Activities of Cristian Dan PREDA related to 2018/2160(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Post-Arab Spring: way forward for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (debate) FR
Amendments (8)
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that, eight years after the upheavals, most of the expectations have still not been met; condemns the persist in the MENA region, the picture remains mixed with, on one hand, some positive developments and continuing violthe consolidations of human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in several casdemocratic gains and, on the other, the persistence of significant obstacles in the majority of the countries; is worried about the socio-economic situation in the region, which continues to be dire and, in particular, about the high levels of youth unemployment and social exclusion, which cause disillusionment and disenfranchisement on a large scale;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the EU’s continued efforts to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms in post-Arab Spring countries, and acknowledges the complexity of such a task; condemns the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in some countries; takes the view, however, that, despite a fifteen-year policy focus on Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, renewed policy efforts and increased budgetary resources in the wake of the Arab Spring, the EU’s goals and policies have not yet been completely achieved;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses concern about the fact that, in spite of itWelcomes EU's considerable political and budgetary investments and continuous political and economic outreach, in the EU has not been able to gain real political and economic leverage, and is no longer perceived as a game changer by the countries in the region; points to the dissatisfaction felt by civil society and local NGOs at how the EU translates its vision into action on the groundregion, notes, however, that the impact of EU policies remains limited; calls for a stronger commitment from the EU towards being a more active player in the region; is concerned about the increasingly complex political situation in the Maghreb and Mashreq regions, and the emergence of new political and economic regional players such as Russia and China, in addition to the competing narratives and financing from the Gulf countries and Iran;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that for far too long the policy stance towards the Maghreb and Mashreq countries was marred by an approach which was based to too great an extent on the EU’s expectations and objectivedid not take enough into consideration EU's partner countries interests and expectations, with little incentive for and ownership by beneficiary countries; regrets that the initial efforts after the Arab Spring to introduce stricter conditionality and delivery incentives in relation to beneficiary countries through the ‘more for more’ principle did not lead to greater leverage on the part of the EU in its ability to promote real changhave a greater positive influence in the areas of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms in most countries;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that, as the EU struggles to come up withis elaborating a renewed vision for the management of migration and assistance to refugees, there is an increasing risk that some countries in the region might use migration containment and their role therein to seek greater leverage in their political and policy dialogue with the EU; stresses, instead,involving MENA region partners in the implementation of common solutions to tackle issues such as irregular migration, human trafficking and terrorism should be a top priority; stresses the importance of a policy framework promoting democratic, political and socio- economic inclusion as mutually reinforcing factors; is convinced that, where the prerequisites for the negotiation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, conditional on democratic progress, are not yet in place, the EU should provide increased access to trade and investment, and assistance for reconstruction and infrastructure modernisation in strict correlation with progressive political and economic reforms;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for more inclusiveness and a closer involvement of local civil society in the identification of needs in the partner countries; welcomes the efforts by the EEAS and the Commission to broaden civil society outreach and include the private sector, and encourages them to do more in this regard; takes the view that the EU should make access to available funds for smaller civil society organisations (CSOs) easier, streamline the application processes and focus on local CSOs; points out the perception among local civil society interlocutors of a primary focus by the EU on large, international CSOs; calls on the EU to invest more resources in promoting the capacity building of local CSOs and facilitating enhanced partnerships between them and large, international CSOs, with a view to increasing local ownership;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls the added value of parliamentary diplomacy and of the regular bilateral interparliamentary meetings which Parliament holds with its counterparts from the Southern Neighbourhood as a tool for exchanging experiences and fostering mutual understanding; points out the importance of the Joint Parliamentary Committees in this context as a unique instrument to formulate ambitious joint policies between the EU and its closest partners; encourages the EU’s national parliaments to hold bilateral interparliamentary meetings within the framework of the ENP; underlines once more that political parties in the national parliaments and the European Parliament can play a role in this regard; takes the view that dialogue between the European Parliament, EU national parliaments and the parliaments of the Southern Neighbourhood could provide a very valuable opportunity to foster regional dialogue and cooperation in the Southern Neighbourhood; points, moreover, in this context, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean as a venue where regional integration and an ambitious political and economic agenda for this organisation could be re- dynamised;