2013/2152(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the EU to enhance its action to end sex-selective practices by addressing and uprooting effectively all fundamental causes leading to son preference cultures, by combating "Gendercide" which is a rising and underreported problem in countries of Asia, Europe, Africa and America; insists that such preventive policies should be essential elements in EU approach to development cooperation;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the Commission to make the issue of women's rights central to the negotiations with all candidate countries for accession without exception; reminds that the persisting severity of violence against women and girls remain major misfalls for Turkey as an accession country; urges the Turkish Government to speed up reforms and to achieve visible and concrete results in the application of the principle of equality and respect of women's rights;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls on the EU and its Member States to support~~Welcomes women's full participation in political and economic decision-making, especially in peace-building processes, democratic transition and conflict resolution;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States, the Commission and the EEAS to emphasise the economic and political empowerment of women in developing countries by promoting their involvement in small and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture, and their access to land and their involvement in rural development projects;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Urges therefore the Commission and the Council to further encourage third countries to take account of women's rights when drawing up national legislation and to ensure their implementation;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for efforts to be stepped up to achieve the Millennium Development Goals concerning gender equality, maternal health and access to education, especially for girls and young women, with a solid commitment from states to enhance accountability and monitoring mechanisms for existing human rights obligations, promote access to justice for all and ensure effective participation for everybody, including the most marginalized and disadvantaged in development decision-making and implementation;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for efforts to be stepped up to achieve the Millennium Development Goals concerning gender equality, maternal health and access to education, especially for girls and young women; strongly recommends a stand alone goal on women´s rights and gender equality to be set up in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals, with a strong emphasis on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for efforts to be stepped up to achieve the maximum of the Millennium Development Goals concerning gender equality, maternal health ~~and~~, access to education, sexual and reproductive health rights, especially for girls and young women, before the expiring deadlines;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for efforts to be stepped up to achieve the Millennium Development Goals concerning gender equality, maternal health and access to ~~education, especially for~~adequate health system and education, especially for the most vulnerable groups like girls and young women;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Notes that there continues to be insufficient attention given to sexual and reproductive rights violations that undermine efforts towards the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD) commitments and to addressing discrimination, including gender discrimination and inequality, in population and development strategies; underlines that progress on reproductive health has been limited in some contexts by violations such as child, early and forced marriage and failure to enforce a legal minimum age of marriage, coercive practices such as forced sterilisation or FGM, as well as denial of autonomy to women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health free of discrimination, coercion and violence.

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates that the promotion of women's rights should be a crucial part of human rights dialogues conducted by the EU with third countries; recognises the positive role played by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights; encourages the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to define, in partnership with each country, the problems to be addressed simultaneously ~~so that funds and resources can be targeted~~ in order to better fulfil the objectives;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Urges the EU and its Member States to ensure the ICPD+20 review process results in a comprehensive review of all aspects related to the full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights and reaffirm a strong and progressive approach to sexual and reproductive rights for all in consistency with international human rights standards and increasing accountability for their achievements; in particular, calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that the review process is conducted in a participatory manner and provides opportunity for different stakeholders, including civil society as well as women, adolescents and young people to participate in a meaningful manner; recalls that the framework for such a review must be based on human rights and have a specific focus on sexual and reproductive rights.

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Requests that the conclusions of the EU Election Observation Missions (EOM) always be taken into account in drawing up programmes to support women's participation in electoral processes and in implementing the missions' recommendations;deleted

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Requests that the conclusions of the EU Election Observation Missions (EOM) always be taken into account in drawing up programmes to support women's full and equal participation in electoral processes and in implementing the missions' recommendations;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that women's participation both at the negotiating table and in active roles in peaceful transitions should be ensured and expanded as women can play a key role in peace-keeping, in promoting dialogue and conflict resolution and in maintaining cohesion in a society and its structures;

Amendment 4 #

Mariya GABRIEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that the European Union has established a Special Representative for Human Rights and that this function should enable the EU to coordinate its action and to make it more comprehensible and visible, in order to promote human rights in the world, in particular women's rights.

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reaffirms its condemnation of all violence against women, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence and calls on all Member states of the Council of Europe to sign and ratify the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and on the EU to engage into an accession process to the Convention in order to ensure coherence between EU internal and external action on violence against women; stresses the importance of information and awareness campaigns in communities ~~wher~~as well as including human rights defenders already working on ending the female genital mutilation (FGM) ~~is practised;~~.

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reaffirms its condemnation of all kinds of violence against women, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; stresses the importance of information and awareness campaigns in communities where female genital mutilation (FGM) is, early and forced marriages, feminicides and other gender- based human rights violations are practisced;

Amendment 7 #

Antonyia PARVANOVA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reaffirms its condemnation of all violence against women, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; stresses the importance of information and awareness campaigns in communities where female genital mutilation (FGM) is practised; encourages the EEAS and EU member States to continue to address the issue of FGM in their political and policy dialogues with partner countries where the practice is still perpetrated;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reaffirms its condemnation of all violence against women, especially the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; stresses the importance of information and awareness campaigns in communities where female genital mutilation (FGM) is practised and calls on the Commission to suspend aid to countries where FGM is practiced;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reaffirms its condemnation of all violence against women, especially the use of sexual abuse and violence as a weapon of war and domestic violence; stresses the importance of information and awareness campaigns in communities where young girls' sexual abuse and female genital mutilation (FGM) is practised;

source: PE-521.481

2013/10/04 AFET 347 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Heading 1

~~on the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2012 and the European Union policy on the matter~~(Does not apply to English version) (Linguistic change affecting French version only).

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the European Union's Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, and the EP Recommendation to the Council on the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief adopted on 13 June 2013,

Amendment 100 #

Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Nikola VULJANIĆ, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

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

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

Recalls its recommendation that as part of the human rights country strategies, the EU should agree on a list of "minimum items" that its Member States and the EU institutions should raise with their relevant counterparts in third countries during meetings and visits, including at the highest political level and during summits; insists that such an approach should also be followed in relation to strategic partners, such as Russia and China, including through the adoption of annual Council conclusions thereon; reiterates its recommendation that the priorities of the human rights country strategies should be reflected in the programming and implementation of assistance to third countries;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Notes the efforts made by the EEAS to finalise the first cycle of EU human rights country strategies; r~~Reiterates its support for the objective of giving ownership of the country strategy to the EU delegation and Member States' embassies on the ground, while ensuring quality control at headquarters level; regrets, however, the lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies; reiterates its call for the key priorities of the human rights country strategies to be made public and for the European Parliament to have access to these strategies and to all information related to them; encourages the EU to produce a public assessment of the lessons learnt during the first cycle of EU human rights country strategies and to identify best practices for the next cycle;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Notes the efforts made by the EEAS to finalise the first cycle of EU human rights country strategies; recommends that, as part of the human rights country strategies, the EU agree on a list of 'minimum items' to be raised with its relevant counterparts in third countries during official meetings and visits; reiterates its support for the objective of giving ownership of the country strategy to the EU delegation on the ground, while ensuring quality control at headquarters level; ~~regrets, however, the lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies;~~

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Notes the efforts made by the EEAS to finalise the first cycle of EU human rights country strategies; reiterates its support for the objective of giving ownership of the country strategy to the EU delegation on the ground, while ensuring quality control at headquarters level; regrets, however, the lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies; urges for the public disclosure of, at least, the main areas of intervention of each country strategy, so as to allow a certain degree of scrutiny;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Notes the efforts made by the EEAS to finalise the first cycle of EU human rights country strategies; reiterates its support for the objective of giving ownership of the country strategy to the EU delegation on the ground, while ensuring quality control at headquarters level; regrets, however, the lack of transparency regarding the contents of the country strategies and the fact that women's rights and children's rights are not sufficiently taken into account in country strategies;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Encourages a genuine partnership with civil society actors on the ground, including consultations on policy initiatives and dialogues on human rights and to ensure the effective support to civil society organisations; encourages the EEAS and Member States to further expand the practice of working through human rights working groups formed locally among EU delegations and embassies of Member States; encourages EU Delegations to continue to monitor human rights-related trials, notably those against human rights defenders; calls on the EEAS and Member States to develop a tool kit for EU trial monitoring and to support trial monitoring programmes by civil society organisations at regional level;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Welcomes the nearly complete network of human rights focal points in EU delegations; calls on the VP/HR and the EEAS to develop a plan on how this network can be used to realise its full potential; invites the EU Delegations to publish the contact details of all human rights focal points and EU Liaison Officers for HRDs; while welcoming the designation of human rights focal points as valuable contact persons notably for external actors, calls on the EEAS to appoint dedicated human rights officers within the political sections of EU delegations, which would substantially enhance the implementation of the EU's human rights policy in third countries as well as contribute to stronger and more detailed reporting and analysis, including in the Annual Report on Human Rights;

Amendment 108 #

Jean ROATTA, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8

Human rights ~~conditionality in trade preferences and external agreements~~in the EU's trade policy

Amendment 109 #

Jean ROATTA, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the EU's practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, and considers that these clauses should ~~also be included in all sectoral~~be systematically included in trade agreements;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)

- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held in Luxembourg on 24 June 2013,

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including enforceable and non-negotiable, legally binding human rights clauses in ~~the EU's~~all international agreements~~, and considers that these clauses should also be~~ concluded by the EU with third countries, includeding in all sectoral trade agreements and calls for an effective monitoring of their application;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU's international agreements, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral trade agreements; regrets that the enforcement of human rights clauses and human rights conditionality in partnership agreements between the EU and third countries remains elusive and unsatisfactory; considers that, when faced with cases of persistent human rights violations, the EU should speak up and channel criticism at high- level ministerial meetings to ensure its message is heard both by abusive governments and their people;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU's international agreements and promote human rights in all areas of its external action without exception, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral trade agreements;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including legally binding human rights and democracy clauses in the EU's international agreements, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral trade agreements; tresses that while human rights and democracy clauses have been included in political framework agreements with third countries since 1995, and in agreements concluded with more than 120 countries, these clauses have mostly remained a dead letter; supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral trade agreements; remains convinced that this clause ought in reality to be a legally binding commitment on the EU and partner countries and to be complemented by an operational enforcement mechanism so that it can be given concrete shape; sees a need for ex ante monitoring mechanisms prior to a framework agreement being concluded and on which such conclusion is made conditional as a fundamental part of the agreement, and for ex post monitoring mechanisms which enable tangible action to be taken in response to infringements of these clauses, including the possible suspension of the agreement;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses, including on child labour, abuse and recruitment in armed groups in the EU's international agreements, and considers that these clauses should also be included in all sectoral trade agreements;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Reiterates that in the event that Parliament adopts a recommendation calling for the application of the human rights clause, the EEAS should carefully examine the situation in the country concerned and report to the Parliament's responsible committee on its assessment and suggested response;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

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

Amendment 119 #

Elisabeth JEGGLE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

Amendment 12 #

Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Nikola VULJANIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

- having regard to the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Strategy Paper for 2011- 2013 and to the Commission's proposal for a new financial regulation for the EIDHR 2014-2020 (COM(2011)844),

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Points out that Parliament may withhold its consent to international agreements on account of serious breaches of human rights, as in the cases of the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Turkmenistan or the textile protocol of the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; recall the European Parliament decision on 13 December 2011 to reject a proposed extension of the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement because it did not take into account the interests of the Sahrawi population;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

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

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Points out that Parliament may withhold its consent to international agreements on account of serious breaches of human rights, as in the cases of the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Turkmenistan or the textile protocol of the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; regrets nonetheless the lack of progress in setting up a mechanism for monitoring human rights situations, which was agreed to be established as part of the conclusion of the PCA with Turkmenistan;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

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

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Calls upon the EU and the Member States to make sure that European companies respect human rights standards when operating outside the EU, especially in countries that do not have the infrastructure to enforce such standards; recalls the EU that the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility is at the core of its external policies;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Calls on India and the EU, in this context, to ensure that dialogue on open issues is stepped up, with particular reference to Kashmir;

Amendment 126 #

Jean ROATTA, Tokia SAÏFI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. WRecalls that the revised GSP scheme will come into force on 1 January 2014; welcomes the continuation of the GSP+ scheme whereby countries can enjoy additional preferential tariffs ~~as incentives for~~once they have ratifi~~cation~~ed and implement~~ation of~~ed the 27 core human rights, labour and environment conventions; stresses that GSP+ preferences must only be granted to countries that have ratified and effectively implemented the conventions; recalls also the possibility of temporal withdrawal of GSP+ preferences for countries in violation of human rights; calls therefore on the European Commission, when conducting the monitoring exercise, to open genuine channels of communication and carry out broad consultations with a wide range of partners, including the European Parliament and local civil society and social actorrecalls the possibility of suspending GSP, GSP+ and Everything But Arms (EBA) preferences in the event of serious human rights violations; calls on the European Commission to make the assessments for GSP+ eligibility publicly available, in order to increase transparency and accountability;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Welcomes the continuation of the GSP+ scheme whereby countries can enjoy additional preferential tariffs as incentives for ratification and implementation of 27 core human rights, labour and environment conventions; stresses that GSP+ preferences must only be granted to countries that have ratified and effectively implemented the conventions; requests that the delegated act by which the Commission proposes the admission of an applicant country is done on an individual basis; calls on the Commission to request from future GSP+ applicants the extension of a standing invitation to UN Special Procedures and the submission of all pending periodic reports to the relevant UN human rights monitoring bodies, in order to ensure a level-playing field among GSP+ applicants and a common baseline against which to assess compliance with GSP+ requirements upon admission; recalls also the possibility of temporal withdrawal of GSP+ preferences for countries in violation of human rights; calls therefore on the European Commission, when conducting the monitoring exercise, to open genuine channels of communication and carry out broad and transparent consultations with a wide range of partners, including the European Parliament and local civil society and social actors; calls on the European Commission to make the assessments for GSP+ eligibility publicly available, in order to increase transparency and accountability;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 10 June 2010 on EU policies in favour of human rights defenders,

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Calls, furthermore, on the EU to define and adopt specific policy guidelines on the effective inclusion of human rights in its trade and investment agreements in order to achieve methodological consistency and rigour in the human rights impact assessments;Deleted

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Calls, furthermore, on the EU~~Requests that the EEAS and the Commission report to Parliament on how they have complied with their commitment under the Action Plan to define and adopt specific policy guidelines on the effective inclusion of human rights in its trade and investment agreements in order to achieve methodological consistency and rigour in the human rights impact assessments;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24а. Emphasises the need to improve conditions for the free movement of EU citizens and to open the labour market in all the Member States in a way that does not limit the rights of citizens from the new Member States;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Business and human rights

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Calls on the EU to ensure the consistency of its policies with human rights, notably in the area of trade with regard to sensitive goods, such as arms and dual use surveillance technology where human rights concerns need to prevail over economic interests;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

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

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Calls on the EEAS to report on the EU priorities for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as on the state of play with regards the development of national strategies by Member States for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24c. Reminds the Commission of its commitment in September 2010 to examine the issue of forced prison labour in third countries and to review the EU response accordingly, and requests the Commission to report to Parliament on the outcome of this process; calls on the Commission to introduce legislation banning the import into the EU of goods manufactured by forced and prison labour;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)

24d. Stresses the impact of large-scale acquisitions and leases (commonly referred to as "land grabbing") on the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to food; encourages the EU to develop a framework for addressing this issue in its relations with third countries;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 e (new)

24e. Regrets the lack of progress by the Commission in answering the request of the European Parliament to propose legislation requiring EU companies to ensure that their purchases do not support perpetrators of conflicts and grave human rights violations;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)

- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 11 December 2012 on a Digital Freedom Strategy in EU Foreign Policy (2012/2094(INI))

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 f (new)

24f. Reaffirms that European businesses should undertake adequate due diligence to ensure that their operations respect human rights, wherever they are performed; stresses the importance for meaningful reporting on the human rights, social and environmental impact of projects supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) or by export credits granted by European credit agencies; calls on the Commission to develop a methodology for non-financial reporting by European Credit Agencies and the European Investment Bank on compliance of their activities with Article 21 of the Treaty of the European Union, which inter alia contains an obligation to respect human rights;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes the overwhelming evidence from recent years indicating the crucial importance of EU foreign policy adequately addressing dynamic transition processes in third countries; encourages the EU to continue to learn from past experiences, both positive and negative, to avoid repeating certain policy mistakes, and to establish best practices in order to influence and consolidate democratisation processes; acknowledges the requirement for policy flexibility in diverging situations, and encourages the development of policy tools that could be applied in different transition scenarios in order to integrate human rights and democracy support measures into the EU approach in a flexible and ~~credibl~~effective manner;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Emphasises that political transition and democratisation need to be bonded with respect for human rights, the promotion of justice, transparency, accountability, reconciliation, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions; stresses the importance of redressing human rights abuses committed by former regimes; insists that the EU always advocate a context-sensitive approach to transitional justice;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Emphasises that political transition and democratisation need to be bonded with respect for human rights, the promotion of justice, accountability, reconciliation, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions; stresses the importance of redressing human rights abuses committed by former regimes; insists that the EU always advocate a context-sensitive approach to transitional justice while strictly upholding the principle of accountability for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and the right to redress;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Emphasises that political transition and democratisation need to be bonded with respect for human rights, the promotion of ~~justice~~gender equality and justice, including justice for children, accountability, reconciliation, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions; stresses the importance of redressing human rights abuses committed by former regimes; insists that the EU always advocate a context-sensitive approach to transitional justice;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Emphasises that political transition and democratisation need to be bonded with respect for human rights, the promotion of justice, accountability, reconciliation, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions; stresses the importance of redressing human rights abuses committed by former regimes; insists that the EU always advocate ~~a context-sensitive approach to transitional justice~~the adaptation of judicial systems to, and the aligning of reforms with, the conditions on democratic transition;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Emphasises that the EU should give its full support to countries that have dislodged authoritarian regimes and are undergoing a transition to democracy by supporting civil society as a crucial actor in advocating rule of law, accountability and transparency and in promoting social movements for political change and participation; recalls that the police, the military and the judiciary are often used as mechanisms to perform systematic violations of human rights; stresses therefore that institutional reform of these bodies needs to provide for greater accountability and transparency in transition processes;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Emphasises that the EU should give its full support to countries that have dislodged authoritarian regimes and are undergoing a transition to democracy; Considers that, in view of its responsibilities and those of some of its Member States in the economic, social and political situation that led to the popular uprisings in the ‘Arab Spring’ countries, the European Union has a duty to help the institutions in those countries to carry out audits of their debts, and particularly their European debts, in order to ascertain what proportion of those debts illegitimately did not benefit the people of those countries, and that it also has a duty to do its utmost to ensure that those debts are swiftly written off; urges the EU and its Member States once more to make further significant efforts aimed at facilitating the return of misappropriated assets stolen by the former regimes to the people of Arab Spring countries within a reasonable timeframe; is concerned that the partnership guidelines seem to follow the same lines as previous discussions; recalls that the police, the military and the judiciary are often used as mechanisms to perform systematic violations of human rights; stresses therefore that institutional reform of these bodies needs to provide for greater accountability and transparency in transition processes; is concerned by the rising number of attacks on freedom of expression in a certain number of these countries and in Tunisia and Egypt in particular;

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Considers the EU's external financial instruments an important tool for promoting and defending EU values abroad, as well as for supporting human rights defenders; welcomes in this context the commitment to put human rights, democracy and the rule of law at the core of EU external action; calls for improvements in the coherence and effectiveness of different thematic and geographic instruments in order to achieve this strategic objective;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Remains unconvinced by the impact and coherence of the EU's democracy support policy, beyond the holding of Election Observation Missions, as well by its interconnection with the EU's human rights policy; calls on the EEAS to carry out a comprehensive review of its activities in this area and to clarify the conceptual and practical linkages between both areas;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20

– having regard to the report on the EU indicators for the Comprehensive Approach to the EU implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 1325, 1820 and ~~1820~~2106 on women, peace and security, adopted by the EU Council on 13 May 2011,

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Strongly encourages the EU to support an active and independent civil society worldwide, both politically and financially, through, for example, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); suggests that the opening up of European student exchange programmes to third country youth and the creation of training programmes for young professionals would foster the active participation of youth in democracy building and would strengthen civil society;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Strongly encourages the EU to support an active and independent civil society worldwide with a special focus on human rights defenders, both politically and financially, through, for example, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Strongly encourages the EU to support an active and independent civil society worldwide, both politically and financially, through, ~~for example~~notably, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); regrets that freedom of assembly, as a fundamental condition for any democratic development and as a particularly sensitive issue in transition countries, appears to have been overlooked in the EU's Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; calls on the EEAS and Member States to elaborate Guidelines on Freedom of Assembly;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Strongly encourages the EU to support the development of an active and independent civil society worldwide~~, both politically~~ that reflects national specificities while also being tightly bound to European values and fin~~ancially~~ternationally recognised principles and models, through, for example, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. ~~Welcom~~Urges the ~~establishment of the~~ European Endowment for Democracy (EED) ~~which aims to~~to engage in provideing support for those striving for democratic change by offering them flexible funding tailored to their needs, as foreseen in the provisions of its statute;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the establishment of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) which aims to provide support for those striving for democratic change by offering them flexible funding tailored to their needs; calls for appropriate EU financial support for the EED to be guaranteed, including in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, particularly through external action instruments;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the establishment of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) which aims to provide support for those striving for democratic change by offering them flexible funding tailored to their needs; recalls the critical importance of avoiding overlap between the mandate and activities of the EED and that of EU instruments in the field of human rights and democracy;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. ~~Welcom~~Notes the establishment of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) which aims to provide support for those striving for democratic change by offering them flexible funding tailored to their needs;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. ~~Stresses the momentous importance of the enlargement process as a means of supporting democratisation and~~Condemns the fact that the enlargement process serves more nowadays to introduce economic and social policies that are disastrous for candidate countries, than for the democratic development of these societies; believes that, to achieve a true Europe of the people, the Copenhagen criteria need to be radically reformed to enhanc~~ing~~e human rights protection;

Amendment 159 #

Hans-Peter MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Stresses the momentous importance of the enlargement process as a means of supporting democratisation and enhancing human rights protection; stresses also the fact, in this connection, that, rather than granting EU accession solely because it is expected that that could improve the human rights situation in the candidate country concerned, observance of human rights is a basic condition for EU accession;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

- having regard to the UNESCO Convention of 20 October 2005 on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions,

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Welcomes the European Commission's decision to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement process; urges the EU to remain vigilant during the enlargement processes and to demand rigorous implementation of provisions critical to human rights, such as active protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities~~, establishing the rule of law and effective access to justice, and guaranteeing fundamental freedoms~~ in order to safeguard equal treatment of these minorities with regard to education, healthcare, social and other public services, establishing the rule of law and effective access to justice, and guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and full and effective equality between persons belonging to a national minority and those to the majority in all areas of social, economic, political and cultural life;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

Amendment 163 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Welcomes the European Commission’s decision to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement process; urges the EU to remain vigilant during the enlargement processes and to demand rigorous implementation of provisions critical to human rights, such as protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, establishing the rule of law together with vigorous action to combat all forms of corruption, and effective access to justice, and guaranteeing fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the ~~Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balk~~functioning system of minority national councils is challenged before the Serbian Constitutional Court endangering their guaranteed competences; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans and the worrying number of ethnic-based incidents committed against members of national minority communities, in particular Hungarians; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans; urges the countries concerned to implement effective measures as to address problems such as discrimination and segregation, access to housing and healthcare; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 167 #

Evgeni KIRILOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States, as well as the candidate and the potential candidate countries to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission’s Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans; condemns the ~~generally negative societal attitude~~fomenting of hatred and prejudices in general and the negative acts towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which isare a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission’s Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities ~~through~~and their inclusion in the education system, civil society engagement, improved living conditions and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans, which has an adverse effect on partnership processes; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)

- having regard to the ILO Convention on Migrant Workers (1949)

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

Amendment 171 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission’s Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans; condemns ~~the~~discrimination based on gender~~ally negative soc~~, sexual orienta~~l attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community~~tion or in regard to vulnerable groups and people with disabilities~~, which~~; stresses that this is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries as well as in the majority of the Member States;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans as well as in Moldova and Ukraine; stresses therefore the necessity to involve these countries into the EU Roma inclusion process; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Notes that media freedom has generally advanced in enlargement countries; deplores, however, the lack of measures to ensure freedom of expression in certain enlargement countries, which often leads to self-censorship, political interference, economic pressures, and the harassment of, or even violence against, journalists; is seriously concerned in this respect about increasing violations of the freedom of expression and press freedom in Turkey;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Notes that media freedom has generally advanced in enlargement countries; deplores, however, the lack of measures to ensure freedom of expression in certain enlargement countries, which often leads to self-censorship, political interference, economic pressures, ~~and the~~ harassment ~~of, or even~~and the use of violence against, journalists; is seriously concerned in this respect about increasing violations of the freedom of expression in Turkey;

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34а. Points out that violations of the property rights of citizens of neighbouring countries, and especially the unresolved issue of the property of Bulgarian Thracian refugees, as referred to in the international agreements signed by Turkey and the European Parliament resolution of 21 May 2008 on Turkey’s 2007 progress report, adversely affect public opinion as regards Turkey’s partnership with the EU;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Recognises the challenges related to democratic transitions in the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood; notes increasing divergence in democratic reforms across the EU neighbourhood; reiterates the importance of civil society and human rights organizations in the process of democratic transition;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Recognises the challenges related to democratic transitions in the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood; notes increasing divergence in democratic reforms across the EU neighbourhood; encourages therefore to differentiate between the Southern and Eastern dimensions of the Neighbourhood policy in order to better target the specific properties and needs of each geographical area;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2010 on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements,

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. welcomes the progress in the negotiations between the EU and certain neighbouring countries as regards Association Agreements, including DCFTAs; expects that the Vilnius Summit in November should be a key moment in further strengthening the relations between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Welcomes the new EU approach aimed at strengthening the partnership between the EU and the countries and societies of its Neighbourhood, based on mutual accountability and shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; supports the ‘more for more’ and "less for less" approaches which should provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep and sustainable democracy and protecting human rights; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of this approach, giving due consideration to Parliament's reports; encourages the EU to further develop working methods to ensure the best articulation between dialogue, targeted support, incentives and restrictive measures;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Welcomes the new EU approach aimed at strengthening the partnership between the EU and the countries and societies of its Neighbourhood, based on mutual accountability and shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; supports the ‘more for more’ approach which should provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep and sustainable democracy and protecting human rights, with particular reference to the key-rights to freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of assembly and freedom of association; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of this approach, giving due consideration to Parliament's reports;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. ~~Welcom~~Notes the new EU approach aimed at strengthening the partnership between the EU and the countries and societies of its Neighbourhood, based on mutual accountability and shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; ~~supports the ‘more for more’ approach which should provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep and sustainable democracy and protecting human rights~~deplores the policies of the European Union and the Member States aimed at ensuring the policing of the EU’s immigration and asylum policy by third countries participating in its Neighbourhood Policy, which is very often done with contempt for the most basic rights of persons trying by all means to reach Europe; deplores the fact that aid to these countries is often conditional upon the signature of agreements on readmission of their nationals or of people transiting through these countries prior to arriving on EU soil; is concerned that this leads to violations of the right to asylum and infringes international law and in particular obligations regarding rescue at sea; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of this approach, giving due consideration to Parliament’s reports;

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Welcomes the new EU approach aimed at strengthening the partnership between the EU and the countries and societies of its Neighbourhood, based on mutual accountability and shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy, social justice and the rule of law; supports the ‘more for more’ approach which should provide greater support to partners engaged in building deep and sustainable democracy and protecting human rights; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure the efficient and transparent implementation of this approach, giving due consideration to Parliament's reports;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36a. Condemns severely the inability of the European Union and its Member States and their partner countries to uphold the right of asylum and ensure rescue at sea; considers these immigration policies to be indicative of prejudice towards the inhabitants of the countries of the South; is concerned about restrictive visa policies vis-à-vis nationals of countries of the South, which affect students and artists in particular;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in m~~any~~ost of the Neighbourhood countries; considers that this worrisome state of play requires a comprehensive and genuine reassessment of the EU's approach to transition processes in this region so far; emphasises that good governance, the freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and free media, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; reiterates the importance to uphold and promote gender equality and women's rights; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many Neighbourhood countries; emphasises that good governance, the freedom of association, expression, thought, conscience and religion and assembly, a free press and free media, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many Neighbourhood countries; emphasises that good governance, the freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and free media, freedom of religion, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many Neighbourhood countries; emphasises that good governance, transparency, the freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and free media, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 b (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2010 on international trade policy in the context of climate change imperatives,

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many Neighbourhood countries; emphasises that good governance, the freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and free media, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; further emphasises that the promotion of social development and the reduction of inequalities are prerequisites for successful economic integration and cohesion; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37a. Regrets the circumstances in which the Sahrawi people find themselves, having been forced to live under Moroccan occupation or in exile in refugee camps for almost 40 years following Morocco’s invasion of the former Spanish colony; points out that there are more than 80 000 Moroccan troops and millions of mines along the 2 000 km-plus wall that divides the territories of Western Sahara from north to south, and deplores the fact that, more than 20 years after the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and the establishment of MINURSO (the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), the referendum has still not taken place, thanks to the intransigence of Morocco and the accompanying complicity and passivity of the international community and the European Union;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)

37a. Stresses the necessity to promote sub- regional and cross-border cooperation, including through Euroregions, which may contribute to achieving the goals of cohesion policy, with special regard to border regions;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Regrets that in some countries civil society organisations continue to face serious constraints such as obstacles to the freedom of movement, lawsuits against NGO leaders, cumbersome administrative procedures, the aggressive use of criminal defamation laws against NGOs or a complete ban on their operation~~, restrictive rules controlling foreign funding or making the acceptance of financial support subject to authorisation~~; points out that greater efforts need to be made to reduce the democratic deficit, including by ensuring open access to European and international financing;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Regrets that in some countries civil society organisations continue to face serious constraints such as obstacles to the freedom of movement, lawsuits against NGO leaders, cumbersome administrative procedures, the aggressive use of criminal defamation laws against NGOs or a complete ban on their operation, restrictive rules controlling foreign funding or making the acceptance of financial support subject to authorisation; stresses, in this context, the importance of the European Endowment for Democracy as a flexible and discreet means of supporting the pro-democratic potential of societies in countries prior to or during the process of democratic transformation;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Regrets that in some countries civil society organisations continue to face serious constraints such as obstacles to the freedom of movement, lawsuits against NGO leaders and human rights defenders, cumbersome administrative procedures, the aggressive use of criminal defamation laws against NGOs or a complete ban on their operation, restrictive rules controlling foreign funding or making the acceptance of financial support subject to authorisation;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Regrets that in ~~some~~many neighbourhood countries civil society organisations continue to face serious constraints such as obstacles to the freedom of movement, lawsuits against NGO leaders, cumbersome administrative procedures, the aggressive use of criminal defamation laws against NGOs or a complete ban on their operation, restrictive rules controlling foreign funding or making the acceptance of financial support subject to authorisation;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Regrets the lack of progress in achieving a sustainable political solution as regards "frozen conflicts"; stresses that the political dialogue should take full consideration and should fully respect the territorial integrity and the internationally recognized borders of the countries concerned; urges the EU to engage more actively in this respect;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Underlines the importance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) in the human rights architecture at national level, including in terms of human rights monitoring and awareness raising as well as ensuring redress for violations; urges the EEAS and the Commission to develop a policy in support of NHRIs, and to support the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in line with the Paris principles as a priority in external assistance, notably under the ENPI;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)

38b. Calls on the EU to ensure a human- rights-based approach and the protection of migrants and refugees at the EU's external borders; insists that human rights need to be mainstreamed and monitored in all activities carried out by Frontex, the independence of the Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO) should be ensured and the Fundamental Rights Strategy and corresponding Action Plan implemented; asks to be consulted by the Commission prior to the conclusion of any cooperation or readmission agreement with third countries; recalls the need to respect the non-refoulement principle to be respected in European and international waters, as was upheld by the ECHR;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Heading 1

~~on the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2012 and the European Union policy on the matter~~(Does not apply to English version)

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 c (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2010 on corporate social responsibility in international trade agreements,

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

~~39. Remains concerned about the lack of democracy, rule of law, fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights in Belarus;~~Deleted

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Remains concerned about the lack of democracy, rule of law, fundamental freedoms and respect for human rights in ~~Belarus~~the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Notes with concern instances of selective justice in certain Eastern Neighbourhood countries; recalls that the EU has continually asked for the release of political prisoners~~, such as Yuliya Tymoshenko in Ukraine~~; reiterates that political and criminal responsibility should be clearly separated in countries that are committed to democratic values;

Amendment 203 #

Evgeni KIRILOV

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Notes with concern instances of selective justice in certain Eastern Neighbourhood countries; recalls that the EU has continually asked for the release of political prisoners~~, such as Yuliya Tymoshenko in Ukraine~~ in these countries; reiterates that political and criminal responsibility should be clearly separated in countries that are committed to democratic values;

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Notes with concern instances of selective justice in certain Eastern Neighbourhood countries; recalls that the EU has continually ~~asked for the release of political prisoners, such as Yuliya Tymoshenko in Ukraine~~insisted that when high-ranking state officials are held to account, their cases should be handled fairly and in line with the reforms to legislation and judicial systems; reiterates that political and criminal responsibility should be clearly separated in countries that are committed to democratic values;

Amendment 205 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Notes with concern instances of selective justice in certain Eastern Neighbourhood countries; recalls that the EU has continually asked for the release of political prisoners, such as Yuliya Tymoshenko in Ukraine, and leader of the opposition, Vano Merabishvili, jailed in pre-trial detention, in Georgia; reiterates that political and criminal responsibility should be clearly separated in countries that are committed to democratic values;

Amendment 206 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Supports all steps leading to political dialogue, which is essential to move the transition in Egypt forward; expresses its deep concern about recent crises and calls on all political leaders in the country to find a way to break the dangerous stalemate and agree on implementing tangible confidence-building measures to avoid the risk of more bloodshed and polarisation in the country;deleted

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Supports all steps leading to political dialogue, which is essential to move the transition in Egypt forward; expresses its deep concern about recent crises ~~and~~, including the street battles between the army and Muslim Brotherhood supporters, terrorism and violent clashes in the Sinai and the extremist violence against Coptic Christian communities; calls on all political leaders in the country to find a way to break the dangerous stalemate and agree on implementing tangible confidence-building measures to avoid the risk of more bloodshed and polarisation in the country; urges the Egyptian authorities to advance the work on an inclusive constitution with equal rights for all;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Welcomes the efforts by the European Union and the VP/HR to find a way out of the crisis in Egypt; recalls however that in its report, the Court of Auditors described aid to Egypt as support that is ‘well intentioned but ineffectiveʼ, calls therefore for coordination and transparency so that the fundamental values championed by the European Union are upheld;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the various transitional processes, including popular uprisings, conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as trapped transitions in authoritarian countries, ~~have posed increasing challenges to~~vindicate daily more and more the EU’s policies in support of human rights and democracy in the world; whereas the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2012 demonstrates the need for the EU to continue to develop flexible policy responses; whereas the most fundamental policy choice for the EU concerns the resilience and political determination to stay true to the founding values of the European Union in challenging times under the pressure of other policy objectives and interests;

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Stresses that power in Egypt should be transferred to democratically-elected civilian authorities as soon as possible; continues to be concerned about the political polarisation in the country; about the situation regarding security- aggravating economic difficulties and the respect for human rights, including religious freedom; points out once again the urgent need for a constructive and inclusive political dialogue in order to set up a clear roadmap for transition to a real and sustainable democracy; expresses its fundamental solidarity with all those who cherish democratic aspirations and values for their country, and calls for a rapid return to the democratic process, including the holding of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections in a fully inclusive process

Amendment 211 #

Willy MEYER, Norbert NEUSER, Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Vicente Miguel GARCÉS RAMÓN, Nicole KIIL-NIELSEN, Raül ROMEVA i RUEDA, Marco SCURRIA, Nikola VULJANIĆ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)

41b. Calls for an immediate end to all acts of violence, sexual assault and other forms of degrading treatment against female protesters and women's rights activists; for serious and impartial investigations into all such cases and for full accountability for those responsible;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Recalls its resolutions of 25 November 2010 on the situation in Western Sahara and its previous Annual Report 2010 and 2011; condemns the on- going repression of Sahrawi people in the occupied territories and expresses its concern at the deterioration of human rights situation, as reported by, among others, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; calls for the fundamental rights of the people of Western Sahara, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate, to be respected; demands the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners; demands the opening of the territory to independent observers, NGOs, and the media; reiterates its support for the establishment of an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara; supports a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict, on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42a. Recalls its previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara; expresses its concern at the deterioration of human rights in Western Sahara, as reported by, among others, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; calls for the fundamental rights of the people of Western Sahara, including freedom of association, freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate, to be respected; demands the release of all Sahrawi political prisoners; demands the opening of the territory to independent observers, NGOs, and the media; reiterates its support for the establishment of an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara; supports a fair and lasting settlement of the conflict, on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; applauds however the European Unionʼs efforts to bring aid to refugees and displaced peoples; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes;

Amendment 215 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country and minorities in particular, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes; condemns the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of ~~state~~ abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; reiterates its strong endorsement of the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a referral by the UNSC of the situation in Syria to the ICC for a formal investigation; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes;

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the situation facing Christians in Syria, in which their safety, health and lives are endangered; condemns the massacres and kidnappings of Christians in Syria, including the unexplained disappearances of the most senior representatives of church hierarchy; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about the ~~crisis in Syria; strongly deplore~~further aggravating violent crisis in Syria and condemns in the strongest terms the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, ~~and~~including the use of chemical weapons that cannot be justified under any circumstances; abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on- going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; ~~believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes~~stresses again that humanitarian assistance to those in need of basic goods and services in Syria and its neighbours must be an immediate priority for the international community and the European Union; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes; welcomes the recent resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations and the Secretary General's proposal for a new peace conference to be held in November 2013 in Geneva;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the various transitional processes, including mass popular ~~uprising~~mobilisations, conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as trapped transitions in authoritarian countries, have posed increasing challenges to the EU’s policies in support of human rights and democracy in the world; whereas the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2012 demonstrates the need for the EU to continue to develop flexible policy responses; whereas the most fundamental policy choice for the EU concerns the resilience and political determination to stay true to the founding values of the European Union in challenging times under the pressure of other policy objectives and interests;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Remains deeply concerned about ~~the~~continuous crisis in Syria; ~~strongly deplores the~~deplores in strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons and excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes;

Amendment 221 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)

42a. Condemns the constant harassment by Israel of the Palestinian people; calls on Israel to stop the abusive use of unlawful administrative detention of Palestinians, and to respect international law in relation to the conditions of detention of Palestinian prisoners, especially women and children, and draws attention to the need to put the EU-Israel Association Agreement on hold until this happens;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)

42b. Condemns the continuing occupation of Palestine by the State of Israel and the violation of international law and international humanitarian law; reiterates its call for an end to the settlements and the isolation of Gaza; stresses the urgent need to bring about a fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East with a view to achieving a two-State solution – an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security on the basis of the internationally recognised 1967 borders;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Considers accountability for past violations to be an integral element in the process of building sustainable reconciliation; calls for war criminals to be brought before the ICC; requests further collaboration from the Member States; welcomes the intention of the EEAS to develop a dedicated policy on transitional justice to help societies deal with past abuses and fight impunity; stresses the need to deal with transitional justice in a manner that is consistent with the EU's support for international criminal justice in general, and the ICC in particular; draws particular attention to the EU's experience in the Western Balkans as a source of inspiration;

Amendment 224 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Considers accountability for past violations to be an integral element in the process of building sustainable reconciliation and stresses the vital importance of a systematic participation of women in peace processes; welcomes the intention of the EEAS to develop a dedicated policy on transitional justice to help societies deal with past abuses and fight impunity and encourages a timely development of such a policy; stresses the need to deal with transitional justice in a manner that is consistent with the EU's support for international criminal justice in general, and the ICC in particular; draws particular attention to the EU's experience in the Western Balkans as a source of inspiration; calls on the EU to actively support the newly created mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur for the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence;

Amendment 225 #

Hans-Peter MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Emphasises that a key element of the EU approach to transitional justice should be support for institutional reform of the judiciary to enhance the functioning of the rule of law in line with international standards; stresses the need for ~~former~~ criminals whose crimes were committed some time ago to be prosecuted through national or international courts; emphasises the importance of public dialogue to confront the past and for proper victim consultation and compensation programmes, including reparations; considers that vetting the background of personnel working in the transitional institutions is a credibility test for transitional justice;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Notes the particular complexity of developing consistent policies for transitions in post-conflict contexts; emphasises, therefore, the need to enhance compliance with, and monitoring of, international human rights and humanitarian law norms in armed conflict situations and encourages the EEAS to support civil society organisations dedicated to promote respect for humanitarian law by armed state and non-state actors;

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Notes the particular complexity of developing consistent policies for transitions in post-conflict contexts; emphasises, therefore, the need to enhance compliance with, and monitoring of, international human rights and humanitarian law norms in armed conflict situations, with a special focus on women's rights and the best interest of the child;

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Condemns in the strongest terms serious human rights violations perpetrated in armed conflict situations in recent and on-going crises, such as Syria, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, and in particular summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, acts of torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, especially regarding the situation of women and children who are particularly vulnerable; calls on the EU to fight against impunity in all of these cases, and to support action by domestic judiciaries as well as the ICC to bring the perpetrators to justice; encourages the EU to integrate torture prevention mechanisms into all activities in EU external relations;

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Condemns in the strongest terms serious human rights violations perpetrated in armed conflict situations in recent and on-going crises, such as Egypt, Syria, Mali and the Central African Republic, and in particular summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, acts of torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions; calls on the EU to fight against impunity in all of these cases, and to support action by domestic judiciaries as well as the ICC to bring the perpetrators to justice;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the EU needs to effectively address internal human rights challenges, such as the situation of Roma, the treatment of migrants and refugees within the EU and at the EU's external borders, discrimination of LGBTI persons, detention conditions, media freedom and the accountability of secret services in Member States, in order to maintain credibility and consistency in internal and external policies;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Calls on the VP/HR and the EEAS to conduct a thorough policy review of the tragic events in Syria, Libya and Mali and other recent conflicts in order to revise the EU Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and to seek more effective implementation of those guidelines; calls on the EU to support the on-going initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Swiss government to reform the current international governance framework regarding IHL; supports the EU to engage towards a reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in order to be able to respond effectively to contemporary crises;

Amendment 231 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47a. Welcomes the launch from January 2014 the EU Aid Volunteers initiative that will create opportunity for more than 8.000 EU and non-EU citizens to be trained and deployed to humanitarian operations worldwide and another 10.000 people are expected to support the EU Aid Volunteers as 'online volunteers' with tasks that can be carried out from home on a computer;

Amendment 232 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47a. Calls on the EU to develop a common EU position on armed drones, addressing issues such as the legal framework, proportionality in the context of counter-terrorism actions, accountability, transparency and the protection of civilians and urges the EU to give utmost importance to the respect of human rights in the context of these considerations; calls on the EU to ensure that human rights are part of all dialogues with third countries on counter- terrorism;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Calls attention also to the trapped transitions in countries where reform movements and transitional processes have been stopped or put down by the ruling regime; calls on the EU to continue its efforts to persuade the ruling elites in these countries, as well as in other countries of concern still under authoritarian rule, to initiate a reform process to develop strong and stable democracies in which the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are upheld; takes the view that this persuasion must take place in all dialogues with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant fields of EU external policy, i.e. development, trade, etc.;

Amendment 234 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

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

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

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

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49

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

Amendment 237 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49

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

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)

49a. Condemns in absolute terms, the military use of drones and the practice of targeted killings, as a major violation of human rights and reiterates the need for a ceasing of such activities; acknowledges however that the number of such incidents in countries like Yemen and Pakistan has been reduced significantly;

Amendment 239 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)

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

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas justice, the rule of law, responsibility, transparency and accountability, the fight against impunity, fair trials and an independent judiciary are indispensable elements in the protection of human rights;

Amendment 240 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

Amendment 241 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Expresses its serious concerns about recent repressive laws and their arbitrary enforcement by the Russian authorities, often leading to the harassment of NGOs, civil society activists, human rights defenders and minorities; calls for the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other political prisoners; urges the Russian authorities to impartially investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths of Sergei Magnitsky, Natalia Estemirova, Anna Politkovskaya and Vasily Alexanian; regrets the Council's failure to consider the Parliament's recommendation of 23 October 2012 on the Magnitsky case, considers the recommendation an important tool to address human rights abuses in Russia and other countries, and urges the Council to implement the recommendation without delay;

Amendment 242 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)

54a. (new)Is of the opinion that the EU should follow the example of the United States in enacting the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 and adopt similar legislation at EU level, as an emblematic and operational framework establishing the link between corruption and breaches of human rights; calls, therefore, on the Council to adopt a decision establishing a common EU list of officials involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, in the subsequent judicial cover-up and in the on-going and sustained harassment of his family; adds that this Council Decision should impose targeted sanctions on those officials, such as an EU-wide visa ban and a freezing order on any financial assets that they or their immediate family may hold inside the European Union;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

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

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Expresses its serious concerns about the recent repressive laws and their arbitrary enforcement by the Russian authorities, ~~often leading to the~~and condemns the discriminatory laws against the LGBT community, which often lead to harassment of NGOs, civil society activists, human rights defenders and minorities;

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

Amendment 247 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)

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

Amendment 248 #

Timothy Charles Ayrton TANNOCK

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)

50a. Expresses its concern about increased repression of independent journalists and human rights activists in Cuba; calls attention to the situation of prisoners of conscience in Cuba who continue to be sentenced on trumped-up charges or held in pre-trial detention; calls on the EEAS and the EU High Representative Baroness Ashton to promote in the framework of the United Nations an international and independent enquiry committee with the target to investigate the circumstances in which the Cuban human right defenders and peaceful dissidents, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (Sakharov laureate 2002) and Harold Cepero died in July 2012;

Amendment 249 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Remains concerned by the suppression of political dissent in Cuba; calls on the EEAS and the VP/HR to promote, within a UN framework, an independent committee of inquiry to investigate the deaths of the Cuban human rights defenders and peaceful dissidents, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (EP Sakharov laureate 2002) and Harold Cepero, in July 2012;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Article 21 of the Lisbon Treaty further strengthened the EU’s commitment to act on the international scene guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Stresses the need for international monitoring of the human rights situation in China and calls on EU Member States to actively engage in establishing this monitoring in light of the failure of the EU- China dialogue on human rights to achieve significant and tangible results; furthermore remains concerned about the lack of progress in human rights in the country, in particular about the increasing restrictions targeting human rights defenders, lawyers, civil society activists, journalists and bloggers; however observes with great interest and supports the internal demand of the Chinese people of their basic freedoms and rights to which they are entitled to, signalling a gradually but firmly expanding independent civil society in spite of continuous repression, to be considered a positive development in the political and civil rights movement in China;

Amendment 252 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

Amendment 253 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

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

Amendment 254 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)

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

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)

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

Amendment 256 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52a. Recalls that the situation of human rights in Tibet is still worrying and despite the economic development in the region the distribution of welfare is not balanced which results in a high rate of youth unemployment; stresses the need for improvement of the education system with special regard to bilingual education in the region in order to preserve national identity and heritage and also to tackle the causes of youth unemployment;

Amendment 257 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Expresses grave concern regarding the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, the continued repression of reformists, the growing number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, the consistently high number of executions, including of minors, the widespread torture, the unfair trials and exorbitant sums demanded for bail, and the heavy restrictions on the freedom of information, expression, assembly, religion, education and movement;Deleted

Amendment 258 #

María MUÑIZ DE URQUIZA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. ~~Expresses grave concern regarding the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, the continued repression of reformists,~~Welcomes the release of several prisoners of conscience in Iran, including lawyer, human rights defender and Sakharov prize winner Nasrin Sotoudeh; calls on the Iranian authorities to release all those gwro~~wing number~~ngfully arrested ofn political ~~prisoners and prisoners of conscience, the consistently high number of executions, including of minors, the widespread t~~grounds, including the three opposition leaders held under house arrest with no charges for over two years: Mehdi Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mir Hossein Mousavi; allow the UN Special Rapporteur~~e, the unfair trials and exorbitant sums demanded for bail, and the heavy restri~~ on human rights in Iran to visit the country, work toward a moratorium on the death penalty, remove Internet censorship and allow free expression in Iran; notes with satisfaction~~s on~~ the fre~~edom of information, expression, assembly, religion, education and movement;~~sumption of diplomatic contacts between Iran and the international community and expects a noticeable improvement of the human rights situation in the country as a result.

Amendment 259 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Expresses grave concern regarding the ~~steadily deteriorating~~ human rights situation in Iran, the continued repression of reformists, the growing number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience and faith, the discrimination and persecution of the Baha'i community, the consistently high number of executions, including of minors, the widespread torture, the unfair trials and exorbitant sums demanded for bail, and the heavy restrictions on the freedom of information, expression, assembly, religion, education and movement;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Article 21 of the ~~Lisbon Treaty~~Treaty on European Union (TEU) further strengthened the EU’s commitment to act on the international scene guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Expresses grave concern regarding the ~~steadily deteriorating~~ human rights situation in Iran, the continued repression of reformists, the growing number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, the consistently high number of executions, including of minors, the widespread torture, the unfair trials and exorbitant sums demanded for bail, and the heavy restrictions on the freedom of information, expression, assembly, religion, education and movement;

Amendment 261 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)

52a. Notes that Colombia remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to be a trade union activist, and that human rights violations, including violations of the rights of students, farmers, women and children, continue to meet with almost total impunity; as a consequence, calls for the Multi-Party Trade Agreement signed between the EU and Peru and Colombia to be put on hold until Colombia respects human rights; strongly condemns the fact that the administrative security department (DAS), which is directly answerable to the President of the Republic, has undertaken systematic bugging and illegal actions with the aim of discrediting senior judges, opposition parliamentarians and human rights defenders; recalls that the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, people residing in Europe and NGOs have also been targeted; requests that these serious offences do not go unpunished; calls on the European Union to apply the recommendations concerning Colombia made in the report of the Committee against Torture;

Amendment 262 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b (new)

52b. Protests at the current situation of the Mapuche people, who are suffering real judicial terrorism on the part of the State, with laws such as the Chilean State Security Law and the Anti-Terrorism Law, which date from the time of the dictatorship; considers the strong degree of militarisation in the Mapuche territories, aimed at demobilising, de- politicising and punishing social movements that support the Mapuche cause, to be alarming; considers it worrying that the Chilean government's response to the legitimate demands of the Mapuche people for the restoration of their ancestral lands, respect, autonomy and self-determination is not dialogue and the search for a lasting peace but criminalisation and repression; calls for the rights and guarantees of the Mapuche people to be respected and the rights of indigenous peoples enshrined in ILO Convention 169 to be recognised;

Amendment 263 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and calls on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet;Deleted

Amendment 264 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), draws attention to the emergency resolution adopted by the European Parliament, and calls on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet;

Amendment 265 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and calls on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, the full respect of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet;

Amendment 266 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and calls on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet; notes that all the provocatory actions of the DPRK as well as the restrictive measures imposed on its citizens have led to widespread poverty and material deprivation;

Amendment 267 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53 a. Expresses deep concern at the lack of democratic transformation and the violations of human rights in the Republic of Cuba; urges the international community to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, a Cuban dissident, Spanish citizen and Sakharov Prize laureate, who died tragically on 22 July 2012;

Amendment 268 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Raises deep concerns with reference to Kashmir where any act of violence against civilians is to be strongly deplored; is aware that investigations into the issue of unidentified graves have been undertaken; urges nevertheless human rights protection mechanisms to be placed at the centre of any attempt to ensure responsibility and accountability for abuses against civilians;

Amendment 269 #

Daniël van der STOEP

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Expresses its serious concern about human rights violations in Islamic countries: these countries discriminate on a large scale against girls, women, homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals and people of different faiths. Calls on the VP/HR to raise with these countries the issue of their barbaric systems of law.

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the EU is bound to help countries with which it has signed international agreements, including trade agreements, to implement all these fundamental principles, and in particular by ensuring strict compliance with the human rights and democracy clauses in said agreements;

Amendment 270 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)

54a. Calls on the European Union to embark on a coordinated and inclusive strategy in the Sahel to improve security in the region on the one hand and to promote human rights on the other, so that human rights violations such as torture, the often arbitrary arrest of opponents and journalists, the suppression of peaceful demonstrations, acts of violence against women such as rape, forced marriage or genital mutilation, and ethnic or caste-based discrimination come to an end, thereby helping to establish the rule of law guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms;

Amendment 271 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)

54a. Calls on the EU to continue to actively support human rights defenders, including by the timely provision of temporary shelter to those at risk; calls on the EU to expand their policy in support of human rights defenders to whistle- blowers and investigative journalists, who may significantly contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights;

Amendment 272 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 b (new)

54b. (new) Calls on the Commission to draw up an action plan, with a view to creating a mechanism for listing and imposing similar targeted sanctions against officials of third countries (including police officers, prosecutors and judges) involved in grave human rights violations and judicial 'manipulations' against whistleblowers, journalists reporting on corruption and human rights activists in third countries; stresses that criteria of inclusion on the list should be built up on the basis of well-documented, converging and independent sources and convincing evidence, allowing for mechanisms of redress for those targeted;

Amendment 273 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55

55. Welcomes the EU’s continued support for electoral processes around the globe by deploying Election Observation Missions (EOMs) and Electoral Expert Missions (EEMs) and providing electoral assistance and support for domestic observers; stresses the importance of providing electoral assistance and observation together with the United Nations; considers that this assistance should never become a form of EU interference in the political affairs of third countries; notes that these missions have recently contributed to support for democratic development in the EU’s neighbourhood, and have witnessed the transfer of power to the opposition ~~(Senegal)~~ and the consolidation of democracy emerging from conflict ~~(Sierra Leone)~~;

Amendment 274 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. Welcomes the initiative of the ~~Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG)~~European Parliament to strengthen the follow-up to EOM recommendations by using them as part of the ‘road map for democracy’ in the country concerned, and to charge the Chief Observer with a special role to ensure follow-up and implementation of the recommendations with the support of Parliament's standing bodies;

Amendment 275 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56

56. WStresses the importance to follow up on reports and recommendations from the Election Observation Missions, welcomes the initiative of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) to strengthen the follow-up to EOM recommendations by using them as part of the ‘road map for democracy’ in the country concerned, and to charge the Chief Observer with a special role to ensure follow-up of the recommendations with the support of Parliament's standing bodies;

Amendment 276 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57

57. Emphasises the importance of enhancing the operational capacity of parliaments between elections; recalls, in this context, the EU pledge in the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to base development co-operation on ‘democratic ownership’, with a particular reference to the strengthened role of parliaments; urges the EU to work towards a rights based approach with the aim of integrating human rights principles into EU operational activities and to advocate human rights issues on the global development agenda, as committed in the Action Plan;

Amendment 277 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)

57a. Recalls the commitment of the VP/HR to focus in election observation on the participation of women and national minorities, as well as persons with disabilities both as candidates and voters;

Amendment 278 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 a (new)

58a. (new) Stresses that the EU must emphasise the importance of implementing the right to participation and the right to access information and mechanisms of public accountability such as open data as core principles of democracy in all platforms of dialogue with third countries, including in bilateral relations and at the highest level; stresses that freedom of the press and media, both online and offline are vital in this regard; suggests that the EU finance projects in third countries to support the enforcement of these principles, especially in countries going through democratisation processes, ensuring gender mainstreaming, making sure that such processes involve civil society, especially human rights defenders, trade unions, women and particularly vulnerable groups, and assisting in the formulation of laws for the effective protection of whistleblowers;

Amendment 279 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 a (new)

58a. Expresses its serious and continuous concerns regarding Internet censorship and the extent this phenomenon has taken in various countries; emphasises the important role of online media regarding the function and efficiency of civil society and human rights organizations, not only as an instrument of information but also of expression, especially in repressive regimes; calls upon the Commission and the EEAS to further mainstream digital freedom and recognize it as a human right.

Amendment 28 #

Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the Commission should also prepare an Annual Report to check if Human Rights as enshrined in the Copenhagen criteria, and the Treaties are fully respected in the EU.

Amendment 280 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59

59. Supports fully the affirmative position taken by the EU in the Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy regarding the promotion and protection of all human rights, as well as the pledge to ‘speak out against any attempt to undermine respect for universality of human rights’; reiterates its full support for the indivisibility and universality of human rights;

Amendment 281 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)

59a. States once more that climate change undermines the most basic human rights, causes displacement of people and thereby creates a new forced migration which has to be suitably addressed by the European Union; calls on the international community to identify and address the legal shortfalls that exist in respect of the protection of climate refugees, and to initiate a specific assistance and protection system;

Amendment 282 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Calls on the EU Member States to build upon the commitment they made in the EU Strategic Framework to ratify and implement the key international human rights treaties, by ratifying and implementing, in particular, the ten core UN human rights treaties and the optional protocols thereto, and to make the relevant declarations on ensuring the acceptance of all individual complaints and inquiry procedures; stresses the importance of these ratifications for the internal and external credibility of the EU's human rights policy; expresses its deep concern that the persistent failure of certain EU Member States to submit their periodic reports to the relevant UN human rights monitoring bodies in a timely manner also undermines the credibility of the EU's human rights policy towards third countries;

Amendment 283 #

Pino ARLACCHI, Ivo VAJGL, Nikola VULJANIĆ, Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)

62a. Calls on the EU to encourage third countries to fully cooperate with UN Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts on human rights, including through issuing standing invitations and receiving such experts;

Amendment 284 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)

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

Amendment 285 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

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

Amendment 286 #

Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

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

Amendment 287 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

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

Amendment 288 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)

65a. Calls on European Foreign Ministers to adopt Foreign Affairs Council conclusions affirming the strong support of the EU and its member states for the International Criminal Court, taking note of the EU's efforts to continuously review, update, and expand its instruments on the International Criminal Court, and expressing renewed commitment to work towards the universality of the Rome Statute in order to widen access to justice for victims of serious crimes under international law;

Amendment 289 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66

66. ~~Invites~~Calls on the EU and its Member States to emphasise the ratification and ~~acceptance~~implementation of the Statute and of the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court (APIC) in negotiations and political dialogues with third countries, regional organisations and other regional groups, and to include provisions concerning the ICC and international justice in EU agreements with third countries;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the uprisings in the Arab world prompted the European Union to acknowledge the failure of past policies and to commit to a ‘more for more’ approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’, including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary; underlines that the concept of 'deep democracy' should also fully integrate the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;

Amendment 290 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66

66. Invites the EU and its Member States to emphasise the ratification and acceptance of the Statute in negotiations and political dialogues with third countries, regional organisations and other regional groups, and to include provisions concerning the ICC and international justice in EU agreements with third countries; expresses concern at the formal downgrading of the ICC clause by its insertion in the annex of the recently negotiated PCA with Thailand;

Amendment 291 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)

66a. Encourages the EEAS to ensure all EU delegations and EU Special Representatives are fully informed of the EU's Council Decision and Action Plan on the ICC, and the EU's toolkit on complementarity and actively promote the ICC, the enforcement of its decisions, and the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes;

Amendment 292 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67

67. Calls on the EU delegations and EU Special Representatives, in particular the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, to actively promote the ICC, the enforcement of its decisions, and the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes;

Amendment 293 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67

67. Calls on the EU delegations and EU Special Representatives to actively promote the ICC, the enforcement of its decisions, and the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes in all political dialogues and meetings with third countries; ;

Amendment 294 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67

67. Calls on the EU delegations and EU Special Representatives to actively promote the ICC, the enforcement of its decisions, and the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes; suggests, furthermore, the strengthening of the financial support provided to the ICC;

Amendment 295 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)

67a. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Toolkit on Advancing Complementarity and calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to take additional steps for an effective implementation; encourages the EU to ensure that the support for the ICC is appropriately mainstreamed in all relevant areas of EU foreign policy;

Amendment 296 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68

68. Calls on the EU Member States to fully implement the Rome Statute by aligning national legislation with all Statute obligations and to comply with the ICC's requests for assistance and cooperation at all stages of the Court's proceedings, particularly with regard to (preliminary examination, investigation, arrest and surrender, protection of victims and witnesses, interim release, and the enforcement of sentences); regrets that the contributions to the Trust Fund for Victims remain insufficient and calls on EU Member States to ensure the resources necessary for it to fully fulfil its mandate;

Amendment 297 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)

68a. Expresses support for appropriately funded outreach and public information activities through the regular budget of the Court and underlines the importance of these activities in ensuring justice is visible;

Amendment 298 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)

68a. Calls on EU Member States to ratify the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute and to encourage its ratification by third countries;

Amendment 299 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)

68a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to increase their efforts to fight impunity within the EU's own borders, encourages them in this respect to take under consideration the recommendations by the European Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000 (A/Res/55/2 ) and the resolutions adopted by its General Assembly,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the uprisings in the Arab world prompted the European Union to acknowledge th~~e failure of past policies~~at the EU had been more concerned about stability than about democratisation and to commit to a ‘more for more’ approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’, including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary;

Amendment 300 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69

Amendment 301 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69

69. Reiterates its univocal opposition to capital punishment, and considers the global abolition of the death penalty as a central objective of the EU's policy on human rights; emphasises that the death penalty has never been proved to be an effective deterrent to crime; applauds the efforts of the European Union and its Member States in the United Nations that led to the adoption of the General Assembly resolution regarding the moratorium on the use of death penalty in December 2012; calls on the EU to continue to undertake targeted campaigns on the death penalty and to intensify engagement with retentionist countries; expects to be appropriately consulted in the course of the review of the Regulation 1236/2005 on trade in goods which can be used for capital punishment or torture, which was planned for 2013;

Amendment 302 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69

69. Reiterates its univocal opposition to capital punishment, and considers the implementation of a universal moratorium with a view to global abolition of the death penalty as a central objective of the EU’s policy on human rights; emphasises that the death penalty has never been proved to be an effective deterrent to crime and that, according to data available, it is the disadvantaged who are punished most by the death penalty; applauds the efforts of the European Union and its Member States in the United Nations that led to the adoption of the General Assembly resolution regarding the moratorium on the use of death penalty in December 2012; is however concerned by the resumption of executions in a number of countries, including Japan;

Amendment 303 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

69a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to increase efforts to fight impunity within the EU's own borders, including through heightened consideration of recommendations put forward by the European Network European Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Amendment 304 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

69a. Declares that the EU should take a more decisive stand and call on the institutions and the Member States to maintain and step up their commitment to this cause and their political will, in order to see the death penalty finally abolished worldwide;

Amendment 305 #

Kristiina OJULAND

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69 a (new)

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

Amendment 306 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70

70. Deplores the fact that Belarus remains the last country on the European continent to retain the death penalty; reiterates again that the executions of Dmitri Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalev are deeply regrettable; repeats its call on Belarus to implement a moratorium on the death penalty, which should ultimately lead to its abolishment;deleted

Amendment 307 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 20

Eradication of all forms of discrimination

Amendment 308 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

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

Amendment 309 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

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

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the ~~uprising~~mobilisations in the Arab world prompted the European Union to acknowledge the failure of past policies and to commit to a ‘more for more’ approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’, as well as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary;

Amendment 310 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

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

Amendment 311 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

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

Amendment 312 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72

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

Amendment 313 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72

72. Calls for the EU to pay particular attention to discrimination based on forms of social stratification, such as caste and analogous systems of inherited status, which have a seriously harmful and sometimes destructive impact on the prospects for equal enjoyment of human rights; considers that those countries where a caste system still exists should be urged to prohibit it and ensure that laws against the caste system are genuinely implemented;

Amendment 314 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 20 a (new)

Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (This subheading should be place between paragraph 72 and paragraph 73)

Amendment 315 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73

73. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, as encapsulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, is a fundamental human right, ~~encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, and the right to adopt, change and abandon a belief of one's choice~~interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, and the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, either in private or public, alone or in a community with others and the right to adopt, change and abandon a belief of one's choice; calls on the EU to promote the right of freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora and in bilateral relations with third countries;

Amendment 316 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73

73. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion ~~or belief~~, as encapsulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, is a fundamental human right, encompassing the right to believe or not to believe, and the right to adopt, change and abandon a belief of one's choice;

Amendment 317 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73

Amendment 318 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)

73a. Recalls that the right to conscientious objection to military service constitutes a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and urges the EEAS and Member States to call on countries with a system of compulsory military service to allow for an alternative service of a non- combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and not of a punitive nature, and to refrain from punishing, including through prison sentences, conscientious objectors for failure to perform military service;

Amendment 319 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the uprisings in the Arab world, motivated in part by economic and social factors, prompted the European Union to acknowledge the failure of past policies and to commit to a ‘more for more’ approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’, including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary;

Amendment 320 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74

74. Condemns in the strongest terms discrimination, intolerance, violence and killings on grounds of religion or belief, wherever and to whomever they occur; is ~~particularly concerned about the threat of increasing sectarianism along~~concerned about the fact that Christian minorities are in a weak position in many countries or regions where the powers- that-be or most of the population profess other faiths or atheism, and is particularly concerned about the increasing attempts to resolve differences within peoples divided along religious lines by resorting to violence and about the discrimination against, and persecution of, religious lminorities in countries such as Egypt and Syria as, where such actions constitute an impediment to long-lasting peace and reconciliation;

Amendment 321 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74

74. Condemns in the strongest terms discrimination, intolerance, violence and killings on grounds of religion or belief, wherever and to whomever they occur; is particularly concerned about the threat of increasing sectarianism along religious lines in countries such as Egypt and Syria as an impediment to long-lasting peace and reconciliation; furthermore, is concerned about increasing government and social hostility in many Islamic countries, Central Asia and the deplorable situation in North Korea, countries which continue to deny minority religious or belief groups the freedom to worship or publicly express their religion or belief; social hostility and attacks against religious or belief groups, which have resulted in many deaths and injuries, are on the increase; and impunity and the lack of protection for minority religious or belief communities remains a concern;

Amendment 322 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74

Amendment 323 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. Supports the idea of considering the intensification of efforts to improve the respect for the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the world as one of the priorities of the initiatives on human rights in the EU's external action;

Amendment 324 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. Opposes any legislation that penalises individuals for changing their religion or belief; expresses deep concern that as a result of such legislation individuals in certain countries face imprisonment or even the death penalty; is also concerned that those who have left or changed their religion are subjected to social hostility such as violence and intimidation; opposes laws that penalise expressions deemed blasphemous, defamatory, or insulting to religion or religious symbols, figures, or feelings; states that these laws do not comply with accepted international human rights standards; condemns Blasphemy law provisions in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia which allow imprisonment and the death penalty;

Amendment 325 #

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Margrete AUKEN, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)

74a. Welcomes recent EIDHR calls for proposals prioritising and supporting civil society actions combating discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; encourages the EU to support inclusive efforts of intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at various levels, involving community leaders, women, youth and ethnic minority representatives, and with the aim to promote peace building and societal cohesion calls on the EU and EU member states to develop grant schemes for the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief in countries where this right is most at risk;

Amendment 326 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 b (new)

74b. Invites the European External Action Service to remain vigilant in particular with regard to unacceptable phenomena such as forced conversions, the criminalisation of cases of so-called apostasy, as well as with regard to the instrumentalisation of blasphemy laws for persecutory purposes towards religious minorities;

Amendment 327 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 b (new)

74b. Welcomes the EU's commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora including the UN, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe (CoE) and other regional mechanisms; encourages the EU to continue tabling its yearly resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and supporting the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Amendment 328 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 c (new)

74c. Calls attention on fundamental aspects related to the right in question, such as the need to strengthen the collective dimension of freedom of religion, to the purpose of fully integrating its social and institutional dimension, as well as the full right of parents to educate their children in accordance with their religious convictions, as foreseen by international law;

Amendment 329 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 c (new)

74c. Welcomes recent EIDHR calls for proposals prioritising and supporting civil society actions combating discrimination on the basis of religion or belief; encourages the EU to support inclusive efforts of intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at various levels, involving community leaders, women, youth and ethnic minority representatives, and with the aim to promote peace building and societal cohesion calls on the EU and EU member states to develop small grant schemes for the protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief in countries where this right is most at risk;

Amendment 33 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ, Hannu TAKKULA, Pat the Cope GALLAGHER, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the uprisings in the Arab world prompted the European Union to acknowledge the failure of past policies and to commit to a ‘'more for more’' approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘'adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’', including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary;

Amendment 330 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Expresses its full support for the UN's work on ensuring the rights and empowerment of women; encourages the EU to undertake a targeted campaign on political and economic participation of women and to support initiatives against gender based violence and feminicide; supports the implementation of the Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development; calls on the EU delegations to introduce specific measures on the role of external assistance and development co-operation in their local strategies for the implementation of the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them;

Amendment 331 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

75. Expresses its full support for the UN’s work on ensuring the rights and empowerment of women; supports the implementation of the Plan of Action on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development; calls on the EU delegations to introduce specific measures on the role of external assistance and development co-operation in their local strategies for the implementation of the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them; considers that violence towards women is also expressed psychologically by the presence of a relationship of domination in society and by the dissemination of degrading images of women; highlights that the role of the Commission and the Member States in this area, both within and outside the EU, cannot be limited to combating violence towards women in all forms, whether physical, psychological, social or financial, and that priority must be given to non-gender based education for girls and boys and from the youngest possible age, in the battle against gender stereotypes;

Amendment 332 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75

Amendment 333 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Expresses its serious concerns regarding the issue of rape; condemns the extended use of rape as a weapon of war, especially in the Great Lakes region; deplores the tremendously high degree of impunity towards rape in countries like India and Pakistan;

Amendment 334 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)

75a. Expresses alarm concerning the situation of women who flee forced marriages, the excision of their daughters, threatened honour killings, human trafficking or other forms of violence, and not having managed to obtain the right to asylum on EU territory are living with the threat of expulsion; calls on the Union and its Member States to grant a residence permit to all women who are victims of violence;

Amendment 335 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 b (new)

75b. Calls upon the EU to further protect reproductive rights and stresses the need to place these policies in the centre of development cooperation with third countries; strongly condemns the disgraceful practice of female genital mutilation in certain parts of Africa, honour killings, gender based abortion and forced marriage; reminds the important conclusions reached in the Cairo conference(ICPD);

Amendment 336 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 c (new)

75c. Supports the "Education First" initiative of the UN Secretary General, as access to education increases protection against threats to girls' future: early marriage and pregnancy, HIV protection, poverty, domestic and sexual violence and also reduces child and maternal mortality;

Amendment 337 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)

76a. Calls on the EU to prioritise the fight against trafficking in human beings; stresses the need to consider both internal and external aspects when addressing human trafficking, encourages the EU Member States to implement the EU Directive (2011/36/EU ) and Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016;

Amendment 338 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. Calls for a targeted campaign on the rights of the child with a specific focus on violence against children; calls on the universal ratification of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child; looks forward to efficient implementation of the integrated EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016, which identified child labour as a root cause of trafficking in human beings; emphasises the fact that children and adolescents should participate only in work that does not affect their health and personal development;

Amendment 339 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. Calls for a targeted campaign on the rights of the child with a specific focus on violence against children, on the enlistment of children in armed groups, or even forced labour as occurs in gold mines; looks forward to efficient implementation of the integrated EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016, which identified child labour as a root cause of trafficking in human beings;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the EU Council, in June 2012, adopted a Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, committing the EU institutions to the attainment of several tangible and evaluable policy objectives; whereas the EU Council, in July 2012, created the position and named the first thematic EU Special Representative for Human Rights; whereas the procedure to adopt a new Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, due to take effect in January 2015 when the current action plan expires, needs to start in the spring of 2014;

Amendment 340 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. Calls for a targeted campaign on the rights of the child with a specific focus on violence against children; looks forward to efficient implementation of the integrated EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016, which identified child labour as a root cause of trafficking in human beings;

Amendment 341 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77

77. Calls for a targeted campaign on the rights of the child with a specific focus on violence against children and on ending child marriage; looks forward to efficient implementation of the integrated EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016, which identified child labour as a root cause of trafficking in human beings;

Amendment 342 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77 a (new)

77a. Strongly opposes the issue of child soldiers; requests that the Commission and the EEAS elaborate on how to proceed with their disarmament; stresses the importance of their rehabilitation and reintegration, in the general context of placing children's rights at the heart of EU external policy;

Amendment 343 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77 b (new)

77b. Calls upon the EU to pay attention to the growing issue of child witchcraft allegations in various countries, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, which leads to devastating consequences for the accused children; stresses the need for a systematic and collective investigation of the problem, which is characterized by a lack of concrete data, both on specific incidents as well as on the reasons which lead to these types of child abuse; requests placing the issue on the agenda of the human rights dialogues held with concerned countries;

Amendment 344 #

Motion for a resolution
New subheading after paragraph 78

European Parliament

Amendment 345 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)

78a. Recalls its earlier recommendations to improve its own procedures in relation to human rights issues and step up its efforts to mainstream human rights effectively into its own structures and processes; regrets that no improvements have been made with regards to the plenary debates and resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and their follow-up; welcomes the efforts to improve cooperation on human rights issues with the national parliaments of the Member States;

Amendment 346 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79

79. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service, to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the candidate countries, to the EUSR on human rights, to the United Nations and the Council of Europe, and to the governments of the countries and territories referred to in this resolution.

Amendment 347 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79

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

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the European Parliament, in its resolutions on the previous Annual Report and on the review of the EU human rights strategy (both of which were adopted in December 2012), stressed the need for a reform of its own practices to mainstream human rights in its activities and follow up its urgent resolutions condemning breaches of democracy, human rights and the rule of law;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the European Parliament Eurobarometer survey of public opinion, carried out in the 27 EU Member States in November and December 2012, shows again that the protection of human rights remains the most important value in the eyes of Europeans; whereas credible implementation of stated EU and UN commitments to support human rights and democracy in its external policies is crucial to maintain the overall credibility of EU foreign policy;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

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

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

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

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

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

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues adopted by the Council on 13 December 2001 and reviewed on 19 January 2009,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be coherent and consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations, ensuring coherence between internal and external policies and avoiding double standards in external policies;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to ~~be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligat~~avoid double standards in external policies; stresses that for this to happen the European Union's internal and external policies must be coherent; deplores the fact that the European Union’s ~~and avoiding double standards in external policie~~human rights policy is restricted, and even contradicted, by diplomatic, political or economic considerations, creating double standards which damage all EU policies in this field and are in total contradiction to a universal vision of human rights;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries~~, including its strategic partners~~; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers the defence of human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with ~~all third countries~~the rest of the world, including its strategic partners; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;

Amendment 46 #

Hans-Peter MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses once again the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination without any outside interference in the political, economic and social life of third countries; warns the EU and its Member States once more against any exploitation of the human rights issue, which would undermine its very credibility;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

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

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the VP/HR, EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to pursue these commitments and mainstream human rights and democracy in the EU’s relations with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant EU external policy instruments and safeguarding the human rights clause in agreements with third countries;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- whereas EP resolution adopted on 8 October 2013, on corruption in the public and private sectors: the impact on HR in third countries

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the VP/HR, EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to pursue these commitments and mainstream human rights and democracy in all the EU’s relations with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant EU external policy instruments;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that companies which come under national or EU law do not disregard human rights and the social, health and environmental standards they are subject to when moving to or carrying out their activities in a third country;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the crucial role played by civil society in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights; calls on the VP/HR to ensure close cooperation and partnership with civil society; considers also that the EU should throw its full weight behind all advocates of liberty, democracy, and human rights throughout the world, including human rights defenders as key players for the consolidation of democratic principles in their country and for the protection of human rights, often at the risk of their own lives;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the crucial role played by civil society in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights and improve the protection of civilians caught in the middle of armed conflicts; calls on the VP/HR to ensure close cooperation with civil society; considers also that the EU should throw its full weight behind all advocates of liberty, democracy, transparency and human rights throughout the world;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the crucial role played by civil society in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights; calls on the VP/HR to ensure close cooperation with civil society; considers also that the EU should throw its full weight behind all advocates of ~~liberty~~human rights, democracy, and ~~human rights~~liberty throughout the world;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises the crucial role played by civil society, particularly human rights defenders, in the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights; calls on the VP/HR to ensure close cooperation with civil society; considers also that the EU should throw its full weight behind all advocates of liberty, democracy, and human rights throughout the world;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recognises that the current economic and financial crisis is having a severe social impact on communities within and outside the European Union, notes that the various austerity plans adopted by the EU and other international institutions, such as the IMF, have led to an erosion in civil liberties and social and democratic rights, and a significant deterioration in living conditions, particularly among the weakest and most vulnerable groups;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

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

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls its determination to be closely associated with and consulted on the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework on Human Rights and Democracy;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. (new) Calls furthermore on the EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on human rights, reflecting the EU institutions' and all 28 Member States' responsibility to exercise a firm, coherent and uniform approach to human rights abuses worldwide, in a transparent and accountable manner;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 11 May 2011 on the state of play in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

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

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recognises that EU institutions and all Member States have to exercise a firm and coherent approach to human rights abuses worldwide; considers that when faced with cases of persistent human rights violations the EU should speak up with one voice and ensure its message is heard; calls on the EU Foreign Affairs Council to hold an annual public debate on human rights;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2012; ~~commends the VP/HR for her presentation of the~~expects a continuous commitment from the VP/HR, with regular reports to the E~~uropean Parliament's plenary session in June 2013; calls for this practice to continue and~~P; calls for active and constructive discussions among EU institutions in preparing future reports;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2012; commends the VP/HR for her presentation of the report to the European Parliament’s plenary session in June 2013; calls for this practice to continue and for active and constructive discussions among EU institutions in preparing future reports that will raise the profile of the EU's activities in this field;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Acknowledges the efforts made to list the various EU actions in the field of human rights and democracy support in the country reports, which provide a wealth of information about the work of the EU institutions around the world; regrets, nevertheless, that the country reports still seem to lack a systematic, clear and coherent framework that would allow for more rigorous analysis on the impact and efficiency of EU action; notes to this extend the lack of attention drawn by the report to the current unrest in Indian Administered Kashmir and against the backdrop of reported systematic human rights abuses against Kashmiris;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Acknowledges the efforts made to list the various EU actions in the field of human rights and democracy support in the country reports, which provide a wealth of information about the work of the EU institutions around the world; regrets, nevertheless, that the country reports still seem to lack a systematic, clear and coherent framework that would allow for more rigorous analysis on the impact and efficiency of EU action; asks therefore for regular follow ups on the reports, which will establish a roadmap with clear benchmarks and an evaluation;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Acknowledges the efforts made to list the various EU actions in the field of human rights and democracy support in the country reports, which provide a wealth of information about the work of the EU institutions around the world; regrets, nevertheless, that the country reports still seem to lack a systematic, clear and coherent ~~framework~~arrangement that would allow for more rigorous analysis on the impact and efficiency of EU action;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Reiterates its view that the country reports should ~~contain~~be further strengthened and should reflect the implementation of the human rights country strategies, and thus refer to specific benchmarks based on a set of indicators to assess both positive and negative trends, evaluate the efficiency of EU actions and provide grounds for adapting the levels of EU support according to progress on human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the effort to include activities by the European Parliament in the Annual Report and strongly encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to ~~specify~~report which EU action has been taken to follow up on Parliament’s resolutions;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the effort to include activities by the European Parliament in the Annual Report, calls for use to be made of Parliament’s achievements and potential, including the numerous studies and analyses carried out by Parliament, and strongly encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to specify which EU action has been taken to follow up on Parliament’s resolutions;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the European Parliament recommendation to the Council of 13 June 2013 on the draft EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief (2013/2082(INI)),

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

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

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the effort to include activities by the European Parliament in the Annual Report and strongly encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to specify which EU action has been taken to follow up on Parliament’s resolutions; calls for a constant flow of information and cooperation between the EP and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, particularly in emergency situations;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates its appreciation of the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy as an important milestone in integrating and mainstreaming human rights across all EU external policies; underlines the need for a general consensus and enhanced coordination of the EU's human rights policy between the EU institutions and the Member States; calls on the EEAS to step up its efforts to increase the sense of ownership of this Action Plan among Member States; calls for the inclusion of a section on the implementation of the Action Plan by Member States in the Annual Report;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the vital importance of efficient and credible implementation of the stated commitments, both in the Strategic Framework and in the Action Plan; points out that credibility requires adequate resourcing of dedicated human rights policies, commonly agreed 'minimum items' and consistent mainstreaming at a high political level, such as at ministerial and summit meetings with third countries;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the vital importance of efficient and credible implementation of the stated commitments, both in the Strategic Framework and in the Action Plan; points out that credibility requires adequate resourcing of dedicated human rights policies and consistent mainstreaming at a high political level, such as at ministerial and summit meetings with third countries, including with strategic partners;

Amendment 75 #

Willy MEYER, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Regrets that economic, social and cultural rights remain largely neglected by the EU's human rights policy in contrast with the EU's stated commitment to the indivisibility and interdependence of rights, and calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts in this direction, including in the field of labour and social rights;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Reiterates its condemnation of the practices of extraordinary rendition, secret prisons and torture, in which USA and some EU Member States were involved, which are prohibited under domestic and international human rights law and which breach inter alia the rights to liberty, security, humane treatment, freedom from torture, presumption of innocence, fair trial, legal counsel and equal protection under the law; regrets that up to the moment no responsibility have been depurated neither in the US non at the EU level; demands the immediate closure of the centre of detention and torture of Guantanamo;

Amendment 77 #

Willy MEYER, Marie-Christine VERGIAT

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Considers that the climate of impunity regarding the CIA programme has enabled the continuation of fundamental rights violations in the counterterrorism policies of the EU and the US as further revealed by the mass spying activities of the US National Security Agency surveillance programme, and surveillance bodies in various Member States currently being investigated by Parliament; demands the immediate suspension of negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first EU Special Representative (SR) for Human Rights; encourages the EU SR to enhance the visibility, mainstreaming, coherence, consistency and effectiveness of EU human rights policy and to strike the right balance between silent and public diplomacy in carrying out his mandate; repeats its recommendation that the EU SR provide Parliament with a regular report on his activities and follow up on concerns raised by the Members;

Amendment 79 #

Peter van DALEN, Marian HARKIN, László TŐKÉS, Margrete AUKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first EU Special Representative (SR) for Human Rights; encourages the EU SR to enhance the visibility, mainstreaming, coherence and effectiveness of EU human rights policy and to strike the right balance between silent and public diplomacy in carrying out his mandate; repeats its recommendation that the EU SR provide Parliament with a regular report on his activities; while acknowledging the magnitude of his tasks and the versatility of the current mandate- holder, requests that the EU SR also provide Parliament with a clarification of his thematic and geographic priorities and objectives for the remainder of his mandate;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the European Union's Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief,

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Welcomes the fact that the EU Special Representative for Human Rights indicated, at the joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the EP held on 3 September 2012, that his priorities included protecting religious minorities and acknowledging corporate social responsibility for human rights throughout the world;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Commends the EU SR on the openness of the dialogue conducted with the European Parliament and civil society, thus establishing an important practice that should be continued and consolidated to ensure due transparency and accountability; ~~welcomes, furthermore, the attention given by the EU SR to a number of countries of concern, including Russia, Egypt and Bahrain;~~

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Commends the EU SR on the openness of the dialogue conducted with the European Parliament and civil society, thus establishing an important practice that should be continued and consolidated to ensure due transparency and accountability; welcomes, furthermore, the attention given by the EU SR to a number of countries of concern~~, including Russia, Egypt and Bahrain~~;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Commends the EU SR on the openness of the dialogue conducted with the European Parliament and civil society, thus establishing an important practice that should be continued and consolidated to ensure due transparency and accountability; welcomes, furthermore, the attention given by the EU SR to a number of countries of concern, including Russia, Egypt and Bahrain; welcomes the EU SR's cooperation with regional bodies and in multilateral fora and encourages the EU SR to further expand such activities;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Commends the EU SR on the openness of the dialogue conducted with the European Parliament and civil society, thus establishing an important practice that should be continued and consolidated to ensure due transparency and accountability; welcomes, furthermore, the attention given by the EU SR to a number of countries of concern, including Russia, Egypt, China, Ethiopia and Bahrain;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion ~~and~~or Belief, and on LGBTI rights; reminds the EEAS, however, to respect good inter- institutional practice and engage in a timely manner with the proper political bodies within the European Parliament; recalls the EP Recommendation to the Council on the Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief in which the EP has proposed an ambitious set of instruments providing suggestions for the practical implementation of the Guidelines in order to achieve remarkable progress in the protection and promotion of this fundamental and universal freedom; commends the practice adopted by the EEAS and the Council of reviewing and revising older guidelines; encourages the EEAS to adopt a more rigorous review process involving the thorough consultation of stakeholders in order to adapt to changing circumstances;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion and Belief, and on LGBTI rights; reminds the EEAS, however, to respect good inter- institutional practice and engage in a timely manner and with the proper political bodies within the European Parliament when developing any new strategic tools such as guidelines or when reviewing existing ones; commends the practice adopted by the EEAS and the Council of reviewing and revising older guidelines; encourages the EEAS to adopt a more rigorous review process involving the thorough consultation of stakeholders in order to adapt to changing circumstances;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to its recommendation to the Council of 13 June 2013 on the draft EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of ~~Religion and Belief~~Thought, Conscience or Religion, and on LGBTI rights; reminds the EEAS, however, to respect good inter- institutional practice and engage in a timely manner with the proper political bodies within the European Parliament; commends the practice adopted by the EEAS and the Council of reviewing and revising older guidelines; encourages the EEAS to adopt a more rigorous review process involving the thorough consultation of stakeholders in order to adapt to changing circumstances;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Urges the EEAS and the Council to pay particular attention to the issue of proper implementation plans for the guidelines; recommends further training and awareness-raising among EEAS and EU delegation staff, as well as among Member State diplomats; expresses its particular concern regarding the inadequate implementation of the guidelines on international humanitarian law and the guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; requests that the EEAS and Member States take urgent corrective measures to fully comply with their commitments under both sets of guidelines;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Urges the EEAS and the Council to pay particular attention to the issue of proper implementation plans for the guidelines; recommends further training and awareness-raising among EEAS and EU delegation staff, as well as among Member State diplomats; expresses its particular concern regarding the implementation of the guidelines on international humanitarian law, the guidelines on the rights of the child and the guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Deplores the fact that most Member States have failed to meet their commitment under the Action Plan to support the UN Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture and the Special Fund of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture; calls on Member States to contribute in an adequate manner to these Funds and calls on the EEAS, the Commission and the Council to take effective action to support National Preventive Mechanisms in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

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

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes the continued difficulties in achieving concrete progress in several of the EU human rights dialogues and consultations; encourages the EU to seek new ways of making the dialogues with countries of concern more meaningful; underlines the need to pursue determined, ambitious, and transparent human rights policy in these dialogues; calls on the EU to ensure that human rights dialogues and consultations are ambitious and accompanied by clear public benchmarks based on which their success can be objectively measured; calls therefore on the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue is not constructive and, in such cases, to put more emphasis on political dialogue, démarches and public diplomacy; warns furthermore against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes the continued difficulties in achieving concrete progress in several of the EU human rights dialogues and consultations; calls on the EU to ensure that human rights dialogues and consultations are ambitious and accompanied by clear public benchmarks based on which their success can be objectively measured; encourages the EU to seek new ways of making the dialogues with countries of concern more meaningful; underlines the need to pursue determined, ambitious, and transparent human rights policy in these dialogues; calls therefore on the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue is not constructive and, in such cases, to put more emphasis on political dialogue, démarches and public diplomacy; warns furthermore against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues;

Amendment 98 #

Maria Eleni KOPPA, Ana GOMES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes the continued difficulties in achieving concrete progress in several of the EU human rights dialogues and consultations; encourages the EU to seek new ways of making the dialogues with countries of concern more meaningful; underlines the need to pursue determined, ambitious, and transparent human rights policy in these dialogues; calls therefore on the EU to draw clear political conclusions when the human rights dialogue is not constructive and, in such cases, and in cases of persistent human rights violations, to put more emphasis on political dialogue, démarches and public diplomacy and ensure that its message is heard both by abusive governments and their people; warns furthermore against diverting human rights discussions away from high-level political dialogues;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Reminds the fact that corruption in public and private sectors perpetuates and aggravates inequalities and discrimination when it comes to equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic or social and cultural rights and underlines that it is proven that acts of corruption and human rights violations involve the misuse of power, lack of accountability and various forms of discrimination; requests the highest level of accountability and transparency of external aid and public budgets when it comes to EU budget and external aid.

source: PE-516.772

2013/10/16 DEVE 6 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Leonidas DONSKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to conduct extensive impact assessments of EU development cooperation projects, including the impact on the situation of human rights, in order to ensure that EU development efforts do not contribute to further marginalisation of discriminated groups and that the EU funds are distributed fairly among different regions within a country depending on their needs and level of development;

Amendment 2 #

Keith TAYLOR, Judith SARGENTINI, Eva JOLY, Bart STAES, Isabella LÖVIN, Catherine GRÈZE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the EU to uphold the indivisibility of human rights, which includes the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in conformity with art. 21 of the Lisbon Treaty; General Provisions on the Union's External Action;

Amendment 3 #

Keith TAYLOR, Judith SARGENTINI, Eva JOLY, Bart STAES, Isabella LÖVIN, Catherine GRÈZE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Is of the view that national parliaments and civil society organisations play an important role in implementing effectively human rights provisions and stresses that favourable conditions are necessary for their participation in decision making in order to reinforce genuine ownership of development strategy policy choice;

Amendment 4 #

Filip KACZMAREK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the EU to give high priority to respect for human rights, women’s rights and gender equality, children’s rights, good governance and democracy, the rule of the law, social, economic and environmental sustainability, the right to a decent standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, in particular sexual and reproductive health ~~and rights~~, and social services, in the post-2015 development agenda;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Is strongly convinced that the legitimacy of the EU as a promoter of human rights and democracy must be strengthened and go from words to practise, and that recent tragedies, such as that of Lampedusa which left more than 300 dead as well as by the systematic discrimination of Roma, could undermine EU's role in human rights issues;

Amendment 6 #