Activities of Ulrike LUNACEK related to 2011/2316(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan association agreement - Negotiations of the EU-Armenia association agreement (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan Association Agreement PDF (164 KB) DOC (101 KB)
Amendments (26)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Azerbaijan plays an important role in the context of European Union'stogether with European Union is a founding member of the Eastern Partnership, and whereas the level of economic growth which Azerbaijan has experienced in the last few years has been noteworthy although mainly due to oil and gas revenues;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas, in this respect, the multilateral dimension of the Eastern Partnership is complementary and inseparable from the bilateral one and should develop simultaneously with the ongoing negotiations of association agreements in order to pave the way for their full implementation and lay down the basis for a genuine regional cooperation as provided for by the principles underlying the European Neighbourhood Policy;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas unresolved conflicts are undermining the stability and development of Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus region and hampering the full development of the European Neighbourhood Policy; whereas in its Joint Communication on ‘'A new response to a changing neighbourhood’' the EU stated its ambition to engage more pro- actively in conflict resolution in the South Caucasus;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) ensure that the conclusion of the EU-Azerbaijan Association Agreement, in line with the demands made in the Parliament's Report on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus of 23 April 2010 and with OSCE Minsk Group Basic Principles, is linked to a substantial progress towards the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including confidence-building measures, such as the demilitarisation and active incident-prevention on the line of contact and the full and timely investigation of all incidents taking place on and around this line, the right of all internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their home places and international security guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) incorporate in the Association Agreement clauses and benchmarks on the protection and promotion of human rights especially in regard to freedom of the media, the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly, which reflect the principles and rights enshrined in the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the highest international and European standards, drawing to the fullest possible extent on Council of Europe and OSCE frameworks; ensure that the negotiations take full account of the need to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of internally displaced persons;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) call on the Azerbaijani authorities to fully address all the problems and shortcomings observed and identified in its final recommendation by the OSCE concerning the 2010 parliamentary elections;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) emphasise in the Association Agreement the importance of guaranteeing citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms, the development of civil society, the rule of law, the continued fight against corruption, political pluralism and, the independence of the media and the judiciary and the end of all forms of torture and ill-treatment by law- enforcement officials; increase support to independent media and genuinely independent civil society organisations;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) incorporate in the agreement clauses on the protection of human rights defenders, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
(c b) demand the immediate and unconditional release of those currently imprisoned on politically motivated charges and the cessation of arrests of persons for politically motivated reasons; to grant a visa to the PACE Special Rapporteur on Political Prisoners in order to allow him to undertake a visit to the country for his mandate;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c c (new)
(c c) express concern about the increasing number of arrests of human rights and youth activists, the difficulties encountered with regard to the registration of NGOs and political parties as well as intimidation and restrictions of the freedom of expression, of assembly and in internet; set benchmarks in this areas including the suspension of the agreement if these benchmarks are not met;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c d (new)
(c d) express concern about restrictions to freedom of assembly which is currently limited in Baku to the outskirts of the city and about the ongoing demolition of houses and neighbourhoods in Baku, taking place without transparent legal procedures, supposedly linked to the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and the increasing government criticism of human rights activists who are using this opportunity to draw the attention of the international community to the poor democratic and human rights record of the country;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c e (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c e (new)
(c e) urge the Azerbaijani authorities to adopt an anti-discrimination legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in any area;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c f (new)
Paragraph 1 – point c f (new)
(c f) urge Azerbaijan authorities to execute the judgements of the European Court of human rights;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ensure that the Association Agreement is consistent with the principles of international law - with regard, in particular, the non- use of force, self-determination and territorial integrityo the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the principles and commitments of the OSCE - and that the Agreement, once concluded, applies to the whole territory of Azerbaijan;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) express concern about the military build-up in the region and in particular about Azerbaijan high military expenditures and call, in this respect, on Member States to stop supplying weapons and munitions to both Azerbaijan and Armenia in compliance with the OSCE request of February 1992 as long as a comprehensive settlement is not agreed and signed by the two parties;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e b (new)
(e b) request to the Azerbaijani authorities unconditional and unfettered access to Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories for the EU representatives from any side;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
(f) strengthen the European Union's conflict-resolution capacity and adopt a more active and effective role, inter alia by supporting the efforts of the Minsk Group and envisaging the option of the EU replacing France as co-chair and clearing the way for the implementation of confidence-building measures, as the Presidents of both Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) urge the Azerbaijani authorities to tone down statements and refrain from inflammatory declarations in order to pave the way for a genuine dialogue at all levels of society and lay the ground for effective confidence-building measures;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point f b (new)
(f b) insist with the Azerbaijani authorities to allow the EU to start assistance and rehabilitation programmes in the conflict areas;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) emphasise the need to use the Association Agreement as a platform to promote regional synergies and cooperation by establishing a level playing field for all three countries in the South Caucasus; stress the mutually reinforcing links between democratic, pluralistic development and conflict resolution;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(i a) urge Azerbaijani authorities to sign and ratify the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on their Destruction and the Convention on Cluster Munitions;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(k a) urge the Azerbaijan authorities to step up the implementation of the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) enhance transparency in the management of public finances and improve public procurement legislation in order to contribute significantly to good governance and transparent decision- making; welcome, in this respect, the participation of Azerbaijan in the Extractive Energy Transparency Initiative aiming at increasing openness on oil and gas revenues and monitor the government of Azerbaijan's compliance with its obligation to release information about public finances under the right to access information legislation;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(m a) set up twinning programmes with EU regions and local communities with national minorities experiencing a high degree of autonomy;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(n a) provide technical assistance to the Azerbaijani State agency of alternative and renewable energy sources in order to help Azerbaijan to diversify its energy resources, promote energy efficiency and bring the country in line with the EU targets on climate change;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point n b (new)
(n b) find ways to encourage dialogue and regional cooperation by supporting organisations like the Regional Environmental Centre (REC) through joint cross-border projects that involve NGOs, local communities and stake- holders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia;