Activities of Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; therefore repeats the call for the adoption of EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) Conclusions on strategic partners that would establish a common threshold for the Member States and for EU officials in terms of the human rights concerns that they have to raise, as a minimum, with their strategic partner counterparts; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the VP/HR, EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to pursue these commitments and mainstream human rights and democracy in the EU's relations with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant EU external policy instruments; regrets that EU too often channels criticism of abusive governments through quiet diplomacy using lower-level "dialogues" rather than high- level ministerial meetings to express concerns and demand corrections; considers that when faced with cases of persistent human rights violations the EU should speak up to ensure its message is heard both by abusive governments and their people;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recognises that EU institutions and all 28 member states have to exercise a firm, coherent and uniform approach to human rights abuses worldwide, in a transparent and accountable manner; calls on the EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on human rights;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the effort to include activities by the European Parliament in the Annual Report and strongly encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to specify which EU action has been taken to follow up on Parliament's resolutions, including on urgency resolutions on breaches of human rights;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Nikola VULJANIĆ, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes the continued difficulties in achieving concrete progress in several of the EU human rights dialogues and consultations; encourages the EU to seek new ways of making the dialogues with countries of concern more meaningful; believes that human rights dialogues and consultations should have the primary aim of strengthening and supporting civil society, human rights defenders, trade unions, journalists, lawyers and parliamentarians who stand up and challenge abuses at home and demand that their rights be respected; calls on the EU to ensure that human rights dialogues and consultations are ambitious and accompanied by clear public benchmarks based on which their success can be objectively measured; underlines the need to pursue determined, ambitious, and transparent human rights policy in these dialogues; calls therefore on the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue is not constructive and, in such cases, to put more emphasis on political dialogue, démarches and public diplomacy; warns furthermore against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Recalls that in order to avoid human rights breaches in the first place, the respect for international law must be at the core of any EU strategy aiming to enhance human rights and democracy in the world, particularly in its relationships with those partners that are parties to an armed or frozen conflict; reminds the need to end any EU support given to parties to a conflict, be it financial, logistical or tactical, including the supply of weapons, munitions and all other types of military equipment as laid down in the EU Common Position on arms exports;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Points out that Parliament ~~may~~should withhold its consent to international agreements ~~on account of~~when serious breaches of human rights occur, as in the cases of the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Turkmenistan or the textile protocol of the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

58a. Expresses concern regarding reports of cooperation of certain EU companies with states, including authoritarian regimes, in the field of information technologies and communications leading to human rights abuses such as censorship of information, mass surveillance, monitoring, tracing and tracking of citizens and their activities on (mobile) telephone networks and the internet; stresses that stringent respect for human rights, due diligence and transparency must be maintained in order to ensure CSR along the whole supply chain, and combat corruption, tax avoidance and illicit money flows; is convinced that European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors should play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of human rights standards worldwide and never compromise these values in their efforts to expand their markets abroad;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Calls attention also to the trapped transitions in countries and regions where reform movements and transitional processes have been stopped or put down by the ruling regime; calls on the EU to continue its efforts to persuade the ruling elites in these countries, as well as in other countries of concern still under authoritarian rule, to initiate a reform process to develop strong and stable democracies in which the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are upheld;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49

49. Recalls that countries and regions trapped in transition lack democratic reforms and political accountability; reiterates that all citizens have the right to fully and freely participate in political life in which free, fair and open elections take place with more than one party and different alternative media sources;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)

49a. Is concerned that even in countries well on their way towards democratisation, regions may remain which still experience a lack of respect for basic human rights, democracy, the rule of law and political and administrative accountability; urges the EU to actively engage with such countries to ensure that all regions benefit from EU funds and programmes, that there is a fairer distribution of development assistance and that EU programmes do not contribute to the discrimination of parts of the society in the recipient countries;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Expresses its serious concerns about recent repressive laws and their arbitrary enforcement by the Russian authorities, often leading to the harassment of NGOs, civil society activists, human rights defenders and minorities; and deplores the political use of justice as demonstrated in the cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot, Alexey Navalny and others; regrets the culture of impunity surrounding the deaths of individuals including Sergei Magnitsky, Natalia Estimirova, Stanislaw Markelow, Anna Politkovskaya and Vasily Alexanian.

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)

50a. Calls on the on the establishment of an EU-wide "Magnitsky list," which would include a visa ban and asset freeze of Russian officials associated with serious human rights abuses;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Stresses the need for international monitoring of the human rights situation in China and Tibet and calls on EU Member States to actively engage in establishing this monitoring in light of the failure of the EU- China dialogue on human rights to achieve significant and tangible results;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)

51a. Urges the Chinese authorities to engage seriously with the Tibetan people in order to assess the underlying causes of the high number of self-immolations linked to the strengthening of the stability maintenance approach and patriotic education system and stresses that recent reports about harsh sentences against Tibetans charging them with incitement to self-immolations raise strong concerns; condemns the non-voluntary resettlement and relocation of Tibetan nomads, which is exacerbated by the absence of civil and political rights, and considers it a threat to the survival of a way of life that is integral to Tibetan identity as well as to the livelihoods of Tibetan nomads;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Nikola VULJANIĆ, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)

51b. Urges the EEAS, in line with the newly adopted EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion and Belief, to pay particular attention to the issue of religious repression in Tibet and call on China to put an end to its restrictive policies on Tibetan Buddhism;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)

63a. Emphasises, in view of principles of international humanitarian law spelled out in the 1907 Hague Regulations (arts 42-56) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV, art. 27-34 and 47-78) as well as in provisions of Additional Protocol I, the need for the EU to ensure that those partners falling under the category of occupying power, respect their duties towards the population in occupied territories; reminds that according to international humanitarian law, public health standards, provision of food and medical care to the population under occupation must be granted by the occupying power; reiterates that any transfer of civilian population of the occupying power into the occupied territory is prohibited, and that the accused of criminal offences must be provided with proceedings respecting internationally recognized judicial guarantees, such as being informed of the reason for their arrest, charged with a specific offence and given a fair trial as quickly as possible;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64a. Calls on European Foreign Ministers to adopt Foreign Affairs Council conclusions affirming the strong support of the EU and its member states for the International Criminal Court, taking note of the EU's efforts to continuously review, update, and expand its instruments on the International Criminal Court, and expressing renewed commitment to work towards the universality of the Rome Statute in order to widen access to justice for victims of serious crimes under international law;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

69a. Stresses the importance of increasing assistance to the national prosecution of serious crimes under international law, consistent with the Rome Statute's principle of complementarity; welcomes the 31 January 2013 adoption by the European Commission and the European External Action Service of a "Joint Working Document on Advancing the Principle of Complementarity"; calls for the promotion and implementation of this document as a roadmap for strengthening EU assistance to national prosecution of serious crimes under international law; invites EU member states to consider adopting national guidance notes to mainstream assistance to complementarity projects within their development assistance;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

71. Recalls the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to the rights and freedoms therein without distinction of any kind, including race, colour, sex, language, religion, caste, social origin, birth or other status; reiterates its call for the EU to combat discrimination and intolerance as a key part of its human rights policy, and to base this policy on an inclusive and comprehensive definition of non-discrimination; emphasises that respect for the rights of minorities is a crucial element for peace, development and democracy; welcomes and further encourages EU engagement with the United Nations and regional organisations in this cause;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72

72. Calls for the EU to pay particular attention to discrimination based on forms of social stratification, such as caste and analogous systems of inherited status, which have a seriously harmful and sometimes destructive impact on the prospects for equal enjoyment of human rightondemns the continuing human rights violations against people suffering from caste-based discrimination, including the atrocities committed against them with impunity, and the persisting untouchability practices; calls on the EU to pay particular attention to this form of discrimination in human rights policies and strategies at all levels;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Boris ZALA, Pino ARLACCHI, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79

79. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the candidate countries, to the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and to the governments of the countries and territories referred to in this resolution.

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Reiterates that the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict poses a major impediment to regional security as well as to futher development of the Eastern Partnership; calls for rapid and substantial progress towards its resolution, on the basis of international law, relevant UNSC resolutions, and OSCE Minsk Group Basic Principles; underlines the importance of credible confidence-building measures, notably general de-militarization and withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories surrounding Nagorno- Karabakh; calls on the EU to continue to actively support the resolution process;

2014/02/12
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)

- having regard to the draft UN Principles and Guidelines on effective elimination of discrimination based on Work and Descent published by the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/11/CRP.3),

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 b (new)

- having regard to observations and recommendations on caste discrimination by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Treaty Bodies and UN Special Procedures, noting in particular the Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance of 24 May 2011 (A/HRC/17/40),

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Underlines that a longer-term approach covering the whole election cycle is required to appropriately follow up on the reports and recommendations of the EU Election Observation Missions; stresses the importance of drawing up realistic and achievable recommendations and of ensuring that these recommendations are monitored and become part of political dialogue and assistance by the EU delegations; considers that Parliament's standing delegations and the joint parliamentary assemblies should also play an enhanced role in following up these recommendations and analysing progress with regard to human rights and democracy;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Stresses that despite some steps taken by the Chinese authorities in the right direction, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate and is marked by widening social unrest and the tightening of control and repression of human rights defenders, lawyers, bloggers, and social activists, as well as by targeted policies aimed at marginalising Tibetans and their cultural identity; urges the Chinese authorities to engage seriously with the Tibetan people to assess the underlying causes of self-immolations of Tibetan monks and nuns and cease harassment and intimidation of Tibetans who exercise their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, end all use of unnecessary excessive force in facing protestors, investigate all instances of human rights violations, and allow independent monitors into areas of protest;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)

40b. Reiterates its call for the need to appoint an EU Special Representative for Tibet who would be responsible for the defence of human rights and, among other topical issues, the right to freely practice one's religion and culture in China;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Notes that the EU is developing a human rights monitoring mechanism to be included as part of new partnership and cooperation agreements, and other trade agreements, with a number of countries; is concerned that these monitoring mechanisms are not ambitious enough and not clearly defined, compromising the EU's treaty commitment to the promotion of human rights and democracy in the world; is particularly concerned in this regard about the PCA with Uzbekistan and the pending PCA with Turkmenistan;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Welcomes Council decisions to ban the export of certain information technologies and services to Syria and Iran and urges the European Union to consider these cases as precedents for future restrictive measures against other repressive regimes; strongly supports the proposal to include human rights violations in the EU dual-use export control system as a reason for which non- listed items may be subject to export restrictions by Member States;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70

70. Strongly regrets that homosexuality remains criminalised in 78 states, including five in which it is subject to the death penalty; calls on these states to decriminalise homosexuality without delay, to free those imprisoned on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and not to execute them; calls on the EEAS to make full use of the LGBT Toolkit to protect the rights of LGBTI people; calls on the Council to work towards binding guidelines in this area; calls on the EEAS and Member States to assist LGBTI human rights defenders in countries where they are at risk, and calls on the VP/HR to continue making clear the European Union's firm commitment to equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in the world, including by launching and supporting initiatives at bilateral, international and UN level on these matters; repeats its call on the Commission to issue a roadmap for equality on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)

70a. Calls on Member States to grant asylum to people fleeing persecution in countries where LGBT people are criminalised, on the basis of applicants' well-founded fears of persecution, and relying on their self-identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 b (new)

70b. Reasserts that the principle of non- discrimination, including on grounds of sex and sexual orientation, is a fundamental element in the ACP-EU partnership;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Jörg LEICHTFRIED, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 c (new)

70c. Underlines that for the EU's foreign policy to be credible and coherent in the field of fundamental rights, equality and anti-discrimination, the Council should adopt the directive on equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and enlarge the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia to cover other targeted groups, such as LGBT persons;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

71. Condemns the continued human rights violations committed against people suffering from caste-based discrimination, including the denial of equality and access to justice, continued segregation and caste- induced barriers to the achievement of basic human rights; requests the Council, the EEAS and the Commission to take joint action on caste-based discrimination, including in EU human rights communications, frameworks and country- based strategies and dialogues, wherever appropriate; , and to promote the draft UN Principles and Guidelines for the elimination of discrimination based on work and descent as a guiding framework to eliminate caste discrimination, and work for their endorsement by the UN Human Rights Council;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)

71a. Requests the High Representative and the Special Representative for Human Rights to give full recognition to caste discrimination as a cross-cutting human rights and poverty predicament affecting most severely women;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)

72a. Emphasises the importance of the right to citizenship as one of the most fundamental rights, since in many countries only full citizens are granted all the conditions to fulfil and exercise their basic human rights, including public security, wellbeing and education;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end the practices of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced marriages, and gender-selective abortion; insists that these policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation; stresses the importance of adequate access to medical means, and of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, to the wellbeing of women in all countries;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Barbara LOCHBIHLER, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Richard HOWITT, Marie-Christine VERGIAT, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Notes that there continues to be insufficient attention given to sexual and reproductive rights violations that undermine efforts towards the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD) commitments; underlines that progress on reproductive health has been limited in some contexts by violations such as child, early and forced marriage and failure to enforce a legal minimum age of marriage, coercive practices such as forced sterilisation or FGM, as well as denial of autonomy to women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health free of discrimination, coercion and violence;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2145(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD, Charles GOERENS, Kristiina OJULAND, Metin KAZAK, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)

83a. Recalls that in a number of countries the prohibition, confiscation and destruction of both places of worship and religious publications, and prohibition of the training of clergy, are still common practice; urges the EU institutions, in their contacts with the relevant governments, to counter such violations;

2012/10/02
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Astrid LULLING, Fiorello PROVERA, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. wWhereas the EU adheres to ~~the~~its One China Policy in the Cross Straits Relations between the PRC and Taiwan;.

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the vast autonomous provinces of Tibet and Xinjiang are vital for the PRC from the viewpoint of ‘unity of the country’ and because of their great strategic, military and economic importance;deleted

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan autonomous areas, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have become important territories for China's regional, military and economic ambitions and therefore are seen as core issues of 'territorial integrity' by the current Chinese Government;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)

Ib. whereas as of 6th September 2012, 54 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibetan populated areas of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan Autonomous Areas within the Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the 21st century sees the ~~impressive~~ return of China on the world scene as a ~~super~~global power, on account of its ongoing rapidly growing economic and military power;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)

Kb. whereas China's WTO accession protocol does not foresee market economy status (MES) until 2016; whereas this constitutes a major point of contention for the Chinese leadership, which is eager to obtain MES earlier and which has led it to state that the further acquisition of sovereign bonds in the Euro area could be made contingent on the EU altering its position on this issue;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)

Kc. whereas China is expanding its trade and economic relations with third parties by initiating Free Trade Agreements with the Republic of Korea and Japan, which could eventually lead to the creation of a NE Asian FTA; whereas as a global trade power, China has a strategic interest in ensuring that the regional trade arrangements that it creates or joins are compatible with the global rules;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K d (new)

Kd. whereas China produces 97% of the world's rare earths and imposes significant export duties and reduced export quotas on these goods, in violation of its WTO commitments; whereas these restrictions significantly distort global markets, creating a disadvantage for EU companies;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K e (new)

Ke. whereas the EU, US and Japan have complained to the WTO about China's practise of increasing export duties and reducing export quotas which they argue unfairly benefit Chinese companies; whereas Beijing maintains that its restrictions are needed to protect the environment, conserve supplies and meet domestic demand;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the positive role of the PRC in South-East Asia in terms of economic regionalisation and dynamics is becoming increasingly overshadowed by territorial disputes ~~in the South China Sea with~~with Japan and Taiwan (Senkaku/Diaoyu islands), Vietnam (Paracel/Xisha islands) and Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan (Spratly/Nansha islands) – all areas rich in fish, as well as in oil and gas reserves;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Astrid LULLING, Fiorello PROVERA, Kristiina OJULAND, László TŐKÉS, Krzysztof LISEK, Timothy Charles Ayrton TANNOCK, Norica NICOLAI, Sir Graham WATSON, Paweł ZALEWSKI, Johannes Cornelis van BAALEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the deepening economic relations between ChBeijinag and ~~the USA are the world's most important bilateral ties, in particular owing to the phenomenon of ‘Chinamerica’, or the strong financial- economic entanglement of Beijing and Washington~~Washington constitutes one of the world's most significant bilateral ties;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

Oa. Whereas the rising tensions over the disputed islands and overlapping and conflicting claims exist in the East Asia's maritime areas;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

(b) Urges China, as the world's rising trading power, to play a constructive role in international fora; in addition maintains that it is in the Chinese leadership's interest to act as the guardian of an open trading system and fully abide by its WTO commitments as a contribution to the resolution of the ongoing "rare earths" and other trade disputes;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Krzysztof LISEK, Astrid LULLING, Fiorello PROVERA, Kristiina OJULAND, László TŐKÉS, Sir Graham WATSON, Norica NICOLAI, Timothy Charles Ayrton TANNOCK, Paweł ZALEWSKI, Johannes Cornelis van BAALEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines that although forced abortions are strictly illegal in China, family-planning officials repeatedly coerce women into abortions or sterilisation; ~~condemns the so-called ‘social maintenance fee’, an often exorbitant fine that parents have to pay in the event of extra births, as was the case in the tragedy of Feng Jianmei;~~ wholeheartedly supports Chinese voices that call for an end of the one-child policy;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the increasing contacts between the PRC and Taiwan; notes China's strong wish for reunification with Taiwan; stresses that this political aim is still seriously undermined by Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan and China's international isolation of Taiwan; expects that China, Taiwan and the EU will respect the free choice of Taiwanese citizens on the international status of their country;deleted

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Admires the courage and the social responsibility of numerous Chinese citizens for defending precious social rights in their country, but denounces the tragic state of affairs whereby several of them are being officially persecuted and punished for their efforts to correct well- known social dangers/criminal acts such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, illegal land and property expropriation, often committed by local party authorities; urges the Chinese leadership to encourage civil responsibility for observing social human rights and to rehabilitate officially persecuted and punished defenders of these rights; also expects a responsible Chinese leadership to comply strictly with individual human rights;deleted

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 j (new)

(j) Admires the courage and activism of those Chinese citizens who act in socially responsible ways to promote and defend human rights, and address issues such as corruption, abuse of office, environmental damage, AIDS infection, food poisoning, construction fraud concerning schools, and illegal land and property expropriation; denounces all incidences of official retaliation against these Chinese citizens; and expects a responsible Chinese leadership to comply strictly with domestic and international human rights law;

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recognises the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically; urges the Chinese Government to act in a politically responsible way by respecting and protecting Tibetan and Uighur traditional cultures and lifestyles; believes that Beijing cannot win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan and Uighur peoples by way of millions of surveillance cameras or repressive police methods;deleted

2012/11/07
Committee: AFET

2012/2137(INI)

2011/2316(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

(f a) reassure the EU's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan;

2012/03/01
Committee: AFET

2011/2316(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f b (new)

(f b) consider that a peacekeeping operation would probably involve monitoring the return of displaced ethnic Azerbaijanis to the region, along with the withdrawal of Armenian troops; stress that the peacekeeping forces to be deployed between the conflicting sides should have a genuine multinational composition, which is a prerequisite for guaranteeing the necessary trust of both parties to those forces;

2012/03/01
Committee: AFET

2011/2316(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)

(n a) stress the importance of Azerbaijan's unique geographic location for enabling a direct and unimpeded transit link between the EU and the countries of the Central Asia. In this connection welcome the efforts to develop the trans-Caspian transit cooperation with Kazakhstan and explore ways of establishing such cooperation with Turkmenistan;

2012/03/01
Committee: AFET

2011/2315(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the unresolved conflict~~s are~~ between Armenia and Azerbaijan is undermining the stability and development of ~~Armenia and~~ the South Caucasus region; whereas Armenia continues the occupation of the Nagorno- Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan violating the fundamental norms and principles of international law and undermining the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884; 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;

2012/02/29
Committee: AFET

2011/2315(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

(h a) reiterate that neither of the conflicting parties could by any means profit from any attempt to resolve the issue in a non-peaceful way, but would, as a consequence, instead invite third parties to extend their sphere of influence;

2012/02/29
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas different EU Member States have unique experiences to offer in terms of overcoming authoritarian regimes in their own past, and whereas this transition experience should be better utilised in the Union's relations with partner countries in strengthening democracy and human rights;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Believes that the promotion and support of non-violence reflects an international value that should constitute a priority for the EU's human rights and democracy policies, particularly considering that the non-violent methodology offers an effective and appropriate means and outcomes in terms of the prevention of conflict and support for democracy, rule of law and civil society around the world;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Invit~~Urges the HR/VP in her drafting of future Annual Reports to consult actively ~~and~~, systematically and in a transparent fashion with Parliament, and to report on the way that Parliament's resolutions have been taken into account; asks the HR/VP to more regularly provide information on the stage of preparation of future Annual Reports whenever requested to do so by Parliament;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Further recommends that, whenever a gross breach of human rights occurs by a partner country with which an international agreement such as a PCA has been concluded, the EU takes bolder steps in carrying out the appropriate sanctions as stipulated in the human rights clauses of the agreement, including possible temporary suspension of the agreement;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Stresses that the application of the clause as it currently stands , for example with the Colombia/Peru Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) due to come before Parliament, provides an opportunity for the European Parliament itself to explore the potential for setting human rights benchmarks in advance of ratification, in order to achieve concrete and verifiable progress in respect for human rights; encourages the Commission to draft a new ‘model clause’ referring to the parties' international obligations, comprising a procedure for consultation and specifying political and legal mechanisms to be used in the event of a request for cooperation to be suspended on the grounds of repeated or systemic human rights violations in breach of international law; recommends that a clear system of sanctions ~~short of suspension~~ be developed; insists strongly on the need for Parliament to be a joint decision-maker with the Commission and the Council in this respect;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58

58. Welcomes the ~~indefatigable championing~~emphasis put ofn women's empowerment by the HR/VP and calls on her to institutionalise the EU Inter- institutional Informal Task Force on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) by providing it with a full- time chair, who will also act as the gender focal point in the EEAS, as part of allocating adequate human and financial resources to its task;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)

66 a. Recommends initiatives for EU legislation to ensure attention is paid in EU human rights policy and instruments of cooperation to eliminate caste discrimination, and action in caste- affected countries, including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Yemen;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Leonidas DONSKIS, Marietje SCHAAKE, Charles GOERENS, Metin KAZAK, Kristiina OJULAND, Baroness Sarah LUDFORD

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80

80. Recognises the need for human rights concerns to be mainstreamed through the work of all parliamentary committees and delegations dealing with external relations; recommends that Members of the European Parliament systematically meet with human rights defenders during official missions to third countries, including with imprisoned activists wherever possible, to provide the latter with greater visibility; welcomes the decision to augment the resources available to the Subcommittee on Human Rights in the light of the changes arising from the Treaty of Lisbon;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Notes with concern that recent budget cuts are in addition to a pattern of Member States under-investing and under-spending in the fields of security and defence for over a decade;

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Urges all Member States to meet their agreed obligations as members of the NATO Alliance to spend 2% of their GDP on military capabilities (a target currently only met by France and the UK);

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Deplores the way in which most of these funds are spent, based on national defence planning decisions taken in almost total isolation, resulting not only in persistent capability gaps, but also in wasteful overcapacities and duplications, as well as fragmented industry and markets which results in the EU not having either the visibility, resources or reach of 200 billion Euros worth of spending;

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Stresses that such a White Paper, by setting out a common vision of challenges and solutions will build trust and provide focused strategic guidance on the form that EU forces should take;

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Stresses that pooling resources must go hand in hand with enhanced specialisation where Member States giving up certain capabilities can be confident that others will provide them and recognises that this will require serious political commitment by national governments;

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2177(INI)

Sir Graham WATSON, Kristiina OJULAND, Norica NICOLAI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39a. Supports the EDA's calls for harmonised defence requirements, combined R&D investment, the promotion of effective cooperative armaments programmes and increased market competition in defence procurement;

2011/10/24
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the future Association Agreement with Ukraine heralds a new generation of association agreements and involves an unprecedented level of integration between the European Union and a third country; whereas with this agreement Ukraine commits itself to implementing a large portion of the acquis communautaire~~; whereas the negotiations with Ukraine are amongst the most advanced in the Eastern Neighbourhood and therefore serve as an example for the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as a whole~~,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the EU favours a stable and democratic Ukraine that respects the principles of a social market economy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities and which guarantees fundamental rights~~; whereas Ukraine's efforts to build domestic political stability and augment internal reform are accelerating and facilitating the further development of Ukraine's European integration process~~,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas there are recent concerns about the freedom of media, freedom of civil society, conduct of elections and the rule of law in Ukraine,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Ukraine's progress on the path of European integration must be based on a policy of systematic and irreversible reforms in a number of important ‘institutional, economic and social areas; whereas important reforms have already been carried out or are being carried out but there are also concerns about democratic backsliding in Ukraine; whereas the framework provided by the Association Agreement will constitute a crucial modernisation tool for Ukraine and a roadmap to steer its internal domestic reforms,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas Ukraine should be commended for its sound economic performance, including reducing its budget deficit, spending restraint as well as pension reform, which have contributed to a more positive foreign credit rating and increased FDI,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) to make all necessary progress in order to achieve the rapid conclusion of an EU- Ukraine Association Agreement ~~by no later than the end of 2011~~;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) to strive for the signing of the agreement by the Council during the first half of 2012 and to make all documents relevant to the ratification process available to the European Parliament and to the national parliaments by no later than the end of 2012;deleted

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

(ha) to stress the importance of freedom of the media and freedom of civil society;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)

(oa) to stress the importance to Ukraine of a fair and impartial justice system that is not manipulated for political purposes and that the legal proceedings against Yulia Tymoschenko must be conducted strictly according to the rule of law;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2056(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that as part of the EU’s strategic cooperation with relevant key partners such as the USA, Russia ~~and Japan~~, Japan and Canada, an early- warning mechanism for market distortion and supply shortage should be established and complemented by a monitoring group at EU level comprising representatives of the EU institutions, the Member States and relevant industry sectors;

2011/05/17
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

– having regard to the EU-Russia human rights consultations,

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU's evolving common foreign and security policy should include Russia as a strategic partner; whereas Russia is a country whose cultural roots lie in Europe and which is an important global and regional player, with membership in the United Nations Security Council, the G8, the G20 the Council of Europe and OSCE, and responsible to meet the obligations as a member of these organisations;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the EU-Russia relations continue to suffer from the failure of Russia to fully embrace democratic values and strengthen the rule of law;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) ensure that the new agreement provides a comprehensive and forward- looking framework for the further development of relations with Russia in upcoming years, and take the necessary action to ensure that the negotiations with Russia continue at a steady paceregret that negotiations with Russia, at this stage, have not led to expected results and that the strategic partnership can only exist if both sides agree to follow universal democratic principles;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) ~~actively work on the concl~~ensure that further negotiations will have reinforced focusi on ~~of the negotiations for an agreement which will be beneficial for both parties and in line with their increased and ever deepening cooperation~~democracy, the rule of law and human rights and that the new agreement provides a comprehensive and forward-looking framework for the further development of relations with Russia in upcoming years;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d

(d) remain vigilant and firm on the requirements that the EU intends to set as regards respect for democratic principles, and consider this respect as an absolute prerequisite for the signature of a EU- Russia Agreement;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h a (new)

(ha) emphasise the importance for Russia to ensure the functioning of an independent and impartial judicial system and to strengthen the fight against corruption;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h b (new)

(hb) call on Russia to respect the obligation to guarantee free and fair elections in order to ensure the legitimacy of the political system;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) stress the importance of Russia's full compliance with its international legal obligations and with the fundamental human rights principles enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), both of which Russia is party to; recall that political pluralism, media freedom, independence of the judiciary, freedom of speech and assembly, and non- discrimination are the necessary preconditions for Russia's further development and modernisation and the development of bilateral relations;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j

(j) strengthen the EU-Russia human rights dialogue, so that it becomes an effective tool for advancing human rights in Russia; call, in particular, on the Russian authorities to refrain from undue restrictions on peaceful assembly, ensure protection of human rights defenders, stop impunity for past abuses and for murder of activists, ~~particularly in the North Caucasus,~~ create a climate in which of civil society organisations can operate without fear of harassment or intimidation, and ensure full compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)

(ja) firmly reassert that repeated attempts to curtail human rights, notably freedom of expression and assembly, in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity at the regional and federal levels runs against Russia's commitments under its constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)

(ka) stress once more that democracy and human rights must be at the core of the new comprehensive agreement with the Russian Federation, with regard, in particular, to the definition and inclusion of an effective and operational human rights clause, and that the quality and depth of future relations depend on the respect and support for such values;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)

(oa) call on Russian authorities to put an end to the widespread climate of impunity for human rights violations and the absence of rule of law in the North Caucasus;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q

(q) pursue the efforts for full implementation of common steps towards visa-free short-term travel, with a view of a gradual phasing out of the visa regime between the Schengen countries and Russia; facilitate as much and as quick as possible visa facilitation for academics, students ~~and~~, researchers and journalists;

2012/09/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2050(INI)