Activities of Indrek TARAND related to 2009/2214(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A sustainable EU policy for the High North (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT Report on a sustainable EU policy for the High North PDF (316 KB) DOC (359 KB)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
– having regard to the International Labour Organisation Convention number 169 adopted on 27 June 1989,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
– having regard to the Nordic Sami Convention of November 2005,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 d (new)
Citation 13 d (new)
– having regard to the Council resolutions 6/12 of 28 September 2007, 6/36 of 14 December 2007, 9/7 of 24 September 2008 and 12/13 of 1 October 2009, 15/7 of 5 October 2010,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas it isthe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) using a geology-based probabilistic methodology estimateds that about a fifth of the world's remaining hydrocarbon resources ar90 billion barrels of oil, 1,669 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids may be locatked up in the Arctic; whereas if the estimate is accurate this would represent about a fifth of the world’s known hydrocarbon resources,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas it should be noted that because of the sparse seismic and drilling data in much of the Arctic, the usual tools and techniques used in USGS resource assessments could not be used and that estimates take no account of economic considerations such as costs of exploration and devel-opment which it notes will be important in many of the assessed areas; whereas the estimates also assume that the resources would be recover-able even in the presence of permanent sea ice,
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the effects of climate change mainly originating from outside the Arctic will impact the region; whereas in particular the retreat of the sea ice is likely to produce major effects, such as an increase inthe ice- albedo feedback loop, which will further accelerate global warming, as well as leading to a rise in sea levels, all of which will negatively impact the life of the indigenous population and lead to a loss of Arctic biodiversity; whereas the retreating sea ice with its devastating effects will also open up possibilities for shipping in particular between Europe, Asia, and North America, in exploration and exploitation of natural resources, namely gas, oil and other minerals but also natural resources such as fish, and exploitation of marine genetic resources, increased mining and logging activities and increased tourism and research activities; whereas those effects will produce new challenges but also new opportunities in the Arctic,;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that three EU Member States are Arctic States, acknowledges that the EU has no Arctic Ocean coastline, but reaffirms the legitimate interest of the EU as a stakeholder by virtue of its rights and obligations under international law, its commitment to environmental, climate and other policies and its funding, research activities and economic interests, including shipping; in this context, acknowledges that other third countries also have legitimate interest as a stakeholder by virtue of similar rights and obligations;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes other cooperation initiatives on secure and safe shipping in the Arctic and on better access to the Northern Sea Route as well as the Northwest Passage;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Warns, in this respect, that an oil spill under the ice could turn out far worse than one in warmer climates due to the fragility of the ecosystems and the daring atmospheric conditions; calls, therefore, on all countries concerned to higher standards and redouble their efforts in order to control strictly all oil-drilling activities;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Insists that before any new commercial fisheries are opened in the Arctic region, reliable and precautionary scientific stock assessments must be conducted in order to determine levels of fishing that will conserve the targeted fish stocks and not lead to depletion of other species or to serious damage to the marine environment; any fishing on the high seas must be regulated by a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation that respects scientific advice and has a robust control and surveillance programme to ensure compliance with management measures; fishing within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) must meet the same standards;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recognises that the Arctic climate would be best protected by an ambitious global climate agreement but underscores that the rapid regional warming necessitates the implementation of immediate measures to slow Arctic warming;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Recognises the disproportionately large Arctic warming impact caused by local emissions of soot ('black carbon') as compared to emissions originating elsewhere, largely due to its effect on highly reflective surfaces such as snow or ice;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Requests the Commission to take concrete steps towards effective emission reductions of black carbon and other short lived climate forcers by including reduction measures in an immediate revision of the EU directive on National Emissions Ceilings and the Gothenburg Protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the important role the EU hasand the circumpolar nations have to play in the reduction of pollution which enters the Arctic region through long-range transport; highlights in this respect the importance of the implementation of European legislation such as Regulation (EC) No 1907/20065 ; points out that the climatic changes in the Arctic will have a major impact on coastal regions in Europe and elsewhere and on climate-dependent industries in Europe such as agriculture, renewable energy, fisheries and transport;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises that the effects of the melting ice are not only reducing biodiversity, displacing indigenous population and thereby threatening the indigenous way of life but also creating opportunities for economic development in the Arctic region; acknowledges the wish of the inhabitants of the Arctic to continue to pursue sustainable economic development while at the same time protecting traditional sources of the indigenous peoples' livelihood and the very sensitive nature of the Arctic ecosystems, taking into account their experience in using and developing the renewable resources of the region in a sustainable way;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes the special position and recognises the rights of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic and points in particular to the legal and political situation of the indigenous peoples in the Arctic States; calls for greater involvement in policy-making for the indigenous peoples; stresses the need to adopt special measures to safeguard the culture and language and the land rights of indigenous peoples in the way defined in ILO Convention number 169;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Urges the EU to promote actively the culture and language rights of Fenno- Ugric people living in Northern Russia;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes note ofWelcomes the rdecent legal developments regarding the EU's ban on seal products, in particularision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rescind the suspension of Regulation (EC) No 1007/20096 on the trade in seal products by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in several cases; notes the consultation procedure under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) requested by Canada and Norway, joined by Iceland according to Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement; expresses its hope that disagreements between the parties can be overcome and that they will come to a common interpretation of the exception in the regulation for the Inuit population following the rulings of the ECJ and the WTO;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the impression given by some observers of a so-called scramble for the Arctic, often symbolised by the planting of a Russian flag on the sea floor at the North Pole, does not contribute to fostering a constructive understanding and cooperation in the region; stresses that the Arctic States have on several occasions declared their commitment to resolve possible conflicts of interests according to the principles of international law; is concerned that the increasing deployment of military capabilities in the Arctic could potentially destabilise the region; urges the circumpolar nations not to build up military outposts or scientific outposts which are protected by the military forces;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Recognises that the challenges facing the Arctic are global and cannot be exclusively dealt with by a limited number of actors;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Welcomes the results of major reports which the AC working groups have produced in recent years on Arctic Oil and Gas, the Impacts of warming and on emergency response needs;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Confirms its support for permanent observer status for the EU in the AC; asks the Commission to keep Parliament duly informed about meetings and work in the AC and its Working Groups; stresses meanwhile that the EU and its Member States are already present as members or observers in international organisations with relevance to the Arctic such as the IMO, OSPAR, NEAFC and the Stockholm Convention and should more coherently focus on the work in these organisations; underlines in this regard also the need for coherence in all EU policies towards the Arctic; encourages the AC to also involve civil society and non-governmental organisations as ad-hoc observers;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Recognises that whilst there are obvious differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic there are also obvious similarities; points out that the text of the Antarctic Treaty successfully creates a framework for peaceful research and cooperation without getting caught up in territorial disputes; stresses that the same aims of peaceful research and cooperation are broad enough and the situation similar enough to be considered very relevant also in the Arctic context;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Is of the opinion that the EU should develop further its capacities and calls on the Commission to explore and report on the establishment or continuation of EU activities in the Arctic such as a circumpolar joint multilateral research funding programme providing for easier and less bureaucratic cooperation, joint projects of the research community, and anRequests the Commission to proceed on the establishment of an EU Arctic Information Centre as a joint, networked undertaking, keeping in mind the Finnish proposal of setting up the hub of the Centre at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, based on the Commission Arctic Communication and Council Arctic Conclusions, and that the EU Arctic Information Centre that should be capable of organising permanent EU outreach to the major actors and stakeholders in the Arctic, as well as of channelling information on the Arctic towards the European Institutions;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls for all governments in the Arctic region, especially Russia and Canada to adopt and endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 2007;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Urges member states to ratify all the key agreements regarding the rights of the indigenous peoples, such as ILO number 169;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Requests the EU and its Member States to propose under the ongoing IMO work on a mandatory Polar Code for shipping that soot emissions and heavy fuel oil be regulated specifically; in the event that such negotiations do not bear fruits, requests the Commission to put forward proposals on rules for vessels calling in EU ports subsequent to, or prior to, journeys through Arctic waters, with a view to impose a strict regime limiting soot emissions and the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 d (new)
Paragraph 25 d (new)
25d. Welcomes the ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on vessels operating in the Antarctic Area, approved by the 59th session of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) that will take effect from 1 August 2011; believes that a similar ban would be appropriate in Arctic waters to reduce risks to the environment in case of accidents;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 e (new)
Paragraph 25 e (new)
25e. Welcomes the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and that of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 f (new)
Paragraph 25 f (new)
25f. Welcomes the successful completion by the Expert Mechanism of its progress report on the study on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision making;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 g (new)
Paragraph 25 g (new)
25g. Encourages the Arctic member states to engage in negotiations leading to a new ratified Nordic Sami Convention;