BETA


2012/2095(INI) Role of the common security and defence policy in case of climate driven crises and natural disaster

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET TARAND Indrek (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) NEYNSKY Nadezhda (icon: PPE PPE), PALECKIS Justas Vincas (icon: S&D S&D), WATSON Sir Graham (icon: ALDE ALDE), VAN ORDEN Geoffrey (icon: ECR ECR)
Committee Opinion ENVI
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2013/04/02
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2012/11/22
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2012/11/22
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 474 votes to 80, with 18 abstentions, a resolution on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters.

Parliament notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability . In the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis.

The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large. Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states.

Parliament stresses, however, that, so far, no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change .

It recognises, however, that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid. It also recognises that, while addressing climate change through a security nexus can be positive, it is but one component of EU action on climate change , which attempts to use political and economic tools to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Parliament also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments, the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security , devoting special attention to women and children.

Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Parliament calls for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises , and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk . It also calls for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises.

Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Parliament is of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP. It highlights the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans.

The need for political will and action: Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR):

whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts; to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions ; to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change; to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly.

The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. However, and contrary to the position of the committee responsible, Parliament does not call for the drawing up of a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. Nevertheless, it underlines that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan).

Parliament also calls on the HR/VP and the Commission to:

mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP; put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations.

It draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security .

It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development.

The need for a new spirit: strategic and conceptual challenges: in response to the crises, Parliament suggests:

integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents; early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, d eploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible , which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts; accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations; adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system; the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO; developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration).

Parliament strongly welcomes the steps taken in 2011 at the level of the EU Foreign Ministers under the Polish Presidency, and at the UN Security Council under the German Presidency, to elaborate the interaction between climate change and its security implications.

Parliament considers that adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the EU Concept for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, the EU Concept for Military Command and Control , the EU Concept for Force Generation and the EU Military Rapid Response Concept. On the civilian front , Parliament also calls for planning, command and operation control measures to be led by the Union.

Parliament believes that special attention should be paid to the development of military capabilities to allow for their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises and, in particular, to the process of pooling and sharing; calls for a greater role of the EDA in this matter. It calls for a greater role of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in this matter .

The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities: Parliament reiterates that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities . It stresses the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. It invites the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues.

Furthermore, Parliament stresses the need to explore:

on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant; ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad; strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability; coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions.

Lastly, Parliament calls for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach.

Documents
2012/11/22
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2012/11/21
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2012/10/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Indrek TARAND (Greens/EFA, EE) on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters. It notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability. Members regret that, in the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis. The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large.

Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states. Members stress, however, that so far no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change.

They recognise that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid.

The committee also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security, devoting special attention to women and children.

Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Members call for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises, and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk. They also call for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises.

Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Members are of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP.

They highlight the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans.

The need for political will and action : Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR):

· whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts;

· to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions;

· to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change;

· to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly.

The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. Members call, therefore, on all institutional levels (EEAS, DG ECHO EuropeAid (DEVCO)) to draw up a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades.

In the meantime, Members underline that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan).

Members also call on the HR/VP and the Commission to:

· mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP;

· put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations.

The committee draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security.

It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development.

The need for a new spirit : strategic and conceptual challenges : in response to the crises, Members suggest:

· integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents;

· early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, deploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible, which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts;

· accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations;

· adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system;

· the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO;

· developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration).

Whilst welcoming the measures taken so far in climate diplomacy, Members note that the latter represents only one dimension of possible external action and that there is a great need to anticipate climate crises and natural disasters in the context of CSDP by mainstreaming the specific needs and implications.

Adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the Concepts for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, for Military Command and Control or Force Generation and Military Rapid Response as well as to documents that are relevant for civilian CSDP missions, such as the EU Concepts for Comprehensive Planning, Police Planning and the Guidelines for Command and Control Structure for EU Civilian Operations in Crisis Management.

Members are of the opinion that civilian and military capabilities should be developed in such a way as to allow their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises with special attention to the process of pooling and sharing and a greater role of the European Defence Agency in this matter.

The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities : Members reiterate that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities. They stress the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. They invite the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues.

Furthermore, the committee stresses the need to explore:

· on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant;

· ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad;

· strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability;

coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions;.

Lastly, Members call for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach.

It should also be noted that a minority opinion was tabled by several Members of the Greens/EFA group, who objected to the report on the grounds that it wrongly focuses on repressive and military counter-measures whilst advocating further EU - militarisation. These Members would like to see more focus on global distributive equity, all activities conducted strictly within UN Charter and international law, civil measures to counter climate change and consequences, and strict separation of EU from NATO; strict separation of civil and military capabilities.

Documents
2012/10/10
   EP - Vote in committee
2012/07/19
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2012/06/05
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2012/05/24
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2012/03/06
   EP - TARAND Indrek (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

AmendmentsDossier
150 2012/2095(INI)
2012/07/19 AFET 150 amendments...
source: PE-492.875

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

committees/0/shadows/4
name
LÖSING Sabine
group
European United Left - Nordic Green Left
abbr
GUE/NGL
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.485
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-PR-489485_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFET-AM-492875_EN.html
events/0/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/1/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/2
date
2012-10-23T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2012-0349_EN.html title: A7-0349/2012
summary
events/2
date
2012-10-23T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2012-0349_EN.html title: A7-0349/2012
summary
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20121121&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-7-2012-11-21-TOC_EN.html
events/5
date
2012-11-22T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0458_EN.html title: T7-0458/2012
summary
events/5
date
2012-11-22T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0458_EN.html title: T7-0458/2012
summary
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
rapporteur
name: TARAND Indrek date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2012-03-06T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: TARAND Indrek group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
docs/2/body
EC
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2012-0349_EN.html
events/5/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-458
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0458_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2012-05-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham group: ECR name: VAN ORDEN Geoffrey group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • date: 2012-10-10T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham group: ECR name: VAN ORDEN Geoffrey group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
  • date: 2012-10-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0349/2012 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2012-11-21T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20121121&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=22106&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-458 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0458/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
date
2012-03-06T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: TARAND Indrek group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
AFET
date
2012-03-06T00:00:00
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
docs
  • date: 2012-06-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.485 title: PE489.485 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2012-07-19T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 title: PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2013-04-02T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=22106&j=0&l=en title: SP(2013)110 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2012-05-24T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-10-10T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-10-23T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN title: A7-0349/2012 summary: The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Indrek TARAND (Greens/EFA, EE) on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters. It notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability. Members regret that, in the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis. The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large. Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states. Members stress, however, that so far no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change. They recognise that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid. The committee also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security, devoting special attention to women and children. Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Members call for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises, and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk. They also call for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises. Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Members are of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP. They highlight the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans. The need for political will and action : Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR): · whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts; · to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions; · to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change; · to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly. The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. Members call, therefore, on all institutional levels (EEAS, DG ECHO EuropeAid (DEVCO)) to draw up a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. In the meantime, Members underline that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan). Members also call on the HR/VP and the Commission to: · mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP; · put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations. The committee draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security. It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development. The need for a new spirit : strategic and conceptual challenges : in response to the crises, Members suggest: · integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents; · early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, deploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible, which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts; · accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations; · adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system; · the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO; · developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration). Whilst welcoming the measures taken so far in climate diplomacy, Members note that the latter represents only one dimension of possible external action and that there is a great need to anticipate climate crises and natural disasters in the context of CSDP by mainstreaming the specific needs and implications. Adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the Concepts for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, for Military Command and Control or Force Generation and Military Rapid Response as well as to documents that are relevant for civilian CSDP missions, such as the EU Concepts for Comprehensive Planning, Police Planning and the Guidelines for Command and Control Structure for EU Civilian Operations in Crisis Management. Members are of the opinion that civilian and military capabilities should be developed in such a way as to allow their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises with special attention to the process of pooling and sharing and a greater role of the European Defence Agency in this matter. The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities : Members reiterate that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities. They stress the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. They invite the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues. Furthermore, the committee stresses the need to explore: · on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant; · ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad; · strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability; coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions;. Lastly, Members call for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach. It should also be noted that a minority opinion was tabled by several Members of the Greens/EFA group, who objected to the report on the grounds that it wrongly focuses on repressive and military counter-measures whilst advocating further EU - militarisation. These Members would like to see more focus on global distributive equity, all activities conducted strictly within UN Charter and international law, civil measures to counter climate change and consequences, and strict separation of EU from NATO; strict separation of civil and military capabilities.
  • date: 2012-11-21T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20121121&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=22106&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-458 title: T7-0458/2012 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 474 votes to 80, with 18 abstentions, a resolution on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters. Parliament notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability . In the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis. The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large. Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states. Parliament stresses, however, that, so far, no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change . It recognises, however, that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid. It also recognises that, while addressing climate change through a security nexus can be positive, it is but one component of EU action on climate change , which attempts to use political and economic tools to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Parliament also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments, the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security , devoting special attention to women and children. Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Parliament calls for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises , and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk . It also calls for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises. Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Parliament is of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP. It highlights the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans. The need for political will and action: Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR): whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts; to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions ; to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change; to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly. The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. However, and contrary to the position of the committee responsible, Parliament does not call for the drawing up of a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. Nevertheless, it underlines that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan). Parliament also calls on the HR/VP and the Commission to: mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP; put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations. It draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security . It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development. The need for a new spirit: strategic and conceptual challenges: in response to the crises, Parliament suggests: integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents; early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, d eploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible , which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts; accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations; adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system; the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO; developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration). Parliament strongly welcomes the steps taken in 2011 at the level of the EU Foreign Ministers under the Polish Presidency, and at the UN Security Council under the German Presidency, to elaborate the interaction between climate change and its security implications. Parliament considers that adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the EU Concept for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, the EU Concept for Military Command and Control , the EU Concept for Force Generation and the EU Military Rapid Response Concept. On the civilian front , Parliament also calls for planning, command and operation control measures to be led by the Union. Parliament believes that special attention should be paid to the development of military capabilities to allow for their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises and, in particular, to the process of pooling and sharing; calls for a greater role of the EDA in this matter. It calls for a greater role of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in this matter . The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities: Parliament reiterates that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities . It stresses the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. It invites the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues. Furthermore, Parliament stresses the need to explore: on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant; ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad; strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability; coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions. Lastly, Parliament calls for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach.
  • date: 2012-11-22T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Old
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
    New
    Rules of Procedure EP 150
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    AFET/7/09319
    New
    • AFET/7/09319
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 052
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 3.70.03 Climate change, ozone layer
    • 3.70.11 Natural disasters, Solidarity Fund
    • 6.10.02 Common security and defence policy; WEU, NATO
    New
    3.70.03
    Climate policy, climate change, ozone layer
    3.70.11
    Natural disasters, Solidarity Fund
    6.10.02
    Common security and defence policy (CSDP); WEU, NATO
    procedure/title
    Old
    Role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate driven crises and natural disaster
    New
    Role of the common security and defence policy in case of climate driven crises and natural disaster
    procedure/subject/0
    Old
    3.70.03 Climate change, ozone
    New
    3.70.03 Climate change, ozone layer
    activities/0/committees
    • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham group: ECR name: VAN ORDEN Geoffrey group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    activities/0/date
    Old
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    New
    2012-05-24T00:00:00
    activities/0/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    activities/0/type
    Old
    Amendments tabled in committee
    New
    Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
    activities/1
    date
    2012-05-24T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    activities/1/committees
    • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham group: ECR name: VAN ORDEN Geoffrey group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    activities/1/date
    Old
    2012-07-13T00:00:00
    New
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    activities/1/type
    Old
    Deadline Amendments
    New
    Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    activities/2
    date
    2012-06-05T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.485 type: Committee draft report title: PE489.485
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee draft report
    activities/2/date
    Old
    2012-05-16T00:00:00
    New
    2012-10-23T00:00:00
    activities/2/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0349/2012
    activities/2/type
    Old
    EP officialisation
    New
    Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    activities/3/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20121121&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament
    activities/4/docs/0
    url
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=22106&l=en
    type
    Results of vote in Parliament
    title
    Results of vote in Parliament
    activities/4/docs/1/text
    • The European Parliament adopted by 474 votes to 80, with 18 abstentions, a resolution on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters.

      Parliament notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability. In the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis.

      The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large. Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states.

      Parliament stresses, however, that, so far, no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change.

      It recognises, however, that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid. It also recognises that, while addressing climate change through a security nexus can be positive, it is but one component of EU action on climate change, which attempts to use political and economic tools to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

      Parliament also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments, the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security, devoting special attention to women and children.

      Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Parliament calls for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises, and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk. It also calls for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises.

      Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Parliament is of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP. It highlights the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans.  

      The need for political will and action: Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR):

      • whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts;
      • to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions;
      • to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change;
      • to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly.

      The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. However, and contrary to the position of the committee responsible, Parliament does not call for the drawing up of a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. Nevertheless, it underlines that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan).

      Parliament also calls on the HR/VP and the Commission to:

      • mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP; 
      • put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations.

      It draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security.

      It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development.

      The need for a new spirit: strategic and conceptual challenges: in response to the crises, Parliament suggests:

      • integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents;
      • early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, deploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible, which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts;
      • accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations;
      • adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and  developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system;
      • the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO;
      • developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration).

      Parliament strongly welcomes the steps taken in 2011 at the level of the EU Foreign Ministers under the Polish Presidency, and at the UN Security Council under the German Presidency, to elaborate the interaction between climate change and its security implications.

      Parliament considers that adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the EU Concept for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, the EU Concept for Military Command and Control , the EU Concept for Force Generation and the EU Military Rapid Response Concept. On the civilian front, Parliament also calls for planning, command and operation control measures to be led by the Union.

      Parliament believes that special attention should be paid to the development of military capabilities to allow for their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises and, in particular, to the process of pooling and sharing; calls for a greater role of the EDA in this matter. It calls for a greater role of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in this matter.

      The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities: Parliament reiterates that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities. It stresses the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. It invites the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues.

      Furthermore, Parliament stresses the need to explore:

      • on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant;
      • ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad;
      • strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability;
      • coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions.

      Lastly, Parliament calls for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach. 

    activities/4/docs/1/url
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-458
    activities/4/type
    Old
    Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
    New
    Results of vote in Parliament
    activities/5
    date
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    activities/6
    date
    2012-10-23T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0349/2012
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    activities/8
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-11-21T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    committees/0/rapporteur/0/mepref
    Old
    4de188e50fb8127435bdc3e8
    New
    4f1adbd4b819f207b30000e8
    committees/0/shadows/0/group
    Old
    EPP
    New
    PPE
    committees/0/shadows/0/mepref
    Old
    4de187230fb8127435bdc15e
    New
    4f1ad9f2b819f207b3000045
    committees/0/shadows/1/mepref
    Old
    4de1878b0fb8127435bdc1f6
    New
    4f1ada31b819f207b300005a
    committees/0/shadows/2/mepref
    Old
    4de1894f0fb8127435bdc471
    New
    4f1adc7eb819f207b300011e
    committees/0/shadows/3/mepref
    Old
    4de189260fb8127435bdc437
    New
    4f1adc4bb819f207b300010f
    committees/0/shadows/4/mepref
    Old
    4de186670fb8127435bdc059
    New
    4f1ad275b819f27595000027
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Old
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 048
    New
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
    procedure/subject/2
    Old
    6.10.02 Common security and defence policy (CSDP); ESDP, WEU, NATO
    New
    6.10.02 Common security and defence policy; WEU, NATO
    activities/7/type
    Old
    EP 1R Plenary
    New
    Debate in Parliament
    activities/9/docs
    • type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0458/2012
    activities/9/type
    Old
    Vote scheduled
    New
    Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
    New
    Procedure completed
    activities/7/type
    Old
    Debate scheduled
    New
    EP 1R Plenary
    activities/6/docs/0/text
    • The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Indrek TARAND (Greens/EFA, EE) on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters. It notes the impact of climate change on global security, peace and stability. Members regret that, in the last four years, the issue of climate change as the biggest threat to global security has become overshadowed by the economic and financial crisis. The increase in extreme weather events in recent years represents an escalating cost to the global economy, not only for developing countries but for the world at large.

      Natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, are highly destabilising, particularly for vulnerable states. Members stress, however, that so far no case of conflict can be exclusively attributed to climate change.

      They recognise that complex crises can be predicted, and should be prevented by applying a comprehensive approach including policy areas that make full use of the tools available within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CSFP), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the policies for humanitarian and development aid.

      The committee also emphasises that in its external action strategies, policies and instruments the EU should take into consideration the effects of natural disasters and climate change on international security, devoting special attention to women and children.

      Reiterating the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction, Members call for the integration of the analysis of the impact of climate-driven crises, and consequent natural disasters, into CSDP strategies and operational plans before, during and after any natural or humanitarian crises that might emerge, and to create mitigation back-up plans aimed at the regions most at risk. They also call for practical cooperation, such as cooperation exercises.

      Whilst welcoming the new tools provided by the Lisbon Treaty in terms of conflict prevention (conflict prevention missions, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, peace-keeping and post-conflict stabilisation). Members are of the opinion that duplication of instruments should be avoided and that a clear distinction should be made between instruments within and outside the scope of the CSDP.

      They highlight the value of civilian-military synergies in crises such as those in Haiti, Pakistan and New Orleans.  

      The need for political will and action: Members call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR):

      ·        whenever deemed appropriate, take into account of climate change and natural disasters and their security and defence ramifications when analysing crises and threats to conflicts;

      ·        to assess which countries and/or regions are potentially at greatest risk of conflict and instability as a result of climate change and natural disasters, and make a list of such countries/regions;

      ·        to enhance the EU’s practical ability to ensure conflict prevention, crisis management and post-crisis reconstruction; closely coordinate efforts with the Commission and EU development policy regarding the need to assist partner countries when it comes to resilience against climate change;

      ·        to adapt, in close cooperation with the Commission, the EU’s long-term planning of civilian and military capacities and capabilities accordingly.

      The EU has to present a list of the challenges it faces in areas such as the Arctic, Africa, the Arab World, and the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau (‘the Third Pole’), notably the potential for conflicts over water supplies. Members call, therefore, on all institutional levels (EEAS, DG ECHO EuropeAid (DEVCO)) to draw up a list of all countries and regions most vulnerable to climate change over the coming decades. 

      In the meantime, Members underline that the EU should work with key regions at risk, and with the most vulnerable states, to strengthen their capacity to cope (for example the EU-Africa Strategy, the Barcelona Process, the Black Sea Synergy, the EU-Central Asia Strategy and the Middle East action plan).

      Members also call on the HR/VP and the Commission to:

      ·        mainstream the potential effects of climate change on security into the most important strategies, policy documents and financial instruments for external action and CSDP; 

      ·        put forward proposals for the implementation of the start-up fund (Article 41(3) TEU) with regard to possible future pooling and sharing projects, joint capabilities and a joint, permanent, pool of equipment for civilian crisis operations.

      The committee draws attention to the fact that energy security is closely related to climate change. It recalls that Russian pipelines will become vulnerable to disruption by the melting of the permafrost, and that the transformation of the Arctic represents one major effect of climate change on EU security.

      It welcomes the recent attempts to strengthen coordination between NATO and EU in the field of capability development.

      The need for a new spirit: strategic and conceptual challenges: in response to the crises, Members suggest:

      ·        integrating the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters on peace, security and stability in all strategic CFSP/CSDP documents;

      ·        early-assessment and fact-finding capabilities, deploying multidisciplinary teams at the earliest time possible, which would be composed of civilian, military and civil-military experts;

      ·        accurate and timely analysis to predict and respond to climate change insecurity, and steps to further develop capacities for data collection and information analysis through structures such as EU Delegations;

      ·        adequate human resources the relevant EEAS units and Commission’s services integrating analysis and  developing common criteria for analysis, risk assessment and the setting-up of a joint alert system;

      ·        the relevant EEAS and Commission bodies should enhance the coordination of situation analysis and policy planning, notably ECHO, but also with UN agencies and programmes as well as with NATO;

      ·        developing contingency plans for the EU’s response to the effects of natural disasters and climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration).

      Whilst welcoming the measures taken so far in climate diplomacy, Members note that the latter represents only one dimension of possible external action and that there is a great need to anticipate climate crises and natural disasters in the context of CSDP by mainstreaming the specific needs and implications.

      Adaptations and modifications addressing the implications of climate change and natural disasters could be made to the main CSDP policy documents, including the Concepts for Military Planning at the Political and Strategic level, for Military Command and Control or Force Generation and Military Rapid Response as well as to documents that are relevant for civilian CSDP missions, such as the EU Concepts for Comprehensive Planning, Police Planning and the Guidelines for Command and Control Structure for EU Civilian Operations in Crisis Management.

      Members are of the opinion that civilian and military capabilities should be developed in such a way as to allow their deployment in response to natural disasters and climate-driven crises with special attention to the process of pooling and sharing and a greater role of the European Defence Agency in this matter.

      The need for institutional creativity: instruments and capabilities: Members reiterate that effective responses to crises such as natural disasters often need to be able to draw on both civilian and military capabilities. They stress the need to elaborate a specific list of military and civilian CSDP capabilities that have special relevance both in responses to climate change and natural disasters and in CSDP missions. Civil defence assets should include engineering capacities such as the ad hoc construction and operation of port/airport infrastructure, air and sea operational management and transport, mobile hospitals, communication infrastructure, water purification and fuel management. They invite the Council and the EDA, as part of the 2013 review of the capabilities development programme, to reconcile the current catalogues of civilian and military capabilities with those required in order to meet the challenges of climate change, and to put forward the necessary proposals to remedy any existing deficiencies in those catalogues.

      Furthermore, the committee stresses the need to explore:

      ·        on the basis of already existing capacities such as the EU Battle Groups and the European Air Transport Command, the possibility of creating further joint capabilities that are relevant;

      ·        ways of improving energy efficiency and environmental management within the armed forces at home and abroad;

      ·        strengthening a comprehensive approach within the context of the next multiannual financial perspective 2014-2020 through the use of a renewed Instrument for Stability;

      • coordination mechanisms to be established between the EU and Member States which may in the future act in accordance with the provisions of permanent structured cooperation to ensure the consistency of actions;.

      Lastly, Members call for the EU to examine the security implications of climate change in dialogue with third countries, especially with key partners such as India, China and Russia to attain a multilateral approach. 

      It should also be noted that a minority opinion was tabled by several Members of the Greens/EFA group, who objected to the report on the grounds that it wrongly focuses on repressive and military counter-measures whilst advocating further EU - militarisation. These Members would like to see more focus on global distributive equity, all activities conducted strictly within UN Charter and international law, civil measures to counter climate change and consequences, and strict separation of EU from NATO; strict separation of civil and military capabilities.

    activities/6/docs/0/url
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-349&language=EN
    activities/7/type
    Old
    Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    New
    Debate scheduled
    activities/8
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-11-21T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    activities/9
    date
    2012-11-22T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Vote scheduled
    activities/6
    date
    2012-10-23T00:00:00
    docs
    type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A7-0349/2012
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
    activities/4
    date
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    body
    EP
    type
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/4/date
    Old
    2012-11-19T00:00:00
    New
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    activities/4/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    activities/4/type
    Old
    EP 1R Plenary
    New
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/7
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-11-19T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    activities/6/type
    Old
    Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    New
    EP 1R Plenary
    activities/7
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-11-19T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    activities/8
    date
    2012-11-21T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    activities/4
    date
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    body
    EP
    type
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/4/date
    Old
    2012-09-20T00:00:00
    New
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    activities/4/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    activities/4/type
    Old
    EP 1R Committee
    New
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/6
    date
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    activities/4
    date
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    body
    EP
    type
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/4/date
    Old
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    New
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    activities/4/docs
    • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    activities/4/type
    Old
    Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    New
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/6/date
    Old
    2012-10-11T00:00:00
    New
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    activities/6/date
    Old
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    New
    2012-10-11T00:00:00
    activities/6
    date
    2012-10-10T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    activities/5/type
    Old
    Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    New
    EP 1R Committee
    activities/4
    date
    2012-07-19T00:00:00
    docs
    url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE492.875 type: Amendments tabled in committee title: PE492.875
    body
    EP
    type
    Amendments tabled in committee
    activities/5
    body
    EP
    date
    2012-10-25T00:00:00
    type
    EP 1R Plenary
    activities/6
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-10-25T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    activities/1/committees/0/shadows/3
    group
    ECR
    name
    VAN ORDEN Geoffrey
    activities/5
    body
    EP
    date
    2012-10-25T00:00:00
    type
    EP 1R Plenary
    activities/6
    body
    EC
    date
    2012-10-25T00:00:00
    type
    Prev DG PRES
    commission
    activities/7/date
    Old
    2012-10-25T00:00:00
    New
    2012-11-19T00:00:00
    committees/0/shadows/3
    group
    ECR
    name
    VAN ORDEN Geoffrey
    procedure/legal_basis
    • Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 048
    activities/1/committees/0/shadows
    • group: EPP name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda
    • group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas
    • group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham
    • group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine
    committees/0/shadows
    • group: EPP name: NEYNSKY Nadezhda
    • group: S&D name: PALECKIS Justas Vincas
    • group: ALDE name: WATSON Sir Graham
    • group: GUE/NGL name: LÖSING Sabine
    activities/3/date
    Old
    2012-07-04T00:00:00
    New
    2012-07-13T00:00:00
    activities/2/docs/0/url
    http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE489.485
    activities/2
    date
    2012-06-05T00:00:00
    docs
    type: Committee draft report title: PE489.485
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee draft report
    activities/1
    date
    2012-05-24T00:00:00
    body
    EP
    type
    Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    activities/2/date
    Old
    2012-06-20T00:00:00
    New
    2012-07-04T00:00:00
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    AFET/7/09319
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    New
    Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
    activities
    • body: EP date: 2012-05-16T00:00:00 type: EP officialisation
    • body: EP date: 2012-06-20T00:00:00 type: Deadline Amendments
    • date: 2012-09-20T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote scheduled in committee, 1st reading/single reading
    • date: 2012-10-25T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2012-03-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: TARAND Indrek
    • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
    links
    other
      procedure
      reference
      2012/2095(INI)
      title
      Role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate driven crises and natural disaster
      stage_reached
      Preparatory phase in Parliament
      subtype
      Initiative
      type
      INI - Own-initiative procedure
      subject