Activities of Knut FLECKENSTEIN related to 2013/2149(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on assessing and setting priorities for EU relations with the Eastern Partnership countries PDF (199 KB) DOC (109 KB)
Amendments (27)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the European Council conclusions on the Eastern Partnership of 19-20 December 2013,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), in particular the Eastern Partnership (EaP), aims to extend the values and ideas of the founders of the EUis based on a community of values and the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EaP is directed at European countries and is a response to the European aspirations of the societies of the partner countriesstern Partnership aims to support the reform processes of six Eastern European countries with a view to accelerating their political association and economic integration with the European Union;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the participants of the Vilnius Summit in November 2013 reconfirmed their commitment to implement these guiding principles of the Eastern Partnership;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the recent developments in the EaP countries and their relations with the EU are a warning that the EU is still not considered as the only political alternatives well as the outcome of the Vilnius Summit highlight the need to strengthen the strategic character of the Eastern Partnership;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the initialling by Georgia and the Republic of Moldova of the Association Agreements, including provisions on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas, at the Vilnius Summit in November 2013 as well as the European Council conclusions of 19-20 December 2013 that reconfirmed the readiness of the EU to sign these agreements as soon as possible and no later than the end of August 2014; reminds that the European Union remains ready to sign the Association Agreement, including provisions on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, with Ukraine as soon as Ukraine is ready;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. RecogniseConsiders that the EaP projecstern Partnership project requires a thorough assessment of its effectiveness, including an accurate evaluation of its successes and failures and that it needs new impetus and a clear vision for the way forward, focusing not only on the political cooperation, but aiming to anchorstrengthen contacts and cooperation between the societies of the EaP to the EU, thus urges the EU to focus particularly on establishing visa-free regimes, on investing in youth and future leaders, and on the energy sectorempowerment of civil society;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for a more active role of the EU directed at settlement of the frozen conflicts in the region; expresses concern in this regard that the efforts and the devoted resources have not been sufficient for achieving any tangible results so far;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that the outcome of the Vilnius Summit highlights the need to enhance the strategic character of the Eastern Partnership; recommends therefore to make flexible use of the tools at the EU's disposal, such as macro- economic assistance, easing of trade regimes, projects to enhance energy security and economic modernization, and swift implementation of visa liberalization, in line with European values and interests;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that more progress can be made on the establishment of theWelcomes the proposal of the European Commission to allow visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens; considers that swift progress toward visa- free regimes should be made a priority, and calls for more efforts in this area; notes, in this connection, that visa liberalisation is only one of a number of processes aimed at bringing the societies closer together, and that more efforts are required in this area, particularly with regard to advancing cooperation in the fields of education and cul, science, culture and infrastructure; considers that greater emphasis should be placed on the fact that the EaP project is directed at societies rather thanand not only at authorities;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of focusing more on the consolidation of the energy sector, which is one of the main conditions for modernisation of the economy, and developing energy strategies in line with European Energy Community obligations; calls for the continuation of gas and electricity market reforms and an adequate share of energy from renewable resources; recognizes that Eastern Partnership countries' energy dependence on Russia and inadequate diversification of supply complicate the dynamics of European integration, and calls on the European Commission and Member States to fast- track projects that will help mitigate the condition;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that difficulties have emerged in promoting and implementing the EaP, and stresses that thestern Partnership can be overcome by a rebalanced EU’s engagement shouldthat goes beyond political dialogue to tackle and develop social, economic and cultural dialoguespheres as well;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that the success of Eastern Partnership critically depends on the emergence and entrenchment of a pro- European consensus among political elites and societies in partner countries; contends that much remains to be done in this regard, such as increasing the public visibility of EU assistance and communicating the benefits of EU integration;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for a more individualistailored approach to individual partner countries, implementing the principles of differentiation, evaluating the progress of each partner country ba and more- for-more, but with overall coordination; strongly believes that the depth and scope of relations with each partner country should reflect its own European ambition, commitment to shared values, and progress in aligning with EU legislation, assessed on the basis of clear benchmarks and on its own merits, but with overall coordination;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Regrets, furthermore, the insufficient desire among EaP partner countries to build a common message and engage in common efforts vis-à-vis the EUcommends to further strengthen the multilateral track of the Eastern Partnership in order to foster a climate of cooperation and good neighbourly relations that will support the objectives of political association and particularly economic integration; believes that multilateral cooperation should be further strengthened to advance cross-border and regional cooperation, especially in areas such as transport, people-to-people contacts, environment, border security, and energy security;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that more efforts should go into sharing experiences of democratic reforms and processes rather than imposing EU standards, and acknowledging the uniqueness of individual countries and highlighting the equal status of partners and potentialthe expected mutual benefits;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges that association agreements be signed and fully implemented, where applicable, with the partner countries, in order to promote good governance and the rule of law, human rights, particularly the right to a fair trial, and the fight against corruption, and to support the building and modernisation of partners’ economies and business-friendly legislationsocieties;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Condemns the pressure exercised by Russia on several Eastern Partnership countries und underlines their sovereign right to freely determine their relations with the EU; highlights the need to address this in talks with Russia as well as the need for a serious discussion among EU Member States on new new ways of constructively engaging Russia in initiatives that reflect common interests of a secure, stable and prosperous European neighbourhood, thus overcoming the obsolete and dangerous thinking on terms of spheres of influence; in this context, considers that the EU, Russia and the Eastern Partnership countries should cooperate more closely for the resolution of the protracted conflicts in their common neighbourhood;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the cooperation instruments should be defined precisely, taking account of available instruments and programmes, and focusing particularly on education and academic exchange; calls for additional financial resources to be provided for the implementation of the EaP and support for reforms, flagship initiatives and projects; calls for the full participation of all six EaP partner countries in Union programmes;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines that the corruption is still widespread in the EaP countries and it is an important issue that needs to be addressed;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. HRecognises the effects of the economic crisis on the economic development of the Eastern Partnership countries; highlights the importance of fostering economic cooperation in order to bring the EaP project forward, inter alia by raising awareness of the complexity of economic problems, promoting good governance in the financial sector and cooperation with international financial institutions, adopting a sectoral approach, encouraging legislation conducive to the development of SME sector and promoting business partnerships between the EU and the EaP;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the importance of fostering economic cooperation in order to bring the EaP project forward, inter alia by raising awareness of the complexity of economic problems, promoting good governance in the financial sector, adopting a sectoral approach, encouraging legislation conducive to the development of SME sector and promoting business partnerships and people-to-people contacts between the EU and the EaP;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers, furthermore, that promoting joint activities with other strategic partners and cooperation in international and European organisations would be beneficial to all concerned; recalls, in this regard, the EU's standing offer for Russia to participate in Eastern Partnership projects and initiatives, and reiterates that a prosperous, well-governed and stable neighbourhood is in Russia's own interest;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the factIs convinced that the European Endowment for Democracy can play an important role in EaP countries by strengthening civil society; invites the Commission, the EEAS and Member States to support the work of the EED, and make full use of the potential for cooperation and synergies;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights the importance of promoting and supporting joint efforts in research and innovation, including exchange programmes for students, in virtual multilingual projects, in dialogue between cultures, through joint film productions and joint resources for literary translations, in joint research on the legacy of Nazism and Communism, and of totalitarian regimes and on common history inof Europe;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Takes the view that the EU should more pro-actively encourage the partner countries to combat human rights violations; calls on Member States to implement the EU guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and reminds that for serious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms the EU itself can, in line with the treaties, consider the introduction of restrictive measures or sanctions in the framework of CFSP which include embargo on arms, ban on exports of equipment for internal repression, and visa restrictions or travel bans for persons, directly or indirectly, responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, or whose activities otherwise seriously undermine democracy or the rule of law, as well as the freezing of funds and their economic resources; stresses the need to ensure that sanctions are selective and targeted in order to avoid affecting the life of ordinary citizens;