single rulebook for financial services and composed also of a common deposit insurance and resolution framework too.
Amendment 15 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
-1. Article 3 is replaced by the following: Accountability of the Authorities The Authorities referred to in Article 2(2)a to ((d) as well the ECS and the assisting National Authorities in accordance with the Council Regulation (EU) No .../...*[127(6) TFEU Council Regulation], shall be accountable to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 16 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
1 a. In Article 8 (2) the following subparagraph is inserted after subparagraph j: "j a) develop and update, taking into account changing business practices and market structures, a Single Supervisory Handbook across the whole Union with the core of methodologies to identify and measure risks at banks, the framework to assess the bank's policies to contain those risks and the criteria to define possible corrective actions.
Amendment 17 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
3a. In Article 27 the first subparagraph of the second paragraph is replaced by the following: 2. The Authority shall contribute to the development of common mechanisms to resolve banks including an European Authority empowered to mobilise funds through an European Backstop mechanism
Amendment 18 #
2012/0244(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
4a. In Article 40 (1) the following subparagraph is inserted after subparagraph f: f a) One representative of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
Amendment 84 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7
(7) ‘donation’ means cash offerings and other donations in kind (goods or services) that constitute an economic advantage for the European political party or the European political foundation concerned. Contributions to the organisation of joint activities shall not be considered as donations
Amendment 106 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) it must ensure gender balance in its general assembly and promote gender balance in its governing bodies and in the composition of electoral lists
Amendment 142 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point g a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point g a (new)
(g a) respect for gender balance in the party's general assembly and promotion of gender balance in the governing bodies and in the composition of electoral lists,
Amendment 257 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
4. Financial contributions or grants from the general budget of the European Union may not exceed 905% of the annual reimbursable expenditure of a European political party and 95% of the annual eligible costs indicated in the budget of a European political foundation. European political parties may use any unusedUnused part of the Union contribution may be carried over for party purposes, including the financing of the immovable property within the territory of the Member States or in order to afford the forthcoming European elections. Any part of the contribution not used within the financial year covered by this contribution may be used to make up reserves. This part of the EU contribution awarded to cover reimbursable expenditure within the following two financial years after its award. Amounts unused following those two financial yearscan be used to finance immovable property within the territory of the Member States or to face up the forthcoming European elections. The remaining part of the contribution(s) that is not spent by the year following those elections shall be recovered by the end of the financial year following those elections in accordance with Chapter 5 of Part One of the Financial Regulation. European political foundations may also carry over any unused part of the grant to cover reimbursable expenditure. Amounts unused shall be recovered in accordance with the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 269 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Within complete transparent conditions, European political parties and European political foundations may accept donations from natural or legal persons of up to a value of EUR 250 000 per year and per donor, without prejudice to paragraph 5.
Amendment 279 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 5 –subparagraph 1a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 5 –subparagraph 1a (new)
Contributions to the organisation of joint events shall not be considered donations
Amendment 403 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2a (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 2a (new)
European parties and foundations shall, within one year from the day of application of this Regulation, adapt their statute so that it fully complies with the requirements of this Regulation.
Amendment 5 #
2011/2302(REG)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Asks the Vice-President of Parliament responsible for matters relating to citizens’ initiatives, the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs and the rapporteur for the above report, together with representatives of the other political groups appointed by the Conference of Presidents, to come to an agreement with the Commission in respect of arrangements for implementing Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens’ initiative as regards cooperation between the two institutions in organising and conducting public hearings and in reimbursing the costs arising from such hearings; calls for these arrangements to be laid down in an interinstitutional agreement to be incorporated into the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission when it is next revised; is willing to bear the costs of providing meeting rooms and interpretation for the public hearings if the Commission will reimburse theall travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2302(REG)
Draft legislative resolution
Rule 197 a (new) – paragraph 6 (new) – subparagraph 1 (new)
Rule 197 a (new) – paragraph 6 (new) – subparagraph 1 (new)
6. The committee responsible shall organise the public hearing at Parliament, if appropriate together with such other Union institutions and bodies as may wish to participate and in a way that ensures the greatest possible visibility, by using available information and communications technology.
Amendment 17 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 2
Rule 70 – paragraph 2
2. BeforSuch negotiations shall not be enteringed into such negotiaprior to the adoptions, by the committee responsible should, in principle, take a decision by a majority of its members and adopt a mandate, orientations or prioritie, on a case-by-case basis for every legislative procedure concerned, of a decision on the opening of negotiations which shall determine the mandate and the composition of the negotiating team. The mandate shall, as a general rule, consist of a report. Exceptionally, where the committee responsible considers it appropriate to enter into negotiations prior to the adoption of a report at first reading, the mandate shall consist of a set of amendments or, where the committee indicates appropriate reasons, a set of clearly defined objectives, priorities or orientations.
Amendment 23 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The negotiating team shall have a representative composition. It shall be chaired by the Chair of the committee responsible or by another member of the team designated by the Chair. The negotiating team shall comprise the rapporteur, and the coordinators or shadow rapporteurs as appropriate.
Amendment 29 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Any document intended to be discussed in a meeting with the Council and the Commission ("trilogue") shall be circulated to the entire negotiating team at least 48 hours in advance of the trilogue in question. After each trilogue the negotiating team shall report to the subsequent meeting of the committee responsible. Documents of any kind which were considered during the trilogue in question shall be made available to the committee. Where it proves not to be feasible to convene a meeting of the committee in a timely manner, the negotiating team shall report back to the Chair, the shadow rapporteurs and the coordinators of the committee, as appropriate. The committee responsible may update the mandate in the light of the progress of the negotiations.
Amendment 37 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 3
Rule 70 – paragraph 3
3. If the negotiations lead to a compromise with the Council following the adoption of the report by the com, the coordinators of the committee responsible shall be informed without delay. The agreed draft legislative act shall be submittee,d to the committee shallresponsible, and inf any case be reconsulted before the vote in plenarypproved shall be tabled for consideration by Parliament in the form, where appropriate, of: – a report, or -compromise amendments which may take the form of a consolidated text.
Amendment 43 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Rule 70 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Where a draft legislative act is examined in the procedure with associated committees in accordance with Rule 50, or in the procedure with joint committee meetings pursuant to Rule 51, those Rules shall also apply to the decision on the opening of negotiations and to the conduct of such negotiations. In the event of disagreement between the committees concerned, the modalities for the opening and the conduct of such negotiations shall be determined by the Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs in accordance with the principles set out in those Rules.
Amendment 44 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 a (new)
Rule 70 a (new)
Amendment 2 #
2011/2290(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that a root-and-brancn in-depth reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is now desperately needed, due to the failure to meet fully its objectives, internally and externally, during the 30 years it has been operational;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2290(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points to the obligation, under the Treaty of Lisbon, to ensure the coherence of the Union’s policies also in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2290(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that sustainable fishing restoring and maintaining stocks well above theat levels that can produce Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) will be of huge environmental, social and economic advantage, as the environment will be lessnot be degraded, fishing communities will have a secure future, and the fisheries sector will be profitable without having to depenneed onf public support to survive;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2290(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned at the heavy dependence of EU markets on imports of fisheries and aquaculture products, as 60 % of all fisheries products used in the EU are imported essentially from developing countries; stresses that the best option for reducing dependence on imports is to recover and maintain European fish stocks to at level well above thoses capable of producing MSY;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2290(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Opposes the adoption of Transferable Fishing Concessions (TFCs) schemes in RFMOs and in international waters, as this may severely limit today’s developing countries’ future ambitions in terms ofwhen they limit the scope of developing countries to developing their own fisheries sectors;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas cumbersome regulations and procedures can undermine the use of country systems and joint programming, and whereas the use of multi-annual programming frameworks would be advisable in international development cooperation;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas general sectoral budget support is the aid modality best suited to reducing transaction costs for partner countries, since it places the focus more firmly on the quality of the aid and the nature of partnerships;
Amendment 10 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the reform of EC external aid should be used to showcase how the impact of aid is improving the lives of poor people, both in response to publicthe European public’s growing support for official development aid as a means of eradicating poverty and achieving the MDGs, and in response to the facts, which refute scepticism about the effectiveness of aid;
Amendment 13 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that, in order to make EU development policy more coherent and more effective, the Commission services within the EU delegations should be in the lead forcontribute to development aid policy making and be in the lead for its implementation;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the relevant EU budgetfinancial instruments need to be more poverty- focused and more flexible with regard to their approach and operation, and that more accountability and transparency and better value for money in terms of achieving clear results should also be encouraged;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the importance of ensuring the highest professional standards amongst staff working on development cooperation both at the Commission and at the EU’s delegations and bilateral aid agencies;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2192(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls, in the process of devolution of the management of external aid in the EU from centralised services to delegations, for Parliament to keep its powers of oversight and scrutiny
Amendment 24 #
2011/2182(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Invites Member States tothe Commission to examine the convenience for granting voting rights to EU citizens in regional elections when their regions are vested with legislative capacities;1 __________________ 1 When preparing the 3-yearly report on the EU Citizen rights, according to article 25 of TFEU.
Amendment 31 #
2011/2182(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 – indent 1 (new)
Paragraph 17 – indent 1 (new)
– Calls on all stakeholders to use ICT resources to promote communication with the EU citizens
Amendment 2 #
2011/2176(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
10. Agrees that effective unitary patent protection in Europe would contribute to the objective of growth through innovation and would thus help European business, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to face the economic crisis and global competition; takes the view that the underlying law, language arrangements and legal aspects of the unitary patent protection system are indissolubly linked;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2168(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
2. Motions for resolutions contained in own-initiative reports shall be examined by Parliament under the short presentation procedure set out in Rule 139. Amendments to such motions for resolutions shall only be admissible for consideration in plenary if tabled by the rapporteur to take account of new information or by at least one-tenth of the Members of Parliament. Political groups may table alternative motions for resolutions in accordance with Rule 157(4). This paragraph shall not apply in cases where the subject of the report qualifies for a key debate in plenary, where the report is drawn up pursuant to the right of initiative referred to in Rule 41 or 42, or where the report can be considered a strategic report according to the criteria set out by the Conference of Presidentshas been authorised as a strategic report.
Amendment 5 #
2011/2168(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 163 − paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 163 − paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. This Rule shall not apply to own- initiative reports, expect those referred to in the last sentence of Rule 48(2).
Amendment 6 #
2011/2168(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 167 − paragraph 1 − subparagraph 1 a (new)
Rule 167 − paragraph 1 − subparagraph 1 a (new)
When voting takes place on any own- initiative report, with exception of those referred to in the last sentence of Rule 48(2), the roll call vote may only be requested for the final vote.
Amendment 2 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for the mandate of the EU Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean to be utilised in development-related matters, as it believes that he can play a fundamental role in ensuring that democratic progress goes hand in hand with the consolidation of advances in the development field, and specifically in improving social and economic conditions in the countries in question.
Amendment 4 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3a (new)
Paragraph 3a (new)
3a. Highlights the importance, in cases where the EU has mobilised humanitarian aid, of ensuring a suitable transition between rehabilitation, reconstruction and development in order to counter some of the destructive consequences of the revolutions.
Amendment 8 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4a (new)
Paragraph 4a (new)
4a. Emphasises the particular need for EU development and human rights programmes to support civil society, which is on the front line in these processes, and especially women’s and youth organisations. Points out that, following the elections to be held in the coming months, work should also be intensified to strengthen the national parliaments that emerge from the polls, in order to enable them to develop their powers of oversight and scrutiny.
Amendment 13 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers the Union for the Mediterranean to have been misconceived, poorly executed and even counterproductive; insists, therefore, on the full incorporation of the European side of the partnership into the conventional EU framework under the auspices of the High Representative/Vice- President and the European External Action ServiceBelieves firmly that the UfM must be relaunched so as to take account of recent developments in the area; takes the view that it should promote healthy economic, social and democratic development and create a solid common basis for close relations between the EU and its neighbours to the south, taking advantage of the additional opportunities offered by the EEAS;
Amendment 1 #
2011/2111(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in spite of the recent spectacular economic growth in most of the BRICS countries, these same countries are also the ones with the single largest concentration of poverty in the world, according to the World Bank (e.g. in China, 207 million people live on less than USD 1.25 per day, while in India 41.6% of the population does so); whereas this shows that in the great majority of cases rapid economic growth entails an increase in inequalities, and consequently pro-poor growth policies and the creation of safety nets remain necessary in these countries;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2111(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the BRICS countries are too diverse for the EU to pursue a single policy towards them and urges that a new, differentiated development cooperation be established; suggests instead that the EU should try to find coherent patterns and areas of BRICS interest (technical cooperation and assistance, alignment of legislative requirements, etc.) which could allow the EU to establish itself as a primary BRICS partner and to exploit its comparative advantages, such as advanced environmental legislation, experience in regional cooperation and expertise in setting up systems for reducing social inequalities (e.g. efficient tax and social protection systems);
Amendment 9 #
2011/2111(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the EU must decide whether it wants to establish a closer relationship with BRICS; acknowledges the trade-offs that this would entail, with the EU having to accept that its preference for, even taking into account that the EU's vision and the BRICS countries' vision with regard to binding commitments and institutionalised regimes willmay not necessarily be sharedalways bye those countriese same;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2111(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the EU and Member States to support south-south cooperation initiatives and to take part in triangular cooperation projects in which the BRICS are participating;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2047(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its position that the collective target of devoting 0.7% of the Union’s Gross National Income (GNI) to ODA by 2015 must be met; urges the Commission and Member States to find new sources of development funding; such as the financial transaction tax; opposes any broadening of the definition of ODA;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers, nevertheless, that combating poverty and removing obstacles to countries’ development can make a decisive contribution to democratic processes,
Amendment 10 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that budget support can also be a valid way of promoting democracy and strengthening the rule of law in developing countries, as it helps to bolster public administration and audit systems, as well as encouraging national parliaments and civil society to scrutinise and monitor government action,
Amendment 25 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the creation of a Human Rights and Democracy Directorate within the European External Action Service, and calls on the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission to ensure that EU’s overseas representations have a contact person for human rights and democracy,
Amendment 28 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for directed support to social movements, independent media and political parties working for democracy in authoritarian states and new democracies in order to promote citizen participation, support sustainable multiparty systems, and improve human rights. Takes the view that the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights should have a key role to play in this regard.
Amendment 2 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is aware of the importance of involving citizens in the development of civil society and political life including a European perspective, and considers it unfortunate that expenditure related to citizenship should have been scaled down; believes, therefore, that it is necessary to restore the 2011 commitments appropriations for the budgetary line ‘Europe for citizens’ for a proper implementation of this programme;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2020(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers it inappropriate to cut spending on digital publications, particularly at a time when the rules governing the Official Journal of the EU are under discussion; given that there is a possibility that the Official Journal will be published in electronic form only, calls on the Council to keep the appropriations at least at the same level as in 2011.
Amendment 20 #
2011/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Fund should express solidarity through financial assistance to Member States. It should enhance the effective management of migration flows to the Union in areas where the Union adds maximum value, in particular by sharing responsibility between Member States and sharing responsibility and strengthening cooperation with third countries. Civil society organisations and local and regional authorities in the Member States and in third countries should participate in the process of programming, implementing and evaluating the multiannual programmes financed through this Fund. The European Parliament and the national parliaments of partner countries should also be informed and consulted in an appropriate way on the activities carried out under the Asylum and Migration Fund.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Civil society organisations, local and regional authorities and national parliaments in the Member States and in third countries shall be consulted during the process of programming, implementing and evaluating the programmes financed through this Fund.
Amendment 23 #
2011/0366(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) The Commission shall regularly monitor and examine the objectives of the Fund and evaluate the results of implementation, as well as the effectiveness of programming, through independent external evaluations, in order to ensure that the objectives have been achieved and to allow recommendations to be drawn up to improve future action. Proposals by the European Parliament or the Council for independent external evaluations shall be taken into due account. The Commission shall ensure that all stakeholders, including civil society, national parliaments and local authorities, are involved in the evaluation process for Union aid granted under this Regulation.
Amendment 155 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. A statutory auditor or a key audit partner who carries out a statutory audit of a public-interest entity on behalf of an audit firm shall not, before a period of at least twofive years has elapsed since he or she resigned as a statutory auditor or key audit partner from the audit engagement, take up any of the following duties:
Amendment 164 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. 2. When the statutory auditor or audit firm provides to the audited entity related financial audit services, as referred to in Article 10(2), the fees for such services, other than fees for such of those services which are required by law, shall be limited to no more than 105 % of the fees paid by the audited entity for the statutory audit. In case of joint audit, every audit firm will be allow to provide related financial audit services up to a limit of 20% of the total turnover of the audit services.
Amendment 180 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
A statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out statutory audit of public- interest entities may provide to the audited entity, to its parent undertaking and to its controlled undertakings statutory audit services and related financial audit services, as far as they do not affect its independence.
Amendment 364 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
At least onll the members of the audit committee shall have competence in auditing and another member in accounting and/or audiin accounting. The committee members as a whole shall have also competence relevant to the sector in which the audited entity is operating.
Amendment 438 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
The maximum duration of the combined two engagements shall not exceed 67 years.
Amendment 445 #
2011/0359(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
Where throughout a continuous engagement of 67 years two statutory auditors or audit firms have been appointed, the maximum duration of the engagement of each statutory auditor or audit firm shall not exceed 914 years.
Amendment 1 #
2011/0303(NLE)
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament decline to give its consent.
Amendment 879 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Volume 16/33
Annex I – Volume 16/33
add the following rail freight transport sections to the core network: – Almería – Málaga – Algeciras (along the coast) – Granada – Motril – Castejón – Logroño – Miranda – León – Gijón / Avilés – Palencia – Santander – Madrid – Cáceres – Mérida – Mérida – Badajoz – Portuguese border – Mora – Ciudad Real – Mérida
Amendment 881 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Volume 16/33
Annex I – Volume 16/33
Amendment 891 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Volume 17/33
Annex I – Volume 17/33
add the following rail passenger transport sections to the core network: – Madrid – Toledo – Madrid – Alcázar – Albacete – Murcia – Almería – Málaga – Algeciras (along the coast) – Avilés – Oviedo – Bilbao – Santander – Oviedo – El Ferrol – A Coruña – Castejón – Logroño – Miranda – Mora – Alcázar – Linares – Moreda/Jaén/Córdoba – Ourense – Vigo (via Cercedo) – Ourense – Monforte – Lugo – A Coruña – Palencia – Santander – Segovia – Ávila – Sevilla – Cádiz – Sevilla – Huelva – Portuguese border – Valencia – Alicante (along the coast) – Motilla – Albacete – La Encina – Santiago – Vigo – Portuguese border – Granada – Motril – Antequera – Málaga – Madrid – Ávila – Salamanca – León – Monforte – Torralba – Soria – Castejón – Plasencia – León – Gijón
Amendment 892 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Volume 17/33
Annex I – Volume 17/33
add the following rail passenger transport sections to the comprehensive network: – Almendricos – Águilas – Barcelona – Massanet – Barcelona – Puigcerdá – Játiva – Alcoy – Lleida – Manresa – Barcelona – Los Rosales – Zafra – Madrid – Burgos – Villalba – Segovia
Amendment 3 #
2011/0139(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament withholdgive its consent.
Amendment 2 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to the report of the ACP- EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Economic Development, Finance and Trade on budgetary support as a means of delivering official development assistance (ODA) in ACP countries,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas budget support has become one of the key forms of aid, and whereas it is the Commission’s aim to step up such support over the coming years,
Amendment 11 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas budget support helps to improve the quality and effectiveness of aid, with particular reference to the principles of ownership and harmonisation, given that political dialogue between donors and recipients makes it possible to tailor contributions to the priorities countries have set in their national poverty reduction strategies,
Amendment 28 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to make budget support its principal form of aid and to promote the setting of a collective EU target for budget support;
Amendment 31 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the dynamic approach adopted by the Commission and a majority of budget support providers entails a number of risks which must be duly taken into account; calls on the Commission to carry out national assessments of the likely risks and benefits of budget support in partner countries;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the EU to administer budget support in such a way as to take full advantage of its complementarity with other forms of aid;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that budget support should focus as a priority on the government departments that have the greatest impact on poverty reduction, in particular health and education ministries;
Amendment 44 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Considers, furthermore, that there is a need for gender mainstreaming in budget support, with attention being paid to gender issues at all stages in the budget process, dialogue being promoted with women’s associations and gender- differentiated indicators being introduced;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on donor countries to coordinate budget support more effectively and makes such support more predictable, and points out that they need to be willing to enter into long-term commitments with partner countries;
Amendment 56 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Takes the view that budget support should be introduced gradually in developing countries, starting with a limited amount and increasing it as the partner countries build capacity;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2300(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission also to publish the conditionalities and performance indicators in Country Strategy Papers on the occasion of the mid-term review; takes the view that budget support performance should be measured in terms of progress towards poverty reduction targets and the MDGs;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2231(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 192 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 192 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The coordinators shall be convened by their committee Chair in order to prepare the organisation of the hearings of Commissioners-designate. Following the hearings, the coordinators and, as necessary, the appointed rapporteur shall meet to evaluate the nominees in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex XVII.
Amendment 18 #
2010/2231(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 5
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 5
Each hearing shall be scheduled to last three hours, and if during this process it becomes clear that further examination of a candidate is necessary, a second and final hearing may be arranged. Hearings shall take place in circumstances, and under conditions, in which Commissioners- designate enjoy an equal and fair opportunity to present themselves and their opinions.
Amendment 19 #
2010/2231(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 6
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 6
Commissioners-designate shall be invited to make an opening oral statement of no longer than 2015 minutes. Where possible, questions shall be grouped together by theme. The bulk of the speaking time shall be allotted to political groups, mutatis mutandis in accordance with Rule 149. The conduct of the hearings shall aim to develop a pluralistic political dialogue between the Commissioners- designate and the Members. Before the end of the hearing, Commissioners-designate shall be given the opportunity to make a brief closing statement.
Amendment 21 #
2010/2231(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point c – subparagraph 2
Annex XVII – paragraph 1 – point c – subparagraph 2
The committeeChair, the coordinators and the appointed rapporteurs shall meet without delay after the hearing to evaluate the individual Commissioners-designate. Those meetings shall be held in camera. The committeeordinators shall be invited to state whether, in their opinion, the Commissioners-designate are qualified both to be members of the cCollege and to carry out the particular duties they have been assigned. IfThere shall be a single evaluation statement for each Commissioner-designate, which shall include the opinions of all the committees is unable to reach a consensus on both of those points, its Chair shall, as a last resort,nvolved in the hearing. The Conference of Committee Chairs may design a pro forma template to assist the evaluation. Where committees require further information in order to complete their evaluation, the President of Parliament shall write on their behalf to the President-elect of the Commission. The coordinators shall take the reply into consideration. If the coordinators are unable to reach a consensus on the evaluation, the Chair shall convene a full committee meeting. As a last resort, the Chair shall put the two decisions to the vote by secret ballot. The committees' statements of evaluation shall be made public within 24 hours and presented at a joint meeting of the Conference of Presidents and the Conference of Committee Chairs, which shall be held in camera. Following an exchange of views, the Conference of Presidents and the Conference of Committee Chairs shall declare the hearings closed unless they decide to seek further information.
Amendment 1 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and the Council of 4 November 2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level (European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations) and the rules regarding their funding1 (the Funding Regulation), particularly Article 12 thereof,
Amendment 2 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas pursuant to Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union states that ‘political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens of the Union’, while Parliament and the Council, in accordance with Article 224 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, lay down the regulations governing these parties and their affiliated European political foundations and in particular the rules regarding their funding, 1 OJ L 297, 15.11.2003, p. 1, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1524/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2007, OJ L 343, 27.12.2007, p. 5.Or. en
Amendment 16 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas experience with the funding of European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations has shown that they need more flexibility with regardand similar conditions as to the carry-over of funds to the following financial year and to building up reserves from own resources in excess of the prescribed minimum of their expenditure to be financed from their own funds,
Amendment 20 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AA
Recital AA
Amendment 40 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that a European political party should be represented by at least one Member in the European ParliamentTakes the view that, once the requirements for being considered a European political party have been met, that party may receive funding only if it is represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members;
Amendment 53 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 60 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 67 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 69 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 73 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 79 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes that the statute will be adapted to reforms that may be made to the European electoral system;
Amendment 85 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that the self-financing of parties and foundations is a sign of vitality; believes that it should be encouraged by putting up the present limit of EUR 12 000 per year for donations to EUR 25 000 per year/per donator, combined however with a requirement to disclose the donors of a donation at the time of its receipt in accordance with the legislation in force and in the interests of transparency;
Amendment 88 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Points out that the independent resources that the European political parties arshould not be required to demonstrate could be reduced to 10 %-financing resources, to further enhance the development of the European political parties; at the same time, believes that their own resources in the form of physical resources should not exceed 7.5 %;sources should not exceed 7.5 %;
Amendment 92 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Emphasises, however, that making the funding regime would have to be counterbalanced by providing for sanctions in the Funding Regulation where they are at present missing; considers that suchmissing up to now; these sanctions could take the form of financial penalties in the case of infringement ofs against the rules concerning, for example, the transparency of donations; underlines the necessity of providing the same conditions for building reserves from own resources in excess and carry-over funds for both European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Invites the European political parties to begin now, without being required to do so by the legislator, on the following reforms: the possibilitelection, directly ofr individual membership; and the electionrectly, by all party members of delegates to party congresses, which in turn designate the decision-making bodies of the party, submitting programmes and manifestos either to a referendum of all members or to a congress, and deciding in the same way on the designation of their nominees for the presidency of the Commission;
Amendment 99 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Takes the view that it is for the corresponding European political party to determine the conditions for membership of that party, which may be individual or through affiliation to one of the national political parties belonging to the European political party;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that at the last High- Level Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), governments reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the development goals by 2015, but that the reality is that a much more concerted effort has to be maddone; underlines that it is not acceptable that innovative financing mechanisms (IFMs) might be seen as an encouragement for certain countries to renounce to Official Development Assistance (ODA); stresses that ODA commitments and Innovative Financing Mechanisms must be seen as essential and complementary in the fight against poverty;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the urgent need to improve EU coordination on wealth- creation measures in local markets and that the principal method of promoting innovative financing is not to be found in increasing taxation, but in augmenting domestic capital formation, best achieved through the implementation and protection of property rights and land mappingfor development has to go hand by hand with enhancing domestic revenue by improving the business and investment environment of developing countries;
Amendment 23 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that ODA will fail to eradicate poverty, if G20, the EU and financial institutions do not take a determined stance in opposing corrupt administrations in recipient countries a very important step for development to enhance tax administrations and promoting good governance in tax matters;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that an estimated EUR 800 billion is lost annually from developing countries through illicit means, prevtention of which could prove decisive in achieving MDGs; urges the EU and its Member States to work in all international fora to combat tax havens and illicit capital flows;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2105(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls the Council and the Commission to promote and work towards the implementation of the following innovative financing instruments for development: a financial transaction tax, transport levies, the fight against illicit capital flows, the reduction or alleviation of the remittances costs, and the debt moratorium or cancellation.
Amendment 1 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2010 on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development cooperation1, 1 Texts adopted P7_TA(2010)0034.
Amendment 2 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2010 on progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals: mid-term review in preparation of the UN high-level meeting in September 20101, 1 Texts adopted P7_TA-PROV(2010)0210.
Amendment 3 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)
Citation 3 c (new)
– having regard to the G20 summit held in Seoul on 11-12 November 2010,
Amendment 13 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 16 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the possibility of enhancing domestic resource mobilisation is further weakened byre is a need to replace customs revenue with other domestic resources due to the global context, characterised by customs tariff liberalisation,
Amendment 18 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the existence of a large informal sector in the economy is holding back the mobilisation of domestic resources,
Amendment 35 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that globalisation exacerbates the fiscal problems of developing countriesfurther attention should be paid to difficulties encountered by developing countries to raise domestic revenues in a globalised context;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the decline in trade taxes, resulting from WTO obligations and regional trade agreements, has posed acute problems for the poorest countries that havepoorest countries are having difficulties to replace the decline in trade taxes, resulting from the global current context of trade liberalisation, by other types of domestic resources, being at best replacshifted about 30% of their lost trade taxes;
Amendment 44 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission to upgrade its assistance toregarding the strengthen theing of judiciary and anticorruption agencies in developing countries; to effectively integrate the principles of good governance in tax matters into the programming, implementation and monitoring of country and regional strategy papers, and to systematically include clauses on good governance in future trade agreements; urges member states to make tangible commitments to increasing their aid for tax;
Amendment 45 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to include a tax governance clause, including monitoring of its implementation, in relevant agreements with third countries by the EU;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the main challenge for poor countries is to broaden the tax base; points out that the decline of trade taxes has led to the introduction of consumption taxes (VAT or energy taxes); considers that even if VAT can enable the widening of the tax base in economies with large informal sectors, VAT is not an ideal instrument as it hits poor people the hardest; believes that EU's assistance to tax reform should be geared to developing balance direct and indirect taxation;
Amendment 52 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that an important requirement to increase direct taxation should be bringing the informal sector into the formal economy and improving the business environment;
Amendment 68 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Demands the Commission and the Council to engage more with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, through provision of finances and participation in its governing body;
Amendment 75 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that automatic information exchange should take place in all circumstances; welcomes in this respect the Commission's proposal on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation in order to extend cooperation between the Member States to cover taxes of any kind, abolish bank secrecy and establish the automatic exchange of information as a general rule;
Amendment 76 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Welcomes that some member states are signatories of the Council of Europe- OECD Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, and urges the 17 member states that have not done so to join the Convention;
Amendment 77 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Calls on the EU to step up its action and to take concrete measures, such as sanctions, against tax evasion and illicit capital flight; demands the Council to examine the possibility for a multilateral mechanism of automatic tax information exchange in close collaboration with UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in tax matters;
Amendment 80 #
2010/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Considers that the EU should also ensure consistency in the implementation at EU and international level of standards in the areas of prudential supervision, taxation and money laundering;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the Commission's budget for humanitarian disasters, and specifically that of DG ECHO, has not merely been frozen, but has fallen slightly in real terms over the last five years,
Amendment 28 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls also for realistic budgets to be drawn up, allocating appropriations for natural disasters or humanitarian action on the basis of repeated experience with spending in previous years;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Urges that additional efforts be made to speed up the funding of operations following natural and other disasters and the simplification of the decision-making and authorisation procedures for budgetary implementation; stresses the need for the Commission's services to work in close collaboration with the EEAS's civil protection structure, so as to make rapid initial funding of the operations possible;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls also for military and civilian personnel, and humanitarian workers involved in disaster response or humanitarian operations, to act in accordance with the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality;
Amendment 61 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes that genuine cooperation entails promoting exchanges of information, use of logistic tools and resources, use of escorts or armed guards by civilian personnel and participation in training or drills;
Amendment 63 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Council and the Commission to introduce strict and transparent rules on cooperation and coordination between the EEAS and the Commission, on the one hand, and the humanitarian agencies and civil protection mechanisms of the Member States in the management of large- scale crises outside the EU;
Amendment 66 #
2010/2101(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls for a specific and permanent cooperation structure to be established bringing together the civilian and humanitarian players within the EEAS;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas disasters causing significant human, economic and environmental damage are on the increase worldwide and whereas such crises are happening with greater impact, frequency and scope in more parts of the world, mainly due to the effects of climate change; and whereas the European Union is making considerable efforts to respond to these crises,
Amendment 8 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Commission's budget for humanitarian disasters, and specifically that of the ECHO agency, has not merely been frozen, but has fallen slightly in real terms over the last five years,
Amendment 16 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b
Paragraph 1 b
(b) calls however for a clear distinction and demarcation of roles and mandates between civil protection and humanitarian aid in order to preserve their specific features and respective identities; calls also for military and civilian personnel and humanitarian workers involved in disaster response or humanitarian operations, to act in accordance with the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality;
Amendment 17 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1(c)
Paragraph 1(c)
(c) reiterates that the use of civil protection resources, where deployed in any humanitarian crisis, should be needs drivenon an exhaustive prior investigation (carried out by the EU or UN Agencies) of the existing needs and complementary to, and coherent with, humanitarian aid ;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 point d
Paragraph 1 point d
(d) asks the Council and the Commission to clarify the arrangements for cooperation and coordination between the European External Action Service (EEAS)), establishing a specific and permanent cooperation structure bringing together the civilian and humanitarian players and the Commission for the management of a large-scale disaster response outside the territory of the European Union;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1(e b) (new)
Paragraph 1(e b) (new)
(eb) in the context of operations following a natural disaster, also calls for better coordination between the humanitarian agencies and the civil protection mechanisms of the Member States and the Commission's humanitarian agency, ECHO, and any future European civil protection force;
Amendment 31 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f a (new)
Paragraph 1 f a (new)
Amendment 32 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f b (new)
Paragraph 1 f b (new)
(fb) also calls for realistic budgets in which appropriations for natural disasters or humanitarian action are allocated on the basis of previous years' spending;
Amendment 37 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1(h a) (new)
Paragraph 1(h a) (new)
(ha) with particular reference to humanitarian aid operations, and based on the lessons learned from intervention in Haiti and Pakistan, the EU should, as far as possible, operate under the coordinating umbrella of the UN, concentrating on those fields where its intervention can contribute greater added value;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1i a (new)
Paragraph 1i a (new)
(ia) stresses that in order to achieve genuine civilian-military cooperation, exchanges of information, use of logistical means and resources and of escorts or armed protection by civilian personnel, and involvement in training or drilling exercises must all be promoted;
Amendment 53 #
2010/2070(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to supplement its aid for vertical funds with recommendations designed to encourage 'diagonal' measures to support basic health care in the countries concerned; calls likewise on the Commission to make recommendations to the vertical funds with a view to their drawing up medium- term exit strategies for partner countries in line with the progress made in achieving the objectives for which they were set up;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Indent 19
Indent 19
- having regard to its resolutions of 4 September 2008 on maternal mortality1, of 24 march 2009 on the MDG contracts2 and of 8 October25 March 20109 on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and on development cooperation3, ________ 1 Texts adopted, P6_TA(2008)0406. 2 Texts adopted, P6_TA(2009)0152. 3 Texts adopted P7_TA(20109)002934.
Amendment 19 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T a (new)
Recital T a (new)
Ta. whereas illicit capital flows from developing countries are estimated at 641 - 941 billion USD, and this outflows undermine developing countries capacity to generate their own resources and allocate more funds to poverty reduction1, _____________ 1 Professor Guttorm Schjelderup, Hearing European Parliament, 10 November 2010
Amendment 65 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on all Member States to continue to improve donor coordination and division of labour and to untie all their aid; and improve aid effectiveness by reducing overfragmentation of aid budget;
Amendment 71 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the EU not to pressure poor countries through its trade policy into opening up vulnerable market sectors when their level of development precludes them from competing fairly on the global stage; , while enhancing the pro-poor focus of the EU Aid for Trade policy;
Amendment 73 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
III. Priority MDG targets 18a. Calls the EU to maintain a global and comprehensive approach to MDGs, recognising that all individual goals and targets are interlinked and minimum requirements for the achievement of poverty eradication; Health and education
Amendment 105 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Recognises the need for developing countries to improve international accounting standards in order to prevent tax avoidance and tax evasion practices, and thereby achieving better Global Fiscal Governance;
Amendment 13 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the rules governing the stability mechanism should ensure appropriate audit, accountability and transparency arrangements;
Amendment 46 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the European stability mechanism constitutes an integral part of a global package of measures which are designed to define a new framework, reinforcing budgetary discipline and coordination of economic and financial policies of the Member States and promoting a joint European response to debt and growth challenges, concomitantly overcoming economic and social imbalances and improving competitivity;
Amendment 49 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that it is essential to go beyond the temporary measures aiming at stabilising the euro area, and that the Union should build up its economic governance, including by means of policies and instruments designed to promote sustainable growth in Member States; takes the view that the reinforcement of the SGP, the European semester, the EU 2020 strategy and the amendment of Article136 TFUEU concerning the stability mechanism are only a first step in that direction;
Amendment 80 #
2010/0074(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) It is appropriate to fix a minimum age for supporting a citizens’ initiative. This should be set as the age at which citizens are entitled to vote inlaid down in each Member State, taking as reference elections to the European Parliament elections.
Amendment 169 #
2010/0074(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Signatories shall be considered as coming from the Member State which issued the identification document indicated in their statement of supportere they have their permanent residence. In the case of dual residence, one shall be established for granting the right to take part. Signatories having their permanent residence in a third country shall be considered as coming from the Member State of which they are nationals.
Amendment 2 #
2010/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph a), third indent
Paragraph a), third indent
- agreement on mobilising additional fundresources and launching additional programmesmore effective action for those targets in respect of which only scant progress has been made so far, including MDG 5 on maternal health;
Amendment 7 #
2010/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph d)
Paragraph d)
d) to provide a clear timetable and monitoring mechanisms at EU level for achieving the objective of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2015; make concrete commitments in terms of how the EU willmake concrete commitments to ensure better coordination, policy coherence and the fulfilment of MDG 8 and in relation to closings well as to reduce the financing gap in order to reach the 2010 Gleneagles target of approximately USD 154 billion (at 2008 prices) in total ODA .
Amendment 8 #
2010/0000(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph d)a. (new)
Paragraph d)a. (new)
d)a. asks the Council to reassert, in the framework of the high-level plenary meeting on the MDGs, its collective commitment of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2015, based on clear and binding timetables for each Member State.
Amendment 2 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 17 November 2009 on policy coherence for development, and the Operational Framework of Aid Effectiveness,
Amendment 3 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation (new)
Citation (new)
- having regard to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action,
Amendment 16 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas there are striking cases ofclear incoherencies in the EU’s trade, agriculture, fisheries, climate, intellectual property rights, migration, finance, arms and raw materials policies, Policy Coherence for Development can lead to poverty reduction by finding fundamental synergies between EU Policies,
Amendment 31 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Insists that the European Union, the Member States and the EIB assume a leading role in this and make investments through tax havens less attractive by adopting rules on public procurement contracts and the granting of public funds that prevent any company, bank or other institution registered in a tax haven from benefiting from public funds; with a view to this, asks the Commission and the Member States to use the mid-term review of EIB external lending activity to make concrete improvements to its capabilities for evaluating the beneficiaries of its loans and to ensure its investments in developing countries actually contribute to eradicating poverty;
Amendment 55 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is concerned that the ‘ODA-plus approach’ entails a risk that the EU will be deprived of its roadmap to reach the 0.7% ODA/GNP target for 2015 and that it undermines the definition of ODA and its focus on poverty eradication because it exaggerates the role of other financial flows for development; Other financial flows that have a clear impact on development, should be consider maintaining and protecting the ODA definition as it is established now by the DAC Committee of the OCDE;
Amendment 65 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that it is necessary to provide for a procedure for complaints both in the EU and developing countries against failures of the Union to respect its PCD commitment; notes that the European Ombudsman, who is independent of the European Commission, drafts an annual report and has investigative powers, including on his/her own initiative in respect of complaints coming from outside the EU when these fall within his/her mandateAs the institution representing citizens, as established now in the EU institutional framework, proposes to appoint a standing rapporteur for 'policy coherence for development', with the mandate to follow-up and inform the DEVE Committee about incoherencies in EU policies;
Amendment 70 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 110 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to give the Commissioner for Development sole responsibility for the programming and implementation of aid in all developing countries in close cooperation with the High Representative and the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner in order to avoid incoherent approaches within the College and the Council;
Amendment 112 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for an inclusion of specific PCD commitments in every Presidency’s work programme, and welcomes the Spanish presidency that have already do so;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2213(INI)
Draft opinion
Article 1
Article 1
1. Asks the European Union and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries to redirectbase their cooperation towards human rights protection as a solution to the crisison the protection of human rights and redirect their dialogue on addressing and mitigating the effects of the economic, fincluding the three categories of fundamental rights: political, environmental and cultural rights; ancial, environmental and social crisis; acknowledges that a shared view on the fight against protectionism in developed countries and financial regulation and supervision would be conducive to such cooperation; calls for a reinforced dialogue in the area of the reform of international financial institutions in order to secure fairer representation for the countries involved;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2213(INI)
Draft opinion
Article 5
Article 5
5. Calls for the recognition of food sovereignecurity and an end to policies involving the exploitation of natural resources for export; calls, therefore, for an end to major hydraulic engineering, mining and forestry proj and the appropriation of land; asks the Commission to study the social, economic and environmental effects, of biopiracy and the appropriafuel production and its contribution, of land (especially for the purpose of producing biofuels, which are not a sustainable solution tor otherwise, to the fight against climate change);
Amendment 22 #
2009/2213(INI)
Draft opinion
Article 7
Article 7
7. Calls for an end to bilateral agreements and multilateral trade agreements that focus solely on free trade, to the detriment of human rights, or have theany progress towards the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements that subordinate human rights to economic growth considerations and focus exclusively on free trade, and for steps to be taken to avoid the potential effects of fragmenting regional blocs such as the Andean Communityregional fragmentation;
Amendment 27 #
2009/2213(INI)
Draft opinion
Article 8
Article 8
8. Calls, in the context of the strategy developed with a view to arriving at a global interregional partnership agreement by 2015, for agreements and investment to be redirected to the poorest countries in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goalsonsiders the Millennium Development Goals to be one of the main important objectives to be achieved by 2015, by focusing investment on the poorest countries and most vulnerable peoples, and calls for both regions to find common ground ahead of the MDG high-level meeting to be held in September 2010;
Amendment 30 #
2009/2213(INI)
Draft opinion
Article 11
Article 11
Amendment 1 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
- having regard to the European Consensus on Development1 and the EU Code of Conduct on Complementarity and Division of Labour in Development Policies2,
Amendment 2 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the IMF entitled ‘World Economic Outlook Update’ published in January 2010,
Amendment 3 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
Amendment 4 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the report by UNCTAD entitled ‘Trade and Development Report, 2009’ published in September 2009,
Amendment 8 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
- having regard to the Commission Communication of 15 September entitled ‘Policy Coherence for Development – Establishing the policy framework for a whole-of-the-Union approach’ (COM (2009)458), to the General Affairs and External Relations Council conclusions of 17 November 2009 on Policy Coherence for Development and the Operational Framework of Aid Effectiveness,
Amendment 9 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas emerging and developing economies are expected to expanded by only by 1.72.1 % in 2009 compared to a 6.1 % growth rate in 2008,
Amendment 10 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the worldglobal trade ofin goods is expected to drop by 137 % in 2009, while investment in trade and infrastructure is faltering as a consequence of the credit crunch, and whereas the least developed countries have been especially hard hit by the crisis,
Amendment 11 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the international financial institutions are stretching to meet the needs of developing countries and will face serious lending constraints unless more capital is raised,
Amendment 16 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the decline in output of advanced economies brought about by the global crisis will inevitably lead to a drop in the volume of ODA at a time when external aid is paramount to developing countries,
Amendment 20 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the reinforcement of the commitments to achieving the MDGs by 2015 and asks for greater coordinated action in view of the 2010 MDG review; calls on all Member States to show the maximum support for, and to agree on a common position towards, the 2010 United Nations MDG Summit;
Amendment 46 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with great concern that developing countries are expected to face a financial gap of between USD 350 billion and USD 63USD 315 billion in 20109 and that mounting fiscal distress in the most vulnerable countries is imperilling USD 11,.6 billion of core spending in education, health, infrastructure and social protection; advocates therefore a three-year moratorium on debt repayments, including capital and interest, to enable developing countries to implement countercyclical fiscal policies to mitigate the severe effects of the crisis; proposes the establishment at international level of an independent and transparent body for debt arbitration; proposes the establishment at international level of an independent and transparent body for debt arbitration;
Amendment 55 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Supports the creation of joint public- private initiatives for development, based on a public lead with private donors'’ support and in line with partner countries'’ priorities, as a means to increase responsible and sustainable direct investment in developing countries and facilitate technology transfer;
Amendment 75 #
2009/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Welcomes the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) enforcement of its existing policy towards Offshore Financial Centres; requests the EU, the Member States and the EIB to take up a vanguard role and make investment through tax havens less attractive by adopting rules of public procurement and disbursement of public funds which prohibit any company, bank or other institution registered in a tax haven from benefiting from public funds; calls on the EIB to consider, as part of its enhanced guidelines, the need for companies and financial intermediaries to report on their activities on a country-by- country basis;
Amendment 71 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Proposes that an additional 25 MEPs will be elected by a single constituency formed of the whole territory of the European Union; transnational lists will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the States, and will be gender-balanced; each elector will be enabled to cast one vote for the EU-wide list in addition to their vote for the national or regional list: voting for the EU constituency will be in accordance with the preferential semi-open list system (whereby votes are allotted either to the party list or to individual candidates within a list); and seats will be allocated in accordance with the Sainte-Laguë method2; further, proposes that an electoral authority will be established at EU level in order to regulate the conduct and to verify the result of the election taking place from the EU- wide list; 1 The Sainte-Laguë method uses divisors of 1, 3, 5, 7, etc, and was used in the 2009 European elections in Germany, Latvia and Sweden. It produces a slightly more proportional result than the D'Hondt method. 2 The Sainte-Laguë method uses divisors of 1, 3, 5, 7, etc, and was used in the 2009 European elections in Germany, Latvia and Sweden. It produces a slightly more proportional result than the D'Hondt method.Or. en
Amendment 101 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The European Parliament shall be composed of representatives of the Union's citizens. 2a. Theyre shall not exceedbe seven hundred and fifty in number, plus the Presidentone seats allocated to constituencies established in the Member States. Representation of citizens shall be degressively proportional, with a minimum threshold of six members per Member State. No Member State shall be allocated more than ninety-six seats. The distribution of those seats among the States shall be reviewed regularly accordingly with the total resident population of the States. Not later than twelve months before the end of the mandate of each Parliament the European Council shall adopt by unanimity, on the initiative of the European Parliament and with its consent, a decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament, respecting the principles referred to in the first subparagraphon the redistribution of seats.
Amendment 104 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 7
Amendment 105 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 7
Amendment 109 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 9
Amendment 117 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 2 a (new)
Amendment 120 #
2009/2134(INI)
Article 2 b (new)
Article 2b 1. Pursuant to Article 14(2b) of the Treaty on European Union, there shall be one additional constituency formed of the entire territory of the Union from which shall be elected twenty-five Members. 2. An electoral authority shall be established to conduct and verify the electoral process of the European Union constituency. The authority shall comprise representatives of the European Parliament, the Commission and each Member State. 3. Transnational lists of candidates for election in the European Union constituency submitted by the European political parties shall be admissible only: (a) if composed of candidates resident in at least one third of the States, and (b) if balanced by gender. 4. Each elector shall have one supplementary vote that may be cast for the European Union-wide list. Seats shall be allocated in accordance with the Sainte-Laguë method. 5. Detailed arrangements for the European Union constituency election, including the delegation of powers to the electoral authority, shall be laid down in implementing measures to be adopted in accordance with Article 14.
Amendment 135 #
Amendment 15 #
2008/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. The exceptions under paragraphs (2) and (3) 2 shall apply unless there is an overriding public interest in disclosure. As regards paragraph 2(a) an overriding public interest in disclosure shall be deemed to exist where the informationWhen assessing the public interest in disclosure, special weight shall be given to the fact that the documents requested relates to emissions into thethe protection of fundamental rights and of the environment, or to the right to live in a healthy environment.
Amendment 18 #
2008/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. As regards third-party documents, the institution shall consult the third party with a view to assessing whether an exception referred to in Article 4 is applicable, unless it is clear that the document shall or shall not be disclosedy must be disclosed by the institutions, bodies or offices. There shall be no requirement to consult the originator if it is clear that one of the exceptions provided for in this Regulation is applicable. A third party shall be consulted if that party has requested, when handing in the document, that it be treated in a specific way, with a view to assessing whether an exception provided for in this Regulation is applicable.
Amendment 19 #
2008/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Each institution shall nominate a person responsible for checking that all the time-limits laid down in this Article are duly met.
Amendment 21 #
2008/0090(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. DThe institutions, bodies or offices shall make documents directly accessible to the public and to the other institutions in keeping with the principle of sincere cooperation, in electronic form or through registers, particularly those documents drawn up or received in the course of procedures for the adoption of EUuropean Union legislative acts or non- legislative acts of general application shall, subject to Articles 4 and 9, be made directly accessible to the public.