Activities of Knut FLECKENSTEIN related to 2016/2036(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy PDF (465 KB) DOC (87 KB)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU is now surrounded by an arc of instability, as large parts of the Middle East and North Africa are engulfed in ethno-religious conflicts and proxy wars and terrorist groups such as ISIS and the Jabhat al-Nusra Front proliferate throughout the region, while an aggressive, revisionist Russia continues to violate its neighbours’ sovereignty and openly challenges the European security order;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas these conflicts have direct and serious consequences for the security and well-being of European citizens, as they increasingly spill over into the EU, be it in the form of terrorism, or massive refugee flows, or disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing our societies;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas an aggressive Russia continues to violate its neighbours' sovereignty and openly challenges the European security order, be it in the form of disinformation campaigns aimed at dividing our societies or in the form of providing financial support to EU sceptical and fascist groups within the Union;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls what many seem to have forgotten, namely that the European Union is one of the greatest achievements in European history and that the transformative power of the EU has brought peace, stability and prosperity to its citizens; emphasises that the EU remains the largest economic power, the most generous donor of humanitarian and development assistance, and a frontrunner in global multilateral diplomacy on issues such as climate change, non-proliferation of weapons and human rights;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that the current crisis is also an opportunity for the EU if it is used to make the EU work better; recalls that European citizens see an effective common foreign and security policy as a priority area of action for the EU and that this is one of the areas where European cooperation can yield most value added; emphasises, therefore, that Member States must change their mentality since nowadays thinking aboutconsidering foreign policy and security in a narrow minded national perspective is obsolete; is convinced that no single Member State alone is able to tackle any of the challenges we face today; urges Member States to finally show sufficient levels of political will and trust in one another to make it possible to use the tools at hand in a concerted manner in order to pursue our interests and values; reiterates that the EU can only be a strong global player on an equal footing with other major powers if all Member States speak with one voice and act together in the framework of a strong EU foreign policy;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that an effective implementation of the EU Global Strategy presented by the VP/HR in June 2016 is not possible without strong commitment, ownership, political will and leadership from the Member States; highlights that the appropriate resources need to be allocated toby the Member States for the implementation of this strategy, in particular in the crucial area of security and defence;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the intention of devising an implementation plan on security and defence; underlines that this implementation plan should be complemented by a White Book process, which would specify the level of ambition, tasks, requirements and capability priorities for European defence; calls on the VP/HR, in close cooperation with Member States and the Commission, to start working on such a White Book as a matter of priority in order to deliver first results in the first semester of 2017;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that the Global Strategy should be revised regularly, in synchrony with the electoral cycle and the entry into office of each new Commission, in order to check if its objectives and priorities still fit with the challenges and threats;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights that EU external action needs to be based on the three pillars that could be defined as the ‘three Ds’: Defenceiplomacy, Development and Diplomacyefence;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that the EU must strengthen its security and defence capabilities, as it can only use its full potential as a global power if it combines its unrivalled soft power with hard power; recalls that strongerufficient civilian and military capacities are key elements for the EU to fully respond to crises, build the resilience of partners and protect Europe; notes that since power politics is again dominating international relations, defence and deterrence capabilities are critical for our leverage in diplomatic talks; in this regard, reiterates that the Common Security and Defence Policy needs to be strengthened, as the only realistic way to strengthen our defence capabilities in a time of budgetary constraints is to increase synergies by stepping up defence cooperation;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the ongoing work on the European Defence Action Plan and the Commission’s efforts to maximise defence cooperation, including through incentives in areas such as research, transport, space, cyber, energy and industrial policies; notes the proposal by the French President for a European Security and Defence Fund, and supports the development of new and innovative financing and investment concepts, including through the European Investment Bank; supports the proposals for a ‘European Semester for Defence’ and calls on the VP/HR to present concrete proposals to this effect; commends the European Defence Agency’s role in fostering and coordinating capability development, and calls for its strengthening, notably by increasing its budget through an allocation of the additional resources by the Member States;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the Warsaw Summit Declaration, particularly the Joint Declaration on NATO-EU cooperation adopted during the Warsaw Summit; fully supports deepened cooperation between NATO and the EU in the areas of cybersecurity, migration, and the response to hybrid threats; invites the VP/HR to present specific proposals for the follow-up to the Warsaw Joint Declaration by the end of 2016; is convinced that NATO is crucial for the collective security of Europe;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that the security of EU Member States is undividable and that in line with Article 42(7) TEU all Member States must enjoy the same level of security; believes it is crucial to strengthen the European security architecture, which is based on the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and which has been severely damaged by Russia’s illegal military interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Believes it is crucial to strengthen the European security architecture, which is based on the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and which has been severely damaged by Russia's illegal military interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Takes the view that it is time to define a new, more realistic strategy for the EU’s relations with Russia, based on credible deterrence but also on dialogue in areas of common interest; stresses that sanctions have proven to be the most effective means for deterring Russian aggression; recalls that the full implementation of the Minsk agreement is a prerequisite forrecalls that the suspension of sanctions; insists that the EU should consider imposing further sanctions in case Russia continues to violate international law; believes it is in the common interest of the EU and Russia to achieve a better relationship, provided international law is applieds conditioned on the implementation of the Minsk agreement;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Urges the EU to step up its cooperation with its Eastern partners in order to strengthen rule of law and economic and social prosperity as much as their resilience and independence;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that a deepening of the relationship with the US and Canada is of strategic interest to the EU, while at the same time it is important for the EU to strengthen its relationship with Central and South America;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that ensuring peace and stability on our continent, in our neighbourhood and in Africa must now be at the heart of Europe’s action; takes the view that it is necessary to tackle the root causes of instability and forced and irregular migration, namely poverty, the lack of economic opportunities, armed conflict, bad governance, climate change and mistaken trade policies which do not address these challenges; believes that security, economic and social development and trade are parts of the same comprehensive strategy; calls for European and international action (UN/G20) against illegal financial transfers out of Africa;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Highlights the importance of finding a sustainable solution to the conflict in Syria; supports the UN-led efforts to facilitate negotiations between all parties to the Syrian conflict on an inclusive political settlement; calls on the EU to use its leverage over key actors such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, US and Russia to ensure that they take a constructive position; emphasises that the use of sanctions shcould be considered in case some of the actors involved do not deliver on their commitments;
Amendment 483 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recalls the importance of Europe’s normative power, and calls for the further strengthening of the EU’s cultural and science diplomacy in order to project and promote European strengths and values beyond our borders; also points out the power of economic diplomacy, and in particularter alia sanctions, as a tool for enforcing EU polices;
Amendment 490 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Highlights the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the need for a strengthened role of parliaments in the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including through intensified cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments on matters of EU foreign and security policyin strengthening political cooperation with the EU's partners;
Amendment 494 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Highlights the need for a strengthened role of national parliaments in the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including through intensified cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments on matters of EU foreign and security policy;
Amendment 504 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Stresses that the financial means available for the EU’s external action are not commensurate to the challenges we are facing; calls in this regard for a substantial increase in the resources available under heading IV of the MFF, through an increase of the overall budget by the Member States, in the context of the upcoming mid-term review;
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls also for more accountability and transparency, in particular in relation to the negotiation of international agreements;