Procedure completed
2012/2153(INI) Negotiations on an enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan. Recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS
Next event: Text adopted by Parliament, single reading 2012/11/22
Lead committee dossier: AFET/7/10056
Legal Basis RoP 090
Next event: Text adopted by Parliament, single reading 2012/11/22
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFET | JAAKONSAARI Liisa (S&D) | |
| Opinion | INTA | LANGE Bernd (S&D) |
Legal Basis RoP 090
Subjects
Activites
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2012/11/22
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
- T7-0459/2012
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2012/11/21
Prev DG PRES
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2012/11/21
Debate in Parliament
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2012/10/26
Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
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A7-0355/2012
summary
The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Liisa JAAKONSAARI (S&D, FI) containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations for an EU-Kazakhstan enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA). Members, first of all, underline the troubles which have marked the political life of this country and note that, notwithstanding the Kazakh government’s stated ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan’s democratic process and to conduct elections in line with international standards, the general elections held on 15 January 2012 were deemed by the OSCE not to be in line with its standards. They also recall that, after the tragic events of December 2011 in Zhanaozen, (demonstration of strikers within the oil sector which the anti-riot police answered by opening fire on the civilians, causing the death of several people) opposition parties, independent media, trade unions, activists and human rights defenders have become targets of repression. Members also emphasise the fact that the opposition within the country is persecuted. Whilst they welcome Kazakhstan’s political will and practical engagement to further deepen partnership with the EU, they consider that the negotiations must ensure that this PCA is a comprehensive framework for the further development of relations, addressing all priority areas, including human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and democratisation but also economic development, trade and investment, energy and transport. Among the broad topics for negotiation, Members prioritise the following key elements: Political dialogue and cooperation: Members demand that the EU works closely with Kazakhstan in order to promote regional cooperation and the improvement of neighbourly relations in the Central Asia region, whilst ensuring that the tackling of questions such as border management, the fight against extremism and counter-terrorism. Members particularly insist that the EU encourages Kazakhstan to work together with its neighbours in order to come to a common solution on the status of the Caspian Sea. Human rights and fundamental freedoms: Members believe that the PCA should incorporate clauses and benchmarks relating to the protection and promotion of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Kazakhstan and other relevant international instruments. Progress in the negotiation of the new PCA must be linked to the progress of political reform of the type that builds up an open and democratic society including an independent civil society and opposition. Evoking the Parliament's resolution of 15 March 2012 demanding the release of all persons detained on politically motivated charges in the country, Members call on the Kazakh authorities to investigate all allegations in connection with the Zhanaozen violence and to punish those responsible. They call on the country’s authorities, moreover, to allow the opposition to express itself and to release condemned activists such as Vladimir Kozlov, Akzhanat Aminov et Serik Sapargali. Members demand, among other things: i) a binding commitment from the country to bring the legal system fully into line with international standards; ii) access to independent justice; iii) the end of politically motivated arrests and convictions carried out on the basis of the vague criminal charge of “inciting social discord”; iv) the establishment of independent civil society platforms in order to ensure that the aspirations and voices of civil society are heard; v) intensifying the scope of the exchange programmes in education and culture, and visa facilitation. Economic cooperation: in conformity with WTO rules, Members call for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers in order to extend trade, particularly trade in services and foreign investment. Principally within the field of energy, the cooperation must be reinforced, particularly in terms of the efforts to develop the trans-Caspian energy route. Members further recommend that Kazakhstan’s participation in the Russian-led Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union does not constitute a barrier to trade or to economic and financial cooperation with the EU. They call for: the convergence of Kazakhstan’s standards and regulatory systems with those of the EU; stepping up its technical assistance to Kazakhstan in the field of water conservation and management of water resources; the adoption of effective mitigation measures and cleaning-up programmes of radioactive waste and radioactive pollution in the Semey/Semipalatinsk region; a binding trade and sustainable development chapter to be included in the trade title of the new agreement; increased trade flows and investment, which would favour the modernisation and diversification of Kazakhstan’s economy; a binding trade and sustainable development chapter; the adoption of stronger and binding provisions in relation to corporate social responsibility and the fight against corruption; the use of dumping practices in connection with phosphorus production and export to be categorically ruled out, as the interests of European producers are allegedly being harmed by dumped imports. On the institutional level, lastly, Members hope that the European Parliament sees its role reinforced within the framework of these negotiations and the follow-up of this agreement. They call for the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring mechanism between Parliament and EEAS once the Agreement is concluded, so as to allow for comprehensive and regular information on the implementation of the PCA, and in particular of its objectives, so as to duly inform the Parliament of the results of the actions undertaken as regards reform in the field of the human rights.
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A7-0355/2012
summary
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2012/10/25
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2012/10/11
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- 2012/09/13 Amendments tabled in committee
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2012/09/11
Deadline Amendments
- 2012/07/17 Committee draft report
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2012/07/12
EP officialisation
Documents
- Committee draft report: PE492.945
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE496.305
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0459/2012
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0355/2012
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 142 |
2012/2153(INI)
2012/09/07
INTA
26 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the ongoing negotiations for an enhanced PCA and calls for this update to be ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages Kazakhstan to take the necessary steps to swiftly conclude negotiations on its accession to the WTO
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Encourages Kazakhstan to take the
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3 a (new). Calls on Kazakhstan to ensure that the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union does not constitute a barrier to trade and to economic and financial cooperation with the EU or to fulfilling its obligations arising from WTO membership;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Stresses that a strong
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a (new). Encourages Kazakhstan's efforts to remove all non-tariff barriers that have so far hampered the development of trade and investment in the country;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a (new). Notes with great concern the amendments to the Labour Code, in particular amended articles 55, 74, 266, 287, 289, 303 and 305, signed on 17 February 2012 by the President of Kazakhstan; is of the opinion that they mark a severe regression in the field of labour relations, workers’ rights and social dialogue and demonstrate that while the Kazakhstan government presents its new laws as bringing them into line with modern international best practice they are consciously and intentionally breaching many of the required conditions of the ILO and other international conventions; therfore calls for a strongly worded Sustainable Development Chapter providing for binding social and environmental standards as a precondition for concluding the negotiations on the new enhanced PCA;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b (new). Believes that the economic and trade related assistance to Kazakhstan should focus on the development of SMEs and the help of Business Intermediary Organisations;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b (new). In light of recent allegations of corruption against European based corporations operating in Kazakhstan, calls for stronger and binding provisions in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility and the exclusion of EU based corporations involved in corruption from any EU and partner countries´public tenders;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 5. Calls on Kazakhstan not to restrict trade and investment in the raw material sectors
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a (new). reminds that the EU is strongly depending on the import of mined phosphate rock in order to sustain its agriculture and technical production; points out that Kazakhstan supplies many states with white phosphor and that the Commissions has initiated an anti- dumping procedure against imports of white phosphor from Kazakhstan in December 2011; calls on the Commission to ensure in the negotiations that dumping methods in the phosphor production and export are effectively excluded, as European producers are damaged by allegedly dumped imports and as it becomes impossible to retrieve and recycle phosphor from secondary phosphor streams;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a (new). Calls on the Commission to ensure an adequate presence of the economic and trade specialists in the EU Delegation in Kazakhstan;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a (new). Considers the new investment policy competence of the EU as a potentially helpful tool of fostering sustainable resource use by helping Kazakhstan to leverage more benefits from foreign investments; considers that EU investor rights in resource rich developing countries such as Kazakhstan must be carefully balanced with guaranteeing policy space for its government to protect food security and land reform programs, halt further deforestation, and enact environmental policies minimizing the negative impacts of resource extraction; considers that a investment chapter in a PCA with Kazakhstan should allow for local content requirements and capital controls;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 a (new) 5 a (new). Supports the demand of the oil workers´ strike for nationalisation of the industry under democratic and workers´control in order for Kazakhstan´s rich natural resources to be managed in an environmentally sustainable way and to be used to increase the living standards of the majority of its population;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 b (new) 5 b (new). Notes with great concern that Kazakhstan's legislation obliges websites hosted under a .kz suffix to route traffic through Kazakh territory creating competitive disadvantages for service providers located in other countries and leading to a severe restriction of the open nature of the Internet which is based on the equal treatment of all market actors; calls on non-discriminatory treatment of all service providers and an open environment for competition in the information and communications technologies sector to be lead marks in the Council's and Commission's approach to the Kazakhstan partnership.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1 a (new). Recalls and insists on its recommendation that, whenever a gross breach of human rights is committed by a partner country with which an international agreement, such as a partnership and cooperation agreement, has been concluded, the EU take bolder steps in carrying out the appropriate sanctions as stipulated in the human rights clauses of the agreement, including possible temporary suspension of the agreement;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Draws attention to the
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Draws attention to the c
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Draws attention to the c
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Draws attention to the critical situation as regards democracy, rule of law - including the fight against corruption, human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially workers’ rights, which also gives rise to unfair competitive advantages; stresses, therefore that a binding trade and sustainable development chapter must be included in the trade title of the new agreement;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a (new). insists on the introduction of an effective dispute settlement regime to ensure that the agreement reached will be respected;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
source: PE-494.819
2012/09/13
AFET
116 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 9 a (new) - having regard to the commitments undertaken by the High Representative in her letters of 24 November 2011 and 11 May 2012 concerning a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the EU- Turkmenistan PCA and in particular of its Article 2 ,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas Kazakhstan has played a positive role in Central Asia making efforts to develop good neighbourly relations with bordering countries, resume regional cooperation and solve peacefully all bilateral issues,
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z (z)
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z (z) encourage the Kazakh government to demonstrate its renewed commitment to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) by removing all legal or regulatory obstacles to its successful implementation and allowing independent civil society organisations to participate fully;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z a (new) (za) push for regulatory and rules-based convergence in specific sectors and key areas of mutual interest;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z b (new) (zb) Stress that water issues in the region remain one of the main sources of tension and potential conflict and underlines the importance of a regional approach in order to protect and properly manage shared water resources; in this context reiterate the importance for the countries of the region to sign and ratify without delay the Espoo and Århus Conventions and to foster involvement of local actors in decision making
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z c (new) (zc) step up its technical assistance to Kazakhstan in the field of water conservation and management of water resources in general in the framework of the EU Water Initiative for Central Asia with a view also to improving relations between upstream and downstream countries in the region and reaching sustainable water-sharing agreements ;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z a (new) (za) support and assist Kazakhstan in its efforts to save the Aral Sea in the framework of the action programme of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z d (new) (zd) assist Kazakhstan in the adoption of effective mitigation measures and cleaning-up programmes of radioactive wastes and radioactive pollution in the Semey/Semipalatinsk region;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z e (new) (ze) welcome Kazakhstan's action for a nuclear weapons-free world and its leadership in the global nuclear disarmament process and for a comprehensive ban on nuclear tests;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point z f (new) (zf) express concern at the initiative of establishing an International Nuclear Fuel Bank in Kazakhstan in partnership with the International Agency on Atomic Energy and call, in this regard, on the Kazak authorities to make public all the relevant information about the ongoing negotiations and start immediately the necessary environmental impact assessment and the consultation procedure in compliance with the Aarhus Convention;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point aa (aa) consult the EP regarding the provisions on parliamentary cooperation; enhance the role of Parliament, Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and inter-parliamentary meetings as means to monitor the negotiation and the implementation of partnership agreements; encourage the Parliament's work to promote dialogue and regular bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) Ab. whereas the European Parliament, in order to be able to fulfil its function of political scrutiny, needs to dispose of full information to closely follow developments in Kazakhstan and the implementation of the PCA according to its recommendations and resolutions,
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ab (ab)
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ab (ab) include clear benchmarks and binding deadlines for the implementation of the new PCA and provide for a comprehensive monitoring mechanism
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ab (ab) include clear benchmarks and binding deadlines for the implementation of the new PCA and provide for monitoring mechanisms, including regular reports to the EP, including in advance of Cooperation Council meetings;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new) (aba) Calls for the comprehensive monitoring mechanism to be established between Parliament and EEAS, once the Agreement is concluded, so as to allow for comprehensive and regular information on the implementation of the PCA, and in particular of its objectives; this mechanism should contain the following elements: - provision to EP of information on the objectives pursued with EU actions and positions and on all issues relating to Kazakhstan; - provision to EP of information benchmarking the results of actions undertaken by the EU and Kazakhstan, highlighting the evolution in the situation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the country, in particular through o giving access under the appropriate confidentiality procedures to the relevant EEAS internal documents; o granting Parliament observer status in the briefing meetings ahead of meetings of the Cooperation Council and access to documents provided to the Council and the Commission; involvement of civil society in the preparation of this information and assessment of the situation;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new) (aba) provide sufficient EU-funding for a comprehensive and sustainable cooperation with the Central Asian countries including for the successful implementation of the new PCA with Kazakhstan;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point ac (ac) encourage the EU negotiating team to continue its close cooperation with the EP, providing ongoing information, supported by documentation, on the progress of the negotiations pursuant to Article 218(10) TFEU, which states that the Parliament shall be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution containing the European Parliament's recommendations to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Kazakhstan has been admitted to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe; whereas
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Kazakhstan has been admitted to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe; whereas
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas Kazakhstan has been admitted to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe; whereas, however, the past year has been marked by the substantial deterioration of the situation of fundamental rights, including workers’ and democratic rights and freedoms;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas Kazakhstan held the OSCE chairmanship in 2010; whereas commitments undertaken to bring media law in line with international standards, to liberalise registration requirements for political parties by the end of 2008, and to incorporate recommendations by the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in the elections legislation, remain unmet;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas Kazakhstan continues to use property-related legal cases as a way of stopping people exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas Kazakhstan held the OSCE chairmanship in 2010; whereas commitments undertaken to bring media law in line with international standards, to liberalise registration requirements for political parties by the end of 2008, and to incorporate recommendations by the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in the elections legislation, remain unmet
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B b (new) Bb. whereas the Religion Law – against international human rights law - bans all exercise of freedom of religion or belief without state registration, and imposes compulsory re-registration by 25 October 2012 after which religious associations with fewer than 50 members are forced to stop their activity;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the general elections held on 15
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 a (new) - having regard to the Annual Report on Human Rights in the world and the European Union's policy on the matter, including implications for the EU’s strategic human rights policy and in particular paragraph 26 thereof;1 __________________ 1 text adopted P7_TA(2012)0126
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas, notwithstanding the Kazakh government's stated ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan's democratic process and to conduct elections in line with international standards, the general elections held on 15 January 2012 were deemed by the OSCE not to be fully in line with i
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the politically motivated barriers to registering opposition parties, independent trade unions and civil society organisation remain a fundamental issue of concern;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas after the events of December 2011 in Zhanaozen, there have been opposition parties
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas after the tragic events of December 2011 in Zhanaozen, opposition parties and independent media and trade unions have become targets of intensified repression, with politically motivated detentions of activists and human rights defenders;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas there is an ongoing dialogue between the EP, official representatives of Kazakhstan, representatives of the civil society and NGOs on issues of mutual interest;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. Whereas on 4 June 2012, 13 out of 37 oil workers received prison sentences of between 3 and 7 years for their alleged responsibility for the events in Zhanaozen, while video evidence shows that participants in the demonstration of 16 December 2011 did not use any violence against police forces, while on the other hand, policemen accused of shooting at demonstrators, killing at least 17 people, received prison sentences of between 5 and 7 years, whereas these verdicts have to be seen as grossly disproportionate;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas 37 people were tried on charges of organizing or participating in mass unrest; whereas 34 were convicted, 13 of whom will serve time in prison, among them prominent leaders and activists from the oil workers' strike, including Talgat Saktaganov, Roza Tuletaeva and Maksat Dosmagambetov
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) Da. whereas official representatives of Kazakhstan have participated in open and constructive meetings with Members of European Parliament with the participation of the civil society and NGOs since January 2012 in the European Parliament and have provided information in an open and transparent manner;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D b (new) Db. whereas recently the Kazakh authorities have undertaken important efforts in the cooperation with NGOs in West Kazakhstan in order to improve the situation for people in the region, in particular for workers on strike;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the International Monitoring Mission of Civic Solidarity concludes in its preliminary report that the Zhanaozen trials cannot be considered as compliant with the fair trial standards and that the investigation of the events of December 2011 was neither full nor independent; whereas the accused and some witnesses were victims of severe violations of their rights during the pre-trial stage, including the alleged use of torture, denial of access to an attorney, intimidation, and fabrication of evidence; whereas the defendants' testimony during the trials of ill-treatment and torture during pre-trial detention were not fully, impartially and thoroughly investigated in a manner capable of holding the perpetrators responsible
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 11 b (new) - having regard to the Human Rights Watch report, 'Striking Oil, Striking Workers: Violations of Labour Rights in Kazakhstan's Oil Sector' published in September 2012;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the International Monitoring Mission of Civic Solidarity concludes in its preliminary report that the Zhanaozen trials cannot be considered as compliant with fair trial standards and that the investigation of the events was neither full nor independent; whereas the accused and some witnesses were victims of severe violations of their rights during the pre- trial stage, including the alleged use of torture, denial of access to an attorney, intimidation, and fabrication of evidence; whereas these allegations were not properly investigated and the perpetrators were not held responsible;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas in July 2012, the UN high Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navi Pillay called after her two-day visit in Kazakhstan on the authorities to authorise an independent international investigation into the events of Zhanaozen themselves, their causes and their aftermath.
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. Whereas on 16 August the trial against the leader of the opposition party ALGA, Vladimir Kozlov, the social activist of ' Khalyk Maidany', Serik Sapargali and former oil worker and strike leader, Akzhanat Aminov, started; whereas numerous violations of law during the pre-trial custody and the judicial process of Vladimir Kozlov in particular have been noted, e.g.: remanding the defendant in poor humanitarian conditions; an insufficient period of time given to the defendant to familiarise himself with the case file; conducting the process in the Kazakh language which the defendant does not speak, while the interpretation into Russian is being distorted; discrepancies between the Russian and Kazakh versions of the official testimony of witnesses;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas despite the attempts to improve the law of 17 February 2012, the right of individuals to associate, organize and register independent trade unions, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike are not being fully respected, and an independent judiciary is not in place
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas the EU is a key trading partner for Kazakhstan and the biggest investor in the country; whereas Kazakhstan has clearly expressed its wish to come close to the EU standards and its social and economic models implying a consistent reform of the Kazakh state and public administration;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G b (new) Gb. whereas Kazakhstan plays an important role in securing regional stabilisation and can become a bridge between the EU and the whole Central Asian region;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Recital G c (new) Gc. whereas Kazakhstan has reached important results in the field of poverty reduction, public health and education;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a (new) (a) Recall and insist on the Parliament's recommendation that, whenever a gross breach of human rights is committed by a partner country with which an international agreement, such as a partnership and cooperation agreement, has been concluded, the EU take bolder steps in carrying out the appropriate sanctions as stipulated in the human rights clauses of the agreement, including possible temporary suspension of the agreement1; __________________ 1 text adopted P7_TA(2012)0126
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 13 a (new) - having regard Statement to the European Parliament on Kazakhstan on behalf of HR Catherine Ashton delivered by Danish Foreign Minster Villy Søvndal on 14 March 2012 (A 122/12)
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point a (a) ensure that the new PCA
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point a (a) ensure that the new PCA takes the form of a comprehensive framework for the further development of relations, addressing all priority areas, including: human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and democratisation;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point a (a)
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point a a (new) (aa) call for the negotiations to be transparent and to allow for full participation of trade unions and civil society organisations from both sides to take part in them;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point b (b) welcome Kazakhstan's political will and practical engagement to further deepen partnership with the EU; ensure that the EU's engagement is consistent with other Union policies and that the principle of ‘more for more’ is applied with particular emphasis on supporting political, legal, economic and social reforms;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point b (b) welcome Kazakhstan's political will and concrete engagement to further deepen partnership with the EU; ensure that the EU's engagement is consistent with other Union policies and that the principle of ‘more for more’ is applied;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point b (b)
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point c (c)
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point c (c) work closely with Kazakhstan to promote regional cooperation and the improvement of neighbourly relations in the Central Asia region, including by support for confidence building measures where appropriate, particularly in such areas as water and resource management, border management, fight against extremism and counter-terrorism;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point c (c) work with Kazakhstan to promote regional cooperation and the improvement of neighbourly relations in the Central Asia region including by support for confidence building measures where appropriate, particularly in such areas as water and resource management, border management , fight against extremism and counter-terrorism;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the E
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point c (c) work with Kazakhstan to promote regional cooperation and the improvement of neighbourly relations in the Central Asia region; insist that this cooperation fosters exchange of experiences and takes on board recommendations from registered and unregistered trade unions and civil society organisations in the region;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point d (d) seek Kazakhstan's support with a view to ensuring swift progress towards the establishment of a regular EU-Central Asia High Level Security Dialogue in a regional format, in order to tackle common challenges and threats;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point e (e) cooperate closely with Kazakhstan, other Central Asian states and international actors
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point e (e) cooperate with Kazakhstan, other Central Asian states as well as local, regional and international actors to promote security and development in Afghanistan;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point f (f) reinforce the EU's action in the fields of education, the rule of law, the environment and water, inter alia through newly established support platforms and targeted assistance; bring local NGOs and CSOs
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point f (f) reinforce the EU's action in the fields of education, the rule of law, the environment and water, inter alia through newly established support platforms and targeted assistance; bring local NGOs and CSOs into the EU's dialogue with the Kazakh government in th
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point f (f) reinforce the EU's action in the fields of education, the rule of law, the environment and water, inter alia through newly established support platforms and targeted assistance; bring local NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) into the EU's dialogue with the Kazakh government in those areas;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point f a (new) (fa) Stimulate Kazakhstan to work together with its neighbours in order to come to a common solution on the statute of the Caspian Sea;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point f a (new) (fa) support policy reforms and institutional capacity building through targeted technical assistance (i.e. exchange of experts);
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point g (g) ensure that the PCA incorporates clauses and benchmarks relating to the
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the people in the EU and Kazakhstan should benefit mutually from closer cooperation; whereas the conclusion of the new PCA negotiation should provide a comprehensive, human and democratic rights based framework for cooperation;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point g a (new) (ga) urge the Kazakh authorities to make every effort to improve the human rights situation in their country;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point h (h) underline that progress in the negotiation of the new PCA must be linked to the progress of political reform and a genuine commitment on the part of Kazakhstan to human rights and democracy; insist that Kazakhstan maintains its declared commitment to further reforms, and to build up an open and democratic society including an independent civil society and opposition, respectful of fundamental rights and the rule of law; offer adequate assistance on the EU's part for implementing the reforms;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point h (h) underline that progress in the negotiation of the new PCA must be linked to the progress of political reform and a genuine commitment on the part of Kazakhstan to human rights and democracy; offer adequate assistance on the EU's part for implementing the reforms; reserve the right to suspend the negotiations unless there is significant and proven improvement in the human rights situation;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point h (h) underline that progress in the negotiation of the new PCA must be linked to the progress of political reform
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point i (i) express deep concern over the politically motivated detentions of activists and human rights defenders which show disregard of the Parliament's 15 March 2012 Resolution demanding the release of all persons detained on politically motivated charges;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point i (i) express deep concern over the
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point i a (new) (ia) calls on the Kazakh authorities, in this regard, to promptly and impartially investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment in connection with the Zhanaozen violence and hold the perpetrators accountable; repeal the vague criminal charge of 'inciting social discord' and release from pre-trial detention political opposition activists held on this basis; review legislation on freedom of assembly to bring it into conformity with Kazakhstan's international obligations on freedom of assembly;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point i a (new) (ia) support the Parliament's position and call for an independent and credible investigation into the events of December 2011, with an international component3; in this regard call on the Kazakhstan authorities to allow Members of the European Parliament and others invited by Kazakh civil society organisations and trade unions unhindered access to the country; __________________ 3 Text adopted P7_TA(2012)0089
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point j Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point j (j)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the EU and Kazakhstan
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point k (k) insist that Kazakhstan further translates its Human Rights Action Plan into legislation
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point l (l) call upon Kazakhstan as a member of the Venice Commission, to demonstrate its commitment to Council of Europe standards by
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point m (m) insist that the Kazakh authorities make binding commitments to bring the legal system fully into line with international standards; ensure that implementation facilitates true media freedom, freedom of expression and association, freedom of religion and belief and the independence of the judiciary in Kazakhstan;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point n (n) insist on improved access to justice, judicial independence, and on the return of the control and the management of penitentiaries to the Ministry of Justice;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point o (o) encourage Kazakhstan to
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point o (o) urge Kazakhstan to release political
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point o (o) urge Kazakhstan to release, without further delay, political prisoners and end politically motivated arrests carried out on the basis of the vague criminal charges of ‘inciting social discord’;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point p (p) urge the Kazakh authorities to amend the Article 164 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code of 'inciting social discord‘ to bring it into line with the International Human Rights Law
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point p a (new) (pa) insist that Kazakhstan reconsider restrictive amendments to the administrative code and its recent law on religion and put an end to arbitrary raids, interrogations, threats and fines on minority religious groups
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point p a (new) (pa) note with great concern the amendments to the Labour Code, in particular amended articles 55, 74, 266, 287, 289, 303, and 305, signed on 17 February 2012 by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and defend the position that they mark a severe regression in the field of labour relations, workers' rights and social dialogue and a breach of required conditions of the ILO and other international conventions; call for a strongly worded Sustainable Development Chapter providing for binding social standards as a precondition for concluding the negotiations on the new enhanced PCA;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas Kazakhstan aspires to deepen and broaden its relations with the EU; whereas the EU and Kazakhstan should benefit mutually from closer cooperation; whereas the conclusion of the new PCA negotiation should provide a comprehensive framework for cooperation;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point q (q) insist that Kazakhstan comply with the recommendations of the UN Committee Against Torture and the 2009 recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; call on Kazakhstan to
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point r Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point r (r)
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point r (r) push for regulatory and rules-based convergence in specific sectors and key areas of EU interest whilst pressing for steps to be taken by the government of Kazakhstan on areas related to independence of judiciary and the situation of freedom of association and freedom of expression, and particularly of the media;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point t (t) call on Kazakhstan to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point u (u) insist on establishing independent civil society platforms to contribute to inclusive exchanges in a number of sectors in order to get the aspirations and voices of the civil society heard;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point u (u) insist on establishing independent civil society platforms to contribute to inclusive exchanges in a number of sectors and seek means to provide financial assistance for this goal;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point w (w) intensify and broaden the scope of the exchange programmes in education and culture; encourage and support the legal training of local and regional officials and members of law enforcement bodies to EU standards; encourage and support Kazakhstan to take the lead in the formation of a special educational programme, both academic and vocational training, between the EU and Central Asian countries;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x a (new) (xa) highlight that the conclusion of the new PCA negotiation will have positive impact on the deepening of the economic cooperation between EU and Kazakh companies, including SMEs;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas although the suspension of the application of any PCA has only been used rarely and partially by the Council, it remains a viable option in case of serious and documented breaches of human rights,
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x (x) encourage Kazakhstan to take the necessary final steps for swift WTO accession and pave the way for subsequent structural reforms and the creation of a market economy;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x (x) encourage Kazakhstan to take the necessary final steps for swift WTO accession and provide it with qualified technical assistance in order to pave the way for subsequent structural reforms and increase competitiveness;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x b (new) (xb) call upon the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers in order to extent trade, particularly trade of services and foreign investments; support the ambitions to harmonise standards in the trade of goods beyond the conditions set by the WTO which would also lead to a broadening of trade opportunities;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x a (new) (xa) emphasise the importance of the EU- Kazakhstan energy cooperation particularly in efforts to develop Trans- Caspian energy route; ensure continued attention of the EU on the support to enhancing energy security, sustainable energy development, and attracting investment for energy projects of common and regional interest
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x a (new) (xa) in light of recent allegations of corruption against European based corporations operating in Kazakhstan, call for stronger and binding provisions in relation to Corporate Social Responsibility and the exclusion of EU based corporations involved in corruption from any EU and partner countries´ public tenders;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point x b (new) (xb) consider it of utmost importance that European based corporations respect ILO standards on trade union rights as well as to respect environmental and health and safety standards when operating in Kazakhstan and particularly in the extractive sector of the economy;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point y Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point y (y) acknowledge that Kazakhstan's participation in the Russian-led customs union and the Eurasian Economic Union is not an obstacle to closer cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan; stand ready to assist Kazakhstan's efforts, along with its partners within the Customs Union, to promote modern economic institutions in the Customs Union, should such efforts be undertaken;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point y (y)
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 – point y (y) acknowledge that Kazakhstan's participation in the Russian-led customs union and the Eurasian Economic Union is not an obstacle to closer cooperation
source: PE-496.305
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History
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