26 Amendments of Marietje SCHAAKE related to 2017/2056(INI)
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to ensure that theonly proceed with the ongoing deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is undertaken on the basis of mutually agreed ambitions and the upholding of the, core values and principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected and upheld, in the interest of both parties and especially their citizens;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to remind the Azerbaijani authorities abouthat the European Parliament’s position as expressed will have the final say over the ratification of any agreement and to remind them of the European Parliament’s position in its resolution of 15 November 2017 on the Eastern Partnership, which unambiguousclearly states that no comprehensive agreement will be ratified with a country that does not respect EU valuefundamental EU values and rights, in particular with regard to the non- implementation of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights and the harassment, constricts space for civil society, violates human rights, including those of the LGBTI community, principles of democracy and the rule of law and continues to harass, intimidatione and persecution ofe human rights defenders, NGOs and journalists; to ensure that significant steps are taken as regards the release ofstress that all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan need to be released before any new EU-Azerbaijan agreement; to ensure a dedicated suspens will be concluded; to include in the agreement under negotiation a mechanism related to human rights and fundamental freedoms is included in the nethat allows for the suspension of the agreement if human rights, democracy and the rule of law agreement not adhered to;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) to ensure that the future agreement with Azerbaijan is ambitious, comprehensive and forward-looking, and will delivering tangible and concrete benefits not only for large companies but also for SMEs and for the citizens of the EU and of Azerbaijan; to include in the new agreement specific supervision and control mechanisms against money laundering schemes, fraud and corruption;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) to ensure, in so far as the above conditions are fulfilled, speedy and steady progress in the negotiations with the objective ofrefrain from mentioning a date for the signing of this new agreement before the next Eastern Partnership Summit in 2019, which can only be signed when all conditions mentioned above are fulfilled;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) to actively communicate about the aims of the new agreement to improve public awareness, both in Azerbaijan and in the EU, aboutnd to raise public awareness about EU values, the objectives of the conditionality principles included in the new agreement as well as the expected opportunities and benefits that would arise from its conclusion, thereby countering all disinformation campaigns;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) to provide forinsist on regular and in-depth dialogue, notably on in order to encourage and monitor political reforms aimed at bolstering institutions, such as the judiciary in order to make them more democratic and independent, onthe upholding of human rights, and onincluding LGBTI rights, the fostering a strong civil society and ensuring its involvement in the reform process as well as the liberalization of the regulatory environment for NGO's;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) to establish specific measures aimed at implementing the recommendations by the OSCE/ODHIR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission with a view to ensuring progress towards elections and referenda that allow for a free and fairto make sure that all elections and referenda in Azerbaijan are free and fair and allow for the expression of Azerbaijani citizens’ views and aspirations;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) to establish specific measures aimed at implementingnsure that the recommendations by the OSCE/ODHIR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission with a view to ensuring progress towardsare implemented, with a view to establish new legislation guaranteeing the organization of elections and referenda that allow for a free and fair expression of Azerbaijani citizens’ views and aspirations; to put strong emphasis on the effectiveness and impartiality of the election administration, the conduct of the campaign and the respect for fundamental freedoms, media coverage of the elections and the administration of election day procedures, including the vote count and tabulation of results, as called for by the OSCE; to further monitor the organization of future elections until these requirements are met;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) to aim for provisions that enhance cooperation in promoting peace and international justice and in particular for; to insist that Azerbaijan adhere to its international obligations, including as a member of the Council of Europe and to urge Azerbaijan to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC); to also seek strong cooperation measures in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as tackling illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) to aim for provisions that enhance cooperation in promoting peace and international justice and in particular for Azerbaijan to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC); to calsl upon Azerbaijan to respect its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe and abide by the decisions of the ECtHR; to seek stronger cooperation measures in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as tackling illicit trade in small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) to provide for closer cooperation in foreign and security matters to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards responses to global threats, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) to put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders; to insist that the rights of all persons living within the border of Azerbaijan, whether temporary or permanent are respected; to contribute in particular to upholding their right to return to their homes and property and to be awarded compensation in line with the rulings of the ECHR;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) to provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its impartiality as well as its independence from the executive and at strengtheningfor legislative provisions that strengthen democracy and the rule of law, as well as developing a strong and sustainable framework for the protection of human rights and gender equality; to include views from civil society and NGO's in developing these provisions and frameworks;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) to provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its independence from the executive and at strengthening the rule of law, as well as developing a strong framework for the protection of human rights and gender equality; to make sure that strong legislation is in place for preventing and sanctioning politically exposed persons´ involvement in corruption, traffic of influence, money laundering, abuse of office and other related offences, particularly within the framework of the recent joint journalistic investigations revealing the involvement of a number of Azeri officials in such activities;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) to put in place specific provisions to support Azerbaijan in fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasion; to make the signing and ratification of a new agreement conditional upon a full EU wide investigation on into the Azeri money laundering schemes disclosed by the OCCPR as well as the bribery by Azeri authorities of European politicians and officials, both within the Council of Europe and the European institutions;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) to put in place specific proviclosely monitor and evaluate, before any agreement is in place, Azerbaijan´s progress in fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasions; to support Azerbaijan in fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasiontake into account and push for the investigation of all recent disclosures related to the Azeri Laundromat, a money-laundering operation which, according to OCCRP, handled $2.9 billion over a two-year period, between 2012 and 2014, through four shell companies registered in the United Kingdom, as well as for the investigation of the findings related to Azerbaijan in the PANA fact finding EP mission’s report in Malta; to be aware that there is evidence revealing government ministries as the direct source of some of this money, as well as strong connections to high-ranking Azeri officials;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n d (new)
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) to include provisions encouraging the implementation of legislation in Azerbaijan related to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms aimed at ending political prosecutions and abductions, the targeting of political dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders, NGO representatives and members of some minority groups including the LGBTQ community; to encourage the setting up of legal frameworks and provisions that allow for the prosecution of those violating these provisions and to make violations established in a court of law punishable; to set up a reinforced forum for a human rights dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan to encourage and support in particular the implementation of comprehensive reforms of thein the field of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and an independent and impartial judiciary, all in line with EU standards;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) to einsure a review ofist that legislation and a halting of measures that seek to curtail civil society’s legitimate activities notably as regards their registration requirements, foreign funding and grants registration, undue criminal investigations, raids of their offices, freezing of their accounts and persecution of their leaders are put to and end immediately;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point q a (new)
(qa) to ensure an immediate review of legislation decriminalising online defamation, in particular that of the president, especially as the penalty for this offence has recently been increased to up to 5 years of imprisonment; to urge Azerbaijan to move away from such dictatorial practices and align to EU standards;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) to ensure, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan takes significant steps as regards the release ofreleases all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience which, in 2017, exceeded 150 persons, including, among the most emblematic cases, Ilgar Mammadov, Afgan Mukhtarli, Mehman Huseynov, Ilkin Rustamzada, Seymur Hazi, Rashad Ramazanov, Elchin Ismayilli, Giyas Ibrahimov, Beyram Mammadov, Asif Yusifli, Fuad Gahramanli and Aziz Orujov, the lifting of their travel bans once released, including those of Khadija Ismayilova and Intigam Aliyev; to secure the release and improvement of the situation of these individuals via the judiciary and the application of the rule of law;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point r c (new)
(rc) to urge Azerbaijan to immediately address the unprecedented infringement proceedings launched by the Council of Europe in 2017 and ensure the unconditional release of opposition politician Ilgar Mammadov, thus complying with a judgment from the European Court of Human Rights from 2014;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point s
Paragraph 1 – point s
(s) to seekinsist, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan commits tostarts investigations into all cases of mistreatment of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, notably in the case of the late Mehman Galandarov, who died in custody;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) to stress its concern over the current state of press freedom in Azerbaijan, including the prosecution and harassment of journalists and the blocking of media outlets; to underline the importance of a free and independent media, both off and on-line as a core principle of democracy and to ensure a strengthened EU support, both political and financial, for free and pluralistic media in Azerbaijan, with editorial independence and in line with EU standards, and pointing out that a reinforced attention to press and media freedom could take the form of a regional initiative encompassing all the Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w
Paragraph 1 – point w
(w) to allow for increased cooperation in the energy sector in line with the EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic energy partnership, while taking into account that in March 2017, the EITI (The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) suspended Azerbaijan’s membership for failing to comply with the group’s civil society requirements; to push for Azerbaijan to realign to these requirements;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point y
Paragraph 1 – point y
(y) to put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction, in line with the Union´s climate change agenda, as part of the new agreement, including through a mainstreaming of these policies as part of other sector policies;