2016/2231(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 27 October 2016 on nuclear security and non-proliferation,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

C f. whereas both the EU and Mongolia expressed their will to strengthen respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)

C g. whereas the development of the relations of the EU towards Mongolia are still within the responsibility of the EU delegation in Beijing; whereas currently Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom have established their own embassies in Ulaanbaatar;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises Mongolia’s ~~peculiar~~strategic geographical position between China, Russia and the countries of Central Asia and North-East Asia countries, with their great potential for global economy ~~and at the same time with their risks of political instability,~~, acknowledges its regionally rather exceptional established democratic credentials, and the constructive role it plays by assisting and facilitating peaceful solutions to the conflicts and confrontation in the region and by promoting regional economic integration;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises Mongolia’s peculiar geographical position and political and economic significance between China, Russia and the countries of Central Asia and North-East Asia countries, with their great potential for global economy and at the same time with their risks of political instability, its regionally rather exceptional established democratic credentials, and the constructive role it plays by assisting and facilitating peaceful solutions to the conflicts and confrontation in the region and by promoting regional economic integration;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises Mongolia’s spec~~uliar~~ific geographical position between China, Russia and the countries of Central Asia and North-East Asia countries, with their great potential for global economy and at the same time with their risks of political instability, its regionally rather exceptional established democratic credentials, and the constructive role it plays by assisting and facilitating peaceful solutions to the conflicts and confrontation in the region and by promoting regional economic integration;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that the democratic transformation which commenced in the 1990s is continuing consistently; acknowledges the tangible progress made in terms of socio-economic reforms; takes note, nevertheless, of the challenges that exist in the areas of sustainable development and economy, income distribution, finance, good governance, fighting corruption, social security and environmental protection and political polarisation and are compounded by an increasingly testing international environment;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the deepening and expanding nature of the EU-Mongolia relationship, as manifested in the Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and taking in areas including political dialogue and human rights, trade and development assistance, as well as cooperation in the fields of agriculture and rural development, energy, climate change, research and innovation and education and culture, which are of great importance for economic diversification and resolving the current economic problems, as well as for the long-term transformation of an originally nomadic society;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the establishment of a Joint Committee, ~~to be responsible under~~provided in Article 56 of the agreement for implementation of the PCA, and encourages it to report regularly to both the European Parliament and the Mongolian Parliament;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Urges the three Member States which have not yet done so to speedily finalise their national ratification processes in order to allow the long overdue conclusion and entry into force of the PCA;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Takes note of the standard clauses enabling both Parties to suspend the Agreement, or its parts, should a violation of essential elements defined in Articles 1(1) and 3, occur;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 a (new)

- having regard to the UN Committee against Torture concluding observations on the second periodic report of Mongolia adopted in August 2016,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises the need to further enhance the parliamentary dimension of EU- Mongolia relations; regrets the absence from the PCA text of articles that would establish a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) under the PCA to undertake democratic scrutiny of the implementation of the agreement; therefore encourages negotiations on a new protocol to remedy the situation to take place as soon as s possible, as urged previously by the Mongolian and European Parliaments in the Joint Statement of the 10th IPM; nevertheless points out that cooperation can be expanded, subject to Article 57 of the PCA on future cooperation, and encourages that this Article be used for this purpose;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is concerned at the fact that diplomatic relations with Mongolia are currently still being run from the EU Delegation to China; calls, accordingly, on the Council and the VP/HR to agree on transforming of the EUUrges the Council and the VP/HR to transform the European Union Liaison Office in Ulaanbaatar into a EUuropean Union Delegation, as a measure that is of the utmost importance with a view to facilitating political dialogue, boosting capacity to implement and oversee EU assistance projects, and promoting trade in goods and services, as well as exchanges of people as well as cultural exchanges, to the benefit of both parties;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is concerned at the fact that diplomatic relations with Mongolia are currently still being run from the EU Delegation to China; calls, accordingly, on the Council and the VP/HR to agree on transforming of the EU Liaison Office in Ulaanbaatar into a EU Delegation, as a measure that is of the utmost importance with a view to facilitating political dialogue and cooperation on human rights and democracy, boosting capacity to implement and oversee EU assistance projects, and promoting trade in goods and services, as well as exchanges of people as well as cultural exchanges, to the benefit of both parties;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is concerned atby the fact that diplomatic relations with Mongolia are currently still being run from the EU Delegation to China; calls, accordingly, on the Council and the VP/HR to ~~agree on~~ transform~~ing of~~ the EU Liaison Office in Ulaanbaatar into a fully- fledged EU Delegation, as a measure that is of the utmost importance with a view to facilitating political dialogue, boosting capacity to implement and oversee EU assistance projects, and promoting trade in goods and services, as well as exchanges of people a~~s well as~~nd cultural exchanges, to the benefit of both parties;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Prais~~Notes Mongolia ’s effor its ~~sustained commitment to the~~to consolidat~~ion of~~e democratic progress and the rule of law, including multi-party elections, more independent media, and a vibrant civil society;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Praises Mongolia for its sustained commitment to the consolidation of democratic progress and the rule of law, including multi-party elections, more independent media, and a vibrant civil society; welcomes, in this respect, the participation of Mongolia in the Community of Democracies;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Underlines that freedom of media and freedom of expression are essential in further consolidation of democracy, rule of law and human rights; urges the Mongolian authorities to refrain from penalizing and restricting government critical offline and online media;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Encourages the Mongolia Authorities to continuously ensure freedom of speech, freedom of expression and digital freedom among its people;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Is ~~of the opinion~~convinced that the democratic transformation of Mongolia could become a positive reference for other countries of the region in which complex transformation processes are taking place, and that Mongolia could in this sense constructively contribute to the stability and common wellbeing of the region; calls on the EU to take that into account when programming regional cooperation with esp. the countries of the Central Asia region, as well as the wider region;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Mongolia can serve as a democratic model, for the region’s other emerging democracies but also for the more authoritarian-leaning regimes;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Is of the opinion that the democratic transformation of Mongolia could ~~becom~~produce a positive ~~reference for other countries of~~spillover effect in the region in which complex transformation processes are taking place, and that Mongolia could in this sense constructively contribute to the stability and common wellbeing of the region;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. Encourages Mongolia to address the outstanding challenges of respect for independence of judiciary;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10 b. Welcomes recently started legislative efforts to strengthen the legal basis of the fight against the pervasive corruption, which includes the real and big risk of undermining the social cohesion of the country as well as the efforts to address human rights and social conflicts; encourages Mongolia to adopt substantial reforms and implement them in a timely manner; refers in this context to its own experience that People convicted of corruption must be consistently held responsible; recommends the country to strengthen the cooperation with EU, OSCE and UN on dealing with corruption; is convinced that the active involvement in realizing international recommendations on CSR in the economic productive sector and in public and administrative life of Mongolia could play a positive and substantive role in these undertakings;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Acknowledg~~Praises that the~~re is~~ general respect for electoral rules ~~in the country~~was proved by the recent elections; calls on the Mongolian authorities to address the recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR, following the parliamentary elections of 29 June 2016, including stabilising the electoral legislation, restrictions on campaigning, media independence, and impartiality and comprehensiveness of information available to voters;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Remains concerned about the situation of trafficking in human beings and urges Mongolia to fully implement the 2012 anti-trafficking law and the national plans on combatting trafficking and on protecting victims;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Expresses interest in sending an observation mission of the European Parliament to the presidential elections scheduled for mid-2017;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. Takes note of Mongolia’s progress in improving its legal framework in line with international human rights obligations, institutional reform, including its Independent National Human Rights Commission, and efforts aimed at capacity-building and human rights awareness-raising, and the continued commitment to address remaining challenges related to the protection and promotion of universal human rights standards, such as those highlighted at the 2015 second UN Universal Peer Review (UN-UPR), including preventing and investigating all allegations of torture, protecting women’s and children’s rights, as well as prisoners ‘rights;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11 c. Believes that the respect of freedom of the press and freedom of expression should be key elements of the ongoing consolidation of the democratic development in Mongolia; encourages Mongolia therefore to address issues related to reports of politically motivated interference in media work and cases of intimidation against journalists; encourages the Mongolian Parliament to codify such fundamental rights explicitly and to implement them under a strong scrutiny;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Is pleased~~Underlines the need to implement a comprehensive agenda addressing human rights dimension in Mongolia; Acknowledges that an agreement has been reached in principle to launch a regular EU-Mongolia Human Rights Dialogue;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Is pleased that an agreement between the EU and Mongolia has been reached in principle to launch at the beginning of 2017 a regular EU-Mongolia Human Rights Dialogue;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas EU and Mongolia have a lot of converging positions regarding most major international challenges and Mongolia plays a constructive role in international relations and especially in multilateral organizations;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Is pleased that an agreement has been reached in principle and that preparatory work is underway to launch a regular EU- Mongolia Human Rights Dialogue;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Welcomes that after having ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights the Mongolian parliament adopted in December 2015 a revised Criminal Code, which, among other important legal reforms such as the prohibition of torture, abolishes the death penalty for all crimes; takes note that the newly elected Parliament has postponed the implementation of the revised Criminal Code and encourages the Mongolian authorities to implement this important reform without further delays;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Welcomes the Parliament's adoption in December 2015 of a new Criminal Code that fully abolishes the death penalty;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Starting from the recommendations of the second UN-Universal Periodic Review of Mongolia and the recent structural reform of the Mongolian authorities calls on Mongolia to follow up on its commitment to establish an independent mechanism to investigate existing allegations of torture and ill- treatment committed by law enforcement officials;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Is worried by ongoing discrimination and harassment committed against LGBTI community, human rights defenders and journalists;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12 c. Expresses concern over numerous reports on cases of arrests without a legal warrant, torture and impunity inside Mongolian jails; joins the UNHRC call for effective measures to guarantee that all detained persons are afforded in practice all the fundamental legal safeguards in accordance with international standards; calls on the Mongolian authorities to ensure that all reports of torture and ill-treatment by public officials, including the police, are investigated promptly, effectively and impartially by an independent mechanism;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12 c. Recommends Mongolia in accordance with the already ratified Convention on the Rights of the Child to legally ban corporal punishment not only in educational establishment but entirely, and to address with specific and targeted measures the non-declining rates of violence against children, economic exploitation of children, and incidents causing death or severe injuries involving children; calls on all respective EU institutions for assistance with the issue;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d

12 d. Commends the project supported by the EU in support of LGBTI rights in Mongolia;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)

12 e. Welcomes that Mongolia ratified all fundamental ILO Conventions and underlines the expectation that especially the Freedom of Association and the right to Collective Bargaining in all areas, including public sector, are fully guaranteed and protected;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)

12 f. Recommends to strengthen the situation in the area of Safety and Health by implementing the ILO Convention C176 as well as the other ILO Safety and Health Conventions not yet ratified;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas the PCA is testimony to the growing importance of EU - Mongolia relations based on shared principles such as equality, mutual benefit, democracy, the rule of law and human rights;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)

12 g. Expresses deep concern over reports over the situation of workers from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Mongolia, effectively amounting to forced labour and reminds the Mongolian Government that by ratifying the ILO Convention C029 it has an imperative obligation to suppress the use of forced labour in all its forms within the shortest possible period;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 h (new)

12 h. Supports Mongolia’s continued and honest efforts to progressively eradicate all forms of child labour, and to guarantee rights of the child;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)

12 i. Welcomes Mongolia’s legal framework to realise the equal rights of women and men adopted in 2011; and the progressive elimination of discrimination against women;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 j (new)

12 j. Recognises the country’s commitments and legal framework to suppress trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Highlights that Mongolia's rapid exploitation of natural resources is amplifying threats to the environment causing land degradation, water and air pollution as well as loss of biodiversity; invites the Mongolian government to intensify efforts for the diversification of its economy with the purpose of achieving inclusive growth;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recognises that deepened regional economic integration will open up opportunities for Mongolia in terms of a more prosperous future and economic success, and that Mongolia is simultaneously looking for economic alliances and partners that would allow it to fully exploit its cooperation potential ~~without at the same time undermining national political and economic interests~~, the long-standing commitment to multidirectional diplomacy, traditional identity and lifestyle or the democratic foundations of Mongolian society;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Recognises that deepened regional economic integration will open up opportunities for Mongolia in terms of a more prosperous future and economic success~~, and~~; takes note of the fact that Mongolia is simultaneously looking for economic alliances and partners that would allow it to fully exploit its cooperation potential without at the same time undermining national political and economic interests, the long-standing commitment to multidirectional diplomacy, traditional identity and lifestyle or the democratic foundations of Mongolian society;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Deplores~~Is concerned, nevertheless, ~~the fact~~ that in some areas poverty is becoming entrenched and that the reported economic boom of 2010-2012 did not sufficiently contribute to poverty reduction in the country;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Deplores~~Is concerned, nevertheless, the fact that in some areas poverty is becoming entrenched and that the reported economic boom of 2010-2012 did not sufficiently contribute to poverty reduction in the country;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages Mongolia in its efforts to achieve sustained economic growth; expresses its concern at the sharp slowdown of GDP growth, which in 2011 stood at record levels (17.3 %) but was only 2.3 % in 2015, with the 2016 figure forecast to be 1.3 %; is concerned that the current economic crisis and the means chosen - mainly spending cuts - to tackle the budget deficit, which has risen to 20 % of GDP, may have a negative impact on poverty alleviation;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas the EU ranks as the third largest, but rather distant, trading partner of Mongolia, after China (90% of trade) and Russia; whereas Mongolia is the EU’s 131st trade partner, accounting for less than 0.1 % of the EU’s trade with the world;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Encourages Mongolia in its efforts to achieve sustained economic growth; expresses its concern at the sharp slowdown of GDP growth, which in 2011 stood at record levels (17.3 %) but was only 2.3 % in 2015, with the 2016 figure forecast to be 1.3 %; is concerned that the current economic crisis ~~and the means chosen - mainly spending cuts - to tackle~~that is negatively effecting the budget deficit, which has risen to 20 % of GDP, may have a negative impact on poverty alleviation;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Points out that in 2014 Extractive Industries in Mongolia accounted for 17% of the GDP and 89% of the total export of the country; welcomes, in this respect, the active participation of Mongolia in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative aimed at making this sector more accountable and transparent;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16 b. Underlines that the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine is the single largest mining project, which from 2020 should account for a third of Mongolia’s GDP and that Tavan Tolgoi is the world’s largest undeveloped coal mine; welcomes the public debates held on the environmental impact of mining and the public participation in resources management at local levels;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Emphasises importance of a continuous administrative reform focussing mainly on building up a highly professional administration at national as well as local level; encourages the EU institutions to help Mongolia developing the needed resources and expertise, within the interest to equip the country in a better way to face the challenges of the complex economic and societal transformation processes and to increase the absorption capacity of EU funds in the country; is concerned that the current economic pressure, resulting in austerity measures, including salary cuts for state employees, can undermine professionalism, independence and sustainability of the administration;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Urges the EU to provide the Mongolian authorities with a comprehensive technical assistance for the adoption of stringent norms on the exploitation of natural resources and an effective legislation on the environmental impact assessment; stresses the importance that the EU companies operating in Mongolia adopt a conduct based on high ethical standards and corporate responsibility;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Is of the opinion that investing into future technologies and digitalisation could help bridging the development gap between different regions in Mongolia and diversifying the economy; encourages the EU and Member States to intensify the cooperation in the area of digitalisation and new technologies;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17 b. Highlights that the massive urbanisation process that led 15% of the population to move from the rural areas to the cities over the last 15 years abandoning the traditional nomadism created serious problems like poverty and marginalisation that are not yet solved; calls on the EU to assist and support the local authorities in the development of a credible network of social protection and a reliable social security system aimed at assisting the most disadvantaged and vulnerable parts of the society and facilitating their integration in the new environment;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17 b. Acknowledges the significant challenges in combating drugs trafficking; and recommends the EU to assist with strengthening public institutions and resources to address these issues;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

C c. whereas EU relations with Mongolia are mainly focussed on development cooperation projects aiming to enable the country to steer the ongoing rapid transformation towards a social inclusive and economic sustainable development of the society;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)

17 c. Draws the attention to the need to improve the use and conservation of natural resources with regard, in particular, to the competing interests in some parts of the country on water between the nomadic population and the mining industries and the importance of preserving biodiversity;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)

17 c. Expresses support to further exchanges of students within the Erasmus + programme, of researchers in the Marie Curie Sklodowska programme; and to people-to-people contacts, as well as to sharing of experiences of civil society sector;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)

17 d. Welcomes Mongolia’s timely deposition of ratification instrument on 21 September 2016 of the Paris agreement on climate change; is concerned that the combination of effects of climate change, an extensive growth of livestock farming, a dramatic increase in migration from the countryside to the capital as well as a massive use of resources on water and soil for the official and unofficial mining of cupper, coal and other raw materials has led to a drastic deterioration in the environmental situation of Mongolia, an increasing risk of water conflicts with their neighbours and a crescent occurrence of climatic phenomena as the so-called ‘dzud’, characterised by cycles of long droughts and harsh winters and resulting in a massive loss of livestock, wildlife and biodiversity in general; calls on the EU to assist with preventive and other measures and urges in this context close coordination of environmental policies between the EU and Mongolia; calls on the Mongolian authorities and Parliament as well as all EU Member States to cooperate and to contribute to a substantial strengthening of the international climate regime within the efforts of the Marrakesh COP22 undertakings;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)

17 e. Welcomes Mongolia’s ratification of and compliance with all the GSP+ relevant conventions on environmental protection and climate change; however, urges Mongolia to comply with its reporting obligations under the UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate Change (CITES, Basel and Stockholm Conventions) and enforce the environmental legal framework of the country which remains till now inefficient;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Encourages the EU and Mongolia to intensify their trade and investment relations, including promotion by means of information and awareness-raising, in line with the legal provisions of the PCA; underlines that such an intensification should be in line with and fully respect the obligations resulting from the international conventions on labour standards, good governance, human rights as well as on environmental standards;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Takes note of the decline in foreign direct investment (FDI), related mostly to the legal, environmental, and political issues related to the mining sector that dominates the economy, which remains a key divisive factor~~, as well as to China’s economic slowdown and to low performance in other sectors~~;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Takes note of the decline in foreign direct investment (FDI), ~~related mostly to the legal, environmental, and political issues related~~ to the mining sector that dominates the economy, which remains a key divisive factor, as well as to China’s economic slowdown and to low performance in other sectors;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Urges Mongolia, with the help of foreign investment and a more transparent legal environment, to diversify its economy in order to help ~~it withstand further shocks and~~ avoiding vulnerability to volatile mineral markets; welcomes, in this context, the new legislation on FDI;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Recognises the challenges posed by the current economic crisis; takes note of the short- but even more long-time harsh consequences resulting from possible austerity measures for the implementation of Mongolia’s Sustainable Development Vision 2030 putted recently in place and focussing on a sustainable economic, social, and “green” development;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Calls for more extensive opportunities for cultural and academic exchanges with Mongolia, through EU programmes such as Erasmus Plus; calls on the EU to include research and innovation into its fields of cooperation with Mongolia;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

C d. whereas several EU Member States are cooperating with Mongolia in particular areas of bilateral relations developing specific structures and financial instruments for this purpose;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)

25 b. Raises concern over the government's ability to repay borrowers, due to the current currency devaluation and dwindling foreign currency reserves; urges the EU as well as the EIB to support Mongolia by additional grants and by that to avoid a deeper economic and social crisis with any risk of further aggravating the current crisis with possible dramatic effects for the Mongolian people, understands the request of the government to check any chance for an IMF bailout or for support from another potential partner;

Amendment 81 #

Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Encourages the further integration of Mongolia in the global and regional economy~~, by means of connecting its Prairie Road project with China’s Silk Road/’One Belt One Road’ initiative, and Russia’s Trans-Eurasian Belt Development~~ in accordance with the strategic interests and priorities of the country; asks the EU to consider participation in infrastructural and investment programmes in the region, should conditions be conducive;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Encourages the further integration of Mongolia in the global and regional economy, by means of connecting its Prairie Road project with China’s Silk Road/’One Belt One Road’ initiative, and Russia’s Trans-Eurasian Belt Development; asks the EU to consider participation in infrastructural and investment programmes in the region~~, should conditions be conducive~~;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Encourages Mongolia to develop, to the benefit of its own citizens, the exploitation of its natural resources, in particular rare minerals, as they hold ever-increasing value in the digital industry; points out to the supporting role the EU could play in granting technological and financial aid towards such independent mineral extraction;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Recognises the pivotal role Mongolia can play ~~as a bridge between the huge and very~~between the dynamic economies of China, Russia, South Korea and Japan and the Central Asian countries, and at the same time as an intermediary between Europe and the East Asian region;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Takes note of Mongolia’s friendly~~, although~~ and also economically competitive, relations with the other countries in the region;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. ~~Notes that Mongolia is seriously evaluating the impact of~~Is concerned, however, that potential membership of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) ~~for the modernisation and diversification process of its economy; is concerned, however, that such a move~~ might hinder further political and trade relations with the EU, as well as damaging Mongolia’s extensive trade with China, as long as the nature of relations between the EU and the EEU remains to be determined;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Notes that Mongolia is seriously evaluating the impact of potential membership of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) ~~for the modernisation and diversification process of its economy;~~ is concerned, ~~however,~~ that such a move might hinder further political and trade relations with the EU~~, as well as damaging Mongolia’s extensive trade with China, as long as the nature of relations between the EU and the EEU remains to be determined~~;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Congratulates Mongolia to its successful role in chairing the ASEM and ASEP meetings 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, the solidification of the parliamentary dimension, and strengthening the partnership between the two regions based on universally acknowledged principles of equality, mutual respect as well as promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, welcomes Mongolia’s proposal to set up an ASEM Center including a virtual/online facility;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

C e. whereas Mongolia is interested in further developing the relations with the EU and expanding the existing cooperation beyond the development cooperation; whereas the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement formally opens up the possibility for both sides to develop new fields of cooperation in areas such as business, trade, development, agriculture, environment, energy, modernization of the state, but also education, culture and tourism;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31 a. Welcomes the fact that Mongolia declared itself a nuclear weapons-free zone, as officially recognized by the UN; welcomes, in particular, the constructive and active role it plays in multilateral fora in promoting cooperation towards global nuclear disarmament, as well as its signing up to the Humanitarian pledge1; 1http://www.icanw.org/pledge/

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Notes Mongolia’s contribution to UN peacekeeping around the world, and its provision of training facilities for such missions while seeking in parallel increasingly a strengthening of the political and diplomatic opportunities and responsibility of the UN to prevent and solve conflicts;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)

32 b. Welcomes Mongolia’s close alignment with the EU in its negotiating and voting positions in the United Nations and other multilateral fora; in this context underlines importance of Article 8 of the PCA on cooperation international cooperation;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)

32 c. Recognises Mongolia’s role in promotion of respect for human rights as a new member of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 2016-2018, and calls on close EU cooperation with Mongolia in preparation and implementation of UNHRC’s work;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)

32 d. Welcomes Mongolia’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encourages Mongolia to ratify the Kampala Amendments that provided a definition and a procedure for jurisdiction of the Court over the crime of aggression timely;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 e (new)

32 e. Commends Mongolia’s efforts to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights in countries close to Mongolia’s neighbourhood aspiring to democratic change; calls on the EU also to involve Mongolia and seek synergies on an ad hoc basis in regional programmes within Central Asia focussing on such developments;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 f (new)

32 f. Praises Mongolia’s role in bringing together academics from both Koreas, China and Russia, as well as for hosting reunions of families split by the division of the Korean peninsula;

Amendment 97 #