26 Amendments of Norica NICOLAI related to 2012/2050(INI)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU should develop its foreign policy objectives further and advance its values and interests worldwide with the overall aim of contributing to peace, security, solidarity, conflict prevention, the promotion of democracy, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, gender equality, respect for international law, support for international institutions, effective multilateralism and mutual respect among nations, sustainable development, free and fair trade and the eradication of poverty;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the new momentum in European external action also requires the EU to act more strategically so as to bring its weight to bear internationally; whereas the EU's ability to influence the international order depends not only on coherence among its policies, actors and institutions, but also on a real strategic concept of EU foreign policy, which must unitestem from all Member States behind the same set of priorities and goals so that they speak with' common interests and priorities and lead to a strong single voice in the international arena; whereas the EU's foreign policy must be provided with the necessary means and instruments in order to enable the Union to act effectively and consistently on the world stage;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas parliamentary scrutiny of EU foreignthe involvement of the European Parliament in EU common foreign and security policy is essential if European external action is to be understood and supported by EU citizens; whereas effective parliamentary scrutiny of the European External Action Service will enhances the its legitimacy of this action;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls its Treaty prerogative to be consulted in the CFSP and CSDP spheres, to have its views duly taken into account and to make recommendations; recognises in this regard the availability of the HR/VP to the European Parliament; notes, however, that a solution needs to be found whereby the European Parliament is appropriately informed in the lead up to, and on the final outcome of, the Foreign Affairs Council; looks forward to the review of the external assistance instruments and to an outcome that recognises the European Parliament's rights over strategy papers and multiannual action plans, as established in Article 290 of the TFEU; calls, furthermore, for improved provision of information at all stages of the procedure for CFSP Council Decisions on agreements with third countries, including frameworks for the participation of third countries in EU crisis management operations, as well as an enhanced discussion on the EP's goals in relation to such agreements in order to avoid prolonged delay of parliamentary ratification of treaties and agreements due to an unsatisfactory content of the documents for the EP;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the role of political leadership expected of the HR/VP in ensuring the unity, consistency and effectiveness of action by the Union; calls on the HR/VP to use to the full and in a timely manner her powers to initiate, conduct and ensure compliance with the CFSP, involving Parliament's relevant bodies fully in that endeavour; welcomes the important lead role, on behalf of the international community, played under difficult circumstances by the HR/VP in the negotiations with Iran; calls for such leadership in enhancing the European Union's role in support of the Middle East Peace Process and in the Neighbourhood;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its position that important thematic policies previously covered by Personal Representatives should have the full support of the EEAS and appropriate external political representation, and therefore calls for proposals to be put forward such as that for Human Rights or Gender Equality;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. WelcomeQuestions the commitment by the Member States in the Lisbon Treaty to playing their full role in the development and implementation of the Union's foreign policy; stresses the importance of the Member States‘' solidarity, during a time of economic constraints, on improving the effectiveness of the Union as a cohesive global actor; notes in particular the importance of the Member States’' making available civilian and military capabilities for the effective implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the HR/VP to come forward with proposals to further encourage Member State cooperation under the CFSP, specifically by setting out a process that will lead to European Council conclusions on Permanent Structur, while strengthening systematic cooperation between all Member States in the conduct of foreign policy, to explore fully the possibilities provided by the Lisbon treaty for enhanced Ccooperation, in the area of security and defence and guidelines for more systematic use of coalitions of the willing, such as in the ‘core group’ concept for CSDP missions and operations, as a means of overcoming the limits of the ‘battlegroup’ cocluding the production of guidelines for the consignment of specific tasks and missions to a core group of EU states, and to start the process of developing Permanent Structured Cooperation in the area of security and defencept;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Continues to support the potential enlargement of the European Union to any European state which respects the Union's values and is committed to promoting them and which is willing and able to fulfil the accession criteria; believes that the Union would lose moral authority and political credibility worldwide were it to close its doors to its neighbours;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)
Subheading 6 a (new)
- Turkey
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls that the Southern Neighbourhood is of vital importance to the European Union and urges that a better balance be struck between pursuing market-oriented, on the one hand, and human and social approaches on the other in the EU's response to the Arab Spring; finds scarcely credible the EU's promise of 'Money, Mobility and Markets'; calls, therefore, for a greater focus on employment, education, training and regional development in order to help alleviate the current social and economic crisis in these countries, and to provide the assistance needed to support the ongoing political reforms and social and economic development; underlines the importance of supporting institutional capacity-building, including for the parliaments of these countries, an independent judicial system, the strengthening of civil-society organisations and the formation of pluralist political parties within a secular system;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Points out that Turkey is bnoth only a candidate country andbut also an important strategic partner and NATO ally; calls, therefore, for the existing political dialogue with Turkey on foreign policy choices and objectives of mutual interest to be reinforced; stresses the importance of encouraging Turkey to pursue its foreign policy in a framework of dialogue and coordination with the European Union in order to create valuable synergies and reinforce the potential for a positive impact;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls Turkey's ambition to inspire and assist democratic transitions and socio- economic reforms in the southern neighbourhood; notes that participation of Turkish institutions and non-governmental organisations in ENP instruments would generate unique synergy effects, especially in areas such as institution-building and socio-economic and civil society development; believes that practical cooperation in the context of the 'positive agenda' should be complemented with a structured dialogue between the EU and Turkey with a view to coordinating their respective neighbourhood policies; hopes that the conditions will improve for the opening of further chapters in the membership negotiations (e.g.in particular, resolution of the Cyprus problem including ratification and implementation of the Ankara Protocol); recognisealls that the lack of cooperation in migration policy is having a negative impact, especially on Greeceprogress is still needed urgently in the matter of visas, immigration and asylum;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Notes the importance of enhancing relations with Moldova in the light of recent positive changes within the country;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Calls for continued and strong engagement on the part of the EU in resolving the region's ‘frozen conflicts’, in cooperation with other important regional partners, in particular breaking the deadlock on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and playing a full role in support of any ensuing peace agreement; believes that the Transnistrian question can be a good test-case for the good will of the regional partners and should be actively pursued by the EU as it remains the closest unsolved conflict to the EU borders;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Considers Russia to have potential as an important strategic partner, but continues to have concerns regarding Russia's commitment to the rule of law, pluralist democracy and human rights should it transform its attitude to the rule of law, pluralist democracy and human rights in line with its responsibilities as a member of the Council of Europe; urges the Russian government to respond to the growing discontent expressed by many Russian citizens at the continuing corruption and oppression of the regime by returning to the path of liberal reform;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that it is the sovereign right of countries in the region to choose, free from external interference, the security organisation/arrangements/framework which, in their view, brings greatest security to their citizensUrges Russia to respect the territorial and constitutional integrity of regional neighbours and to join the international consensus in the United Nations with respect to emerging democracy;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Supports the EU's promotion of a regional approach in Central Asia, which is essential to tackling the regional dimension of issues including organised crime, trafficking in drugs, radioactive materials and human beings, terrorism, natural and manmade environmental disasters and management of water resources; calls for such engagement to be differentiated and conditionalfirm and progressive upon progress in democratisation, human rights, good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, the rule of law and the fight against corruption; notes that the EU cooperation Strategy for Central Asia identifies seven priorities, but provides resources too limited to have an impact in all policy areas; calls therefore for the EU to define priorities better according to the resources available, whilst ensuring that development cooperation is not subordinated to economic, energy or security interests;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Is concerned at the resurgence in violence following the breakdown in peace negotiations and a persistent failure to win local support; highlights the importance of a sub-regional Central Asian approach to tackling cross-border trafficking in people and goods and to fighting organised crime and terrorism; calls for stepped-up support for building the capacity of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the National Security Forces as well as for helping the wider population with agricultural and socio- economic development in order for the country to assume full responsibility for security after completion of the transfer of internal security to the Afghan forces by the end of 2014; strongly urges the Council and the VP/HR to draw up a contingency plan that should face the possibility of an overall security collapse after the withdrawal of Coalition forces;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Calls for a stronger action plan for country wide, gender inclusive, and free education to be drawn up by the Council and implemented at the same time with military downsizing, in order to build the foundations for lasting peace in Afghanistan;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that, given the increasing global and regional relevance of China, India and other emerging countries in Asia, both the United States of America and the EU may progressively shift their primary attention, political investment and resources to the Pacific; further notes that Asia should have a more important place on the foreign agenda of the European Union and EU Member States; calls therefore for greater coordination of the US and EU policies towards China, India and other emerging countries in Asia in order to avoid a decoupling of approaches to key policies the US and EU have common interests in developing closer trade and political relations with China, India and other emerging countries in Asia;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Believes that the USA as a NATO member is an important partner forwill continue to make a vital contribution to the collective security of Europethe West;
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Urges the Member States to meet their obligation to rapidly conclude the negotiations on the accession of the EU to the ECHR; underlines the importance of the monitoring procedures of the Council of Europe as a major contribution to assessing progress by neighbouring countries in achieving democratic reforms;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
Paragraph 69
69. Reiterates its call for the HR/VP, the Council and the Member States to overcome the imbalance between civilian and military planning capabilities in the EEAS and the general difficulty in achievingaddress the numerous issues plaguing civ-mil cooperation, from shortages of qualified staffing r to equirepments for CSDP missions and operations, in particular for staff in the fields of justice, civilian administration, customs and mediation, so as to ensure that adequate and sufficient expertise can be provided for CSDP missions; calls for the HR/VP to come forward with specific proposals for making up these staffing shortages, in particular in the area of civilian crisis management and the sectors described above shortages and imbalances; calls for the creation of an improved civilian and military CSDP roster, at EU level, as well as an European recruitment and training centre; calls for the creation of a commonly funded pool of permanent equipment for crisis operations;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 26 a (new)
Subheading 26 a (new)
- Sanctions and restrictive measures
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)
Paragraph 70 a (new)
70 a. Believes that in its treatment of authoritarian regimes the EU should develop a more consistent policy with respect to the imposition and lifting of sanctions and restrictive measures;