Activities of Ricardo CORTÉS LASTRA related to 2011/2286(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Development cooperation with Latin America (short presentation)
Reports (1)
REPORT on defining a new development cooperation with Latin America PDF (251 KB) DOC (156 KB)
Amendments (73)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that economic and technological advances in some Latin American countries make it necessary to rethink the EU’s bilateral development cooperation objectives; calls for cooperation to be redirected and not cut or suspended; stresses that we face common challenges that we must tackle by strengthening multilateralism;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Points out that although aid can act as a leverage for LA countries, it is not enough to guarantee sustainable and lasting development; therefore calls on LA countries to strengthen and mobilise their domestic resources, set up transparent taxation systems, involve effectively the private sector, local governments and civil society in the EU- LA agenda and for their greater ownership of projects;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CStresses the need to tie the progress in relations with Latin America to a coherent development policy; therefore, considers it necessary to draw up cooperation instruments and objectives for each country, concentrating resources on the most vulnerable countries and improving PCD;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the principle of differentiation and concentration of aid proposed by the Commission; stresses that differentiation must be carried out gradually in the programming phase, as regards both the beneficiary countries and the actual tools of cooperation, developing other forms of cooperation more suited to MICs; recommends that the criteria for application of the principle of differentiation be objective and common to all countries;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes that the differentiation approach should not result in a drastic decline in the region’s importance in the outreach of the EU, which is and should behave like a global actor, being an active member of international society and not just the principal global donor. Otherwise, the EU may condemn itself to irrelevance in entire regions, leaving a space open to the intervention of other global actors;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that any possible reallocation of funds must benefit the geographical programmes for the eradication of poverty in the same region’s LICs and LMICs;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Considers that the message that the EU is sending to the region is very troubling, since, in practical terms, it is a declaration that it does not give it the importance that it deserves, in spite of the multiple political and trade commitments made and shared global interests;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Asks the Commission to present a coherent strategy for gradual withdrawal of bilateral aid to MICs, which would permit them to strengthen their position as ‘graduates’ from aid, thus following the principle of predictability of aid recognised at the Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Calls on the Commission to present a coherent strategy for theensure that said gradual withdrawal of bilateral aid to the remainder of the eleven MICs, commencing when the new DCI enters into force, and incorporatinges the following criteria:
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
an explicit link between the objectives and the sectoral concentration of bilateral aid in order to strengthen social cohesion, especially through the co-financing of active policies and programmes to reduce inequality in terms of income and opportunities, as well as other more advanced programmes supporting competitiveness and promoting sustainable development, including the promotion of technological and scientific cooperation and technical assistance, priorityeferential access to thematic programmes,regional and sub-regional thematic programmes, and to the Partnership Instrument that includes a guaranteed minimum amount; moves towards reimbursable aid and scholarship programmes;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to boost the Partnership Instrument by over EUR 1 billion to foster the new shape of cooperation with MICs and LMICs, ensuring that funds can be planned, quantified and scrutinised; stresses the need to ensure that it is an instrument that intensifies the EU’s response to global challenges such as the fight against inequality, climate change, security, or the fight against drug trafficking;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers that the high levels of inequality and the lack of an effective social protection mechanism are the greatest obstacle to the consolidation of democracy and to fair and sustainable economic growth in the region, and therefore calls for a stronger focus ongreater attention to the link between democratic governability and social cohesion;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Takes the view that the EU-LAC partnership’s objective of social cohesion will be achievable only insofar as it generates a high level of development and fairness of income and wealth distribution, and that this objective requires ensuring the eradication of poverty through more just and progressive fiscal policies, strengthening tax-paying capacity and the fight against fraud and tax evasion;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that it is important to maintain the 20% target for education and health programme importance of maintaining the 20% target for education and health programmes; Reiterates that education and investment in human capital are the foundation of social cohesion and socio-economic development; calls for the implementation of effective policies and adequate funding to fight illiteracy, the rate of which remains high in some countries in the region, in particular among girls and women, and for the promotion of access to non-fee-paying public education (at primary and secondary levels), which is often restricted owing to a lack of the necessary budgetary resources in some countries; in this context, supports the project drawn up by the OEI, ‘Educational goals 2021: the education we want for the generation of the bicentenaries’;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Stresses that the large differences in terms of academic performance in Latin America have continued to increase in recent years if comparisons are made based on rural and urban areas, the type of school (public or private), gender or socio-economic status, thus worsening the problem of lack of social cohesion;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that the DCI must integrate social cohesion objectives more efficiently in its thematic, national and regional programming, mainly by supporting fairer fiscal, tax and social policies which promote equality, access to public services and, decent work and the reform of the judicial system;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Notes the importance of such programmes as EuroSocial, URB-AL and AL-INVEST; COPOLAD, as well as programmes to further Dialogue and Cooperation between the EU and Latin America for the establishment of management models on Migration and Development policies; notes that in the new DCI these programmes should be strengthened, exploring their potential in terms of triangular cooperation;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Reiterates the importance of the EU–AL forum on social cohesion and asks that it be strengthened as a space for bi-regional political dialogue on social cohesion, through the promotion of more ambitious mechanisms and mechanisms for the coordination of cooperation in this field, and that social cohesion be encouraged on the agendas of the main international forums;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Notes that EU–LAC Foundation may play a relevant role in coordinating and supporting the actions and debates of civil society on the role of international cooperation in fostering social cohesion in the region;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of development cooperation policy, laid down in Article 208 of the TFEU, for the eradication of poverty, the promotion of economic and social rights, protection of the environment, good governance, and sustainable and inclusive development; (Linguistic AM)
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the EC to enhance the visibility of its projects conducted in the Latin American countries and make them more understandable to their citizens demonstrating the added value of cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Stresses the need to establish within EU delegations focal points for PCD and the development of monitoring mechanisms in this field;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Underlines the importance of greater coherence in ODA and notes that the presence of the EU and of three LA countries in the G20 should contribute to a reconciling of positions that may make it possible for PCD to be implemented jointly;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Recalls the obligation to respect the principle contained in Article 208 on PCD and avoid imposing on the region the double penalty that would arise from the exclusion of 11 countries from the EU’s bilateral cooperation and the elimination of the trade preferences based on the SPG Plus regime;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Emphasises that in keeping with the concept of democratic ownership, parliaments, local and regional authorities and civil society should be supported in their efforts to play their proper role in defining development strategies, holding governments to account, monitoring and assessing past performance and achieved results; underlines especially the importance of empowering the Latin American parliamentarians' role in decision making processes;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Notes that support for civil society should continue to be one of the priorities of the next DCI; underlines that this support should be included in its country strategies and in the regional programmes, thus highlighting its decisive role in the fight against inequality, corruption and the scrutiny of the use of financial resources;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Calls on the EC to provide enhanced financial, technical and expertise support to the national parliaments´ administrations of the Latin America countries within the regional strategy programmes in order to strengthen their efficiency, transparency and accountability, which is crucial if the parliaments are to play their proper role in the democratic decision making processes;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Recalls that the European Consensus on Development notes, in paragraph 18, that ‘The EU will enhance its support for building capacity of non- state actors in order to strengthen their voice in the development process and to advance political, social and economic dialogue’; Deplores that the Green Paper on increasing the impact of EU development policy largely fails to explain how civil society will participate and be empowered in the EU’s future development cooperation policy;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Recalls that criminality and insecurity have a large impact on the trust that citizens have in public and democratic institutions, as well as on the safeguarding of human rights;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Is concerned about the marked impact of the gender-based violence that occurs in the region;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Asks that the exchange of experience and information between the EU and Latin America be promoted within the framework of the EuroClima programme and of South-South cooperation, as agreed in the Madrid Action Plan; recalls the importance of education to environmental sustainability;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Notes that although it has 30 % of the planet’s water resources, the distribution of water in Latin America is very irregular and unequal; urges the Commission to maintain its assistance to partner countries in support of a better management of the supply and sanitation of water resources;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Recalls the EU’s commitment to contribute to increasing the role of sustainable energy as one of the vectors of sustainable development;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 bis (new)
Paragraph 21 bis (new)
21 bis. Emphasizes the need to study further experiences with LAIF and insists that future projects must be subject to clearly established and transparent monitoring mechanisms for their implementation and to social and environmental impact studies;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Points out in particular the importance of support for small and medium-sized enterprises because of their contribution to development, to the region’s economic growth and to social and economic consolidation; underlines that SMEs are the main sources of job generation; expects that advancement of the corporate social responsibility activities of their European partners will also be necessary in order to further the objectives of the EU’s inclusive growth policy;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 ter (new)
Paragraph 21 ter (new)
21 ter. Insists that the EC needs to develop clear guidelines on a transparent decision-making process on the selection of projects and ensure coherence with the European Consensus on Development, the principle of country ownership and the EU's commitment to untie its aid;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 quater (new)
Paragraph 21 quater (new)
21 quater. Insists on the need to focus grant and loan blending facility areas such as small scale and local energy and agriculture production and in favour of SMEs and micro private sector in developing countries;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Takes the view that temporary mobility of researchers and support for universities and research centres in such areas as health, food security, marine and maritime research, renewable energies and the fight against and adaptation to climate change should be promoted;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
8 a. Recalls that Latin America is the most dynamic region of the world as regards SSC, thus showing the relevant role of MICs as promoters of regional integration and international development objectives;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Recalls that the EU does not have at present a clear strategic definition of SSC1 that permits it to develop a more active policy in this field; underlines the need to establish indicators that show the social and economic impact of the various SSC and triangular models; __________________ 1 Recalls that guidelines exist on this topic in relation to emerging economies, but it is a somewhat fragmented approach.
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Takes the view that bi-regional, SSC and triangular cooperation initiatives should be expanded in such sectors as science and research, sustainable development, the environment, climate change, energy, social cohesion, education or employment;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Recommends to the Eurolat Assembly and the EU–LAC Foundation that they grant SSC and triangular cooperation their due strategic importance in their work agenda;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that SSC and triangular cooperation should be abe one of the central themes of the 7th EU-LAC Summit in Chile, giving a clear response to the final conclusions of the Summit in Madrid;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the CommissionVice-President/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to the Council and the Commission, and to the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States and of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, the EU–LAC Foundation, the Euro–Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, the Latin American Parliament, the Central American Parliament, the Andean Parliament and the Mercosur Parliament.
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the region is part of the group of middle-income countries that have achieved notable successes in reducing poverty — from 44 % to 33 % in a single decade — and inequality through economic growth and political and social reforms, but nevertheless, one in three Latin Americans still lives below the poverty line – 180 million people, of whom 52 million live on less than EUR 2 a day – and 10 countries in the region remain among the 15 most unequal countries in the world12; 1 Data from ECLAC and OECD. 2 Data from ECLAC and OECD. whereas some countries have malnutrition rates above 20 % and 28 million citizens do not know how to read or write, with 44 million people outside the welfare systems;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the IMF estimated an average level of GDP growth of 4.5 % for Latin America in 2011, and at present there are some prospects of a global economic slowdown in 2012, with a high degree of uncertainty continuing to persist with regard to the impact in the region of the global economic and financial crisis;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas middle-income countries are a driving force for development and regional integration, and a crisis in these countries hinders the progress of low- income countries in their regions;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the slowdown in the countries of the region is unequal, and in Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname external aid continues to be one of the most important funding streams for development, along with the contributions of migrants’ remittances, which comprise between 6 % and 25 % of the GDP of those countries;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas social cohesion has been a main objective of the Strategic Partnership since its launch at the Guadalajara Summit in 2004, because of the importance to the region of achieving a better redistribution of income and wealth, by means of appropriate policies that promote sustainable development and greater justice and social cohesion;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas in MICs it will be more appropriate to redirect aid to increasing institutional and regulatory capacities, public policy design, support for social partners, and the mobilisation of resources in addition to ODA;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas most of the people in poverty around the world live in these Middle- Income Countries; these countries often face significant inequalities and weak governance that endangers the sustainability of their own development process; many middle-income countries play an important role in global policy, security and trade issues, producing and protecting global public goods, and acting as ‘anchor countries’ at the regional level; and beyond periods of economic prosperity, they remain vulnerable to global risks of an economic, environmental or security nature;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas some countries of Latin America have begun to get involved in development cooperation efforts by means of regional cooperation and South–South cooperation (SSC) mechanisms;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
D c. whereas Latin America cannot cease to be a priority for the EU, as is reflected in EU–LA bi-regional relations, where there have been considerable advances in recent years, such as the Association Agreements with Central America, Chile and Mexico; the multi-party trade agreement with Colombia and Peru; the negotiations with Mercosur; the Madrid Action Plan and the launch of the EU– LAC Foundation;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
D d. whereas according to the European Consensus on Development, support for middle-income countries remains important in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU, by means of the agreements made with partners in the region, including the Association Agreements and its development aid, continues to provide significant support for the development and stabilisation process in the region; whereas the possibility that it may no longer do so when the results of this process are consolidated is a cause for serious concern;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the European Commission’s current proposal on DCI provides for the reduction of bilateral aid from the EU to the middle-income countries in Latin America, and basic services have disappeared from the list of priorities for the region;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas social cohesion has a broad dimension that involves combating poverty, reducing inequality, ensuring universal access to basic services such as health care, education, pensions or housing, the recognition and protection of social dialogue and labour rights; whereas there is a need for a fiscal compact that guarantees fairly the best distribution of resources;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas, regardless of the connotations that accompany the concept of social cohesion at the European level or in Latin America, in both regions it can be understood as a guiding principle of public policies that permits development strategies to be oriented towards achieving the well-being of the entire population, thus avoiding polarisation, disaffection and loss of trust in democratic institutions;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
E d. whereas the main challenges of the donors in the region include policy coherence, as well as greater coordination and complementarity within the framework of a better division of labour, entailing greater concentration and predictability of aid;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the fight against poverty, inequality, exclusion and discrimination, especially of women, young people and minority ethnic groups, as well as the promotion of social cohesion and human rights, continue to be a key priority of the EU-LA strategic partnership;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the region offers disconcerting indicators in the fight against child and maternal mortality; and in order to reduce poverty, gender equality, political and economic empowerment of women are essential factors;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the GDP index is inadequate as the sole indicator for measuring inequality and for making decisions on the allocation of EU development assistance with the main objective of eradicating poverty;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas education and training, as well as universal access to public health services, are of vital importance in the fight against poverty and the promotion of social exclucohesion;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas environmental degradation has a direct impact on the development of poverty; whereas LA is the planet’s great environmental reserve, with Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Colombia among the world’s most biodiverse countries, but at the same time is a continent particularly vulnerable to climate change;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas the most devastating effects of climate change and global warming affect Latin America and the Caribbean to a large extent, with the countries of the region being among the most vulnerable in the world; whereas natural disasters have caused a loss of 54 % of the regional GDP in Central America;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
H c. whereas the private sector is referred to explicitly as a key actor in the generation of sustainable development and the contribution to the social cohesion included in the Agenda for Change;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Recital H d (new)
H d. whereas the structured bi-regional and global dialogue on migration between the EU and Latin America is important, and it is important for migration policies and practises of both regions to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of all migrants;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas the European Commission’s proposal for the partnership Instrument centres on the implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy in the region; whereas this proposal concentrates preferentially on its strategic partners and on emerging economies, while also having a global focus centred on global challenges and threats;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
- having regard to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the results of the 25th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, held in Copenhagen, the 16th Conference held in Cancun and the 17th Conference held in Durban
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
- having regard to the European Consensus on Development12, in particular point 61 thereof, which recognises the importance of Middle-Income Countries in achieving the MDGs and shows the difficulties that these countries, as well as Middle-Upper Income Countries, face,
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
- having reviewed the Madrid Action Plan approved at the EU–LAC Summit of May 2010 and its 6 key areas: 1- Science, research, innovation and technology; 2- Sustainable development; environment; climate change; biodiversity; energy; 3- Regional integration and interconnectivity to promote social inclusion and cohesion; 4- Migration; 5- Education and employment; 6- Drugs
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20
Citation 20
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26
Citation 26
- having regard to the resolutions of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), and specifically the resolutions adopted at the Fifth Ordinary Plenary Session held on 18 and 19 May 2011 in Montevideo, Uruguay, on the prospects for trade relations between the European Union and Latin America, and on employment protection and creation strategies, especially for women and young people, and on relations between the European Union and Latin America as regards security and defence,