Progress: Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | AFET | DAVID Mário ( PPE), SIWIEC Marek ( S&D) | |
Committee Opinion | AFCO | DUFF Andrew ( ALDE) | Morten MESSERSCHMIDT ( ECR) |
Committee Opinion | DEVE | STRIFFLER Michèle ( PPE) | Enrique GUERRERO SALOM ( S&D) |
Committee Opinion | CULT | MIGALSKI Marek Henryk ( ECR) | Marietje SCHAAKE ( ALDE) |
Committee Opinion | AGRI | ||
Committee Opinion | REGI | KOLARSKA-BOBIŃSKA Lena ( PPE) | |
Committee Opinion | EMPL | RAPTI Sylvana ( S&D) | Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER ( PPE), Gabriele ZIMMER ( GUE/NGL) |
Committee Opinion | BUDG | FÄRM Göran ( S&D) | |
Committee Opinion | ITRE | MARCINKIEWICZ Bogdan Kazimierz ( PPE) | |
Committee Opinion | LIBE | FLAUTRE Hélène ( Verts/ALE) | |
Committee Opinion | INTA | ||
Committee Opinion | ENVI |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54
Legal Basis:
RoP 54Events
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Members began by recalling that it is in the highest interest of the EU to be ambitious in economic cooperation and adopt a mutually beneficial, responsible and flexible strategy based on support for democratic transitions and defence of human rights, towards its southern neighbourhood. In this new context, relations with these countries should be given fresh impetus, based on cooperation focusing on democracy and prosperity on both shores of the Mediterranean, and not only security and migration control and should provide itself with flexible and properly funded instruments in order to match its ambitions and events in the regions.
Accordingly, Members welcome the Joint Communications of the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on ‘ A new response to a changing Neighbourhood ’ and ‘ A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean ’ and the approach presented therein.
Acknowledging the European aspirations and the European choice of some partners, Parliament insists that tangible and credible incentives should be given to the neighbourhood countries to engage in the common goal of building deep democracy. For its part, the EU should apply the principle of differentiation based on each country's political, economic and social realities. Performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable and regularly monitored benchmarks for each individual partner country.
Recalling the objectives of development cooperation, Parliament asks the Commission and the EEAS to work towards eradicating poverty. It supports the consolidation in the ENP of previously separated strands of foreign and assistance policy in order to develop closer economic integration and political association among all those involved.
At the same time, the new neighbourhood policy should aim to strengthen stability and economic integration by focusing on the following points:
-Deep democracy and partnership with societies : Parliament advocates measures to strengthen the values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, the market economy and good governance. These include:
strengthening civil society (which will benefit, between 2011 and 2013 from a budget of EUR 22 millions with the Facility being more substantially funded in the next Multiannual Financial Framework; the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy (EED), which should complement already existing EU instruments and should involve a right of scrutiny and the involvement of the European Parliament in its governance structure; a ‘more for more’ performance-based approach to continue to encourage all types of political reform; a annual assessment of the situation on human rights (particularly women’s rights) with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed; human rights dialogues conducted with all partner countries, including strengthening freedom of expression and media independence and pluralism, and access to the Internet; strengthening women's participation and that of young people and respecting the rights of the child’; full and effective respect for the freedom of religion (at individual, collective, public, private and institutional level) should be identified as a priority, as well as the development of democratically oriented political parties with women in positions of responsibility; enhancing the visibility of the EaP and UfM projects in the partner countries.
At the same time, Members insist that the international community freeze its financial assistance to the Belarusian regime until all detained and arrested opposition leaders, journalists, presidential candidates and their supporters are released and cleared of charges and rehabilitated. They urge the European Union to reorient towards society and increase its assistance to Belarus in order to address the needs of the population.
-Sustainable economic and social development : generally, Members call on the EU to encourage structural reforms in the economic, social and legal arenas as part of its support for democratic transitions noting emphatically the close interweaving of democratic and socio-economic development.
They call for immediate measures, to alleviate the situation of the countries currently facing significant socioeconomic crises, with special regard to partner countries where democratic transition aggravates economic difficulties, if all parties involved commit themselves to verifiable compliance in each specific case with the social, environmental and labour standards applicable internationally and in the EU.
Others measures recommended are as follows:
the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and cross-border projects (particularly the development of South-South’ and ‘East-East’ trade and economic integration among the countries concerned; the strengthening of administrative capacity building in employment and social affairs ensuring that the minimum wage according to national practices provides an adequate standard of living for workers and their families embracing the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) as the guiding policy framework for medium-term pro-poor economic growth.
-Association agreements : Members underline the opportunity that negotiations on Association Agreements provide to boost reforms. They should therefore include concrete conditions, timetables and performance benchmarks, which should be regularly monitored. As well as real and tangible incentives for the partners. Parliament wants to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs), subject to: (i) the necessary alignment of safety and quality specifications, to European standards, (ii) ensuring that international conventions on labour laws and child labour are monitored; (iii) assessment of the political, social and environmental circumstances of each country.
Parliament notes that a European perspective, and the membership aspirations of Eastern Partnership countries pursuant to article 49 of the TEU, constitutes a driving force for reforms in these countries and further strengthens their commitment to shared values and principles such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and good governance.
It believes that the conclusion of Association Agreements can be an important step towards further political engagement and a stronger relationship with Europe.
It reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim is to bring the two shores of the Mediterranean closer together with a view to establishing an area of peace, democracy, security and prosperity for their 800 million inhabitants. Members would like to see DCFTAs as the first step towards a big ‘Euro-Mediterranean Economic Space’, and they call on the Commission and the Council to facilitate the implementation of the six packages of measures outlined in the Commission document of 30 March 2011 concerning the monitoring of trade and investment initiatives for the benefit of partners on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean.
-Sectoral cooperation : Parliament calls for closer cooperation on matters such as job creation, and, in particular with regard to all policies and issues entailing a cross-border dimension. Members recommend further cooperation in sectors such as industry, SMEs, research, development and innovation, ICT including security of IT systems, space, and tourism and stress the benefits of joint research programming initiatives by the EU and its neighbours. They welcome the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP .
They consider it necessary to step up energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energy, to strengthen energy supply. Parliament wants closer coordination on nuclear safety measures, particularly in regions that are prone to high seismic activity. It welcomes the proposal for the creation of a European Energy Community and believes that it could be an important step towards cooperation with our neighbours. It emphasises the strategic significance of the Nabucco project and of its swift implementation, as well as of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation under the AGRI project.
The resolution draws attention, furthermore, to the supporting role which the EU could play in tackling environmental problems in neighbouring countries, particularly in eliminating large stocks of ‘obsolete pesticides’, which can cause large-scale chemical pollution. Further cooperation in the transport sector, international, regional and interregional cultural cooperation, education and sport is also considered to be essential. Members call on the Commission to take over Parliament’s proposal, produced in the wake of the Arab Spring, to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus programme , an initiative which – assuming that it were successful – would be suitable to extend to the neighbourhood as a whole. In addition, the Commission should take over take over Parliament’s proposal to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Leonardo da Vinci programme. Members reaffirm the great support for the EU-funded project of ENP scholarships to the university graduates from the ENP and the EU at the College of Europe.
-Mobility : overall, Members recall that the EU should improve the management and maximise the mutual benefits of migration for development, inter alia by providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU and dealing with the root causes of irregular migration in the partner countries. The Union needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships , which take account of the demographic, sociological and occupational balance on both sides, and encouraging exchanges of specialists between the EU and third countries. The EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements on a parallel basis in the utmost transparency with a view to moving – gradually and on a case-by-case basis, once all conditions are met – to a visa-free regime (particularly in the cultural sphere). Parliament calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a structured dialogue with third country authorities in order to develop a win-win approach to mobility in order to guarantee equal and fair conditions for applicants in all Member States, focusing in particular on the effects of the interdependence between development aid, security, regular migration and irregular migration as defined in the Global Approach to Migration. It calls for special attention to be paid to ensuring that partner countries do not suffer from a ‘brain drain’.
Reaffirming the principle of ‘non-refoulement’as part of European asylum policy, Members insist that the Union shall facilitate access to EU funding for projects to inform migrants about their rights and responsibilities, including unaccompanied minors, women and other vulnerable groups and make every effort to facilitate the development of an accessible, fair and protective EU asylum system.
-Regional dimension : Members reiterate their firmly held view that the European Neighbourhood Policy will not be wholly effective unless synergy is created between its bilateral and multilateral dimensions. The multilateral dimension of the EaP should be further strengthened and developed, including the Civil Society Forum; notes the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue with Turkey and Russia on regional issues of common interest and particularly as far as security issues are concerned.
Members consider that the territorial cooperation principles apply also to external borders and are a key tool to improve EU economic development as well as the EU’s overall ENP political goals. They consider that the new ENP approach must allow the EU’s macro-regional strategies and that the potential of the EU macro-regions which include EU neighbouring countries should be fully used for better coordination of priorities and projects of common interest to the EU and the ENP countries in order to achieve mutually positive results and to optimise invested resources.
Members insist on the following issues:
to boost ‘Euroregions’ within the European Neighbourhood Policy; the high potential of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) involving regions beyond the external borders; take into account the role of the outermost regions in the EU external relations policy; the importance of further fostering regional cooperation in the Black Sea space and developing further the EU Black Sea Strategy.
Members stress the importance of the Union for the Mediterranean as a permanent forum for dialogue and cooperation and an instrument for the promotion of democracy. The UfM should promote sound economic, social and democratic development and create a strong and common basis for a close regional cooperation between the EU and its Southern neighbours. Members welcome the increase in the overall budget of the Neighbourhood Investment Facility. They call on the Commission and the EEAS to explore opportunities for an institutional interlink between the ENP and the neighbourhood policies of key regional players, above all Turkey.
-Conflict resolution : Parliament recalls that peaceful resolution of regional military conflicts, including frozen ones, is the essential precondition for democracy consolidation, respect for human rights, prosperity and economic growth, and thus should be of the highest interest to the EU. The EU should get more involved and play a more active, coherent and constructive role in the resolution of regional conflicts, inter alia via the EEAS, by developing more confidence-building measures, reconciliation and mediation. Political cooperation should be intensified for the purposes of security and combating terrorism and individual forms of extremism.
Members believe that intercultural and inter-religious dialogue is crucial to enhancing mutual understanding among the neighbourhood partner countries. They stress the need for a task force for the South Caucasus and a proactive role of the EU in the Transnistria talks. Parliament supports the EU's humanitarian action in the eastern neighbourhood partner countries, but regrets that this action is not yet accompanied by a strengthening of the EU as a leading political actor in the Middle East which matches its decisive commitment to humanitarian aid.
-Parliamentary dimension : Members reaffirm that the multilateral parliamentary assemblies, such as EURONEST and the PA-UfM, are crucial vectors of confidence- and coherence-building between the EU and the partner countries and among the partner countries themselves, and therefore greatly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean. They call on the EEAS and the Commission to associate EURONEST members to the maximum extent possible with the multilateral structures and platforms of the EaP and insist on the need to recognise the PA-UfM as a legitimate parliamentary institution of the UfM. Parliament calls on the EC to provide enhanced financial, technical and expert support to the EaP countries’ national parliaments’ administrations within the Comprehensive Institution Building programme 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. It confirms its openness to welcome representatives of the Belarusian Parliament in EURONEST as soon as parliamentary elections in Belarus are considered democratic by the international community, including the OSCE.
-Funding : Members welcome the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions. The distribution of funds should be flexible and adequate for both regions while keeping the regional balance. They consider that maintaining a reasonable balance between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries are in the process of implementing Eastern Partnership related programmes and reforms and have an EU perspective. Members demand a sizeable increase in the Heading 4 ceiling of the EU budget for the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument , given that over the last years despite some progress in promoting enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and the partner countries, more needs to be done as new challenges and areas for cooperation emerge.
Moreover, Members underline that the reallocation of appropriations needed for the increased funding for the ENP should be based on clear priorities and should therefore not be to the detriment of the Union’s only crisis response and peace-building tool , the Instrument for Stability, as proposed by the Commission. They emphasise that the funding of the ENP should not be affected by the current sovereign debt crisis.
Other measures are suggested such as:
Integration Facility to support civil society in the European Neighbourhood, the allocation of resources on a limited number of clearly defined priorities and measurable objectives; the provision of budget support if and only if there are guarantees of sound financial management in the countries concerned; the need for a consistent approach in the assistance provided to neighbouring countries by each individual EU Member State and the EU within the ENP framework; mobilisation by the ENP countries themselves, their own domestic resources, in order to establish transparent systems of taxation, involve the private sector, local governments and civil society effectively in the ENP agenda and aim for their greater ownership of ENP projects.
In parallel, Members call, in the light of the Arab Spring as well as the retreat from democracy in some of the Eastern partnership countries, for a specific self-critical evaluation of the financial instruments used in the past within the ENPI, with regard to their functioning in the fields of democracy, human rights, governance, fighting corruption, institution-building and support to civil society. They are of the firm conviction that financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA must also be examined in the context of this review and be subject to long-term programming, as an integral part of the Neighbourhood Policy. They do not consider the argument valid that the political instability in the region and the specificities of the peace process only allow provisional programming and case-by-case reinforcement.
Given the current pressing needs, especially in the Southern neighbourhood, Members call for a swift agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the proposal for reinforcing the Neighbourhood Instrument over the period 2012 to 2013 .
They also insists that the Council should adopt without further delay the legislative proposal to amend Article 23 of the ENPI Regulation, which would make it possible to reinvest funds returned following past operations.
Lastly, they call on the Commission to consider alternative ways to ensure additional risk capital funds to be immediately made available through the EIB, for both the Southern and the Eastern dimensions.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Marek SIWIEC (S&D, PL) and Mário DAVID (PPE, PT) on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Members began by recalling that it is in the highest interest of the EU to be ambitious in economic cooperation and adopt a mutually beneficial, responsible and flexible strategy based on support for democratic transitions and defence of human rights, towards its southern neighbourhood. In this new context, relations with these countries should be given fresh impetus, based on cooperation focusing on democracy and prosperity on both shores of the Mediterranean, and not only security and migration control. Accordingly, Members welcome the Joint Communications of the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on ‘ A new response to a changing Neighbourhood ’ and ‘ A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean ’ and the approach presented therein.
Acknowledging the European aspirations and the European choice of some partners, the committee insists that tangible and credible incentives should be given to the neighbourhood countries to engage in the common goal of building deep democracy, and that differentiation based on each country’s political, economic and social realities, performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable and regularly monitored benchmarks for each individual partner country. Recalling the objectives of development cooperation, it asks the Commission and the EEAS to work towards eradicating poverty. At the same time, it looks for a strengthened network of institutional arrangements, which is stable, economical and dedicated to developing closer economic integration and political association among all those involved.
The report raises several points with regard to the revision of the ENP:
(1) Deep democracy and partnership with societies : Members advocate measures to strengthen the values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, the market economy and good governance. These include:
· strengthening civil society (which will benefit, between 2011 and 2013 from a budget of EUR 22 millions with the Facility being more substantially funded in the next Multiannual Financial Framework;
· the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy (EED), which should complement already existing EU instruments and should involve a right of scrutiny and the involvement of the European Parliament in its governance structure;
· a ‘more for more’ performance-based approach;
· human rights dialogues conducted with all partner countries, including strengthening freedom of expression and media independence and pluralism, and access to the Internet;
· an annual assessment of the situation as well as the outcomes of the dialogues should be included in the annex to the annual progress report of each partner country with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed;
· strengthening women's participation and that of young people and respecting the rights of the child’;
· full and effective respect for the freedom of religion (at individual, collective, public, private and institutional level) should be identified as a priority, as well as the development of democratically oriented political parties with women in positions of responsibility;
· enhancing the visibility of the EaP and UfM projects in the partner countries.
At the same time, Members insist that the international community freeze its financial assistance to the Belarusian regime until all detained and arrested opposition leaders, journalists, presidential candidates and their supporters are released and cleared of charges and rehabilitated. They urge the European Union to reorient towards society and increase its assistance to Belarus in order to address the needs of the population.
(2) Sustainable economic and social development : generally, Members call on the EU to encourage structural reforms in the economic, social and legal arenas as part of its support for democratic transitions noting emphatically the close interweaving of democratic and socio-economic development.
They call for immediate measures, to alleviate the situation of the countries currently facing significant socioeconomic crises, with special regard to partner countries where democratic transition aggravates economic difficulties, if all parties involved commit themselves to verifiable compliance in each specific case with the social, environmental and labour standards applicable internationally and in the EU.
Others measures recommended are as follows:
· the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and cross-border projects (particularly the development of South-South’ and ‘East-East’ trade and economic integration among the countries concerned;
· the strengthening of administrative capacity building in employment and social affairs ensuring that the minimum wage according to national practices provides an adequate standard of living for workers and their families
· embracing the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) as the guiding policy framework for medium-term pro-poor economic growth.
(3) Association agreements : Members underline the opportunity that negotiations on Association Agreements provide to boost reforms. They should therefore include concrete conditions, timetables and performance benchmarks, which should be regularly monitored. As well as real and tangible incentives for the partners. They invite ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) ensuring that international conventions on labour laws and child labour are monitored.
The committee notes that a European perspective, and the membership aspirations of Eastern Partnership countries pursuant to article 49 of the TEU, constitutes a driving force for reforms in these countries and further strengthens their commitment to shared values and principles such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and good governance.
It believes that the conclusion of Association Agreements can be an important step towards further political engagement and a stronger relationship with Europe.
It reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim is to bring the two shores of the Mediterranean closer together with a view to establishing an area of peace, democracy, security and prosperity for their 800 million inhabitants. Members would like to see DCFTAs as the first step towards a big ‘Euro-Mediterranean Economic Space’, and they call on the Commission and the Council to facilitate the implementation of the six packages of measures outlined in the Commission document of 30 March 2011 concerning the monitoring of trade and investment initiatives for the benefit of partners on the Southern shore of the Mediterranean.
(4) Sectoral cooperation : Members recommend further cooperation in sectors such as industry, SMEs, research, development and innovation, ICT including security of IT systems, space, and tourism and stress the benefits of joint research programming initiatives by the EU and its neighbours. They welcome the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP . They consider it necessary to step up energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energy, to strengthen energy supply and nuclear safety measures, particularly in regions that are prone to high seismic activity. The committee welcomes the proposal for the creation of a European Energy Community and believes that it could be an important step towards cooperation with our neighbours. It emphasises the strategic significance of the Nabucco project and of its swift implementation, as well as of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation under the AGRI project.
The report draws attention, furthermore, to the supporting role which the EU could play in tackling environmental problems in neighbouring countries, particularly in eliminating large stocks of ‘obsolete pesticides’, which can cause large-scale chemical pollution. Further cooperation in the transport sector, international, regional and interregional cultural cooperation, education and sport is also considered to be essential. Members call on the Commission to take over Parliament’s proposal, produced in the wake of the Arab Spring, to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus programme , an initiative which – assuming that it were successful – would be suitable to extend to the neighbourhood as a whole. In addition, the Commission should take over take over Parliament’s proposal to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Leonardo da Vinci programme. They reaffirm the great support for the EU-funded project of ENP scholarships to the university graduates from the ENP and the EU at the College of Europe.
(5) Migration policy : overall, Members recall that the EU should improve the management and maximise the mutual benefits of migration for development, inter alia by providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU and dealing with the root causes of irregular migration in the partner countries. The Union needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships , which take account of the demographic, sociological and occupational balance on both sides, and encouraging exchanges of specialists between the EU and third countries. The EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements on a parallel basis in the utmost transparency with a view to moving – gradually and on a case-by-case basis, once all conditions are met – to a visa-free regime.
Reaffirming the principle of ‘non-refoulement’as part of European asylum policy, Members insist that the Union shall facilitate access to EU funding for projects to inform migrants about their rights and responsibilities, including unaccompanied minors, women and other vulnerable groups and make every effort to facilitate the development of an accessible, fair and protective EU asylum system.
(6) Regional dimension : Members reiterate their firmly held view that the European Neighbourhood Policy will not be wholly effective unless synergy is created between its bilateral and multilateral dimensions. The multilateral dimension of the EaP should be further strengthened and developed, including the Civil Society Forum; notes the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue with Turkey and Russia on regional issues of common interest and particularly as far as security issues are concerned.
Members consider that the territorial cooperation principles apply also to external borders and are a key tool to improve EU economic development as well as the EU’s overall ENP political goals. They consider that the new ENP approach must allow the EU’s macro-regional strategies and that the potential of the EU macro-regions which include EU neighbouring countries should be fully used for better coordination of priorities and projects of common interest to the EU and the ENP countries in order to achieve mutually positive results and to optimise invested resources.
Members insist on the following issues:
to boost Euroregions’ within the European Neighbourhood Policy; the high potential of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) involving regions beyond the external borders; take into account the role of the outermost regions in the EU external relations policy; the importance of further fostering regional cooperation in the Black Sea space and developing further the EU Black Sea Strategy.
Members stress the importance of the Union for the Mediterranean as a permanent forum for dialogue and cooperation and an instrument for the promotion of democracy. The UfM should promote sound economic, social and democratic development and create a strong and common basis for a close regional cooperation between the EU and its Southern neighbours. Members welcome the increase in the overall budget of the Neighbourhood Investment Facility. They call on the Commission and the EEAS to explore opportunities for an institutional interlink between the ENP and the neighbourhood policies of key regional players, above all Turkey.
(7) Conflict resolution : the report recalls that peaceful resolution of regional military conflicts, including so called frozen ones, is the essential precondition for democracy consolidation, respect for human rights, prosperity and economic growth, and thus should be of the highest interest to the EU. The EU should get more involved and play a more active, coherent and constructive role in the resolution of regional conflicts, inter alia via the EEAS, by developing more confidence-building measures, reconciliation and mediation. Political cooperation should be intensified for the purposes of security and combating terrorism and individual forms of extremism.
Members believe that intercultural and inter-religious dialogue is crucial to enhancing mutual understanding, respect, solidarity and tolerance with and among the neighbourhood partner countries. They insist on the need to keep a regional approach and welcomes the decision both to appoint an EUSR for the South Caucasus and for the Southern Mediterranean Region and to establish a task force for the Southern Mediterranean. A similar task force for the South Caucasus should be considered and a proactive role of the EU in the Transnistria talks.
(8) Parliamentary dimension : Members reaffirm that the multilateral parliamentary assemblies, such as EURONEST and the PA-UfM, are crucial vectors of confidence- and coherence-building between the EU and the partner countries and among the partner countries themselves, and therefore greatly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Eastern Partnership and the Union for the Mediterranean. They call on the EEAS and the Commission to associate EURONEST members to the maximum extent possible with the multilateral structures and platforms of the EaP and insist on the need to recognise the PA-UfM as a legitimate parliamentary institution of the UfM. The report calls on the EC to provide enhanced financial, technical and expert support to the EaP countries’ national parliaments’ administrations within the Comprehensive Institution Building programme 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. It confirms its openness to welcome representatives of the Belarusian Parliament in EURONEST as soon as parliamentary elections in Belarus are considered democratic by the international community, including the OSCE.
Funding : Members welcome the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions. The distribution of funds should be flexible and adequate for both regions while keeping the regional balance. They considers that maintaining a reasonable balance between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries are in the process of implementing Eastern Partnership related programmes and reforms and have an EU perspective. Members demand a sizeable increase in the Heading 4 ceiling of the EU budget for the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument , given that over the last years despite some progress in promoting enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and the partner countries, more needs to be done as new challenges and areas for cooperation emerge.
Moreover, Members underline that the reallocation of appropriations needed for the increased funding for the ENP should be based on clear priorities and should therefore not be to the detriment of the Union’s only crisis response and peace-building tool , the Instrument for Stability, as proposed by the Commission. They emphasise that the funding of the ENP should not be affected by the current sovereign debt crisis.
Other measures are suggested such as:
Integration Facility to support civil society in the European Neighbourhood, the allocation of resources on a limited number of clearly defined priorities and measurable objectives, the provision of budget support if and only if there are guarantees of sound financial management in the countries concerned, mobilisation by the ENP countries themselves, their own domestic resources, in order to establish transparent systems of taxation, involve the private sector, local governments and civil society effectively in the ENP agenda and aim for their greater ownership of ENP projects.
In parallel, Members call, in the light of the Arab Spring as well as the retreat from democracy in some of the Eastern partnership countries, for a specific self-critical evaluation of the financial instruments used in the past within the ENPI, with regard to their functioning in the fields of democracy, human rights, governance, fighting corruption, institution-building and support to civil society. They are of the firm conviction that financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA must also be examined in the context of this review and be subject to long-term programming, as an integral part of the Neighbourhood Policy. They do not consider the argument valid that the political instability in the region and the specificities of the peace process only allow provisional programming and case-by-case reinforcement.
Given the current pressing needs, especially in the Southern neighbourhood, Members call, for a swift agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the proposal for reinforcing the Neighbourhood Instrument over the period 2012 to 2013 .
They also insists that the Council should adopt without further delay the legislative proposal to amend Article 23 of the ENPI Regulation, which would make it possible to reinvest funds returned following past operations.
Lastly, they call on the Commission to consider alternative ways to ensure additional risk capital funds to be immediately made available through the EIB, for both the Southern and the Eastern dimensions.
The Council adopted conclusions emphasising the importance of strengthened transport cooperation and better transport connections with neighbouring regions covered by the Enlargement and European Neighbourhood policies , in particular the Western Balkans, the Mediterranean region and the Eastern Partnership countries, with a view to bringing about deeper economic integration and closer political association.
To achieve these goals, the Council advocates improvement of transport infrastructure, especially by:
better linking of the infrastructure of neighbouring countries with the trans-European transport network, and closer integration of transport markets, in particular by extending the European Common Aviation Area, removing barriers in maritime transport, increasing interoperability of railway systems and streamlining border crossing and administrative procedures.
The Council is, however, stressing that closer market integration will depend on neighbouring countries' readiness to do so and on their progress in applying safety, security, environmental and social standards equivalent to those of the EU .
The existing financial resources such as the Neighbourhood Investment Facility, which can leverage funding from international financial institutions, should be used to help those countries make the necessary reforms.
Moreover, the Council welcomes the establishment of an Eastern Partnership Transport Panel, due to be launched at the Eastern Partnership ministerial conference on 24-25 October in Krakow (Poland).
PURPOSE : proposal for a new strategy with regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). BACKGROUND : the European Neighbourhood includes Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Republic of Moldova, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. These are countries whose hopes and futures make a direct and significant difference to the EU.
Recent events have brought this into sharper relief, highlighting the challenges that the EU and these countries face together. The overthrow of long-standing repressive regimes in Egypt and Tunisia; the ongoing military conflict in Libya, the recent violent crackdown in Syria, continued repression in Belarus and the lingering protracted conflicts in the region, including in the Middle East, require the EU to look afresh at the its relationship with its neighbours.
The Lisbon Treaty has allowed the EU to strengthen the delivery of its foreign policy: co-operation with neighbouring countries can now be broadened to cover the full range of issues in an integrated and more effective manner. This was a key driver for initiating a review, in consultation with partner countries and other stakeholders, of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in summer 2010. Recent events and the results of the review have shown that EU support to political reforms in neighbouring countries has met with limited results.
A new approach is needed to strengthen the partnership between the EU and the countries and societies of the neighbourhood: (i) to build and consolidate healthy democracies, and (ii) pursue sustainable economic growth and manage cross-border links.
CONTENT : the new approach in the framework of the ENP aims to:
provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep democracy and other civil and human rights that many Europeans take for granted, such as the freedom of thought, conscience and religion; support inclusive economic development – so that EU neighbours can trade, invest and grow in a sustainable way, reducing social and regional inequalities, creating jobs for their workers and higher standards of living for their people; strengthen the two regional dimensions of the European Neighbourhood Policy, covering respectively the Eastern Partnership and the Southern Mediterranean, so that we can work out consistent regional initiatives in areas such as trade, energy, transport or migration and mobility complementing and strengthening our bilateral co-operation; provide the mechanisms and instruments fit to deliver these objectives.
The major themes of this new approach are the following:
1) Supporting progress towards deep democracy : the Commission proposes to adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy. It suggests the following actions: (i) support deep and sustainable democracy; (ii) establish a partnership with societies, with the establishment of a European Endowment for Democracy to help political parties, non-registered NGOs and trade unions and other social partners; (iii) intensifying our political and security co-operation to enhance EU involvement in solving protracted conflicts, mainly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other conflicts in the Middle East, the South Caucasus, the Republic of Moldova and Western Sahara.
2) Supporting sustainable social and economic development : this involves mainly proposals to:
support partner countries' adoption of policies conducive to stronger, sustainable and more inclusive growth, to the development of micro, small and medium-sized companies and to job creation; strengthen industrial cooperation and support improvements to the business environment; help to organise events to promote investment; promote direct investment from EU SMEs and micro-credit; build on the pilot regional development programmes to tackle economic disparities between regions; launch pilot programmes to support agricultural and rural development; enhance the macro-economic policy dialogue with partners making the most advanced economic reforms; improve the effectiveness of Macro-Financial Assistance by streamlining its decision-making process; enhance dialogue on employment and social policies.
3) Building effective regional partnerships : the EU offers partnership to each individual neighbour through a single policy, based on mutual accountability. The eastern and southern dimensions of the ENP seek to complement that single policy by fostering regional cooperation and developing regional synergies and responses to the specific geographic, economic and social challenges of each region.
-Strengthening the Eastern Partnership : in the area, the EU will :
move to conclude and implement Association Agreements including DCFTAs; pursue democratisation; pursue the visa facilitation and liberalisation process; enhance sectoral cooperation, notably in the area of rural development; promote benefits of the Eastern Partnership to citizens; increase work with civil society and social partners.
-Building the Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity in the Southern Mediterranean : the joint Communication on a Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity in the Southern Mediterranean outlined first elements of the EU’s offer of a new partnership with partners engaged in building democracies and extensive reforms. The three main directions along which the EU intends to further develop its relations with its Mediterranean partners are carried over into this communication: democratic transformation and institution-building; a stronger partnership with the people; and sustainable and inclusive economic development. The long-term vision for our most advanced Mediterranean partners is close political association with the EU and economic integration into the Internal Market. In the short term, Comprehensive Institution-Building programmes similar to those implemented with its Eastern neighbours will be set up to support democratic transformation.
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) which complements the bilateral relations between the EU and partners should enhance its potential to organise effective and result-oriented regional cooperation.
4) Policy and programme framework : the Commission proposes focusing ENP Action Plans and EU assistance on a smaller number of priorities, backed with more precise benchmarks.
While ENP Action Plans remain the framework for our general cooperation, the EU will suggest to partners that they focus on a limited number of short and medium-term priorities, incorporating more precise benchmarks and a clearer sequencing of actions.
In terms of funding, the EU shall: i) re-focus and target foreseen and programmed funds in the ENPI as well as other relevant external policy instruments in the light of this new approach; (ii) provide additional resources of over EUR 1 billion until 2013 to address the urgent needs of our neighbourhood ; (iii) mobilise budgetary reinforcement from various sources; (iv) swiftly proceed with submitting concurring budget proposals to the Budget Authority.
Implementing the new approach of the neighbourhood policy based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law requires additional resources of up to EUR 1242 million until 2013. These resources are in addition to the EUR 5700 million provided under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for 2011-2013. Additional resources will be provided through reallocations from within Heading 4 of the 2007-2013 multi-annual financial framework , and by making use of the unallocated margin under the expenditure ceiling in 2012 and - to the extent necessary - through the Flexibility Instrument. The Commission will submit an Amending Letter to Draft Budget 2012 shortly.
Planning for 2013 and beyond : the Commission proposes to : i) promote more flexible and simpler aid delivery under the post-2013 successor to the present ENPI; ii) step up efforts of co-ordination between the EU, its Member States and other key IFIs and bilateral donors.
The key source of funding, the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), will provide the bulk of financial support to partner countries, essentially through bilateral, regional and cross border co-operation programmes.
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2012)162/2
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T7-0576/2011
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A7-0400/2011
- Committee opinion: PE469.869
- Committee opinion: PE472.186
- Committee opinion: PE472.222
- Committee opinion: PE472.292
- Committee opinion: PE470.004
- Committee opinion: PE472.053
- Committee opinion: PE469.892
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE472.271
- Committee opinion: PE469.798
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
- Committee draft report: PE469.805
- Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2011)0303
- Non-legislative basic document published: EUR-Lex
- For information: COM(2011)0200
- For information: EUR-Lex
- For information: COM(2011)0200 EUR-Lex
- Committee draft report: PE469.805
- Committee opinion: PE469.798
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE472.271
- Committee opinion: PE469.892
- Committee opinion: PE472.053
- Committee opinion: PE470.004
- Committee opinion: PE472.292
- Committee opinion: PE472.222
- Committee opinion: PE472.186
- Committee opinion: PE469.869
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2012)162/2
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
- Contribution: COM(2011)0303
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Amendments | Dossier |
671 |
2011/2157(INI)
2011/09/09
CULT
46 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls for an equitable distribution and alignment of the ENP financial programmes’ funding for mobility and support of civil society, so that
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable gifted students from ENP countries to
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, as far as possible to enable students from ENP countries to have access to education in Europe;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable students from ENP countries to have access to education in Europe; recalls the importance of making exchange programmes reciprocal, so that European young people can also have the opportunity of receiving education in countries participating in the ENP;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable students from ENP countries to have access to education in Europe; calls on the Member States to promote training (including programmes for learning the languages of neighbouring countries) and twinning initiatives for civil servants;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Emphasizes the need to liberalise the visa regime for students and youth of the Eastern Partnership countries eager to study in EU countries;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses the added value of the Tempus IV programme in promoting cooperation and seeking to modernise the educational systems of the countries adjoining the EU and calls on the Commission to provide support for the programme with a view to the next multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Appreciates the impact of the Euro- Mediterranean University and indicates that this success should be publicised and that a similar initiative should be launched for the Eastern Partnership region;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls for an equitable distribution and alignment of the ENP financial programmes’ existing funding for mobility and support of civil society, so that both the Eastern and the Southern arenas are equivalent in terms of EU external cooperation;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to enhance
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to enhance synergies between Youth on the Move and the ENP, in order to ensure that learner mobility between the EU and neighbourhood countries can benefit from more opportunities, in the interests both of the EU and of young people from those countries; calls on the Commission to conclude more partnership agreements with neighbouring countries in the area of mobility;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to enhance synergies between Youth on the Move and the ENP, in order to ensure that learner mobility between the EU and
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises the need to enhance synergies between Youth on the Move and the ENP, in order to ensure that learner mobility between the EU and neighbourhood countries can benefit from more opportunities, in the interests both of the EU and of young people from those countries. Points out, in that context, that the disproportion in income between inhabitants of the European Union and the ENP countries should be taken into account, and that consideration should be given to providing better scholarship opportunities;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Reminds the European Union and the Member States of the importance of removing obstacles to the free movement of persons and to obtaining visas, particularly in the context of exchanges of students, apprentices and teachers;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses the importance of strengthening, within the ENP framework, cooperation for the development of sport in the countries concerned in view of the educational value of sporting activities; calls on the European institutions and the Member States to work for the free movement of athletes worldwide, beginning with those from the ENP countries, and the elimination of all global trafficking in young athletes;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Considers international, regional and interregional cultural cooperation based on a genuine dialogue between cultures and including all sectors of society (cultural authorities, institutions, organisations and associations) to be essential; calls, in this regard, on the ENP countries to sign and ratify the Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Urges the Commission to pay particular attention to the mobility of students, academics, researchers and businesspeople by guaranteeing sufficient resources and by enhancing and extending existing grants and implementing structured cooperation in the areas of higher education and research, promotion of inter-university exchanges and public-private research partnerships;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that fostering participation in EU cultural programmes can benefit
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that fostering participation in EU cultural programmes benefits cultural policy development in ENP countries;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Calls for an equitable distribution and alignment of the ENP financial programmes' funding for mobility and support of civil society, so that both the Eastern and the Southern arenas are equ
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that fostering participation in EU cultural programmes benefits cultural policy development in ENP countries;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that fostering participation in EU cultural programmes benefits cultural policy development in ENP countries; welcomes, therefore, the launching of the Eastern Partnership Culture Programme and endorses the Commission's intention of following up on its Special Action Culture Programme; cultural programmes and programmes to promote mobility should also focus on the mobility of artists and those pursuing artistic studies, thereby facilitating creative and cultural enrichment and exchange;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses the importance of networks of local authorities (particularly town twinning), European public actors and ENP beneficiary states for increasing political, economic and cultural exchange with these countries; to that end, recommends better information and better assistance for project organisers and beneficiaries of ENPI funds; encourages the creation of European information and good practice exchange platforms;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Advocates the establishment of a cultural visa for artists and other culture professionals from ENP countries; calls also on the Commission to propose a short-stay visa initiative with the aim of eliminating obstacles to mobility in the cultural sector;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that advantage should be taken of the educational experiences of Member States already implementing the concept of the European Neighbourhood Policy, such as the Centre for East European Studies in Warsaw. In that context calls on the Member States to introduce free visas for students from ENP countries;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Regrets that educational and cultural cooperation with ENP countries is fragmented over diverse programmes and supported via diverse budget lines and urges an assessment of existing programs to ensure efficient use or resources to meet the EU´s goals and objectives;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. Supports streamlining of internal operations in the Commission regarding the different existing programmes and projects dealing with culture and education; looks forward to the launch of one umbrella initiative covering all programmes and projects which allow for regional and inter-regional cultural cooperation for the whole ENP region;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Stresses that fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as well as the right to connect and communicate -online and offline- are important preconditions for cultural expression, exchanges and dialogue; urges the Commission and the Member States therefore to respect and promote these freedoms, including internet freedom, within and outside Europe;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 d (new) 5d. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to coordinate the strategic deployment of the cultural aspects of external policy, incorporating culture consistently and systematically into the EU’s external relations and seeking complementarities with the Member States' external cultural policies;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Strongly reaffirms the connection between exchange and cooperation in culture, education and sport between the European Union and ENP countries and the building and strengthening of an open civil society, democracy, the rule of law and the spread of fundamental freedoms and human rights; stresses that mutual cooperation in these areas constitutes an added value for both EU and ENP countries;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to support the efforts of civil society, free media and non- governmental organisations to introduce a democratic system and the rule of law in all those countries of the ENP where fundamental freedoms
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to support the efforts of civil society, free media and non- governmental organisations to introduce a democratic system and the rule of law in all those countries of the ENP where fundamental freedoms and human rights are being violated; recognises with concern the process of restriction of freedom of speech and harassment of opposition
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to support the efforts of civil society,
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to support the efforts of civil society, free media and non- governmental organisations to introduce a democratic system and the rule of law in all those countries of the ENP where fundamental freedoms and human rights are being violated;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS to support politically and financially the efforts of civil society, free media and non-
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Stresses the need to devise effective strategies for intercultural talks, including in the ENP context, and considers that a multicultural approach to this task may have a favourable impact on all relations with third country partners.
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Emphasizes the need to initiate, run and support cultural and educational programs aimed at disseminating and promoting basic values of participative democracy, including the respect of human rights and minority rights, accessible to citizens as well as cultural and educational institutions from ENP countries.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Calls for a review of the obstacles to mobility, particularly the overly complex administrative procedures for issuing visas, both for students and researchers as well as for artists and live performance organisations, and calls on the Member States to simplify these procedures and make them consistent; highlights, at the same time, the risk of ‘brain drain’ and its consequences for the countries of origin of the young people concerned, and recommends strategies to help young people in particular, including in their countries of origin;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. A
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational opportunities for youth; appeals to the Commission and the Member States, therefore, to
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Affirms that the EU programmes for young people have had a great impact on enhancing educational and training opportunities for youth; appeals to the Member States, therefore, to enable students and apprentices from ENP countries to have access to education
source: PE-472.077
2011/09/15
LIBE
72 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU f
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Takes the view that the new neighbourhood policy should help to remove the obstacles to physical access to the EU which are too often faced by those in need of protection, making them even more vulnerable and potentially delivering them into the hands of networks of smugglers;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Recalls, in this connection, that the Member States must uphold the principle of ‘non-refoulement’ and make every effort to facilitate the development of an accessible, fair and protective EU asylum system;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Believes that the review of the ENP creates an opportunity for the EU to effectively carry out its obligations as laid down in Articles 2, 3, 6, 8 and 21 of the TEU
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Expresses disappointment at the continued adoption in the EU countries of an approach consisting in outsourcing the management of immigration to the EU to third countries, in particular those on the southern shore of the Mediterranean;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Believes that, to support the recent developments towards democratic reforms and civil liberties in North Africa and the Mediterranean region, the EU should further open its market, starting with Egypt, Tunisia and the Transitional National Council of Libya;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Takes the view that, in order to concretely support the aspirations for freedom in North Africa and the Mediterranean region, the EU should at the same time consider engaging a dialogue to encourage these countries to strengthen their regional relations, with the goal of removing obstacles to freedom of movement for people, goods and services among themselves;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) 2b. Deplores the fact that the new neighbourhood strategy proposed by the Commission continues to be based on the principle of making access to closer cooperation in other areas conditional on effective action to combat illegal immigration, inter alia through re-entry agreements that also apply to third country nationals;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 c (new) 2c. Expresses disappointment, therefore, at the discrepancy between, on the one hand, the EU’s statements of intent concerning the promotion of democracy and human rights in neighbouring countries and, on the other, the way in which these aspects are addressed in the context of migration policy; calls, therefore, for the EU to act on its statements about human rights and democracy by making the promotion of, and respect for, migrants’ rights a key focus of the strategy it intends to develop with its neighbourhood partners, in particular those in the south;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 d (new) 2d. Agrees with the Commission’s observations concerning the situation with regard to migration for family reasons, and calls on it to present a Green Paper on the subject by the end of the year;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a structured dialogue with third country authorities in order to develop a win-win approach to mobility
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a structured dialogue with third country authorities in order to develop a win-win approach to mobility and progress towards visa liberalisation
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a structured dialogue with third country authorities in order to develop a win-win approach to mobility and progress towards visa liberalisation beyond a visa facilitation only for targeted groups; and to evaluate the existing mobility partnerships, particularly the adverse effects of the interdependence between development aid, regular migration and irregular migration as defined in the Global Approach to Migration;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Council and the Commission to set up a structured dialogue with third country authorities in order to develop a win-win approach to mobility and progress towards visa liberalisation beyond a visa facilitation only for targeted groups; and to evaluate the existing mobility partnerships, particularly the interdependence between development aid, regular migration and irregular migration as defined in the Global Approach to Migration; emphasises in this connection the need for the Seasonal Workers Directive to effectively safeguard immigrants’ rights and their working on an equal footing, so as to encourage the movement of workers from neighbouring countries and act as a disincentive to unofficial immigration;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Council and the Commission to give thorough consideration to the serious doubts raised by the Commission in its communication entitled ‘Evaluation of EU Readmission Agreements’ as regards respect for fundamental rights in the implementation of such agreements, by adopting a moratorium on the relevant negotiations;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to conclude mobility agreements with third countries in a spirit of reciprocity, specifically when concluding agreements dealing with the return or re- integration of irregular migrants;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Expresses support for the Commission initiative (COM(2011) 292 final) to establish mobility partnerships with the countries of the southern Mediterranean and considers that these should focus on the conclusion of agreements on readmission and voluntary returns, improving cooperation with Frontex and combating organised crime, including the trafficking of human beings; calls similarly on the Commission to assess the possibility of extending such partnerships to also include the other third countries neighbouring the EU;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Takes the view that the prevention of illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings and the fight against organised crime and illegal trafficking of migrants call for specific measures in the context of mobility partnerships; maintains, therefore, that coordinated border management, the adoption of international protection measures in the region – such as asylum – and effective cooperation between police forces are inherently interlinked;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a Stresses that the establishment of partnership arrangements for mobility under the revised neighbourhood policy is a means of encouraging the controlled ingress of people from countries which were traditionally a source of illegal immigration;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU fulfil, through its revised neighbourhood policy, the
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls on the Member States to make greater use of the opportunities offered by the EU Visa Code, inter alia with a view to facilitating mobility among students and researchers;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Believes that mobility agreements should focus particularly on enhancing mobility for students, university teachers and researchers, paying special attention in avoiding the repercussions of the phenomenon of brain drain for third countries;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b Stresses the need to improve the ability of the EU to attract and maintain a highly qualified workforce, while at the same time limiting the 'brain drain' and simultaneously resolving the problem of the progressively ageing EU population with all this implies with regard to employment;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c Welcomes the implementation of reforms and cooperation with third- country authorities in the fields of justice and security, particularly with a view to combating trafficking in humans, organised crime, smuggling and money laundering;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States and the EU
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States and the EU to ratify the UN Migrant Workers Convention and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Calls on the Member States and the EU to ratify the UN Migrant Workers Convention; emphasises that mobility and interpersonal contact are essential in order to promote mutual understanding, economic growth, exchanges of ideas and the establishment of sound relationships between businesses, universities and civil society organisations;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Takes the view that it is essential, as part of a coherent long-term strategy, to analyse the deep-rooted causes of migration flows in order to arrive at more appropriate responses in relation to the right to mobility;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU fulfil, through its revised neighbourhood policy, the
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to fa
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at pro
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at protecting migrants’ rights, and more generally – in conjunction with other EU bodies, in particular the European funding and investment organisations (such as the EIB and the EBRD) – to projects seeking to promote democratisation, economic growth and cultural and social development in the ENP countries;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at protecting migrants’ rights, particularly the rights of women at the workplace, focusing on the prevention of all forms of discrimination;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU ful
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at protecting migrants’ rights; calls on partner countries to mobilise more of their domestic resources and to involve civil society and business representatives in project implementation, thereby giving them a greater sense of responsibility with a view to obtaining positive results;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on the Commission to favour the channelling of EU funds to projects aimed at protecting migrants' rights, especially the rights of unaccompanied minors;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the Commission, in the wake of the migration flows observed during the Arab Spring, to clarify the precise circumstances in which Member States subject to a ‘disproportionate influx of displaced persons’ could avail themselves of the provisions of Directive 2001/55/EC on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Strongly supports the partnership with societies approach and thus calls on the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Strongly supports the partnership with societies approach and thus calls on the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to develop mechanisms to ensure its full application, in particular by
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Strongly supports the partnership with societies approach and thus calls on the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to develop mechanisms to ensure its full application, in particular by setting up a monitoring mechanism
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Strongly supports the partnership with societies approach and thus calls on the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to develop mechanisms to ensure its full application, in particular by setting up a
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Strongly supports the partnership with societies approach and thus calls on the Commission and the Vice-President/High Representative to develop mechanisms to ensure its full application, in particular by setting up a monitoring mechanism involving civil society in the definition of objectives and
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Recalls that, according to the mandate of the Frontex agency, Parliament must be fully informed as soon as possible of agreements concluded between that agency and the authorities of third countries;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Commission for a prompt and more flexible response with less bureaucracy and avoiding obstructionism when it comes to mobilising funds for the administration of urgent humanitarian aid to third countries;.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU fulfil, through its revised neighbourhood policy, the aspirations of those who fought for democracy and human rights,
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Considers that the review of the neighbourhood policy must facilitate the conclusion of agreements with third countries aimed at regulating migratory flows and stemming illegal migration and the readmission of third country nationals who did not satisfy the requirements for entry to, or presence or residence in, the territory of the Member States;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by conducting an enquiry into the shipwrecks of boat people,
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by conducting an enquiry into the shipwrecks of boat people,
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by conducting an enquiry into the shipwrecks of boat people, providing the EP with a detailed report on the Frontex Hermes operation, condemning the agreement concluded between the Italian authorities and the Transitional National Council of Libya,
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council, in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to urgently address the refugee crisis by conducting an enquiry into the shipwrecks of boat people, providing the EP with a detailed report on the Frontex Hermes operation, condemning the agreement concluded between the Italian authorities and the Transitional National Council of Libya, providing support to Egypt, Tunisia
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urgently address the refugee crisis by conducting an enquiry into the shipwrecks of boat people, providing the EP with a detailed report on the Frontex Hermes operation, condemning the agreement concluded between the Italian authorities and the Transitional National Council of Libya, providing support to Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Lebanon, in particular by exploring the possibility of setting up a humanitarian corridor, and unblocking without delay the negotiations on the Joint EU Resettlement Programme;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU fulfil, through its revised neighbourhood policy, the aspirations of those who fought for democracy
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Member States, in partnership with the UNHCR, to resettle refugees having fled Libya who are still stuck in camps on the Tunisian and Egyptian borders, and whose lives would be endangered by a return to Libya on account of the atrocities being committed against sub-Saharan peoples, who are assumed to be pro-Gaddafi mercenaries;
Amendment 71 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission and the Council, in order to prevent and to deal with the suffering of refugees and irregular migrants, to provide assistance to neighbouring countries, but also to swiftly proceed with the work on or the implementation of legislative files such as the revision of the FRONTEX mandate, a Schengen Evaluation Mechanism, readmission agreements, EURODAC and minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers;
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission and Council to launch, in tandem with Parliament, an in-depth debate on management of the external borders that reflects, in particular, the new situation in the countries of the southern Mediterranean and provides a fitting response to the humanitarian needs and democratic expectations of those countries; considers that this will require a rethink of the role of the European agencies competent for such matters, and especially that of Frontex;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers it essential that the EU fulfil, through its revised neighbourhood policy, the aspirations of those who fought for democracy and human rights, including the right to mobility; and provides further support in the democratisation process, in particular promoting fundamental rights, the rule of law, independence of judiciary, free and fair elections and the freedom of expression;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Reiterates that the EU’s neighbourhood policy is based on the values of democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on women's rights, the market economy and sustainable development;
source: PE-472.228
2011/09/21
REGI
25 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers that the territorial cooperation principles apply also to external borders and are a key tool to improve EU economic development as well as the EU’s overall ENP political goals, including the promotion of democracy; takes the view that these targets can only be achieved with the cooperation of both civil society and regional and local authorities, thereby taking account of the diversity of territorial situations within the ENP countries and promoting the principles of subsidiarity and multi-level governance; underlines that the Commission should extend its integrated approach in order to clearly support the local and regional authorities as one of its pillars and guarantors of the general interest;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Is of the opinion that the potential of the EU macroregions which include EU neighbouring countries should be fully used for better coordination of priorities and projects of common interest for EU and the ENP countries, and thus for achievement of mutually positive results and optimisation of invested resources;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Maintains that the new ENP approach must also allow for the EU’s macro-regional strategies;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Considers that the ENP will have to allow for the fact that the ORs are in many cases the first point of entry to the Schengen area and as such the first to be confronted with irregular migration from non-EU countries;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines that the ENP should be considered broadly in order to fuel the economic development of bordering areas; stresses the positive impact of relaxing visa requirements for local border traffic and the development of regional markets, particularly regarding such groups as students, researchers, businesspeople, artists or journalists; in this respect, calls on the Commission to
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines that the ENP should be considered broadly in order to fuel the economic development of bordering areas; stresses the positive impact of relaxing visa requirements for the implementation of the CBC projects, local border traffic and the development of regional markets, particularly regarding such groups as students, researchers, businesspeople, artists or journalists; in this respect, calls on the Commission to propose an amendment to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 in order to enlarge the definition of ‘border area’ and to increase the number of holders of local border travel rights, allowing them to move freely in the whole border region;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that there are synergies between cohesion and development cooperation funds which have yet to be turned to good account; calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate ERDF, ESF, and EDF cross-financing arrangements, especially for the outermost regions;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that one of the main ways to implement the ENP lies in partnership and cooperation in every walk of life, namely the economy, education, culture, and, of course, politics;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that without the ORs the EU would have no ‘outposts’ close to other continents and would be reduced to much narrower geographical confines; notes that, given their location, the ORs are particularly well placed to consolidate external relations, thus enabling the EU to exert its influence in the world; considers, therefore, that they should, as a matter of priority, be encompassed within the ENP and utilise the tools provided under it, especially those relating to cross-border cooperation;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Notes that sustainable economic development and job creation in partner countries will benefit the EU and at the same time strengthen neighbourly relations;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Believes that the strengthening of the Eastern Partnership will be central for the development of EU border regions; stresses that the Eastern Partnership and regional development must work hand in hand and should encourage bi- and multilateral co-operation, such as free trade agreements, as well as properly funded joint projects, such as cultural and civil society exchanges;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers that the territorial cooperation principles apply also to external borders and are a key tool to improve EU economic development as well as the EU’s overall ENP political goals, including the promotion of democracy; takes the view that these targets can only be achieved with
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Calls on the Commission to provide greater flexibility as regards innovative funding opportunities for selected cohesion policy projects so as to enable these to become established in, and benefit, both European regions and those in non-member countries.
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Considers that in order to promote a business- and investment-friendly environment, the partner countries need to continue to improve the regulatory environment for businesses, to fight corruption and to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and partnerships with organisations from neighbouring EU Member States;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Points out that EU support is not enough to ensure the success of long-term social and economic reforms and guarantee sustainable development; considers, therefore, that partner countries should actively mobilise domestic resources and involve civil society and business community representatives in project implementation, broadening their responsibilities with a view to achieving favourable results;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Stresses that the Barcelona Process and the Mediterranean Union should be revitalised in relation to the regional development, encouraging appropriate bi- and multilateral co-operation, such as free trade agreements or cultural and civil society exchanges, especially in the light of the recent encouraging events in the North Africa;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Stresses, bearing in mind that the final phase of the ENP review has coincided with the Arab Spring, that there is now an excellent opportunity and reason to carry out an unbiased exhaustive review of the ENP, reflecting real neighbourhood trends; considers it important to ensure that the review document is based on the lessons learnt, so as to enable the best practice established in the EU to be shared with the EU’s neighbours;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Stresses that both the Eastern Partnership and Mediterranean Union are vital to the regional development; underlines, that important political events notwithstanding, these policies should be treated in an even-handed manner, so as to ensure a properly balanced approach, especially in the financial and institutional sense.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Maintains that cooperation policies should be centred on sea basins, which need to be defined in as broad a sense as possible where the outermost regions are concerned; maintains that cooperation policies should be decentralised by putting local authorities more directly in touch with issues of common interest; calls on the Commission to strengthen the sea basin concept within the ENP;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Considers that the ENP must favour practical projects aimed at promoting institutional and economic support, investment, social cohesion, the environment, culture, mobility, and networking whereby local and regional authorities could learn to work together and exchange their best practices in order to exploit shared development opportunities;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Maintains that, in order to develop democracy, the EU has to combat the internal and external risks that regularly threaten its Member States’ democratic systems; takes the view, given that this constitutes a major challenge for the EU as a whole, that the EU, by intensifying dialogue and cooperation, must not only enhance the effectiveness of the democratic development process worldwide, but also strengthen democracy and security in its Member States;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Considers that reducing the development gap between communities divided by the external borders of the EU can be achieved by targeted policies concerning economic and social cohesion; Notes that special knowledge management tools, platforms for local and regional authorities for experience- sharing and proper infrastructure alongside the border areas would enable sustainable development of the border regions and would also reduce tensions in the communities generated by visibly different development levels inside and outside the EU;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Stresses the high potentials of EGTCs involving regions beyond the external borders; encourages specific agreements with neighbouring third countries with regard the introduction of national laws allowing EGTC structures under their national laws and interstate agreements enabling local and regional authorities of third countries to participate in EGTCs;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Is of the opinion that the EU has to apply the same standards to all forms of anti-democratic behaviour related to human rights, both when dealing with neighbouring countries and internally, that is to say, within its Member States;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses the outstanding role of Euroregions for the achievement of the cohesion policy goals and encourages the Commission to promote and help their development, particularly in border regions, in order to boost Euroregions’ role within the ENP policy; also notes that the EU’s outermost regions have a role to play to the extent that they constitute the border with the outside world and could help the EU to foster relations with other parts of the world;
source: PE-472.311
2011/09/28
ITRE
60 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP; recalls that security of energy supply
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 c (new) 1c. Welcomes the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the Treaty establishing the Energy Community, in view of its potentially vital role in terms of ensuring the achievement of the EU's energy security objectives and contributing to security for those countries;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 d (new) 1d. Welcomes all efforts towards strengthening of the Eastern Partnership, especially, its Flagship initiatives on SMEs and on regional energy markets and energy efficiency; believes that these efforts should be reflexed in the multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to encourage the construction, upgrading and development of energy networks and infrastructure interconnections with EU neighbours through the realisation of the Southern gas corridor, including Nabucco and the trans-Caspian transportation project, modernization of network in the Eastern Neighbourhood, and the development of the South-South and North-South Interconnections in the Southern Neighbourhood;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to encourage the construction, upgrading and development of energy networks and infrastructure interconnections with EU neighbours; notes that neighbours should be also encouraged to invest in their own infrastructure, especially in Russia and Ukraine, where the poor state of gas infrastructure leads to massive gas losses via leakage;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to encourage the construction, upgrading and development of energy networks and infrastructure interconnections with EU neighbours; emphasises the importance of prioritizing projects of EU interest, in order to accelerate their development and implementation;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to encourage
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Calls on the Commission to encourage the construction, upgrading and development of smart energy networks and infrastructure interconnections with EU neighbours;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 – point a (new) (a) Notes in particular the importance of the construction and development of LNG infrastructure;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Welcomes the Commission's proposal of establishing a cooperation and information exchange mechanism on Member States' bilateral energy agreements with third countries; deems as essential that energy agreements be settled at EU level wherever necessary to achieve EU core objectives;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Commission to further develop the EU Black Sea Strategy, as it represents an important component of the EU's external energy strategy, given its geostrategic role which offers a significant potential for energy security and supply diversification;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP; recalls that security of energy supply through the diversification of sources remains an EU energy policy priority and that both eastern and southern neighbours remain a key focus of the EU’s external energy policy; calls for effective measures to be taken to speed up the development of the EU’s common external energy policy and to ensure that the principle of solidarity is applied in the field of energy;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 b (new) Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the importance of renewables and of energy efficiency a
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the importance of renewables and of energy efficiency and notes that both the EU’s eastern and southern neighbourhoods have major potential in these areas; recognises that increased use of renewables is often impeded by a lack of incentives, by regional conflicts in the southern neighbourhood, by a lack of integration and by technical limitations preventing grids from receiving and distributing renewables-generated power, and encourages the Commission to support the development of local expertise and the transfer of know-how, where stable political and social conditions will allow;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the importance of renewables and of energy efficiency and notes that both the EU's eastern and southern neighbourhoods have major potential in these areas; recognises that increased use of renewables is often impeded by a lack of incentives and by t
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the importance of conventional energy (oil and gas), renewables and of energy efficiency and notes that both the EU's eastern and southern neighbourhoods have major potential in these areas; recognises that increased use of renewables is often impeded by a lack of incentives and by technical limitations preventing grids from receiving and distributing renewables-generated power, and encourages the Commission to support the development of local expertise and the transfer of know-how;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Recalls the importance of renewables and of energy efficiency and notes that both the EU’s eastern and southern neighbourhoods have major potential in these areas; recognises that increased use
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses the need for crossborder cooperation in the Danube region, given its status as European gateway to the western Balkans, as well as the role of the EU strategy for the Danube region as regards improving neighbourhood relations in central and south-eastern Europe, given its significant contribution in terms of value added to EU policy for eastern Europe, and thus being an excellent means for the entire Union to boost political and economic cooperation in the Balkans and therefore contribute to extending and consolidating the process of European integration in the region;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Underlines the importance of sharing the EU experience on energy sector reforms to neighbouring countries, such as Ukraine, in order to contribute to the modernisation of their gas transit system and to promote transparent market rules, protection of environment and fair conditions for energy trade;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear safety should be a key priority of the EU's dialogue with its neighbours; considers that the EU should advocate for international legally binding nuclear safety standards in multilateral discussions, including under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and should aim at extending nuclear safety assessments to EU neighbouring countries; highlights the need for encouraging information sharing in nuclear research and exchange of technological and scientific expertise in this field;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP; recalls that security of energy supply through the diversification of sources, deeper engagement with main suppliers and transit states remains an EU energy policy priority and that both eastern and southern neighbours remain a key focus of the EU's external energy policy;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear safety should be a key priority of the EU’s dialogue with its neighbours; calls on the Commission to promote the development of safe nuclear energy as a competitive and environmentally friendly form of energy that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear safety should be a key
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear safety should be a key priority of the EU's dialogue with its neighbours; particularly in regions that are prone to high seismic activity;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear security and safety should be a key priority of the EU’s dialogue with its neighbours;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that nuclear safety towards decommissioning should be a key priority of the EU's dialogue with its neighbours;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Having in mind that nuclear strategies go beyond national borders, underlines that neighbouring third countries need to be pursued in order to strengthen nuclear safety and environmental standards; calls on the Commission to make sure that international conventions and standards are respected in the neighbouring countries, especially in those which are planning to build nuclear power plants near external EU borders;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's intention to accelerate the energy market integration
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks, notwithstanding the merits of the Energy Community Treaty; calls for more effective implementation of the principle of reciprocity in relations with vertical monopolies in neighbouring countries and the establishment of measures to prevent energy monopolies in neighbouring countries having a negative impact on the EU internal market;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the reinforcement of the energy cooperation dimension of the ENP; recalls that security of energy supply through the diversification of sources and demand management remains an EU energy policy priority and that both eastern and southern neighbours remain a key focus of the EU's external energy policy;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks, notwithstanding the merits of the Energy Community Treaty; stresses the need to take the regulatory context into account and to include the market structures in the energy markets, i.e. the monopoly position of certain energy suppliers, and the legal reality;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks, notwithstanding the merits of the Energy Community Treaty, believes that using it as a model for a future "EU-Southern Mediterranean Community" should be thoroughly assessed by taking full account of regional specificities, existing partnerships and action plans;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks, building on the basis of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and notwithstanding the merits of the Energy Community Treaty;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Welcomes the Commission's intention to accelerate the energy market integration process by encouraging further convergence of regulatory frameworks, notwithstanding the merits of the Energy Community Treaty, and further liberalisation of third countries' energy markets;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Reminds the members of the Energy Charter of their duties under the treaty and its amendments and protocols; stresses that any dispute settlements must be fully respected and applied; encourages the accession to full membership by the current observer countries of North Africa and the membership of Libya;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Supports further cooperation in sectors such as industry, SMEs, R&D&I, ICT and space;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Draws attention to the importance of the eastern partnership in terns of ensuring the EU's energy supplies; in the light of the creation of new interconnections and pipelines in the gas sector, new interconnections and networks in the electricity sector, new infrastructures and terminals for LNG and new electrical power stations (using fossil fuels or renewable energy sources or based on nuclear projects), stresses the need to establish market rules and transparent and fair conditions for energy transit and trading, so as to ensure a stable future for investment; emphasises that such rules and conditions should promote high standards of environmental protection, democratic participation and health and safety;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Supports further cooperation in sectors such as industry, SMEs, R&D&I,
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Supports further cooperation in sectors such as industry, SMEs, R&D&I, ICT
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Is aware of the achievements of the BSI (Black Sea Interconnection) project in terms of the creation of a regional research and education network in the wider Black Sea region, as well as its links with GEANT, and calls on the Commission to continue its support for research projects in the Black Sea region such as HP-SEE, SEE-GRID, SCENE, CAREN and BSRN;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Looks forward to the Commission’s proposals on the new ENI and welcomes the Commission’s intention to emphasise the need for further differentiation, flexibility and conditionality in granting assistance; encourages the implementation of a 'country-oriented logic', which could take the form of 'differentiated partnership contracts' within the ENP; notes that, while EU financial rules must be fully observed, EU assistance should be easily accessible and the pursuit of excellence should not be hampered by a rigid framework
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Looks forward to the Commission’s
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Looks forward to the Commission's proposals on the new ENI and welcomes the Commission's intention to emphasise the need for further differentiation, flexibility and conditionality in granting assistance; notes that, while EU financial rules must be fully observed, EU assistance should be easily accessible, mainly focussed on support for concrete projects and less on consultancy, and the pursuit of excellence should not be hampered by a rigid framework
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Looks forward to the Commission's proposals on the new ENI
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Believes it important to strike an equitable balance between the eastern and southern neighbourhoods, the strategic importance and immense development needs of the latter having been heightened by the recent events in North Africa;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes the risks of focusing on the Southern Mediterranean neighbours; highlights the need for upgrading long- standing partnerships with the East, pointing out the challenges and opportunities it holds for the EU; calls on the Commission to accelerate the finalisation and implementation of Association Agreements, including DCFTAs;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that the ENP and external energy policy should be coordinated; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission's communication on external energy policy and its proposal for a Decision on sharing information on intergovernmental agreements;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Welcomes the proposal for the creation of a European Energy Community and believes that it could be a important step towards cooperation with our neighbours;
source: PE-472.330
2011/09/29
EMPL
66 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 a (new) - whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is essential for the stability of the neighbouring countries of the EU and contributes to the security and progress of all and while there is a shared interest in a democratic, stable prosperous and peaceful wider area around Europe,
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 a (new) - whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy has to equally address the problems of Eastern and Southern dimensions with respect to democracy, economic and social matters,
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 b (new) - whereas the immediate geo-proximity with the Eastern boarders is of strategic importance, influxes of migrant workers due to cultural similarities, historical past and potential future developments regarding enlargement, are to be assessed as a priority,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 a (new) - whereas demographic trends in different regions of the European Neighbourhood Policy differ significantly,
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic and social reforms
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic and social reforms with quality employment at the centre and labour standards as pre-
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic and social reforms with employment and social protection at the centre and labour standards as pre-
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Stresses that European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) should focus on economic and social reforms with employment at the centre and labour standards as pre- requisites for financial support; these measures should help to reduce social dumping and, as a consequence, prevent distortions of competition;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that, with a view to promoting stability within the partner countries, ENP should encourage policies leading to stronger economic and social growth without exclusions, including support for efforts to promote education and training, create sustainable jobs, improve the business environment, and help small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Urges the ENP partners to ratify all ILO core labour conventions and align national legislation with them;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 b (new) - whereas the EU serves globally as a model of social development and can offer valuable expertise on responsible growth,
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that ENP should tackle urgent labour-market issues such as supply- demand mismatches, informal employment and gender
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that ENP should support states in their own efforts to tackle urgent labour-market issues such as supply- demand mismatches, informal employment and gender imbalances with the expertise and collaboration of the EU and the international organisations that deal with reforming labour markets and developing social policies;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that ENP should tackle urgent labour-market issues and should help provide long-term responses to labour market challenges, such as supply-
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that ENP should tackle urgent labour-market issues such as supply- demand mismatches, informal employment, bad working conditions, illegal child labour and gender imbalances with the expertise and collaboration of the EU and the international organisations that deal with reforming labour markets and developing social policies;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that ENP should tackle urgent labour-market issues such as supply- demand mismatches, informal employment and gender imbalances with the expertise and collaboration of the EU, especially the European Training Foundation, and the international organisations that deal with reforming labour markets and developing social policies;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the European Commission and the Member States to take measures to combat the flagrant abuses of basic working conditions as well as the use of child labour;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses th
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of job creation
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of job creation but recalls the need to cope effectively with illegal migration
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Citation 1 c (new) - whereas the new ENP is and must continue to be reassessed according to the progress accomplished in the neighbouring countries but also with regard issues of mutual interest and should be remodelled and conditioned accordingly as to address the evolving historical challenges and give priority to urgent situations,
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of job creation and the need to provide access to new jobs for women and members of vulnerable social groups as well, but recalls the need to cope effectively with illegal migration of the jobless;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of job creation through sustainable structural reforms undertaken within a secure and fair legal framework, but recalls the need to cope effectively with illegal migration of the jobless;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Stresses the importance of job creation but recalls the need to cope effectively with
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that ENP should form the basis for effective cooperation to tackle illegal immigration, since the partner countries are both countries of origin and countries of transit for illegal immigrants, effectively manage the borders, fight organised crime and, consequently, protect human rights;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls for a greater cooperation at all decisional levels involved in the ENP for providing the necessary technical assistance to help the neighbouring countries to efficiently and sustainably reform their labour markets so as to limit negative spill over effects in the European Union;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Calls for greater cooperation between the EU, international organisations and neighbouring countries to establish an exchange mechanism for best practices regarding labour reforms and employment policies;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Reminds about the necessity to ensure that the minimum wage provides an adequate standard of living for workers and their families; deductions from wages should not deprive employees and their dependents of their very means for subsistence;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Notes that adequate time should be foreseen for notices of termination of employment, taking into account employee’s length of service;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 c (new) 3c. Underlines the urgent need for extraordinary education and employment measures to tackle the alarmingly high youth unemployment and thereby secure a future for the next generation;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 – whereas the democratic changes in North Africa were brought about by people living in societies
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the need to continue the dialogue on support for access to the EU labour market, underlines the usefulness of controlled circular mobility for both the third countries and the EU, and asks for measures to
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the usefulness of circular mobility for both the third countries and the EU
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the usefulness of circular
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses the usefulness of circular mobility for both the third countries and the EU, and asks for measures to avoid a potential brain drain; stresses the positive impact of economic migration in achieving sustainable labour markets;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Welcomes student and vocational training exchange initiatives such as the recently adopted Written Declaration on the establishment of Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Believes that momentum is critical for developing a social culture, and insists on the empowerment of people
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that ENP should include support for steps towards establishing stronger labour laws in order to protect children from abusive working conditions and to undertake immediate measures towards the eradication of illegal child labour;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Commission to promote
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 – whereas the efforts to initiate democratic changes in North Africa were brought about by people living in societies with unequal wealth distribution and high unemployment,
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Commission to promote full
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Commission to promote fully independent social partners, indispensable for the establishment of social policies, through financial support, training, creation of networks and capacity-building measures;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Commission to promote fully independent social partners through financial and technical support, training, creation of networks and capacity-building measures;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Urges the Commission to promote fully independent social partners through financial support, training, creation of networks and capacity-building measures, and by improving control of social conditions and developing learning opportunities;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Commission to actively engage in dialog and actions with the national authorities and the social partners in the neighbouring countries, in order to assist them in creating networks and provide technical assistance for capacity and institutional building; believes that the role of the European Commission is crucial for the implementation and monitoring of those aims;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 b (new) 6b. Believes that the Member States which share borders with the ENP countries are of crucial importance in assisting and sharing knowledge with those countries especially with respect to labour and employment reforms;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Recalls the importance of the right of everyone to form trade unions and the right of trade unions to establish national federations or confederations and urges to facilitate and respect it in practice; reminds that the right to strike is a recognized fundamental right and may not be refused solely on the ground of working in an area essential for a community, without differentiation between specific functions; urges to promote the right to be informed and consulted as applicable to all areas of mutual interest, guaranteed by sanctions, and not excluded solely on the ground of working in civil service;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Urges the Commission to support admin
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Urges the Commission to support administration building in employment and social affairs, with special attention to building capacity in legal services, which will prepare for and lead the reforms;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Stresses the importance of coordinated policies between the EU and the Member States for better results in the areas of mutual concern but equally in setting conditionality standards;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 – whereas the democratic changes in North Africa were brought about by people, mainly the young generation, living in societies with unequal wealth distribution
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Cross-border projects and financial support for educational programs such as Erasmus should be the main focus in assisting those countries in their transition towards a social market economy and for controlling the negative effects on their labour markets;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Calls for a strict supervision at European level of how the reforms are being drafted and developed in the neighbouring countries with respect to employment policies, having as priority creation of decent jobs and adequate income, in conjunction with the provisions of ILO conventions;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission to embrace the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) as the guiding policy framework for medium term pro-poor economic growth and equitable distribution of wealth according to the needs of the country;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Requires the Commission to effectively evaluate on an annual basis and monitor the results of its actions and financing.
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Requires the Commission to effectively monitor the results of its actions and financing through impact studies.
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Requires the Commission to effectively monitor the results of its actions and financing, and build the monitoring results into its future actions.
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Calls for clear sanctions in the form of cutting funds or imposing fines on the countries that are allowing illegal forms of labour such as child or undeclared work, which could bring unfair competitive pressure on the European economies.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 – whereas the democratic changes in North Africa were brought about by people living in societies with unequal wealth distribution
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 – whereas the democratic changes in North
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Citation 2 a (new) - whereas the region around the Southern Partner Countries has one of the lowest activity rates in the world and the events of early 2011 in a number of Partner Countries offer new opportunities to address challenges of job creation,
source: PE-472.309
2011/10/11
AFET
367 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 2 – having regard to the Commission Communications of 11 March 2003 on Wider Europe - Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours (COM(2003)0104), of 12 May 2004 on European Neighbourhood Policy - Strategy Paper (COM(2004)0373), of 4 December 2006 on Strengthening the ENP (COM(2006)0726), of 5 December 2007 on A Strong European Neighbourhood Policy (COM(2007)0774), of 3 December 2008 on Eastern Partnership (COM(2008)0823), of 20 May 2008 on The Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean (COM(2008)0319)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Supports the consolidation in the ENP of previously separated strands of foreign and assistance policy; looks for a strengthened network of institutional arrangements which is stable, economical and purposefully dedicated to developing closer economic integration and political association among all those involved, including the alignment of
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 16 – having regard to its resolutions of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)2, of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the ENP3, of 6 July 2006 on the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)4, of 5 June 2008 on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the CFSP5, of 19 February 2009 on the review of the ENPI6, of 19 February 2009 on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean7, of 17 January 2008 on a Black Sea Regional Policy Approach8, of 20 January 2011 on an EU Strategy for the Black Sea9, of 20 May 2010 on the Union
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers that the Union for the Mediterranean
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies in all their political, social and ethnic diversity and, in that context, takes note of the proposal for a
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies a
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies and, in that context, takes note of the
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies and, in that context, takes note of the proposal for a flexible Civil Society Facility (CSF), free of any economic or political pressure, as a way to target resources more effectively and efficiently towards civil society;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies and, in that context, takes note of the proposal for a Civil Society Facility (CSF) as a way to target resources more effectively and efficiently towards civil society and assess the effectiveness of these programmes; proposes also the creation of a civil society forum as part of the Eastern Partnership;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies and, in that context, takes note of the proposal for a Civil Society Facility (CSF) as a way to target resources more effectively and efficiently towards civil society; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to better explain the scope and objectives of a potential CSF; recommends to use this facility to improve the work of the Civil Society Forum within the Eastern Partnership and to potentially build up such a forum also for the southern partners;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with societies and, in that context, takes note of the proposal for a Civil Society Facility (CSF) as a way to target resources more effectively and efficiently towards civil society; instruments should also be identified to concretely support religious and ethnic minorities in the areas covered by the initiative;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the EC and the Member States to focus their cooperation within the ENP on twinning EU democratic actors like trade unions, NGOs, relevant organisations of employers, farmers, women, religious dialogue, consumers, youth, journalists, teachers, local government bodies, universities, students, climate change actor sand their emerging counterparts in ENP countries;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Calls on the EU to develop a real partnership of mutual interests for development in all its dimensions and forms of cooperation encouraging employment, education and training, which reflects the socioeconomic realities of each of the partners;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that sustainable and independent public service media providing quality, pluralistic and diverse content plays a crucial role for a thriving civil society and for empowering citizens to democracy;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 16 – having regard to its resolutions of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)2 , of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the ENP3 , of 6 July 2006 on the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)4 , of 5 June 2008 on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the CFSP5 , of 19 February 2009 on the review of the ENPI6 , of 19 February 2009 on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean7 , of 17 January 2008 on a Black Sea Regional Policy Approach8 , of 20 January 2011 on an EU Strategy for the Black Sea9 , of 20
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that free media and access to information are key elements of functioning democracies; welcomes the declaration of the access to the internet as a human right by the UN on the 6 June 2011, in this regard urges EEAS and the Commission to create special tools for assisting civil societies organisations and individuals in the ENP countries to have unhindered access to the internet and other forms of electronic communications technologies;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 b (new) 5b. 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 ENP strategies, holding governments to account, monitoring and assessing past performance and achieved results; underlines especially the importance of empowering the ENP parliamentarians’ role in decision making processes;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 c (new) 5c. Calls on the EC to provide enhanced financial, technical and expertise support to the national parliaments´ administrations of the EaP countries within the Comprehensive Institution Building programme 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 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission, under their new ‘more for more’ performance-based approach, to continue to encourage all types of political reform, taking into account the needs and level of economic growth and social development of each partner country; calls on them to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of the
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy and human rights record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; asks for these evaluations to be included in the ENP progress reports and to be presented annually to its Committee on Foreign Affairs; insists on the need to systematically include civil-
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; insists that these reports gather the information through continuous performance- measurement mechanisms, which would allow a degree of flexibility and adaptability of the procedural and technical aspects of the reform agenda, in order to ensure the efficiency of the resource management; asks for these reports to be presented annually to its Committee on Foreign Affairs; insists on the need to systematically include civil- society organisations at all stages of the review process;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; asks for these reports to be presented annually to its Committee on Foreign Affairs, involving the Committee on Development and the Sub-Committee on Human Rights; insists on the need to systematically include civil- society organisations at all stages of the review process;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; asks for these
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 16 a (new) – having regard to its Written Declaration of 4 April 2011 on the establishment of Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes,
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; asks for these reports to be presented annually to its Committee on Foreign Affairs; insists on the need to systematically include civil- society organisations at all stages of the review process; takes the view that this performance-based approach means also "less for less" and reiterates its call for effective implementation of the Human Rights and Democracy Clause in EU agreements with third countries;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear and adequate methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver regular sufficiently detailed reports, which should be the basis for the allocation of funds under the new performance-based approach ‘more for more’; asks for these reports to be presented annually to its Committee on Foreign Affairs; insists on the need to systematically include civil-
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to provide a clear methodology and detailed benchmarks to assess the democracy record of these countries and to deliver
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to strengthen the role of civil society organisations, in particular human rights and women’s organisations, in policy monitoring; notes that civil society organisations are the EU’s faithful and powerful allies in promoting democratic values, good governance and human rights in partner countries; calls for the increased involvement of regional and local authorities and of professional organisations and the social partners in EU cooperation with its southern neighbours; calls on the Council and the Commission to further strengthen and make more effective use of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in this regard;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Urges the EEAS to monitor the implementation of these projects in the light of Commission-approved criteria;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Invites the EEAS and the Commission to elaborate a sanction mechanism in case of violations of human rights or "deep democracy" principles, based on the "less for less" approach;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Invites the EEAS and the Commission to provide more information on the way to implement the principle of mutual accountability and not to be afraid to enforce sanctions when the requirements of democracy, human rights and good governance called for in the agreements concluded with partner countries are not observed;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Welcomes the work of the High-Level EU Advisory Group of the Republic of Armenia and the launch of a similar group in Moldova; encourages the VP/HR and the Commission to offer such assistance to all Eastern Partners making sure, as in the case of Armenia, that the parliamentary dimension is covered; requests the upgrade of this EU instrument and recommends the EEAS to be directly in charge of the recruitment as well as management of advisors in order to guarantee the most adequate transfer of EU knowledge to the Eastern Partnership Countries;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Calls on the EC to enhance the visibility of the EaP and Union for Mediterranean projects in the partner countries and make them more understandable to their citizens demonstrating the added value of cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 18 – having regard to
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations – with particular regard to the rights of children, women and national, linguistic and religious minorities – should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation could be included in the annex to the annual progress report of each partner country with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation could be included in the annex to the annual progress report of each partner country with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit or even suspend bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed, without affecting civil society;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation could
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation could be included in the annex to the annual progress report of each partner country with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed; underlines that approach towards various partner countries regarding the human rights situation has to be credible and cannot be based on double standards;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 18 a (new) – having regard to the conclusions of the inaugural meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) held in Barcelona on 21 January 2010,
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers the Union for the Mediterranean to have been misconceived, poorly executed and even counterproductive; insists, therefore, on the full incorporation of the European side of the partnership into the conventional EU
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Underlines that in the ongoing processes of democratic transitions in the Arab Spring countries, the participation of women, young people, civil society and the functioning of free and independent media will be crucial and urges the EU to increase support to train and organise those actors, including by inviting them to observe elections and the functioning of democratic institutions within the EU;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Urges to support the development of democratically oriented political parties in those neighbourhood countries which are still striving towards democracy, as well as creation of NGOs and civil society organisations;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Stresses that freedom of expression and media independence and pluralism are cornerstones of a solid and sustainable democracy and of common values; strongly supports and calls for the free flow of information, for conditions to be ensured that allow journalists to work effectively and freely without political, economic or other pressure, and for the construction of infrastructure which will make it possible to develop modern electronic technology;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Underlines the importance of independent, sustainable and accountable public media services, to provide quality, pluralistic and diverse content, reminding that free and independent public media always plays a crucial role on the deepening of democracy, in the greatest involvement of the civil society in public affairs and for empowering citizens on the path to democracy;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Stresses, in particular, the importance of promoting the rights of the child and ensuring child protection, as enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Stresses the importance of human rights dialogues with the ENP countries; strongly welcomes the Commission initiative to commence human rights dialogues with Eastern Partner countries while urging them to actively participate in this platform;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions and the rule of law not only promote political stability and social welfare but also stimulate economic growth by improving the business environment and attracting investment, allowing new SMEs to emerge and fostering trade and tourism, all of which generate new jobs and
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions and the rule of law not only promote political stability and social welfare but also stimulate economic growth by improving the business environment and attracting investment, allowing new SMEs to emerge and fostering trade, green economy and tourism, all of which generate new jobs and new opportunities;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 19 a (new) - having regard to the Written Declaration on the establishment of Euro- Mediterranean Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes adopted by the European Parliament on 27 September 2011,
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Considers the Union for the Mediterranean to have
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions and the rule of law not only promote political stability and social welfare but also stimulate economic growth by improving the business environment and attracting investment, allowing new SMEs to emerge and fostering trade and tourism, all of which generate new jobs and new opportunities; underlines the need to create an environment conducive to investment, with stability, legal security and the fight against corruption at its core;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy,
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions and the rule of law not only promote political stability and social welfare but also stimulate economic growth by improving the business environment and attracting investment, allowing new SMEs to emerge and fostering trade and tourism, all of which generate new jobs and new opportunities; calls, therefore, on the EU to encourage structural reforms in the economic, social and legal arenas as part of its support for democratic transitions;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that sustainable democracy, functioning and de-bureaucratised institutions and the rule of law not only promote political stability and social welfare but also stimulate economic growth by improving the business environment and attracting investment, allowing new SMEs to emerge and fostering trade and tourism, all of which generate new jobs and new opportunities; notes emphatically the close interweaving of democratic and socio-economic development;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Notes with concern that the profound transformations of recent decades have led to huge social problems, unemployment and poverty and the migration of qualified people from neighbouring states into the EU, and stresses in this context the need for the ENP to be geared to the development and strengthening of partner countries’ development potential and for the Commission to make solving these problems a priority in its transition programmes; calls therefore on the Commission to make solving these problems a priority in its transition programmes;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Stresses again that economic and social development and a higher standard of living are essential for consolidating political reforms and achieving social stability in the partner countries concerned;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses that immediate measures, such as cofinancing of already identified flagship or pilot projects or other concrete economic projects of strategic importance, which can be implemented on the ground rapidly, with unquestionable tangible results, should be promptly undertaken to alleviate the situation of the countries currently facing significant socioeconomic crises; underlines that such EU-financed measures can only be taken if all parties involved commit themselves to verifiable compliance in each specific case with the social, environmental and labour standards applicable internationally and in the EU and if these measures bring an immediate improvement to the social situation of citizens in the ENP countries;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Stresses that immediate measures, such as cofinancing of already identified flagship or pilot projects or other concrete economic projects of strategic importance, which can be implemented on the ground rapidly, with unquestionable tangible results, should be promptly undertaken to alleviate the situation of the countries currently facing significant socioeconomic crises, with special regard to partner countries where democratic transition aggravates economic difficulties;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Underlines the importance of women being well-represented in parliament, ministries, top government posts, in decision-making positions in the public and local administration and in the management of public companies; encourages the ENP partner countries to adopt and mainstream gender equality policies and to adopt action plans for gender equality;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and stresses the importance of developing complementary partner-to-
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 21 a (new) – having regard to its resolution on the Cultural dimensions of the EU's external actions (2010/2161(INI)),
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Actively supports the current process of relaunching the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the governance arrangements recently put in place; calls for UfM projects to receive more, and more targeted, financial input from the funds authorised under the ENP’s funding instruments;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and cross-border projects and stresses the importance of developing partner-to-
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional bilateral cooperation and stresses the importance of developing partner-to-
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and stresses the importance of developing partner-to- partner bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, which would bring tangible benefits for citizens and improve the political climate in the region; emphasises that such sub-regional economic cooperation must be part of a wider integration plan encouraging the development of sub-regional projects in the areas of mobility, social and environmental protection, culture and education;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and stresses the importance of developing partner-to- partner bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, which would bring tangible benefits for citizens and improve the political climate in the region; places particular emphasis on the importance of encouraging the development of ‘South- South’ trade and economic integration among the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional cooperation and stresses the importance of developing partner-to- partner bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, which would bring tangible benefits for citizens and improve the political climate in the region; considers that improvements in such cooperation among the partners would be a signal of commitment towards the European values of good neighbourhood relations and mutually beneficial partnerships;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Calls on the EU to lend strong support to the process of political and economic reform in the Southern Neighbourhood, by using all existing instruments in order to support as effectively as possible the process of democratic transition, with a focus on respect for fundamental freedoms, good governance, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption, thus responding to the needs and expectations of the peoples of our southern neighbours;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Underlines the importance of active and independent civil society organisations for democracy; emphasizes the importance of dialogue with and proper ENI funding for the civil society organisations; stresses the crucial role of civil society actors in contributing to enhanced regional cooperation on social and political aspects and democratic development;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11b. Emphasizes the importance of trade unions and social dialogue as part of the democratic development of the ENP partner countries; encourages them to strengthen labour and trade unions rights; points out the important role social dialogue can have in regard to the socio- economic challenges in the regions;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11b. Emphasises that the Union must afford special importance to decentralised cooperation at local level, by means of small-scale projects providing immediate and tangible improvements to the quality of life of citizens in neighbouring countries, thereby helping consolidate the progress made towards democracy across the entire territory of these countries;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 21 b (new) – having regard to the European Agenda for Culture in a Globalising World (COM(2007)0242),
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Notes that the role of national parliaments in the European Union has been stepped up since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and that parliamentary activity and parliamentary diplomacy have become very important; therefore calls on the Commission to involve the people, political parties and parliamentarians of ENP countries in debates on European issues and thus to bring the concept of Europe and the values promoted by the EU closer to the people in these countries;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Underlines the opportunity that
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Underlines the opportunity that negotiations on association agreements provide to boost reforms; stresses that all the components should be linked in order for the EU to deepen its relationship in a holistic and coherent manner; believes that they should therefore include concrete conditions, timetables and performance benchmarks which should be regularly monitored;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Underlines the opportunity that negotiations on association agreements provide to boost reform; stresses that all the components should be linked in order for the EU to deepen its relationship in a
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Underlines the opportunity that negotiations on association agreements provide to boost reform; stresses that all the components should be linked in order for the EU to deepen its relationship in a holistic and coherent manner; believes that they should therefore include concrete conditions, timetables and performance benchmarks which should be regularly monitored; stresses the need to include in these agreements real and tangible incentives for the partners to make the reform path more attractive; reiterates the need for the EU to grant privileged market access, greater openness to trade by better aligning common commercial policy objectives with the ENP;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Deplores that advanced status have already been granted or are currently under negotiation with some of the partner countries, like the Kingdom of Morocco or Israel, who systematically violate the human right clause in article 2 of the association agreements;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade in goods and services, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and calls on the EU to assist them in their reform efforts and to
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women’s rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion or belief, association and the media –, strengthening of civil society, security, democratic stability, prosperity,
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Supports Parliament’s role in the ENP w
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and calls on the EU to assist them in their reform efforts and to open its internal market accordingly - in line with the principle of reciprocity; underlines that the EU should also assess the political, social and environmental circumstances of each country with reference to their participation in the future DCFTA;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and calls on the EU to assist them in their reform efforts and to open its internal market accordingly; underlines that the EU should
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and calls on the EU to assist them in their reform efforts and to open its internal market accordingly; underlines that the EU should also assess the political, social and environmental circumstances of each country with reference to their participation in the future DCFTA, ensuring that international conventions on labour laws and child labour are monitored;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. States that differentiation should be applied to trade, invites ENP partner countries to move forward on creating the conditions that will allow the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and calls on the EU to assist them in their reform efforts and to open its internal market accordingly; underlines that the EU should also assess the political, social and environmental circumstances of each country with reference to their participation in the future DCFTA; supports, in parallel, full membership of the WTO for all Eastern Partnership States;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that the European Neighbourhood Policy is no substitute for the prospect of membership and that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) therefore have
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women’s rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, association and the media –, strengthening of security, democratic stability, prosperity,
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. S
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14.
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; recalls that enlargement has been EU’s most effective foreign policy tool for the encouragement of democratic and economic transition in its neighbourhood and believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can, on the contrary, be an important step towards further European integration;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can, on the contrary, be an important step towards further European integration through the exchange of good practices and consolidated political and economic dialogue;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can, on the contrary, be an important step towards
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can, on the contrary, be an important step towards further European integration; underlines that the EU institutions should have a coherent and united response towards the EaP countries’ integration perspective;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the EC to conclude negotiations and sign the Association Agreement including DCFTA with Ukraine by the time of the EU-Ukraine Summit in December 2011;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be mutually beneficial and ambitious trade arrangements which can lead to DCFTAs,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 – having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on ENP of 26 July 2010 and 20 June 2011
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Supports the consolidation in the ENP of previously separated strands of foreign and assistance policy; looks for a strengthened network of institutional arrangements which is stable, economical and purposefully dedicated to developing closer economic integration and political association among all those involved, including the alignment of values at the United Nations; notes that recent events in southern Mediterranean countries have made the case for a review of the ENP even more compelling, and welcomes the updated strategy for relations with the EU’s neighbouring countries as presented in the communication;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women’s rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, sexual orientation, association and the media, including unrestricted access to information, communication and internet –
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Supports Parliament’s role in the ENP
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be mutually beneficial, balanced and ambitious
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be to assist the partners in building democratic, pluralistic and secular states, namely through institutional capacity building programmes, as well as to develop mutually beneficial and ambitious trade arrangements
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be mutually beneficial and ambitious trade arrangements which can
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be mutually beneficial and ambitious trade arrangements which can lead to DCFTAs, which will surely represent the first step towards a big ‘Euro-Mediterranean Economic Space’, which
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Reaffirms that, for the Southern partnership, the aim should be mutually beneficial and ambitious trade arrangements which can lead to DCFTAs, which will surely represent the first step towards a big ‘Euro-Mediterranean Economic Space’, which will also help to solve the economic problems of our neighboring partners in the South
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Wishes objective, binding criteria for granting ‘advanced status’ to be defined; stresses the need to clarify the rights and duties arising from this bilateral commitment, both for partner countries and for the EU;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 a (new) 15a. Emphasises the importance of a wider geographical and strategic approach when looking prospectively at the ENP, recalling that, following the European Parliament’s Resolution of 19 January 2006 on the ENP, the EU established in November 2007 specific policies on Atlantic island countries neighbouring EU outermost regions adjacent to the European continent, where special questions of geographical proximity, cultural and historical affinity and mutual security were found to be relevant; welcomes the high level of results achieved and the dynamism of the specific policies already implemented, namely the EU-Cape Verde Special Partnership; and calls on the EU to further strengthen its dialogue and policy convergence with these countries and to support their efforts to consolidate political, social and economic reforms;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that the EU should foster synergies between European external and internal policies, particularly through the approximation of legislation aimed at job creation, poverty reduction, energy and environmental security
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that the EU should foster synergies between European external and internal policies, particularly through the approximation of legislation aimed at job creation, poverty reduction, energy security and environmental s
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that the EU should foster synergies between European external and internal policies, particularly through the approximation of legislation aimed at job creation, poverty reduction, energy efficiency, development of renewable sources and environmental security and improvement of social protection;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women’s rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, association and the media –, strengthening of security - including peaceful conflict resolution and good neighbourly relations -, democratic stability, prosperity, the fair distribution of income, wealth and opportunities, the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance and sustainable development are founding principles and aims of the EU which must constitute common values at the core of the ENP review,
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recommends a clear separation between the respective intergovernmental and nongovernmental functions of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the European Endowment for Democracy, which should be complementary to each other; notes the need for quick and flexible methods of EU sponsorship for the support of pluralistic civil society, including democratic political parties, contributing to the development of deep, stable, secular democracy;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Stresses that the EU should foster synergies between European external and internal policies, particularly through the approximation of legislation aimed at job creation, poverty reduction, energy and environmental security and improvement of social protection as well as wealth creation;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Draws attention, furthermore, to the supporting role which the EU could play in tackling environmental problems in neighbouring countries, particularly in eliminating large stocks of ‘obsolete pesticides’, which can cause large-scale chemical pollution;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17.
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Notes that regional and cross-border dimensions of sectoral cooperation should be strengthened in the cultural, social, environmental, tourism, educational, industrial, scientific, research and transport fields;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 a (new) 17a. Welcomes the increased interaction of partner countries in EU agencies in various areas, and underlines the need to establish a priority list to facilitate participation of partner countries in programmes and agencies;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Recalls the fact of energy interdependence and the importance of underpinning energy partnership arrangements so as to promote energy safety, secure and sustainable energy supply, the diversification of energy supply channels to the European market and coordination with nuclear safety measures, together with increased transparency, so as to ensure full compliance with environmental and international nuclear safety agreements;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. Recommends a clear separation between the respective intergovernmental and nongovernmental functions of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the European Endowment for Democracy; notes the need for quick, balanced and flexible methods of EU sponsorship for the support of pluralistic civil society contributing to the development of deep, stable, secular democracy;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, pr
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration in a spirit of cooperation with neighbouring countries, both migrant-sending and transit countries, providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU; considers that the EU needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships; stresses the importance of combating illegal immigration and bringing organisations guilty of people trafficking to justice;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU and take measures to combat illegal migration; considers that the EU needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, providing better conditions for the establishment of
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, inter alia by providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU; considers that the EU needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships which take account of the demographic, sociological and occupational balance on both sides;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU; considers that the EU needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships; calls upon the member states to view the mobility debate as an important element of the neighbourhood policy that should not be steered primarily by security concerns;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19.
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Recalls that the EU should improve the management of migration, providing better conditions for the establishment of legal migrants in the EU; considers that the EU needs to favour legal labour migration by concluding mobility partnerships and encouraging exchanges of specialists between the EU and third countries;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Deplores the deaths of migrants and asylum seekers that occurred in the Mediterranean earlier this year and calls on the EU Member States to make sure that the rights of any human beings aiming at entering the EU are fully respected in any circumstances and that particular protection is duly ensured to asylum seekers and refugees, according to international obligations;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women and children’s rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, association and the media –, strengthening of security, democratic stability, prosperity, the fair distribution of income, wealth and opportunities, social cohesion, the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance are founding principles and aims of the EU which must constitute common values at the core of the ENP review,
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Believes that tackling the problem of immigration coming from the Mediterranean coasts needs an anti- poverty, pro-employment, pro-peace and fair trade strategy by the EU countries as a significant contribution towards the stability of the region; considers that FRONTEX is not the way to tackle it;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 b (new) 19b. Urges EU Member States to immediately ensure resettlement to sub- Saharan asylum seekers and refugees identified by UNHCR, who escaped the war in Libya and who cannot return to their countries of origin for political or security reasons and are therefore stranded in humanitarian camps in the North of Africa;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education, therefore, calls on the Commission to immediately broaden
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the fields of education
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education and vocational training, immediately broadening and increasing scholarship programmes
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; given the role of education and university exchanges for building strong civil societies and mindful of the current lack of resources in this area for both the Southern and the Eastern dimensions of the ENP, stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education, immediately broadening and increasing scholarship programmes and mobility of students by promoting university and high-school exchanges and public-private partnerships in the field of research; stresses the strong need for a structured information policy towards the citizens of the ENP partners concerning the possibility of participation in EU programmes;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education,
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights – particularly women’s rights and minorities’ rights – justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms – including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, association and the media –, strengthening of security, democratic stability, prosperity, the fair distribution of income, wealth and opportunities, the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance are founding principles and aims of the EU which must constitute common values at the core of the ENP review,
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education, immediately broadening and increasing scholarship programmes and mobility of students by promoting university and high-school exchanges and public-private partnerships in the field of research; emphasises the need to advance the work on mutual recognition of qualifications and education systems with ENP partner countries; stresses the strong need for a structured information policy towards the citizens of the ENP partners concerning the possibility of participation in EU programmes;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Underlines the importance of paying particular attention to the younger generation; stresses that the EU should increase cooperation in the field of education, immediately broadening and increasing scholarship programmes and mobility of students by promoting university and high-school exchanges and public-private partnerships in the field of research and accelerating the process of concluding formal agreements on the mutual recognition of academic and vocational diplomas; stresses the strong need for a structured information policy towards the citizens of the ENP partners concerning the possibility of participation in EU programmes;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Reaffirms its great support to the EU-funded project of ENP scholarships to the university graduates from the ENP and the EU at the College of Europe; believes that this will allow to prepare future European and neighbouring countries interlocutors fully and professionally acquainted with the substance and spirit of EU policies, law and institutions, for EU-ENP-related jobs; on the partner countries, whose citizens were granted such a scholarship, to use their knowledge and experience by engaging them in the national administration and proposing them adequate working conditions;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Calls on the Commission to take over Parliament’s proposal, produced in the wake of the Arab Spring, to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus programme, an initiative which – assuming that it were successful – would be suitable to extend to the neighbourhood as a whole; at this stage deplores the inadequacy of the Commission proposals, which, notwithstanding the Commission’s statements on 27 September 2011, in reality provide only for a very modest increase in the number of Erasmus Mundus scholarships;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 a (new) 20a. Believes that the Euro- Mediterranean University (EMUNI) provides a unique platform and opportunity for strengthening cooperation in the area of higher education and student mobility with our southern neighbours, at a time when it is of particularly vital importance to deepen the relations with the southern partnership countries, especially with their younger generations; underlines, in this respect, that the EMUNI’s potential should be developed as much as possible;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 b (new) 20b. Calls on the Commission to take over Parliament’s proposal, produced in the wake of the Arab Spring, to establish a Euro-Mediterranean Leonardo da Vinci programme aimed at encouraging the mobility of young people wishing to acquire vocational training abroad, the object being to help combat the youth unemployment endemic to the southern Mediterranean;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 c (new) 20c. Hopes that partner countries will become more actively involved in the work of the European Training Foundation and the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21.
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the ENP should take account of the new regional context and the demonstrations calling for freedom, democracy and reforms in several countries in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, as they illustrated the strong desire among the people for genuine change and better living conditions in the region,
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Recommends that at the next revision of the Treaties a new category of associate membership of the Union be established
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation a
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements, with a view to moving – once all conditions are met – to a visa-free regime that should encourage people-to people contacts; underlines that the provisions on asylum must be fully in line with international obligations and commitments and EU standards, especially in the human rights field;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements, with a view to moving – once all conditions are met – to a visa-free regime; stresses that the Eastern Partnership countries shall benefit from a privileged EU offer on visa liberalization in terms of calendar and substance in advance of the Russian Federation; underlines that the provisions on asylum must be fully in line with international obligations and commitments and EU standards, especially in the human rights field;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation and readmission agreements, with a view to moving – once all conditions are met – to a visa-free regime; stresses in this respect that the youth and student mobility should be treated as a priority; underlines that the provisions on asylum must be fully in line with international obligations and commitments and EU standards, especially in the human rights field;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Believes that the EU should advance its work on visa facilitation
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Maintains that more areas need to be created for dialogue and consultation between civil society actors from the South and the North in order to raise awareness of the realities involved in the movement of persons and enable monitoring and assessment to focus on the human rights impact of European mobility legislation; believes that the EU should take the steps required to achieve that aim;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Notes the increased mobility and migration levels, principally along the EU's southern borders, as a result of the 'Arab Spring' and believes that the EU must step up dialogue regarding migration, mobility and security, particularly with the countries on its southern flank; .
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the EU and Member States policy of supporting and cooperating with undemocratic regimes in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya failed and prove a lessen-learnt that the overall EU-ENP should be value- based,
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Notes that strengthening Youth dimension of the Eastern Partnership and Union for Mediterranean is an important investment in the future of the EU - ENP relations with great potential for years to come and in the democratisation of those Partners and harmonisation of their legislation with European standards; reiterates, that additional funding allocated to the Erasmus Mundus and Youth in Action for 2012 within the EU Budget for 2012 should foster cooperation between higher education institutions, improve exchanges of academic staff and students, and build networks enhancing the capacity of NGOs in the field of youth in Europe and European Neighbourhood Policy countries;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Supports further cooperation in the transport sector, including by linking the infrastructure network of EU and partner countries more tightly in order to facilitate exchanges of people and goods. This can be achieved through closer market integration and improved infrastructure links;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Calls on the EU Member States to make greater use of the opportunities offered by the EU Visa Code while improving and harmonizing its application in order to guarantee equal and fair conditions for applicants in all Member States;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 b (new) 21b. Calls on the European Commission to assist Eastern Partners technically and financially in the approximation of Higher Education Diplomas and standards to the European Higher Education Area;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 c (new) 21c. Urges the EU that the objective of visa-free travel on the reciprocal basis with most on-track countries of the Eastern Partnership, namely Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia should be concluded no later than the EU agrees on the same measures with Russia under the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russian Federation of 1 June 2007;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 d (new) 21d. Reiterates its firmly held view that the European Neighbourhood Policy will not be wholly effective unless synergy is created between its bilateral and multilateral dimensions; considers it essential, therefore, to strengthen the multilateral component of the ENP, to which a more substantial proportion of funding should be allocated under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Believes that the multilateral dimension of the EaP is a key element for a successful neighbourhood policy and should be further strengthened
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Believes that the multilateral dimension of the EaP should be further strengthened and developed, including the Civil Society Forum; welcomes the proposal to use the multilateral framework more strategically to advance bilateral relations between the partners and expects concrete measures aimed at putting this proposal into practice; notes the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue with Turkey and Russia on regional issues of common interest and particularly as far as the security issues are concerned;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Stresses that the current treaty negotiations with the various partner States in the Eastern Neighbourhood should be accompanied by an active policy towards the Russian Federation geared to reducing rivalry and mistrust in relations with Russia and making a reality of the EU's stated goal of, and interest in, the stable and prosperous development of all countries in this area by means of discussions and a search for solutions to shared problems on a footing of partnership;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Stresses the importance of further fostering regional cooperation in the Black Sea space and enhancing EU policies towards the Black Sea region, in particular by launching a fully-fledged EU Strategy for the Black Sea and ensuring that there are the necessary financial and human resources for its effective implementation; highlights the complementarity between EU Black Sea policies and the Eastern Partnership; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to make positive use of the differing approaches of the two initiatives and to clarify, at all levels, how this substantial degree of complementarity is to be put to good use;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas, in this new context, relations with these countries should be given fresh impetus, based on cooperation focusing on democracy and prosperity on both shores of the Mediterranean, and not only security and migration control,
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 a (new) 22a. Welcomes the proposal to use the multilateral framework more strategically in order to advance bilateral relations between the partners and expects concrete measures aimed at putting this proposal into practice; expects in this regard with high interest the roadmap with objectives, instruments and actions announced by the HR/VP and the Commission by the end of the year;
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23.
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Recalls the importance of cofinancing specific tangible regional projects to contribute to a shared process of development and integration; in this regard, welcomes the opportunity offered by the
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Recalls the importance of cofinancing specific tangible regional projects to contribute to a shared process of
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Recalls the importance of cofinancing specific tangible regional projects to contribute to a shared process of development and integration; in this regard, welcomes the opportunity offered by the establishment of the UfM to strengthen complementarity between bilateral policies and regional policies, in order to achieve more effectively the goals of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, based on the mutual recognition of common values; welcomes in particular the commitment of the new secretary general of the union to work and bring forward UfM projects in the areas of democracy and civil society;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Is convinced that the UfM should be relaunched to take account of the new developments in the region; takes the view that the UfM should promote sound economic, social and democratic development and create a strong and common basis for a close relationship between the EU and its southern neighbours;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Stresses the importance of the Union for the Mediterranean as a permanent forum for dialogue and cooperation and an instrument for the promotion of democracy; urges the Union for the Mediterranean to be equal to the ambitious objectives it was set up to meet, and to contribute to the effective implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in the Mediterranean region
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Is of the opinion that genuine integration can only be achieved if tangible progress is made in resolving political tensions and regional conflicts in the region, particularly in Palestine and Western Sahara, and that it is through the implementation of major integration projects that the UfM will help to develop a climate of trust conducive to pursuing the goals of a demilitarised Mediterranean basin, in spirit of solidarity and peace;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to explore opportunities for an institutional interlink between the ENP and the neighbourhood policies of key regional players, above all Turkey; recalls Ankara’s ambition to inspire and assist democratic transitions and socio- economic reforms in the Southern Neighbourhood; notes that participation of Turkish institutions and non- governmental organizations in ENP instruments would generate unique synergy effects, especially in areas such as institution-building and civil society development; believes that practical cooperation ought to be complemented by a structured dialogue between the EU and Turkey in order to coordinate their respective neighbourhood policies; recommends that a similar offer of cooperation in the ENP framework should, in principle, be extended to Russia and other relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph - 24 a (new) -24a. Reminds that peaceful resolution of regional military conflicts, including so called frozen ones, is the essential precondition for democracy consolidation, respect of human rights, prosperity and economic growth, thus should be of the highest interest for the EU;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by developing more confidence- building measures, reconciliation and mediation, considering new pragmatic and innovative approaches, launching public communication strategies, supporting civic culture
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active, coherent and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts inter alia via the EEAS by developing more confidence-
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by developing more confidence- building measures, considering new pragmatic and innovative approaches, promoting coordinated action by the Member States, launching public communication strategies, supporting civic culture and community dialogue and strengthening good-
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by enhancing its participation in the existing negotiation formats, by developing more confidence-
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by developing more confidence- building measures, considering new pragmatic and innovative approaches, launching public communication strategies, supporting civic culture and community dialogue, promoting specific forms of mutual confidence-building and strengthening good-
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by developing more confidence- building measures, considering new
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and constructive role in resolution of regional conflicts by developing more confidence- building measures, considering new pragmatic and innovative approaches, launching public communication strategies, supporting civic culture and community dialogue and strengthening good- neighbourly relations; points to the vital importance of intensifying political cooperation for the purposes of security and combating terrorism and individual forms of extremism;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Recalls that the EU should get more involved and play a more active and
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Observes that none of the conflicts in the Eastern Neighbourhood can be resolved without Russia; considers, therefore, that the EU should make greater efforts to overcome the stagnation in the development of relations and the competition for influence over the Eastern Neighbourhood, to foster greater understanding of the EU’s neighbourhood policy in Russia and thus to create better preconditions for the resolution of conflicts;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. In the context of the aftermath of the revolutions in the North of Africa, stresses the importance of providing support to transitional justice and urges all partner countries to cooperate with international justice, namely the ICC;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Regrets that the decolonization process of Western Sahara is not finished yet; asks the Council and the Commission to consider this conflict as a priority in the UfM; asks the Council and the Commission to work in this framework to achieve the celebration of the self- determination referendum in Western Sahara in line with the resolutions of United Nations;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24a. Believes that intercultural and inter- religious dialogue is crucial to enhancing mutual understanding, respect, solidarity and tolerance with and among the neighbourhood partner countries; calls for the proposed new ENP instruments to give particular consideration to their promotion;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Insists on the need to keep a regional approach and welcomes the decision both to appoint an EUSR for the South Caucasus a
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Insists on the need to keep a regional approach and welcomes the decision to appoint an EUSR for the South Caucasus as well as for the Southern Mediterranean Region and also the task force for the Southern Mediterranean; stresses the need to ensure that the proactive role of the EU in the 5+2 talks is adequately resourced, especially since the termination of the mandate of the EU Special Representative;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Insists on the need to keep a regional approach and welcomes the decision to appoint an EUSR for the South Caucasus as well as for the Southern Mediterranean Region and also the task force for the Southern Mediterranean; similar task force for the South Caucasus should be considered;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Maintains that regional conflicts cannot be understood unless their cultural context is taken into account; calls for a coherent strategy to be implemented along the lines of the Blue Shield strategy, which gives culture a role in conflict prevention and the restoration of peace;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Welcomes the work that international organisations, particularly certain UN agencies and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), carry out on the ground in conflict and post-conflict situations and in promoting sustainable development throughout the neighbourhood, notably the long-standing commitment of UNRWA to Palestinian refugees;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 – having regard to the Joint Declarations of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit of 7 May 2009 and of the Warsaw Eastern Partnership summit of 29-30 September 2011,
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Supports the consolidation in the ENP of previously separated strands of foreign and assistance policy; looks for a strengthened network of institutional arrangements which is stable, economical and purposefully dedicated to developing closer economic integration and political association among all those involved
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to be
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Welcomes the work that international organisations, particularly the OSCE and UN agencies, carry out on the ground in conflict and post-conflict situations and in promoting sustainable development throughout the neighbourhood, notably the long-standing commitment of UNRWA to Palestinian refugees;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Welcomes the work that international
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. Stresses that the contractual relations with all ENP countries contain arrangements for a regular forum to address human rights issues, in the form of subcommittees on human rights; calls on the EEAS to make full use of these arrangements and involve existing subcommittees in any negotiations,
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26a. Stresses the importance of fostering joint security initiatives with our partners in the context of European Neighbourhood Policy if we wish to make our neighbourhood safer and protect our interests;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Stresses that the European Parliament plays an important role, through its parliamentary delegations and its delegations to parliamentary assemblies, in strengthening political dialogue and promoting fully-fledged freedoms, democratic reforms and the rule of law in its neighbouring partner countries and underlines that these contacts could also be a way to assess the fulfilment of the forthcoming criteria and to make the necessary adjustments to bilateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements in the light of events and the progress achieved;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Stresses that the European Parliament plays an important role, through its parliamentary delegations and its delegations to parliamentary assemblies, in strengthening political dialogue and
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Underlines that the multilateral parliamentary assemblies, such as EURONEST and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM)
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28. Underlines that the multilateral parliamentary assemblies, such as EURONEST and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM), are crucial vectors of confidence- and coherence- building between the EU and the partner countries and among the partner countries themselves, and therefore greatly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the EaP and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM); invites the EEAS and the Commission to associate EURONEST members to the maximum extent possible with the multilateral structures and platforms of the EaP; insists on the need to recognise the PA-UfM as a legitimate parliamentary institution of the UfM;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 28.
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29.
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to be
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions; considers that the distribution of funds should be flexible and adequate for both regions, with an approach that is
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions; considers that the distribution of funds should be flexible, and adequate, symmetric and balanced for both regions, with an approach that is performance- driven and not geographically driven; notes that more flexibility and simplification should respect the right of democratic scrutiny by democratically elected Partners´ national parliaments and be accompanied by increased supervision of the spending;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29.
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions; considers that the distribution of funds should be flexible and adequate for both regions, with an approach that is performance-driven and not geographically driven; emphasises that none of the ENP dimensions (Southern or Northern) should be advantaged in expense of the other; notes that more flexibility and simplification should respect the right of democratic scrutiny and be accompanied by increased supervision of the spending;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions; considers that the distribution of funds should be flexible and adequate for both regions while keeping the regional balance, with an approach that is performance-driven and not geographically driven; notes that more flexibility and simplification should respect the right of democratic scrutiny and be accompanied by increased supervision of the spending;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the proposal for the new European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the increase of funding for the ENP, as requested in its previous resolutions; considers that the distribution of funds should be flexible, adequate and
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29a. Confirms its openness to welcome representatives of Belarusian Parliament in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly as soon as parliamentary elections in Belarus are considered democratic by international community, including OSCE;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29a. Reiterates that the EU response to the current situation on the ENP partners should be based on solidarity, mutual respect and non interference, according to the will of the population of these countries;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 b (new) 29b. Demands a sizeable increase in the Heading 4 ceiling of the EU budget for the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument (ENPI), given that over the last years despite some progress in promoting enhancement cooperation and progressive economic integration between the European Union and the partner countries, more needs to be done as new challenges and areas for cooperation emerge;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to be economically ambitious and politically focused in its support to democratic transitions learning from the failures and the mistakes of previous policies with regard, in particular, to the complacent approach towards the authoritarian regimes of the Southern neighbourhood,
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30.
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30.
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Emphasises that the funding of the ENP
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Emphasises that the funding of the ENP should not be affected by the current sovereign debt crisis; calls at the same time for the more effective utilisation of existing financial instruments, from the which maximum possible benefit has not yet been derived;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Emphasises that the funding of the ENP should not be affected by the current sovereign debt crisis and that a level of funding should be maintained to as to ensure the efficient implementation and completion of projects currently under way;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Emphasises that the funding of the ENP should not immediately be affected by the current sovereign debt crisis;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 a (new) 30a. Regrets that a high percentage of the ENP funds available are spent on consultancy instead of going to projects and programmes and calls, in this respect, for a quick rebalance in the new instrument in their use;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Considers that the CSF could be envisaged as a
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Considers that the CSF could be envisaged as an integral part of ENI; suggests considering the idea of redirecting the management of the ENI funds to the CSF if states fail to meet the conditions for financing due to
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to be economically ambitious and politically focused in its support to democratic transitions, whilst at the same time differentiating between individual countries and being aware of the threat of growing Islamisation in the EU’s southern neighbourhood,
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Emphasises that the allocation of resources should be based on a limited number of clearly defined priorities and measurable objectives, taking into account partner countries’ needs and based on clear conditionality; underlines that budget support should be used only where there are guarantees for sound budgetary management and that the full range of available tools should be used to better reflect the priorities;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Emphasises that the allocation of resources should be based on a limited number of clearly defined priorities, taking into account partner countries’ needs and based on clear conditionality and on the progress already achieved; underlines that budget support should be used only where there are guarantees for sound budgetary management and that the full range of available tools should be used to better reflect the priorities;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Emphasises that the allocation of resources should be based on a limited number of clearly defined priorities, taking into account partner countries’ needs and based on clear conditionality; underlines that budget support should be used only where there are guarantees for sound
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Emphasises that the allocation of resources should be based on a limited number of clearly defined priorities, taking into account partner countries’ needs and based on clear conditionality; underlines that budget support should be used only where there are guarantees for sound budgetary management and that the full range of available tools should be used to better reflect the priorities; outlines, in this context, the need for enhanced public procurement legislation and public finances management of the ENP countries;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 a (new) 33a. Points out that although aid can act as a leverage for ENP countries, it is not enough to guarantee sustainable and lasting development; therefore calls on ENP countries to strengthen and mobilise their domestic resources, set up transparent taxation systems, involve effectively private sector, local governments and civil society in the ENP agenda and for their greater ownership of ENP projects;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 a (new) 33a. Welcomes the decision of the G8 member countries to increase loan facilities for Southern partnership countries which have embarked on a democratic transition; considers that the commitments entered into in the ‘Deauville Partnership’ on 27 May 2011 are likely to encourage financial mobilisation in support of democracy and development in the EU’s partner countries;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Insists that the Council should adopt without further delay the legislative proposal to amend Article 23 of the ENPI Regulation presented by the Commission in May 2008 and adopted by Parliament on 8 July 2008, which would make it possible to reinvest funds returned following past operations; recalls that this measure is already considered as a given and is reflected in the proposal for financing the review of the ENP in the 2011-2013 budget;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 34. Insists that the Council should adopt the legislative proposal to amend Article 23 of the ENPI Regulation presented by the Commission in May 2008 and adopted by Parliament on 8 July 2008, which would make it possible to reinvest funds returned following past operations; recalls that this measure is already considered as a given and is reflected in the proposal for financing the review of the ENP in the 2011-2013 budget; calls on the European Commission to consider alternative ways to ensure additional risk capital funds to be immediately made available trough the EIB, for both the Southern and the Eastern dimensions;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35.
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Welcomes the work carried out by the European Investment Bank, in particular through the Facility for Euro- Mediterranean Investment and Partnership, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and underlines the importance of and the need for more synergies with other international financial institutions also active in these countries; supports the modification of the EBRD’s statutes in order for the Southern neighbourhood partners also to be eligible for its assistance
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital Β Β. whereas it is in the highest interest of the EU to be economically ambitious and politically focused in its support to democratic transitions
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Welcomes the work carried out by the European Investment Bank
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Welcomes the work carried out by the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and underlines the importance of and the need for more synergies with other national and international financial institutions also active in these countries;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the EU needs to define more precisely its strategic goals and priorities in its partnership with its eastern and southern neighbours, and should attach due importance to the relevant items on its political agenda and in its budgetary planning,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas strengthened relations require a clear and proven
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas strengthened relations require a clear and proven commitment towards reform w
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas strengthened relations with the ENP countries require a clear and proven commitment towards the implementation of reforms with the aim of making tangible progress in fulfilment of predefined benchmarks,
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas strengthened relations of European perspective require a clear and proven commitment towards reform with the aim of making tangible progress in fulfilment of predefined benchmarks,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 – having regard to the Joint Declarations of the
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Supports the consolidation in the ENP of previously separated strands of foreign and assistance policy; looks for a strengthened network of institutional arrangements which is stable, economical and purposefully dedicated to developing closer economic integration and political association among all those involved, including the alignment of values with the European Union at all international fora, especially at the United Nations;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the cooperation in the framework of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly aims at bringing positive effects by serving as a platform to exchange views, find common positions on global challenges of our times in respect to democracy, politics, economics, energy security, and social affairs, as well as strengthen ties between the countries of the region and with the EU,
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas there are significant economic, social and demographic asymmetries between European Union Member States and States from the ENP, as well as the structural problems, which call for responses in the shared interest of all the ENP partners,
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C b (new) Cb. whereas Article 49 of the TFUE stipulates that any European State which respects the values the EU is based upon, namely democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and is committed to promoting them, may apply to become a member of the Union,
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU should
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU should provide itself with flexible and properly funded instruments in order to match its ambitions, emphasising optimum use of existing financial instruments,
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU should provide itself with flexible and properly funded instruments in order to match its ambitions and events in the regions,
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU should provide itself with flexible and properly funded instruments in order to m
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the EU should in addition provide itself with flexible and properly funded instruments in order to match its ambitions,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 – having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit of 7 May 2009 and that of the Warsaw Summit of 30 September 2011,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need for decentralisation of ENP, aiming at greater involvement of the societies in the countries involved, welcomes in this respect Commission’s commitment to building partnerships with societies through such instruments as Civil Society Facility;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the Union for the Mediterranean was established with the ambitious objective of being a permanent instrument for strengthening relations with the Southern Neighbourhood countries, replacing the former Barcelona Process with the intention of reinforcing and raising the profile of its work,
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. having regard to the European Parliament’s support for the establishment of Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes through Written Declaration 15/2011 of 27 September 2011,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the effects of the economic and financial crisis have come on top of the already political and social challenges in the partner countries, particularly in relation to the problem of unemployment; whereas it is a common interests of these countries and the EU to bring down unemployment rates in the region and to offer its people, particularly women, young people and rural population, hope for the future,
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Strongly welcomes the Joint Communications of the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on A new response to a changing Neighbourhood and A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean and the approach presented therein, in particular regarding the
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Strongly welcomes the Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on A new response to a changing Neighbourhood and the approach presented therein, in particular regarding the principles of mutual accountability and shared commitment to universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as conditionality and a tailor- made approach towards the partner countries together with the advancing of multilateral and sub-regional cooperation;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Strongly welcomes the Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on A new response to a changing Neighbourhood and the approach presented therein, in particular regarding the principles of mutual accountability and shared commitment to universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as conditionality of aid and a tailor-
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes the outcomes of the EaP Summit in Warsaw in which Joint Declaration the EU and EaP countries confirmed their commitment to values and principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, and agreed that the Eastern Partnership must be significantly strengthened and commit to stepping up its implementation with clear benefits to the societies of partner countries;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 7 a (new) – having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Warsaw Eastern Partnership Summit of 29-30 September 2011,
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to avoid duplication, to concentrate on strategic issues within the multilateral fora of the ENP and to use subregional and bilateral contacts for specific investment projects and cooperation programmes, which presupposes a strengthening of the collective opinion-forming process in the EU; stresses the importance of building effective subregional partnerships within the wider Mediterranean region;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Welcomes and supports the struggles in the North of Africa, Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula to recover their freedom; supports fights for fundamental changes in their countries´ political, economic and social systems, for the end of corrupt regimes and for attaining human rights and social justice;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Acknowledges the European aspirations and the European choice of some partners and their commitment to build deep and sustainable democracy and stresses the necessity of setting new and distinct relationship between the EU and EaP countries, supporting their work to consolidate sustainable democracies and market-economies;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 b (new) 1b. Condemns the support that the EU and particularly some governments of the Member States have provided for decades to the regimes of Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak; deplores that the relation between EU and these countries have been based in European economic interests and not in people’s demands of freedom and democracy; stresses that these revolts have shown the failure of the European Neighbourhood Policy;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists, however, that tangible and credible incentives should be given to the neighbourhood countries to engage in the common goal of building deep democracy, as well as that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation and European funding based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on each country’s political, economic and social realities, performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements and priority treatment under the ENP should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable and regularly monitored benchmarks;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 13 a (new) – having regard to its Written Declaration No 15/2011 of 27 September 2011 on the establishment of Euro-Mediterranean Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci programmes,
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to avoid duplication, to concentrate on strategic issues within the multilateral fora of the ENP and to use subregional and bilateral contacts for specific investment projects and cooperation programmes; calls for more effective use to be made of existing financial instruments so as to ensure that maximum benefit is derived from them; stresses the importance of building effective subregional partnerships within the wider Mediterranean region;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks and calls in this regard on the Commission and the EEAS to consider the benchmarks laid down in the Joint Communication as objectives to be achieved and that, for assessing the progress made, these objectives require more specific, measurable, achievable, time bound benchmarks; Is of the opinion that a result-oriented policy needs a clearer methodology of benchmarking; Stresses that this approach has to be reflected in the structure of the ENP Action Plans and in the relating annual progress reports;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Insists that differentiation based on performance and achievements should be predicated on clearly defined criteria and assessable benchmarks; underlines, in this context, the importance of setting up appropriate follow-up mechanisms to assess the progress of ENP countries;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Welcomes the Joint Declaration of the Warsaw Eastern Partnership Summit of 30 September 2011 as well as the Declaration on the situation in Belarus, in particular regarding the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the commitment to deeper bilateral engagement, as well economic as political, including the willingness to progress in the Association Agreements negotiations, the strengthening of the multilateral co- operation among partners and the facilitation of mobility;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Although the EU does not seek to impose a model or a ready-made recipe for political reforms, since in some countries the state structures are not yet functioning, underlines that the ENP is based on shared values and the commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, market economy and good governance;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Although the EU does not seek to impose a model or a ready-made recipe for political reforms and respects the values, traditions and forms of governance of the countries concerned, underlines that the ENP is based on shared values and the
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Although the EU does not seek to impose a model or a ready-made recipe for political reforms, underlines that the ENP is based on shared values, joint ownership, mutual accountability and the commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, fight with corruption, and good governance;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Although the EU does not seek to impose a model or a ready-made recipe for political reforms, underlines that the ENP
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 14 a (new) – having regard to Council Decision 2011/424/CFSP of 18 July 2011 appointing a European Union Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean region2 and Council Decision 2011/518/CFSP of 25 August 2011 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia3, __________________ 2 OJ L 188, 19.7.2011. 3 OJ L 211, 27.8.2011.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Welcomes the Commission’s intention to avoid duplication, to concentrate on strategic issues within the multilateral fora of the ENP and to use subregional and bilateral contacts for specific investment projects and cooperation programmes;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recalls that the EU should engage with its neighbours conditioned to their democratic progress and respect for human rights; therefore calls on the international community to freeze its as well as International Financial Institutions` to which they belong financial assistance, to Belarusian regime until all detained and arrested opposition leaders, journalists, presidential candidates and their supporters are released and cleared of charges and rehabilitated;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Stresses that the partnership between the EU and the ENP countries and respective civil societies should be strengthen in order to help building functioning democracies, foster reforms and sustainable economical growth;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 b (new) 3b. Endorses the current EU official approach of sanctioning the Belarusian authorities, while striving to strengthen ties with the civil society and the people in Belarus; in this respect urges the European Union to reorient towards society and increase its assistance to Belarus in order to address the needs of the population, strengthen financial and technical support to democratic opposition, human rights defenders and civil society organisations including those non-registered, as well as to students and free media;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries; underlines that it should be
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 16 – having regard to its resolutions of 19 January 2006 on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)2 , of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the ENP3 , of 6 July 2006 on the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)4 , of 5 June 2008 on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the CFSP5 , of 19 February 2009 on the review of the ENPI6 , of 19 February 2009 on the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean7 , of 17 January 2008 on a Black Sea Regional
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries; underlines that it should be based on the principles of transparency and flexibility and should complement already-existing EU Instruments and the exemplary work of longstanding European political or non- political foundations, bearing in mind that tangible results should be an objective of this initiative; stresses that its scope and organisation should be clearly defined and that its structures and procedures should be light and straightforward; calls for a truly political steering committee to be established with the participation of the European Parliament, which should also be
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries; underlines that it should be based on the principles of transparency and flexibility and should complement already-existing EU Instruments and the exemplary work of longstanding European political or non- political foundations; stresses that its scope and organisation should be clearly defined and that its structures and procedures should be light and straightforward; calls for a truly political steering committee to be established with the participation of the European Parliament, which should also be involved in the ongoing control mechanisms, in order to ensure a better supervision and due-time coordination, as well as in the ex-post control mechanisms;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries; underlines that it should be based on the principles of transparency and flexibility and should complement already-existing EU Instruments and the exemplary work of longstanding European political or non- political foundations; stresses that its scope
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries known as "the Arab spring"; underlines that it should be based on the principles of transparency and flexibility and should complement already- existing EU Instruments and the exemplary work of longstanding European political or non-
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Considers that full and effective respect for the freedom of religion (at individual, collective, public, private and institutional level) should be identified as a priority, particularly for all religious minorities present in the region, together with the need to provide specific assistance for these groups;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of building a partnership with civil societies a
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Stresses the importance of
source: PE-472.271
2011/10/17
DEVE
9 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Believes that the Neighbourhood Policy should be tailored to the specific characteristics of the outermost regions; notes that those regions present real possibilities for EU external policies owing to their proximity to a number of third countries; points to the commitment the Commission made in 2004 to implement an action plan for the wider neighbourhood in support of the outermost regions; considers that this action plan should manifest itself in basin strategies and an ad hoc financial instrument designed to strengthen the strands of cooperation between the outermost regions and their neighbours;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls for the mandate of the EU Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean to be utilised in development-related matters, as it believes that he can play a fundamental role in ensuring that democratic progress goes hand in hand with the consolidation of advances in the development field, and specifically in improving social and economic conditions in the countries in question.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3a (new) 3a. Highlights the importance, in cases where the EU has mobilised humanitarian aid, of ensuring a suitable transition between rehabilitation, reconstruction and development in order to counter some of the destructive consequences of the revolutions.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that, taking advantage of the winds of freedom blowing across the southern shore of the Mediterranean during the Arab Spring, local civil societies sought to free themselves from the excessive control exercised by those in power; supports this desire for freedom, provided it is accompanied by real democratic progress which enables common values (democracy and human rights, particularly women’s rights, justice and the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, conscience, religion, association and the media, security, democratic stability, prosperity, a fair distribution of income, wealth and opportunities, good governance and the fight against corruption) to be upheld; with that in mind, also supports the building of local democracy through the decentralisation and institutional reinforcement of local authorities;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Notes that, taking advantage of the winds of freedom blowing across the southern shore of the Mediterranean during the Arab Spring, local civil societies sought to free themselves from the excessive control exercised by those in power; pushes for a tighter sub-regional cooperation and supports this desire for freedom, provided
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Stresses that fulfilment of basic human rights including social, economic rights should be the corner stone of the neighbourhood policy; invites also the EU to elaborate a policy to address the issue of child labour with respect to the ILO Conventions on Minimum Age for admission to employment at age of 15 and on the Worst Forms of Child Labour for the elimination of the worst form of child labour; emphasises that access to basic education and vocational training should be guaranteed in line with MDGs goal;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4a (new) 4a. Emphasises the particular need for EU development and human rights programmes to support civil society, which is on the front line in these processes, and especially women’s and youth organisations. Points out that, following the elections to be held in the coming months, work should also be intensified to strengthen the national parliaments that emerge from the polls, in order to enable them to develop their powers of oversight and scrutiny.
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Insists that the democratisation process should aim at reinforcing the rule of law, building democratic institutions, including a functioning parliament representing political pluralism; stresses the vital role of civil society in this process and calls for a clear and transparent mechanism to be put in place, enabling the active participation of civil society;
source: PE-473.896
2011/10/26
BUDG
26 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers that a constructive and coherent long-term neighbourhood policy
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Considers that the financial assistance within the neighbourhood policy also have to take into account immigration and asylum and should support actions in order to mitigate brain drain, promote information campaigns on the possibilities for legal migration, give structural help for reception of asylum seekers and refugees, promote training of third countries officials in the field of asylum and human rights and facilitate re-integration of returnees; considers it necessary that the revised ENI does not neglect this dimension and is able to swiftly support and work in coherence with other financial instruments related to refugees, such as the European Refugee Fund, the European Return Fund and the External Border Fund;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Agrees on the necessary improved interaction between ENI and other instruments such as the EIB and EBRD to maximise EU added value, avoid duplication of efforts and, through greater coherence in terms of substance and instruments, optimise the impact of assistance; believes in this regard that a comprehensive framework for this interaction should be considered;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Agrees on the necessary improved interaction between ENI and other instruments such as the EIB and EBRD to maximise EU added value, avoid duplication of efforts and resources and optimise the impact of assistance; believes in this regard that a comprehensive framework for this interaction should be considered;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that, regardless of the present focus on the South, maintaining a reasonable balance between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries have a long-term prospect of joining the EU;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that, regardless of the present focus on the South, maintaining a reasonable balance between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that, regardless of the present focus on the South, maintaining a reasonable balance between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries have a long-term prospect of joining the EU; calls for EU political activity to be intensified in this region and for a balance to be sought as regards financial support for projects in Eastern and Southern neighbouring countries; believes, however, that this balance cannot be considered permanently fixed; fully supports the principle of differentiated and
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Considers that, regardless of the present focus on the South, striking and maintaining a reasonable balance in financial and political terms between East and South components is important, especially since Eastern neighbouring countries have a long-term prospect of joining the EU and have generally made greater progress where the political institutional order is concerned; believes, however, that this balance cannot be considered permanently fixed; fully supports the principle of differentiated and performance-driven flexible financial assistance, based on real needs, absorption capacity and targets attained;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Emphasises the critical role of the ENI in supporting EU macro-regional strategies, such as the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, by providing funding for the external dimension of these strategies, most importantly activities which involve neighbouring countries;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Considers that a constructive long-term neighbourhood policy is of vital importance for the partnership countries in order to promote progress towards peace, democracy, stability and prosperity, but also strategically important for the European Union considering the importance of the partner countries in the East as well as the South for our common security, environment and economic development;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to reinvigorate the participation of neighbouring countries in the work of some EU agencies and the EU programmes opened to third countries; calls on the Commission to present a clear and comprehensive list of relevant agencies and programmes in which neighbouring countries could participate, together with an overview of the form, financial contribution and method of such differentiated participation;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Insists on the necessity of clearly defined priorities and goals in order to avoid excessive dissipation, causing very slender results by spreading financial assistance too thinly; considers such a self- imposed limitation of priorities an essential tool also for conditionality and enhanced monitoring of assistance; reaffirms therefore that neighbouring countries and EU institutions must be politically and legally prepared to swiftly reconsider financial assistance if the conditions imposed are not met;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 11. Stresses that enhanced coordination amongst Member States and between Member States and the EU when providing assistance to neighbouring countries is an absolute prerequisite for efficient and coherent European assistance; calls on the Commission to simplify the EU assistance procedure and make it more flexible; calls on all Member States to show real willingness to accommodate their national interests with the European Neighbourhood Policy, for the benefit of partner countries;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Notes that EU support alone is not enough to successfully carry through social and economic reforms in the long term and guarantee sustainable development, and therefore calls on partner countries to mobilise their domestic resources on a larger scale and involve civil society and business community representatives in project implementation, strengthening their responsibility with a view to achieving beneficial results;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 12. Calls, given the current pressing needs, especially in the Southern Neighbourhood but also in the Eastern Partnership, for a swift agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the proposal for reinforcing the Neighbourhood Instrument over the period 2012 to 2013; calls furthermore on Member States to promptly fulfil their bilateral pledges to the Southern Mediterranean and Eastern Partnership.
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Has doubts about the added value that would be provided if a ‘European Democracy Fund’ were set up; points out that the EU has several effective instruments that could be improved and strengthened, including the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument; stresses the need to avoid any inflation in terms of instruments and warns of the risk that would arise if a future fund were to be financed in part from the Community budget but managed outside the range of Parliament’s budgetary scrutiny; deplores the failure of the Commission and Council to spell out their position on this point.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Notes that the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument is an important policy tool that should be developed to enable it to respond flexibly to the needs of neighbouring countries and to crises so as to create a tie-in between the objectives being sought and the results achieved; considers that this instrument should be applied in such a way as to make for greater flexibility and more accurately targeted aid, and that its effectiveness also needs to be analysed in detail with a view to making better use of the available financial instruments and funds;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the review of the ENP must develop a well-structured and long-term, forward-looking ENI instrument, especially in a constrained budgetary environment, in order to avoid exaggerated fluctuations of financing and any potential overlapping with existing instruments;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the review of the ENP must develop a well-structured and long-term, forward-looking ENI instrument, especially in a constrained budgetary environment, in order to avoid exaggerated fluctuations of financing and any potential overlapping with existing instruments;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Stresses that the review of the ENP must develop a well-structured and long-term,
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls, in the light of the Arab Spring as well as retreat of democracy in some of the Eastern partnership countries, for a specific self-critical evaluation of the financial instruments used in the past within the ENPI, with regard to their functioning in the fields of democracy,
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Calls, in the light of the Arab Spring, for a specific self-critical evaluation of the financial instruments used in the past within the ENPI, with regard to their functioning in the fields of peace, democracy, governance, institution- building and support to civil society; the EU must assume a newer and more daring approach enhancing cooperation for development and on conflict prevention by pacific means;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Considers that the financial assistance in the field of cooperation with third countries in the area of immigration and asylum should must focus on supporting actions in order to mitigate brain drain, promote information campaigns on the possibilities for legal migration, give structural help for reception of asylum seekers and refugees, promote training of third countries officials in the field of asylum and human rights and facilitate re-integration of returnees;
source: PE-473.915
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