2017/2083(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the increasing importance of political, security and economic relations between the EU and Africa at a time when both are experiencing profound changes, and recognises the contribution made by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy to building a stronger partnership over the past 10 years; given the pivotal role of African developments for the EU and its strategic interests, expects the upcoming EU-Africa summit to provide fresh impulses and new ideas to adapt the Strategy to a fast- changing environment;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, including the Northern African members of the African Union in the spirit of “Africa as one”, human rights-centered and based on shared values and interests, and a specific financial framework in order to tackle global issues such as climate change, persisting starvation, poverty and inequality, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation, unemployment, terrorism, organised crime and migrat~~ory flows~~ion, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong UN;

Amendment 11 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on shared values and interests, in order to tackle global issues such as climate change, food insecurity, access to water, population growth, youth unemployment, urbanization of large cities, the fight against impunity, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong UN;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on shared values and interests, in order to tackle global issues such as climate change, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule- based global order based on a strong UN; highlights the need for greater African ownership on programs and goals;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on shared values and interests, in order to tackle global issues such as climate change, terrorism, radicalisation, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule- based global order based on a strong UN;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the EU to lend maximum political and technical support to regional integration initiatives in Africa, not least to overcome the dangers of protectionism and attempts at building new barriers in trade, mobility or security cooperation; opines that regional integration projects, such as those in Southern, West or East Africa, must be supported in a way that complements and strengthens pan- African integration processes in the framework of the African Union; contends that the EU should also pursue strategic bilateral ties with pivotal African states, such as South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia, as leaders and enablers of the respective integration projects; furthermore, as regards northern Africa, underscores the need to revive the Union for the Mediterranean as a vehicle for the pursuit of shared security and prosperity in the region, including in managing migration flows;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Welcomes the spirit behind the EU- Africa summits to strengthen EU-Africa cooperation based on an equal partnership with shared responsibilities; salutes in this light the active involvement and engagement of African States with the EU in recent international fora, such as the negotiations for the Paris agreement at the COP-21;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Suggests to re-name the upcoming EU-Africa Summit “EU-African Union Summit”;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Underlines the importance of the upcoming 5th EU-Africa Summit as a crucial moment to reshape and deepen the Africa-EU partnership: welcomes the special focus of the Summit on youth as the demographic dynamics of both continents put the topic at the heart of the relations between Africa and the European Union; welcomes the proposal of the Commission to launch an African Youth Facility expanding the scope of Erasmus+ through 3 initiatives: “a Youth empowerment” programme, a pilot on a Vocational Education and Training mobility project and the reinforcement of the African chapter of the Erasmus+ Students and Alumni Association;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Recognizes the importance of demographic dynamics in Africa in the 21st century as a result of which by 2050 Africa’s population will be 2.4 billion of predominantly young people; points out that according to projections, sub- Saharan Africa will need to create 18 million new jobs each year up to 2035 to absorb new labour market entrants thus avoiding serious consequences for the stability of societies; insists the creation of sustainable jobs, especially for young people, should be one of the priorities of EU actions in Africa; welcomes the proposal to extend support for Vocational Education and Training and Entrepreneurship by launching an EU Vet Facility to help target countries’ national stakeholders to fill the gap between the needs and opportunities of the labour market and the qualifications of graduates while at the same time promoting inclusion of vulnerable groups;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Recognizes the importance of youth as a driving force for the continent’s future; acknowledges that while education in most African countries has increased significantly in the last years, many young people, especially girls, still do not complete primary education and more than 48 million youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are illiterate; calls for a strengthened support of quality education at all levels through improved bilateral programmes and the continued support of global initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education; stresses the importance of promoting mobility partnerships, tackling the phenomenon of brain drain and supporting programs such as Erasmus+ and of harmonization of higher education through cross-border programmes and the recognition of qualifications;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the increasing importance of political, security and economic relations between the EU and Africa at a time when both are experiencing profound changes, and recognises the contribution made by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy to building a stronger partnership over the past 10 years; emphasizes the need to build on these achievements and work towards the construction of an equal, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with Africa, in a spirit of shared ownership and responsibility;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education; calls for continued EU support to the increasingly pro-active approach of the African Union and of the respective regional organisations to the full operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture; calls for an EU initial contribution to the AU Peace fund to activities under the window "mediation and diplomacy";

Amendment 21 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women ~~and the support of education~~, who are and should, increasingly, be the force of economic progress in the region, the support of education by investing more in schools and universities, and research;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners and regional organizations in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by promoting good governance and the rule of law and helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education; points out that state capture, characterized by oligarchic control and extractive practices by parts of the state bureaucracies, lies at the root of many of Africa’s socio-economic problems and political conflicts, and should be addressed as such by the EU;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for ~~continued~~much stronger EU support to African partners in the area of peace ~~and~~- building, security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations , Europeand the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of educationroop and police contributions to UN missions, the EU's measures in the field of implementing UNSCR 1325, the African Peace Facility and security sector reforms, in particular with regards to good governance in the sector, parliamentary oversight and accountability, boosting activities in the field of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of former combatants in line with the 2006 concept;

Amendment 24 #

Javier COUSO PERMUY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reformdevelopment; is opposed to any funding of militia or armies through EU funds; rejects the wars and warmongering operations embarked upon or supported by the EU, some of its Member States or NATO in recent years, which have only served to destabilise the countries concerned even more; believes that the partnership with Africa has to be based strictly on development goals, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education; and health;

Amendment 25 #

Javier NART, Hilde VAUTMANS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education; stresses that addressing with more determination the governance challenges in Africa is of paramount importance for building fairer, more stable and secure societies and should consequently be given high priority in the new EU-Africa Strategy;

Amendment 26 #

Eugen FREUND, Boris ZALA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, by supporting our African partners in securing the energy supply through environment-friendly and sustainable resources, with simultaneously supporting off-grid solutions, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility enabling the necessary assistance and aid for the global fight against jihadist terrorism, fostering peace and security to the affected populations; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Highlights the important role, among others in combating piracy, fostering capacity building, strengthening maritime security and border assistance, that past and current CSDP missions like EUBAM in Libya, EUTM in Mali, EUCAP SAHEL in Mali and Niger, EUTM in the Central African Republic, EU NAVFOR Atalanta in the Horn of Africa or EUTM and EUCAP in Somalia have played in Africa based on the EU’s civilian and military instruments; calls on the EEAS and the Council to ensure that CSDP missions in Africa can continue to operate effectively;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the increasing importance ~~of political, security and economic relations between the EU and Africa at a time when both are experiencing profound changes, and recognises~~, at a time when both the EU and Africa are experiencing profound changes, of once more basing political, security and economic relations between them on the goals of peace, mutual development, independence and sovereignty of African countries and respect for human rights, emphasising especially the rights of refugees and migrants, and regrets that the contribution made by the Joint Africa- EU Strategy ~~to building a stronger partnership over the past 10 years~~over the past 10 years has more often favoured the neo-colonial interests of certain Member States or multinational corporations at the expense of the people;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls for an assessment to be made of how funds are allocated under the new EU-Africa partnership so that they genuinely serve the goals of peace, economic and social development and building up public infrastructure, notably for education and health; stresses that allocation of these funds shall be fully transparent and that they shall not under any circumstances be allocated to governments and countries where violation of human rights occurs on a regular basis;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building for food security, notably small scale farming, climate change adaptation, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes the view that enhanced joint efforts are needed to address adequately the issues of conflict and insecurity in Africa, with due regard to the specific problems of fragile states; points out, furthermore, to the necessity of integrating in a more coherent way security concerns and development aims;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Calls for increased EU support to Africa in the area of debt reduction and debt sustainability and underlines the need for international legislation and the setting up of debt auditing commissions on cases of ‘odious’ debt; calls for Member states to effectively implement the UN Guiding Principles on Debt and Human Rights, the UNCTAD Principles on Promoting Responsible Lending and Borrowing by making them legally binding;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Underscores the need for fully democratic political elections and transitions, rule of law, anti-corruption measures and free media; takes the view that these elements are vital for ensuring a stable and inclusive political, social and economic environment in Africa;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Calls on the EU European companies invested in Africa to live up to their corporate social responsibilities and to respect European standards concerning consumer, labour and environmental rights and to uphold the rights of the indigenous population and calls the EU and the AU member states to actively participate in the UN negotiations for an international binding Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Deems an effective EU-Africa partnership essential for addressing the common challenges of fighting terrorism, extremism and radicalization; stresses the terrible effects on local populations of groups like Daesh or Boko Haram, as well as the danger they represent for economic development; calls therefore for intensified cooperation with the African partners in the field of security and for more efforts in terms of education and rehabilitation programmes;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on ~~security~~development must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for a more strategic, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimensioninternational law, equality of both parties, the sovereignty of countries, freedom of the people and promoting human rights and the rule of law;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on security must be totally consistent with the EU's fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for a more strategic, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimension; calls for the modernisation and reform of the existing EU-ACP institutional structures, in order to have a more efficient framework; encourages stepping up EU support to own African human rights instruments, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on security must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy and promoting human rights and the rule of law; further believes that these objectives should be pursued, to the maximum extent possible, in synergy with other external economic and political players in Africa, including China; believes that EU and China should become partners, rather than competitors, in promoting peace, stability, rule of law and inclusive economic growth in Africa; furthermore, calls for a more strategic, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimension;

Amendment 4 #

Alojz PETERLE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the increasing importance of political, security and economic relations between the EU and Africa at a time when both are experiencing profound changes, and recognises the contribution made by the Joint Africa-EU Strategy to building a stronger partnership over the past 10 years; calls for increased cooperation between the EU and African countries facilitated by inter-parliamentary dialogue; encourages African partners to continue to make inter-parliamentary cooperation at bilateral, regional and international levels a political priority;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on security must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for strengthening EU support to democracy, promotion of human rights and rule of law in Africa; calls for a more strategic, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimension;

Amendment 41 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on security must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy, good governance, and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for a more strategic, pragmatic, respectful, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimension;

Amendment 42 #

Pier Antonio PANZERI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Underlines the importance of the political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, as well as the inclusion of respect of Human Rights, democratic principles and the rule of law as essential elements of the Agreements under Article 9 and the “appropriate measures clause” under Article 96; notes however that human rights dialogues under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement are still exclusively organised on an ad hoc, responsive and reactive basis with limited preparation ex ante and uncertain follow up; calls, therefore, on the European Commission, in the framework of the negotiations for the post-Cotonou agreement, to adopt a more structured and strategic approach to human rights dialogues by establishing interparliamentary permanent committees, on the example of those included under EU’s association agreements, with a mandate of monitoring the implementation of the essential element clauses in order to move beyond an emergency approach and engage in a more comprehensive and systematic dialogue;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that with regard to the new EU-Africa Strategy, the activities of EU companies operating in African countries shall be entirely consistent with international human rights standards; calls, therefore, on the Member States to ensure that companies which come under their national law do not disregard human rights or the social, health and environmental standards which apply to them when moving to, or doing business in, a third country; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the requisite action against EU companies which do not comply with those standards or which do not properly compensate victims of human rights violations falling directly or indirectly under their responsibility; stresses the importance of more work being done within the context of the United Nations on devising legal instruments on multinational companies that do not respect human rights;

Amendment 44 #

Tokia SAÏFI, Maurice PONGA, Lorenzo CESA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Deplores the destructive effects of transnational organised crime, terrorism and radicalisation in Africa, which pose a threat to long-term development, security and stability and undermine the central state authorities and institutions, stability and the development of a flourishing private sector; recalls that trade in illegal arms and drugs is often a primary source of income for radical and terror organizations in the region; highlights thus the need for an intensified long-term cooperation in the security field, as well as the need to increase investments in education and rehabilitation programmes;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that the European neighbourhood policy (ENP) review provides opportunities for coordination of neighbourhood policy and policy on other African states to be improved through the creation of extended cooperation frameworks; urges, therefore, that these thematic frameworks be set up to offer greater cooperation between the European Union, the southern neighbourhood partner countries and third countries in Africa on regional issues such as security, energy, and even migration;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Welcomes the focus on youth of the next EU-Africa Summit to be held in Abidjan in November 2017, as it is essential to jointly work towards building a better future for youth in Africa; points out to the need to prioritise more generally job creation and economic development across societies and to harness the role of private sector on the African continent;

Amendment 47 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. As a well-functioning democracy enhances stability and is a powerful tool against terrorism, the European Parliament offers to work more intensively with African Parliaments in building stronger Parliaments and Parliamentarians in taking up their role in the checks and balances between the executive and parliamentary bodies;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Highlights the importance of recognising the contribution of migration to development and cooperation and calls for the establishment of safe and legal channels for migration as well as initiatives to render the transfer of remittances easier and less costly;

Amendment 49 #

Urmas PAET, Marietje SCHAAKE, Hilde VAUTMANS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4. Notes that the EU needs to support infrastructure development in ICT in Africa to boost trade and economy in the region and grant people access to health, education and job opportunities;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Takes the view that migration now occurs on both a world-wide and regional scale, with 80 % of south-south migration flows taking place between countries with shared borders and very little difference in income; considers that routes for migration are extremely complex, with people moving not only from one continent to another but frequently within the same continent, and that this is the case in Africa where 85 % of migration takes place within the African continent; considers that despite the worldwide economic crisis, and according to the UN, international migration flows are not rising, with almost 244 million people considered to be international migrants; takes the view therefore that the new EU- Africa Strategy needs to take these facts into account and bring about a genuine partnership on mobility incorporating safe, legal routes for migration and adhering strictly to international law, and the Geneva Convention in particular;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Recognizes that violent extremism leading to terrorism is a growing threat to peace and security in both Africa and the EU and that conventional counter- terrorism measures, including military measures, are mostly ineffective and do not counter root causes of radicalization such as social exclusion, poverty, and a lack of education; believes a comprehensive approach combining diplomatic, socio-economic, development, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and crisis management tools is needed to counter terrorism and stresses the necessity to conduct targeted and upgraded security and counter-terrorism dialogues with African partners to jointly address grassroots factors that may lead to radicalization and terror acts; highlights the importance of improving interfaith dialogue, supporting initiatives aimed at integrating young people in society, countering terrorist propaganda taking into account the role of internet and social media in radicalization processes, countering the financing of terrorism and reinforcing judicial cooperation;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Strongly supports the institutional capacity building of the African Union and in this light reiterates its support to the AU’s plans for an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA);

Amendment 52 #

Javier COUSO PERMUY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management; notes the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa remains severely underfunded; welcomes the European External Investment Plan on the condition that it could really deliver on its commitments to mobilize investments in Africa, support inclusive and sustainable growth and stimulate jobs creation thus contributing to address the root causes of migration;

Amendment 54 #

Elmar BROK

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management; this includes for example fairer trade relations, the fight against climate change and against illegal financial transfers from Africa;

Amendment 55 #

Javier NART, Hilde VAUTMANS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration through genuine cooperation for social development; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management providing safe and legal channels;

Amendment 56 #

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration and the fight against criminal organisations involved in human trafficking; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management;

Amendment 57 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management; underlines in this matter the importance of democratic scrutiny by the European Parliament;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Highlights the fact that the level of public debt and debt servicing of some African countries is clearly unsustainable and severely restricts investment, growth and the state’s capacity to properly finance its social functions such as health, education and social security; calls on the African countries to set up an audit of their debts in order to determine the illegitimate and odious parts thereof and cancel them in line with the UN recommendations and initiatives such as the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI); calls for a new framework for cooperation between the EU and Africa that is genuinely capable of promoting the sovereign development of African countries; calls on the EU Member States to initiate and support a process of debt relief in accordance with the above- mentioned UN initiatives in the most indebted countries, thereby promoting economic and social development;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the importance of Africa as a key strategic partner and a priority for the EU; underlines that today the EU is collectively Africa's main foreign investor, its principal trading partner, a key security provider, its main source of remittances and its first partner in development and humanitarian assistance; acknowledges that the profound economic, political and societal changes underway in Africa, have an important impact on EU priorities and interests;

Amendment 60 #

Michael GAHLER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Deplores the devastating effects that radicalisation and local terrorist groups like Daesh or Boko Harem have on local populations and the long-term development perspectives of their societies: highlights thus the need for an intensified long-term cooperation in the security field, as well as the need to increase investments in education and rehabilitation programmes;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Points with great concern to the lack of central state authority in parts of the African continent, in particular concerning border management, and recalls the negative repercussions this has on the combat against terrorism as well as drug trafficking; highlights thus the need for a more intensified cooperation in the field of border management and migration policies;

Amendment 62 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that the root causes of migration are conflicts, weak governance, government instability, violation of human rights, corruption, non-existence of the rule of law, impunity, inequality, unemployment or underemployment, lack of livelihoods and resources, and climate change;

Amendment 63 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses that the upcoming Africa EU summit will provide an opportunity to stress our priorities concerning the EU- Africa relations in the context of the post Cotonou process;

Amendment 64 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on accompanying measures for the ‘Conflict Minerals Regulation’ (2014/0059(COD)) in line with the relevant Joint Communication (JOINT (2014) 8);

Amendment 65 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Underlines the importance of small- scale development projects which have a direct effect on people’s lives; urges the Commission to continue their support;

Amendment 66 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Emphasises the added value of transport infrastructures to boost the economy and trade between the EU and Africa; Underlines the strategic importance of ports, harbours and airports;

Amendment 67 #

Hilde VAUTMANS, Louis MICHEL, Urmas PAET, Javier NART, Ivo VAJGL, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Nedzhmi ALI, Patricia LALONDE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. urges the European Commission to give special attention to sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls in their external development programmes;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Considers that Africa and Europe have a shared interest and a shared responsibility concerning migration and that the crisis calls for global solutions based on solidarity, responsibility sharing, the respect of migrants' rights and the principle of non-refoulement; stresses that a strong cooperation between African countries and the EU, and in particular between countries on the two sides of the Mediterranean, is key in fighting against the trafficking of human beings and the smuggling of migrants; supports, in this regard, the implementation of comprehensive policy and legal frameworks based on the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its protocols;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Deplores the fact that many EU Member States have not met the target of earmarking 0.7 % of GNI for development aid and that some have lowered the percentage that they spend on such aid; calls on the EU Member States to comply with the commitment to provide 0.7 % of GNI as ODA and to adopt a clear plan for how and when they will achieve this goal; stresses that this goal has to be a focal point in the new EU-Africa Strategy; stresses that development aid should be given in the form of grants, not loans, so that the debt burden is not made heavier;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are very different regions with specific interests and challenges that cannot easily be accommodated through the overarching Cotonou structure; therefore takes the view that future cooperation with Africa should be based on existing regional and sub-regional organisations, notably the African Union;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recalls that a true partnership between Africa and the EU can only be achieved if it is built on a strong and mutually agreed set of values, rules and responsibilities; in this light highlights that States have an obligation to manage and regulate flows of migration through their territory and have a particular responsibility regarding their own citizens, including the obligation to welcome them back to their territory and grant them their full constitutional rights if they are unable to find a legal resident status abroad;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Emphasises the importance of safeguarding the self-determination of the peoples of the African countries and the sovereignty of their countries; emphasises, in particular, that aid and the EU’s new Africa strategy shall not be tied to priorities chosen by the donors, apart from respect for the International Bill of Human Rights, and shall not, above all, be tied in to controlling flows of migrants and refugees; deplores, therefore, the EU’s push for ‘migration compacts’ and its attempts to outsource border control;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Highlights the constructive role that regional fora of cooperation, such as the “Parliamentary Assembly - Union for the Mediterranean”, the “EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly” or other such kind of interparliamentary delegations can play in advancing EU-Africa partnership and thus calls for a strengthening of these interparliamentary bodies;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Reiterates that food and water sovereignty, including the right of farmers to produce food for their people, shall be a key priority under the new EU-Africa Strategy, ending land grabbing and ensuring farmers have access to land, seeds and water; reiterates as a further priority the development of health and education sectors as public services, including universal health coverage;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Highlights the crucial role of sustainable economic development, responsible investment and trade in maintaining peace and stability; recalls the important role of a responsible private sector that fulfils international health, safety and environmental safeguards and of a conducive business environment in creating long-term economic development;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Calls thus for further regional integration in Africa to strengthen intra- African trade and sustainable investment, where possible in local currency; recognises the nexus between security, development and humanitarian actions; calls on humanitarian and development actors to strengthen their cooperation and create synergies;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Recognises the important role of effective systems of social protection for human security, conflict prevention and for mitigating the impact of protracted conflicts and forced displacement; Points out the disproportionate impact of violent conflict and forced displacement on women and children;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 (new)

6. Acknowledges the importance of inter- parliamentary cooperation such as those with the pan-African parliament and with South Africa as well as the crucial role of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly ACP- EU in promoting common interests and a genuine dialogue between equals; calls for a further strengthening and deepening of the inter-parliamentary dimension in the relations between EU and Africa also by launching new parliamentary partnerships with key Africa partners;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 (new)

7. Stresses that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms constitutes an invariable element of the Union’s engagement with third-country partners; calls on the EU to support the vision of Africa’s Agenda 2063 by strengthening its support to democracy, the rule of law and accountable, transparent and responsive governance through the full use of existing and new frameworks and agreements; stresses the importance of fostering dialogue, information exchange and cooperation in a number of fields such as public finance management and fair and efficient tax systems, the fight to corruption, a transparent and accountable public administration, the participation of civil society and citizens in decision making processes and sustainable management of natural resources;

Amendment 79 #

Michael GAHLER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 (new)

7. Recognises the important role of effective systems of social protection for human security, conflict prevention and for mitigating the impact of protracted conflicts and forced displacement; Points out the disproportionate impact of violent conflict and forced displacement on women and children;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on shared values and interests, in order to tackle global issues such as ~~climate change, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong UN~~development, migration, climate change and ensuring peace, all while building on our joint principles of the rule of law, market economy, good governance and respect for human rights; highlights the need for enhanced cooperation in global and multilateral fora, such as the UN in order to deal with those challenges; calls for a stronger and deeper cooperation with the Africa Union; highlights the need for sustained political commitment towards effective cooperation and policies in Africa;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 (new)

8. Recognizes the important dimension, the significant potential and the transformative power of regional, trans- regional and continental integration for growth and development in Africa; considers African Union encompassing the whole of the African continent as a very positive step in the direction of pan- Africa integration and welcomes the renaming of the “Africa-EU Summit” to “AU-EU Summit”; supports the cross- regional, continental and global dimension of projects and programmes in areas ranging from sustainable agriculture and environment to higher education, ICT and research as well as the development and strengthening of physical infrastructure networks; recognizes as well the possible positive effects of a deeper economic integration at the continental level but is well aware of the formidable political, economic, legal and functional/institutional challenges that would need to be tackled in the process;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 (new)

9. Recognizes that Africa suffers from a massive shortfall in energy supply as 645 million people do not have access to affordable electricity and at least 25 sub- Saharan Africa countries are facing an energetic crisis; is of the opinion, also in the light of Africa's urban population increasing to 1.2 billion over the next 30 years, that sustainable solutions based on renewable energies, mini-grid and off- grid systems should be prioritized; calls on the EU to assist its African partners in overcoming the financial, technical and political challenges of this process and recognizes the need of improvements in governance in the energy sector and the necessity of spurring public and private investment in renewable energy on all levels and cross-border; believes that the new External Investment Plan presented by the Commission could represent an outstanding opportunity in this regard; calls for a continued EU support to the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) and welcomes the proposal of the Commission to launch a new EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership on climate change and sustainable energy;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 (new)

10. Emphasizes the fundamental role of women in development and considers that women’s participation in governance constitutes a precondition for socio- economic progress, social cohesion and equitable democratic governance; calls for positive measures to be taken to ensure progress towards women’s equal participation in society, including in decision making positions at all levels; calls, at the same time, on African countries to encourage and support more female participation in the labour market and to take all the necessary measures to prevent gender discrimination in the work place;

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 (new)

11. Calls on the EEAS to continue to rise the issue of LGBTI persons in its human rights and political dialogue with African countries and to provide support to LGBTI human rights defenders through the appropriate instruments;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 (new)

12. Reiterates its support to the ICC and EU's commitment to full co-operation on the prevention of serious crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the court; calls on the EU to remain open for constructive discussion where concerns are raised within the framework of the Rome Statute and to keep supporting African countries transitioning from conflicts in fighting against impunity and achieving accountability for international crimes;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 (new)

13. Notes that in the last decade a number of countries, including China and India, have significantly increased their engagement in Africa; believes that EU, China and other investors have a strong shared interest in promoting peace and a stable and sustainable development in Africa and should work together and with the AU to promote good governance, the rule of law, the respect of human rights and a sustainable management of the environment and natural resources;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 (new)

14. Is deeply concerned by cases of corporations, business enterprises as well as individuals, non-state actors and states alike causing or contributing to human rights violations and affecting the rights of vulnerable groups such as minorities, indigenous people, women and children or contributing to environmental problems; calls on the Commission and the Member States to cooperate with international partners to take appropriate steps to prevent, investigate and halt such abuses and to establish a mandatory human rights due diligence for business enterprises which are owned or controlled by states;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the need for a stronger, more egalitarian and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on ~~shared values and interests~~mutual development, in order to tackle global issues such as c~~limate change, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong~~ombating poverty, peace, attainment of the UN’s development goals (SDGs) and climate change, and to promote a relationship based on the inalienable right of people to choose their own economic, political and social system without outside interference of any kind and on respect for international law and the UN;

source: 607.897

2017/09/06 INTA 90 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the economic security and prosperity of Europe and Africa are linked, and whereas these two continents must face their shared challenges and opportunities together;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas exports from Africa are still dominated by unprocessed products, and whereas a high proportion of these exports are covered by trade preference arrangements ~~and have done nothing to boost industrialisation in the countries concerned~~;

Amendment 11 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas exports from Africa are dominated by unprocessed products, and whereas a high proportion of these exports are covered by trade preference arrangements ~~and~~which have dcon~~e nothing to boost~~tributed to boosting the albeit limited industrialisation in the countries concerned;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. Whereas the preferential access to the EU market has provided scope to enhance the export performance of the African beneficiary countries depending on their ability to actually take advantage of such preferences.

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. Whereas the number of young people aged 15-24 in Africa, which is expected to rise to 246 million, will represent a resource economic development all over the continent;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas good governance and transparency cut the cost of trade and boost commerce, investment and economic development;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. Whereas the so called Resource Curse needs to be urgently tackled and dismantled by active policies and trade agreements;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas sustainable and responsible management of raw materials and natural resources should be at the heart of the EU-Africa strategy, and should be a priority in cooperation between the European Union and the African Union; whereas Europeans and Africans should take a strong, united stance on this matter at the relevant international fora and summits such as the G20, the United Nations General Assembly or the WTO.

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. Whereas fair and responsible trade and investments can help creating the 18 million new jobs per year needed in sub- saharan Africa to absorb the growing labour force;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. Whereas waste dumping of European products in Africa is a major source of irreversible environmental damage and serious health problems and must be stopped;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas universal access to electricity is a major development issue for Africa;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. having regard to the necessity of creating an environment which is conducive to investment and which comprises in the first place improvements in health and education;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas the main objective of the trade component of the EU-Africa strategy should be the creation of sustainable jobs in Africa and the European Union;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas sustainable and responsible investments play an essential role in development;

Amendment 22 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Recital D

~~D. having regard to the failure of the Washington Consensus, which has not made Africa a player in global trade or eradicated poverty;~~deleted

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. having regard to the ~~failure~~misleading logic of the Washington Consensus, which has not made Africa a player in global trade or eradicated poverty; but has increased inequality rates, and widespread debt unsustainability;

Amendment 24 #

Daniel CASPARY, Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. having regard to the fa~~ilure of the Washington Consensus, which has not made Africa a player in global trade or eradicated poverty~~ct that most African countries still stand a lot to gain from fuller participation in world trade and its potential benefits;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. having regard to the fa~~ilure of the Washington Consensus, which~~ct that the action taken so far has not made Africa a full player in global trade or eradicated poverty on the continent;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the 2015 ‘Trade for All strategy’ sets out the EU's commitment to binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD);

Amendment 27 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING

Draft opinion
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas, despite over a decade of negotiations, only one regional EPA has been concluded and fully ratified out of the five foreseen with African regional groupings;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting projects which will have an immediate impact on the creation of decent jobs~~, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment~~ for men and women guaranteeing compatibility with family life for both, the promotion of SMEs, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment, in particular with the small scale, off grid energy production, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent, while mainstreaming gender in all actions;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting projects which will have an immediate impact on the creation of decent jobs, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), ~~and~~ the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent and helping to create stability and security; stresses, in particular, EU initiatives focused on mobilizing the private sector which accounts for 90% of jobs in developing economies;

Amendment 3 #

Daniel CASPARY, Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas extreme poverty in Sub- Saharan Africa has fallen from 56 percent of the population in 1990 to 43 percent of the population in 2012;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting projects which ~~will have an immediate impact~~have a positive impact on sustainable economic growth, beneficial value- and rules-based trade in goods and services, industrialisation and capacity-building, competitiveness, and a high-quality and predictable business climate, and thus on the creation of decent jobs, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment, ~~improving the business climate,~~ the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent;

Amendment 31 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to ~~focus on supporting projects which will hav~~support a sustainable and i~~mmediate impac~~nclusive development oin ~~the creation of decent~~Africa in order to create the jobs, th~~e fight against poverty, protection of~~ at Africa needs, to reduce poverty, strengthen environment, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent;al protection and make use of the opportunities created thereby for the European Union

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting projects which will have an immediate impact on the creation of decent jobs, the fight against poverty, promotion of human development, protection of the environment, improving ~~the business climate~~good governance and rule of law, the management of public finances to enhance tax justice, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent, promotion of gender equality;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting effective projects which will have an immediate impact on the creation of decent jobs, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent;

Amendment 34 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Daniel CASPARY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the EU to reinforce its financial commitment to Aid For Trade and technical assistance and capacity building initiatives which are essential to provide African countries with the instruments necessary to take full advantage of EU’s trade preferences. Welcomes in this respect the entry into force in February 2017 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement which should facilitate customs procedures and thereby decreasing trade costs.

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that EPAs, largely supported by the Parliaments of the countries concerned, if properly implemented and accompanied by appropriate structural measures, have the potential to be an important tool to promote regional development and the inclusion of the continent into world trade;

Amendment 36 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that EU-Africa relations must be articulated on a fair and balanced framework among equal partners and based on (the) mutual respect and recognition of interests aimed at the promotion of human rights and the realisation of UN´s Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment 37 #

Tiziana BEGHIN, David BORRELLI, Ignazio CORRAO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Urges the EU, in its trade policy, to negotiate, implement and where necessary re-negotiate self-standing, WTO compatible Economic Partnership Agreements with varying degrees of asymmetry based on partner countries different levels of economic development;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to support African countries integration in global and regional trade through critical infrastructures building, access to energy, access to financial services and business training;

Amendment 39 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Underlines the importance of fair and properly regulated trade relations which have to guarantee the democratic right to regulate to ensure human rights and peoples dignity and in fostering regional integration, contributing to sustainable growth and combating poverty; Stresses that potential benefits of trade, in order to contribute to poverty reduction, must be accompanied with distribution of positive impacts through fair and progressive tax systems;

Amendment 4 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Daniel CASPARY, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas 33there is large variation in economic development and economic growth of the countries of Africa, including 33 out of the 49World's least- developed countries a~~re in Africa~~s well as countries almost on par with some of the Union's Member States;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Stresses that Aid for Trade represents a vital tool to develop structures and projects for trade, in particular in LDCs and considers that such an initiative should be further increased; furthermore asks the Commission to coordinate its implementation and maximize its effectiveness;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture; stresses in this context the need for any trade agreement or unilateral trade arrangement between the EU and African countries or regional groupings to provide for sufficiently asymmetrical liberalisation schedules, protections for infant industries, development-supportive rules of origins and effective safeguard clauses;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, ~~particularly in agriculture;~~ and foster small scale agriculture, so that people can make a decent living out of their land, guarantee the sustainability of the soils they work on and afford local food availability on local markets;

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture; stresses the necessity of labour shifts from unproductive traditional sectors such as subsistence farming into modern economic activities that add value to traded goods;

Amendment 44 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 45 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU ~~always to~~to continue to constantly take account of the different levels of development among African countries when defining and implementing its trade polices vis-à-vis Africa and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and t~~o supp~~herefore to adopt targeted and specific trade preferences ort measures which enhance production and processing capacity, particularly in agriculture;

Amendment 47 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU ~~always~~ to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity, ~~particularly in agriculture;~~regional integration and their integration into global value chains:

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 49 #

Daniel CASPARY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Urges the EU always to take account of the different levels of development among African countries and to support measures which enhance production and processing capacity~~, particularly in agriculture~~;

Amendment 5 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas 33 of the 49 least- developed countries are in Africa; whereas more than 218 million people live in extreme poverty in Africa;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Welcomes the establishment of a free trade economic zone in Africa, which will help improve economic integration on the African continent and boost its international trade;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to help African countries develop and integrate regional value chains to allow different countries to contribute to the production of intermediate and finalised products;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls on the Commission to put in place and promote investments in skills development, technical and vocational training and higher university education addressed to the African youth;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls for the European Union and African States to work together to develop a strategy to increase Africa's agricultural competitiveness addressing rural development issues, constraints linked to sanitary and phytosanitary measures and access to micro-financing with a view to boosting intra-continental trade in agricultural goods, protecting the livelihoods of small farmer holders and ensuring food security;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU ~~to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and~~and its Member States to support existing regional integration initiatives, including a CFTA, through the tool of Aid for Trade, which should help facilitate the establishment or development of domestic productive capacity, reduce income inequality in Africa and assist with economic diversification and technology transfers; asks the Commission to avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions; stresses that interim Economic Partnership Agreements with individual countries that are members of regional customs and economic unions should not become permanent in the absence of ratified region-to-region EPAs;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions; with the help of trade policy and the existing regional Economic Partnership Agreements to create functioning inner African markets and to use the possibilities of international trade;

Amendment 57 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Daniel CASPARY, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU to continue to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and ~~avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions~~to further cooperate with the countries concerned with a view to achieving this objective;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market ~~and avoid taking steps which might hinder these ambitions~~;

Amendment 59 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Daniel CASPARY, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and ~~avoid~~to tak~~ing~~e steps ~~which might hinder~~to promote these ambitions;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas, according to the United Nations, 33 of the 497 least- developed countries are in Africa;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Takes the view that effective implementation of the WTO trade facilitation agreement and the simplification and transparency of customs procedures will help to boost trade between Europe and Africa, which will particularly benefit SMEs and innovation;

Amendment 61 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Supports regional integration and the creation of an African free trade area. Acknowledges that, although the EU’s policies are crucial in assisting them in pursuing such objectives, the political commitment by African countries remains of course essential.

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Shares the view that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights should be part of any future agreements between the African countries and the EU, and asks both sides to include them on occasion of the revision of existing ones.

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. insists on a structured and well- financed civil society monitoring process concerning the existing and future trade agreements between the EU and Africa in order to be able to counteract negative consequences of the agreements;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. points out that the successes of the regional Economic Partnership Agreements and the post-Cotonou agreement are highly dependent on the transparent information policy and dialogue with civil society of the European Commission and its counterparts in African states since transparency gives small and medium sized participants of the economy the chance to reap the benefits of the agreements;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Takes the view that aid for trade should be one of the pillars of European trade policy with Africa, and calls on the European Union to promote the development of skills and African expertise in this area;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Calls on the EU and its Member States to better coordinate their aid for trade programmes and further boost synergies with their Africa investment policies;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)

3d. Calls on the European Union to focus, by means of its commercial and investment policies, on growth of the private sector, support for innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship in Europe and Africa, and to conduct its affairs with Africa in accordance with the principles of sustainability and social responsibility;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)

3e. Takes the view that ‘public-private partnerships’ have a fundamental role to play in economic development, insofar as they make the private sector more dynamic and boost synergies between institutions and economic operators, and that they should therefore be favoured in this strategy;

Amendment 69 #

Daniel CASPARY, Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)

3f. Calls for European development and investment projects in Africa to be guided by the principle of ownership, so that beneficiary countries can take charge of their own development models;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas exports from Africa are dominated by unprocessed products, and whereas a high proportion of these exports are covered by trade preference arrangements ~~and have done nothing to boost industrialisation in the countries concerned~~; whereas free market access for most African products in combination with supporting the reform and adjustment process can improve the African countries capacities, enhance their competitiveness, and adjust economic structures in order to develop their own competitive trade and regional markets as well as improved participation in global markets;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 g (new)

3g. Calls on the EIB and the Commission, in particular via the EIP, to invest in projects with high job-creation potential and in the priority areas of clean energy, infrastructure, health and medical research;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 h (new)

3h. Takes the view that digital development could lead to growth opportunities in Africa – via e-commerce or telephone payments, for example – and that the development policies of the EU and Africa should help to improve access to electricity and the internet on the African continent;

Amendment 72 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the full participation of the civil societies and parliaments of the countries concerned in future negotiations as well as ind the implementation of ~~agreements currently under negotiation~~concluded agreements. Calls on the Commission and the Council to provide appropriate funding so as to ensure the full participation of civil society.

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the full and institutionalized participation of the civil societies and parliaments of the countries concerned in future negotiations and the implementation of agreements currently under negotiation.

Amendment 74 #

Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the ~~full~~more active participation of the civil societies and parliaments of the countries concerned in future negotiations and the implementation of agreements currently under negotiation.

Amendment 75 #

Daniel CASPARY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the full participation of the ~~civil societies and~~ parliaments of the countries and regions concerned in future negotiations and the implementation of agreements currently under negotiation.

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the full participation of ~~the civil societies and parliaments of the countrie~~all relevant stakeholders concerned in future negotiations and in the implementation of agreements currently under negotiation.

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls for the principles of policy coherence for development to be fully incorporated in the EU’s trade relationship with Africa, which entails the inclusion of enforceable ‘Trade and Sustainable Development’ clauses in all EU trade agreements with African countries, in line with the commitment undertaken by the European Commission in the ‘Trade for All' strategy;

Amendment 78 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. expects the European Union to make strategic plans for cooperation in a dialogue with Africa in the future in order to make sure that the national development plans, the continental free trade zone and the implementation of the Agenda 2063 is not being disrupted by the European trade-, agricultural-, fisheries-, environmental- and tax policy;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the paramount importance of respecting, as stated on SDG 17.15, partner country´s democratic policy space to regulate and take suitable decisions for their own national context, respond to the demands of their populations, and fulfil their human rights obligations and other international commitments;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas exports from Africa are dominated by unprocessed products~~, and whereas a high proportion of these exports are covered by trade preference arrangements and have done nothing to boost industrialisation in the countries concerned~~;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Takes the view that a ‘bottom-up’ approach should be used in the EU-Africa strategy, by means of exchanges and by holding discussion forums between European and African civil societies for entrepreneurs, in particular female business leaders, NGOs and associations;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that support for investment projects should be made conditional on economic effectiveness and expected economic outcomes, in an effort to boost trade on the African market and with third countries and regions, and to boost the processing capacity of industries in African countries.

Amendment 82 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the partners, when negotiating, to include binding obligations for European companies acting abroad, enlarging the model of the Conflict Minerals Regulation.

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Raise awareness of the pervasive link between free trade agreements with developing countries and illicit financial flows (IFF) and tax fraud increase; calls the future EU -Africa strategy to effectively tackle IFF by enhancing cooperation on tax matters and boosting domestic resource mobilisation on partner countries;

Amendment 84 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses that without ownership any EU-Africa strategy cannot succeed; therefore calls on the European Commission to reflect on its repeated failure to convince African countries of the relevance of EPAs; strongly condemns the use of coercion as an instrument to secure approval for EPAs;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. expects additionally the development of a strategy for the fight against corruption and illegal capital flight from Africa and insists that the development of the regional African markets is being taken into consideration in the future;

Amendment 86 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Takes the view that it is essential for the EU-Africa strategy to take account of the importance of the role of women in economic development and the resilience of societies both in Europe and in Africa, and that projects should be set up with that in mind;

Amendment 87 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Deplores the current debt distress in several African countries; stresses the risk of increasing debt distresses through the use of export credits and innovative financial instruments under the umbrella of EPAs; Calls for the EU to ensure debt sustainability in all trade deals with African countries by ensuring the fulfilment of UNCTAD principles on responsible investments and on Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing;

Amendment 88 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. insists that the aid for trade global review makes sure that least developed countries and fragile states benefit more from the effects of development cooperation than in the past;

Amendment 89 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Recalls that EU investment policy, especially when involving public money, must contribute to the realisation of the SDGS; recalls the need to enhance transparency and accountability of DFIs, PPPs to effectively track and monitor the money flows, debt sustainability and the added value for sustainable development of their projects;

Amendment 9 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas lasting sustainable industrialisation and rural productivity are key for development; whereas exports from Africa are dominated by unprocessed products, and whereas a high proportion of these exports are covered by trade preference arrangements and have done nothing to boost industrialisation nor economic development in the countries concerned;

Amendment 90 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Helmut SCHOLZ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4e. Considers it regrettable that a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is still lacking, which allow certain States and companies to circumvent them with impunity; calls the EU to effectively promote due diligence obligations to ensure global supply chains sustainability.

source: 609.617

2017/09/07 DEVE 260 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the Africa Action Summit which took place on 16 November 2016, consolidating the African dimension of the COP 22

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the ties between the European Union (EU) and African countries are historic ~~and~~, their destinies are intimately linked and many Europeans are of African origin and, in certain countries, have dual nationality; whereas the EU is Africa’s main partner in the fields of economic activity and trade, as well as development, humanitarian aid and security; whereas political, economic and social situations in Africa have evolved considerably in recent years;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development, emphasises the need to boost the political engagement of women, their rights, resources and representation;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, ~~but also~~to increase efforts to combat corruption and illicit capital flight and increase corporate accountability on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, ~~but also effort~~as well as to combat corruption on both continents, as ~~they are~~ indispensable elements in strengthening sustainable development;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms constitutes an invariable element of the Union’s engagement with third-country partners; call son the EU to support the vision of Africa’s Agenda 2063 by strengthening its support to democracy, the rule of law and accountable, transparent and responsive governance through the full use of existing and new frameworks and agreements; stresses the importance of fostering dialogue, information exchange and cooperation in a number of fields such as public finance management and fair and efficient tax systems, the fight to corruption, a transparent and accountable public administration, the participation of civil society and citizens in decision making processes and sustainable management of natural resources;

Amendment 104 #

Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Recalls the importance of the role of the International Criminal Court in tackling impunity and in upholding the values of peace, security, equality, fairness, justice and compensation that it serves as a vehicle for;

Amendment 105 #

Pier Antonio PANZERI, Elly SCHLEIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Believes that financial assistance and support should be based on the effective fight against corruption and pathological phenomena, in particularly when it comes to upholding fundamental human rights;

Amendment 106 #

Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls therefore for a ~~frank~~ dialogue concerning the~~se values and principles and for them to be made a major component of cooperation, particularly by extending~~ political reform of the African states and how to take into account the traditions of African societies, particularly by being flexible on the conditionality of development aid ~~on strict respect for them~~which should not weaken the state;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls therefore for a frank dialogue, with the active participation of social partners, concerning these values and principles and for them to be made a major component of cooperation, particularly by extending the conditionality of development aid on strict respect for them;

Amendment 108 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls therefore for a frank dialogue, based on mutual respect, concerning these values and principles and for them to be made a major component of cooperation, particularly by extending the conditionality of development aid on strict respect for them;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls therefore for a frank dialogue concerning these ~~valu~~policies and principles and for them to be made a major component of cooperation, particularly by extending the positive conditionality of development aid on strict respect for them;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the ties between the European Union (EU) and African countries are historic and their destinies are intimately linked; whereas the EU is Africa’s main partner in the fields of economic activity and trade, as well as development, humanitarian aid and security; whereas political, economic and social situations in Africa have evolved considerably in recent years; whereas there is a need to adapt to new realities and to new players on the international scene; whereas there is a need to impress a new vision on the Africa-EU Partnership

Amendment 110 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses the need to address the question of human rights and governance on the basis of international and existing legal instruments, laws, principles and mechanisms established i.e. by the AU and the existing regional and pan-African governance bodies, so as to strengthen ownership;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the organisation of a joint high-level AU-EU conference on electoral processes, democracy, public services, labour rights and governance in Africa and Europe, and calls for the European Parliament to be fully involved in it;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Supports the organisation of a joint high-level AU-EU conference on electoral processes, democracy and governance in Africa and Europe, and calls for the European Parliament and the PAP to be fully involved in it;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Emphasises the role of the ACP- EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the delegations with the UfM and the Pan- African Parliament in engaging in discussions at parliamentary level in both continents; calls for the links between the different assemblies to be strengthened with a view to fostering synergies and consistency of joint measures;

Amendment 114 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Elly SCHLEIN, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses the importance of stepping up the parliamentary dimension of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the future ACP-EU partnership; its key role in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and its contribution to dialogue between the Union and the ACP States; recalls that this assembly has made it possible to improve the understanding of policies introduced and positions taken by the Union and the ACP countries; stresses that the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is still a unique platform for interaction;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Underlines the need for a stronger political partnership with shared responsibilities between the EU and Africa, that will give greater African ownership on programs and goals based on shared values and interest;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reiterates its call to European Union member states and African states to continue supporting the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court (ICC); calls on all signatories of the Rome Statute to ratify it as soon as possible;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Stresses the role of gender balance in political and economic institutions in promoting political resilience; calls for renewed efforts to push towards increasing gender equality in elected positions and in boardrooms;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. CReiterates the direct link between security and development and considers that EU action should respond to the strategies adopted by African countries, particularly those expressed in Agenda 2063 relating to peace and security;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Considers that EUthe action ~~should respond to~~taken by the Member States should be in synergy with the strategies adopted by African countries, particularly those expressed in Agenda 2063 relating to peace and security;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the ties between the European Union (EU) and African countries are historic and their destinies are intimately linked; whereas the EU is Africa’s main partner in the fields of economic activity and trade, as well as development, humanitarian aid and security; whereas political, economic and social situations in Africa have evolved considerably in recent years, and whereas other international players take up a position in Africa by adopting different attitudes from those held in Europe with regard to their policy of support for African states;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime and trafficking in human beings; by means of strengthening coordination and dialogue to increase conflict resilience and to enhance early warning and conflict prevention capabilities, and by supporting the African Union, sub-regional organizations and countries in improving conflict management and peace-building efforts

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime and trafficking in human beings; calls for security and judicial cooperation to be stepped up to make it possible to take a holistic approach to tackling problems;

Amendment 122 #

Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT, Caterina CHINNICI, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA, Barbara MATERA, Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA, Silvia COSTA, Merja KYLLÖNEN, Hilde VAUTMANS, Julie WARD, Lara COMI, Damiano ZOFFOLI, Brando BENIFEI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime ~~and~~, trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants, with particular regards to children, who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 125 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU, its Member States and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime and trafficking in human beings;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Reiterates the importance of the African Peace Facility ~~and its support for~~’s contribution to the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and African-led Peace Support Operations (PSOs); reiterates the importance of the various EU missions and operations deployed in Africa; calls for European peace and security actions to be stepped up, in cooperation with African and international partners;

Amendment 128 #

14. Reiterates the importance of the African Peace Facility and its support for the various EU missions and operations deployed in Africa; calls for European peace and security actions to be stepped up, in cooperation with African and international partners; and reminds of the close inter-linkage between development and security and a need to enhance mutually reinforcing interventions in the areas of the two.

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Reiterates the importance of the African Peace Facility and its support for the various EU missions and operations deployed in Africa; calls for European peace and security actions to be ~~stepped up, in cooperation with African and international partner~~transformed by transferring responsibility to African partners and obtaining block funding for those actions alongside economic and social development projects;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Reaffirms the need to address all aspects of preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict situations; calls for gender to be a key consideration of security and peace efforts in Africa and for recognition of the positive role of women as agents for conflict prevention, conflict resolution, relief and recovery, and building sustainable peace;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Stresses the importance of the permanent members of the UN Security Council being involved in the planning, financing and implementation of security and development actions;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recalls that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change; considers it ~~necessary to support~~essential for the EU to develop a strategic approach to building climate resilience and to support accordingly African countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt; ~~recalls that it is~~stresses the importance of climate change as a risk multiplier for conflict, drought, famine and migration; in particular, underlines that the recent outbreak of famine in South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia highlighted the effect and inter- linkages of insecurity, climate change, food and water shortage; points out that these challenges have led to unprecedented levels of forced displacements in Africa; against this background, recalls that it is all the more vital to respect the commitment given in Paris in 2015 to allocate USD 100 billion to developing countries by 2020;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recalls that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change; considers it necessary to support ~~African countries in their effor~~investments toin re~~duce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt~~newable energy in African countries; recalls that it is vital to respect the commitment given in Paris in 2015 to allocate USD 100 billion to developing countries by 2020;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recalls that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change; considers it necessary to support African countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt; recalls that it is vital to respect the commitment given in Paris in 2015 to allocate USD 100 billion to developing countries by 2020; calls for new kinds of EU-Africa collaboration to lower the barriers to funding and technology transfer in accordance with the Declaration of the First Africa Action Summit for Continental Co-Emergence, held on the sidelines of the COP22 in Marrakesh on 16 November 2016.

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Encourages greater investment in the fields of transitional energy and the circular economy, in order to further stimulate actions which contribute to the respect of the environment and which create job opportunities for young people;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls that ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is crucial for the satisfaction of basic human needs, including access to clean water, sanitation, health care and education, and is essential for virtually all kinds of economic activity and a key driver of development; recalls that choices of means to produce and ways to use energy can greatly influence development progress, support local business creation, improve water irrigation and sanitation systems, as well as offer new opportunities for public health, education and gender equality.

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the EU and the AU to promote synergies between food security and climate since agriculture and food systems are not only impacted by, but also drive, climate change;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Recognises the need to raise awareness of the crucial importance of climate change agreements, in order to secure a sustainable and low-carbon future for young people;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Urges the EU, in a context where agricultural food systems are responsible for up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to scale up its assistance to sustainable agriculture and the development of domestic markets to cope with climate change, targeting its support to small-scale farmers, crop diversification, agro-forestry and agro- ecological practises;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas political, economic, environmental and social situations in Africa have evolved in many diverse directions in recent years;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the EU initiatives to promote better management of, and more transparent trade in, natural resources; believes that sustainable management of and trade in natural resources, such as minerals, timber and wildlife, would allow resource-rich countries and their populations to further benefit from it; calls for a joint EU-Africa charter on sustainable management of natural resources to be drawn up;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the EU initiatives ~~to promote~~demanding better management of, and more transparent trade in, natural resources; calls for a joint EU-Africa charter on sustainable management of natural resources to be drawn up;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Recalls the need under EU legislation on conflict minerals to introduce support measures; they should take an integrated approach that is intended to step up permanent political dialogue with the mineral source countries to encourage the application of international standards on due diligence, as defined by the OECD guide.

Amendment 143 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Stresses that Africa has a rich and diverse natural environment with over 1,100 different species of mammals and over 2,600 species of birds; calls for the EU-Africa strategy to work in conjunction with the priorities of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking;

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Points out the importance of the EU and its Member States agreeing to work together in multilateral forums in favour of cancelling the foreign debt of impoverished African countries, with immediate debt relief for the poorest countries, in accordance with UN guidelines; welcomes the UN’s work towards an international sovereign debt workout mechanism;

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Stresses that the protection of African biodiversity – while the rate at which wild species are disappearing is increasing – should be at the core of the EU-Africa political agenda; recalls the involvement of the EU in protecting natural heritage and, in particular, nature parks; stresses the importance of good governance of natural resources;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the private sector, from micro to small and medium size enterprises, to cooperatives and multinational companies, plays a decisive role in job creation and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possible to support the private sector in African countries and thus promote investment and more effective mobilization of domestic resources and the creation of sustainable jobs;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation, within the sustainable industrialisation development framework (SDG9) and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possible to support the private sector in African countries and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs;

Amendment 148 #

Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Patrizia TOIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation and the development process~~, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes~~; recalls that the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development~~, which~~ should ~~make it possible~~aim to support the private sector in African countries, particularly local business and SMEs in fragile countries, and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possible to support the private sector in African countries and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs; recognizes that CSOs may play a crucial role in supporting the private sector to fulfil communities' needs, to promote vocational training and human capital development, to comply with human rights principles and environmental standards and to foster decent work; calls on the EU to introduce a positive conditionality on the involvement of CSOs when development funds are allocated in support of for profit private sector initiatives for development cooperation.

Amendment 15 #

Pier Antonio PANZERI, Maria ARENA, Elly SCHLEIN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas relations between the EU and Africa must be guided by principles of mutual interest and understanding and by ~~shared common values within the framework of a reciproc~~a mutually beneficial partnership;

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 153 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 154 #

17a. Emphasises how important it is when it comes to the development of African countries for the UN to adopt binding rules on the activities of multinationals and measures to combat tax evasion and avoidance, and the close monitoring of the activities of transnationals in African countries, in particular with regard to areas crucial to development such as human rights, workers’ rights and environmental protection; considers it necessary to include specific initiatives on that matter in any EU agreement with African countries;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Is deeply concerned by cases of corporations, business enterprises as well as individuals, non-state actors and states alike causing or contributing to human rights violations and affecting the rights of vulnerable groups such as minorities, indigenous people, women and children or contributing to environmental problems; calls on the commission and the Member States to cooperate with international partners to take appropriate steps to prevent, investigate and halt such abuses and to establish a mandatory human rights due diligence for business enterprises which are owned or controlled by states.

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Emphasises the importance of maximizing budgetary resources and mobilizing new sources of development financing to help African countries meet Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of Agenda 2063;underlines the need to ensure efficient and transparent management of government budgets and strengthen public financial management systems, particularly to adequately invest in social sectors, especially for children and youth;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Recalls that women face particular challenges in accessing the labour market in Africa; calls for steps to be taken to increase participation of women in the formal labour market whilst eliminating discrimination in wages and remove the barriers preventing women from starting their own businesses;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Reiterates EU's commitment to build resilience in partner countries through inclusive and sustainable economic growth for human development, with paying special attention to vulnerable groups, including youth and women, to participate, and to benefit from wealth and job creation.

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Calls for firm support for economic development based on individual initiative to encourage the emergence of SMEs and family businesses;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the central pillar for cooperation between the EU and Africa at the continental level is the Joint Africa- EU Strategy (JAES) adopted in 2007; whereas relations between the EU and Africa must be guided by principles of mutual interest and understanding and by shared common values within the framework of a reciprocal partnership;

Amendment 160 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Stresses the specific role of SMEs and small family-run establishments in achieving sustainable development;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; recalls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships;deleted

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Supports the establishment of a continental ~~free trade area in Africa; recalls also the development prospects presented by~~economic cooperation area in Africa; notes also the failure with regard to the development of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries; calls on the Commission and the Member States to return to the spirit of the Lomé Convention and its asymmetric free-trade philosophy; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private and public sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; ~~recalls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries;~~ calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; re~~calls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries~~iterates that trade agreements should be a leverage to promote sustainable development, human rights, fair and ethical trade; against this background, deems that an in-depth analysis on the impact of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on African economies and their sub-sectors, their respective labour markets, and the promotion of intra-regional trade in Africa is needed; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and sustainable agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; recalls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, including electricity access for all, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and agriculture and the ‘blue economy’ – including the maritime industry, particularly by means of public- private partnerships;

Amendment 167 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Recalls that the EPAs are intended to help the ACP countries to expand their markets, encourage trade in goods and boost investment; that they anticipate a slow, gradual opening up of trade in goods between the EU and the ACP countries and a very asymmetric opening up of markets, which will take several years, with the possibility of significant exemptions for the sectors that the partner countries wish to protect;

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Emphasises the need to ensure that trading and trade agreements between the EU and African countries are based exclusively on fair and sustainable commercial practices designed to end economic asymmetries, which place human rights and human dignity ahead of mere private profit, which respect the right to regulate the economy and the right to public control of strategic sectors, and which include binding and effective clauses relating to sustainable development and human rights guarantees;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Recalls that budget support is the best way to carry out appropriation, providing governments with the means to determine their needs and priorities, recalls that general or sector-specific budget support enables development policies to be supported and ensures maximised take-up;

Amendment 17 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Elly SCHLEIN, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas relations between the EU and Africa must be guided by principles of mutual interest and understanding and by shared common values within the framework of a strengthened reciprocal partnership;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Underlines within the EU/African partnership the necessity to create decent jobs and ensure decent payment and to link investment to it; calls to comply with ILO standards, including those related to a safe and healthy working environment; stresses the importance to respect and strengthen the role of social partners amongst others in involving them in monitoring, consultation processes, policy making and implementation notably of social, trade and economic policies and to support the organisation and carrying into effect of social dialogue and collective bargaining;

Amendment 171 #

Elly SCHLEIN, Maria ARENA, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)

18c. Stresses the importance, in striving to improve the business climate, of putting in place a programme to increase the online accessibility of corporate law information in the OHADA area and to study legal interoperability of civil law and common law in order to lay down common rules in continental Africa, and in the ACP countries;

Amendment 172 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the EU to take into account the different level of development and capabilities of developing countries and to support African countries in strengthening its productive and transformation capacities in order to move up the value-added scale and become less dependent on raw materials and simple processed products;

Amendment 173 #

18a. Calls for increased investment to support research and innovation and to increase cooperation and the exchange of researchers between the two continents on both matters of common interest and those which particularly concern one of the two continents such as diseases linked to poverty and neglected diseases; stresses that infectious diseases pose a significant threat to social resilience in Africa and Europe;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)

18d. Stresses the need to fight against the polarisation of African society; calls for support for broad access to banking services, via mobile banking, for greater financial inclusion of women and for the development of electronic banking; considers it necessary to support a joint effort in this sector by the state, the private sector and civil society;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Congratulates the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) and the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) which are positive examples of EU-Africa cooperation for research and development; calls on the Commission to step up scientific and medical cooperation efforts between the two continents and to foster synergies between the existing different policies and instruments;

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)

18c. Encourages investment in the energy and circular economy sectors to ensure sustainable development and to play a part in creating job opportunities for young people;

Amendment 177 #

Elly SCHLEIN, Maria ARENA, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Pier Antonio PANZERI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)

18d. Strongly supports the initiatives to digitally connect the African continent with the world given that digitalisation is a key factor in ensuring the development of the African economy, but also in connecting people;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Underlines the need to maximise the development potential of free movement of persons and migration and the need to support African countries in this regard;

Amendment 179 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Maria NOICHL, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Recognises the fundamental role of small-scale producers to attain food security; calls for support to notably small-holder farmers and pastoralists through building up and investing in infrastructure that facilitates the regional food supply and diversity of food production and that are in line with the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems of the CFS, in granting them access to land and water, in preserving healthy water and soil ecosystems and respecting non- documented traditional use thereof, in guaranteeing access to open source seeds in great variety that also contribute to biodiversity, in facilitating participatory land use planning and rangeland management of small-scale producers, and in supporting the establishment of cooperatives;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas relations between the EU and the continent of Africa are based on various legal instruments and political strategies and whereas it is important to step up synergies and coherence between them in order to ~~mak~~rebalance theat partnership and make it more effective on the ground;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 e (new)

18e. Calls for a maritime policy which is mutually beneficial for both continents, and which uses maritime transport as a tool for trade for development;

Amendment 181 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Deplores the fact that, each year, some USD 50 billion is drained out of Africa in the form of illicit financial flows, which exceeds total annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) and undermines efforts for domestic revenue mobilisation; calls therefore on both parties to create effective tools to combat tax evasion and ~~to support initiatives to increase the corporate respon~~avoidance; in particular, calls for public transparency of who is the ultimate beneficial owner of legal entities, trusts and sibmil~~ity of businesse~~ar legal arrangements;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Deplores the fact that, each year, some USD 50 billion is drained out of Africa in the form of illicit financial flows, which exceeds total annual Official Development Assistance (ODA); calls therefore on both parties to create effective tools to combat tax evasion and toavoidance, tackle corruption, and support initiatives to increase the corporate responsibility of businesses and to require investors to apply, in a binding and effective manner, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI);

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Reiterates its call on EU and AU member states to constructively participate in the intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights to work towards the setting-up of a mandatory and enforceable regulatory framework, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards;

Amendment 184 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Recalls that the role of the state in its sovereign duties is a prerequisite for economic development; recalls that economic growth without an impartial state does not systematically guarantee social development or progress; also recalls that people must be given the means to prosper and that a state must be capable of redistributing the generated wealth, of providing its citizens with services, and of improving equal opportunities;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls on the EIB and Member States’ other development financial institutions to urgently ensure that companies that receive their support do not participate in tax evasion via offshore centres and tax havens and to effectively track and monitor the flows, debt sustainability and added value of their sustainable development projects;

Amendment 186 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Stresses the fact that regional integration drives economic development and is a necessity in a globalised world; calls for support for South-South Cooperation which reflects the gradual transformation of the African continent;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Stresses the need to step up cooperation efforts to put an end to impunity, through which governments and multinationals are violating human rights and international agreements on labour rights and environmental protection;

Amendment 188 #

Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Patrizia TOIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision since rapid population growth can overstrain educational systems and local economies and can be a challenge for any government; stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, in building a resilient society;

Amendment 189 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision; stresses the crucial role of ~~the emancipation of women,~~empowering women, fostering gender equality and education, particularly of girls, and supporting the socio- economic inclusion of youth through the promotion of active and participatory partnerships based on youth perspectives, in building a resilient society;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas relations between the EU and the continent of Africa are based on various legal instruments and political strategies and whereas it is important to step up synergies and coherence between them in order to make the partnership more effective and sustainable;

Amendment 190 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision; recalls the need to harness the demographic dividend by means of appropriate public policies and investment and stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, in building a resilient society;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision to develop sustainable, inclusive and participatory societies; stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, in building a resilient society;

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

Amendment 193 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Elly SCHLEIN, Maria NOICHL, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision; stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, in building a resilient society; stresses the need to offer opportunities and ensure non-discrimination of those in disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised situations including children, older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBTI persons and indigenous peoples; calls on the EU and AU to prioritize the implementation of the SDG's as this contributes to countering the demographic challenge;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Recognises that the increasing population in Africa is both a challenge and an opportunity for the continent and therefore calls on the EU to be committed in promoting appropriate public policies and investments in health, education, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to ensure young people are equipped to make informed decisions about their SRH, without which social, economic and environmental resilience cannot be reached;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Emphasises that the urbanisation rate in Africa is on the rise and that African towns will soon face a great demographic shock; considers that the potential gains of demographic growth must be urgently brought to fruition through appropriate measures;

Amendment 196 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses also the importance of high-quality education at all levels, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational trainingthe elimination of gender-based disparities and the provision of inclusive and equitable access to education with quality learning at all levels from early childhood, including in emergency and crisis situations, in order for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills needed to be fully engaged in society as responsible and productive citizens;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Stress~~Reiterates also the importance of high-quality ~~education at all levels, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational training~~universal and public services, particularly in education and health – including sexual health and reproductive rights – and culture at all levels;

Amendment 198 #

Bogdan Brunon WENTA, Maurice PONGA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses also the importance of ensuring access to, and completion of high-quality education at all levels, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational training;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses also the importance of high-quality and accessible education at all levels, ensuring that the poorest communities have access to it, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational training;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the 2016 EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Cotonou Agreement with the EU, to which 79 ACP States are parties, including 48 in sub-Saharan Africa, governs the main partnership between the EU and Africa; whereas the EU has also established relations with African countries that are not parties to the Cotonou Agreement ~~under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI)~~; whereas the EU-ACP partnership was established at a time when ACP countries had not yet formed their current regional or continental cooperation structures; whereas the emergence of the AU in 2003 and the Joint African-EU Strategy in 2007 makes it essential to streamline the various policy frameworks between the EU and Africa; whereas the objective to “treat Africa as one” is clearly stated it the preamble of the JAES;

Amendment 200 #

Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT, Caterina CHINNICI, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA, Hilde VAUTMANS, Barbara MATERA, Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA, Silvia COSTA, Merja KYLLÖNEN, Julie WARD, Lara COMI, Damiano ZOFFOLI, Brando BENIFEI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses also the importance of high-quality education at all levels, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to ~~have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting vocational training~~acquire the necessary skills to match the current and future labour market needs, by strengthening Africa's educational and vocational learning system, including through curricula reforms and access to technology;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Stresses also the importance of high-quality education at all levels, and the need for young people to be connected to global realities and to have skills which meet the needs of the market, by promoting and supporting ~~vocational training~~accessible and inclusive technical and vocational training, and life- long learning opportunities, both formal and informal;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

Amendment 205 #

Bogdan Brunon WENTA, Maurice PONGA

21a. Emphasises the need to strengthening resilience of individuals, households and communities, in order to enhance their capacities to anticipate, resist and recover from on-going crisis, especially in the envisaged food crisis; calls on the EU to focus on food, nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in a long term perspective and by making use of the capacity and experience that CSOs have gained at community level;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Emphasises the need to strengthen the resilience of individuals, households and communities, in order to enhance their capabilities to anticipate, resist and recover from crises, especially the threats to agriculture, nutrition and food security; calls on the EU to focus on creating resilient livelihoods in the long- term perspective;

Amendment 207 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Elly SCHLEIN, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on the EU to support Africa to build the capacity of its administrative structure by opening channels for more young Africans participation in the Erasmus+ programme: mobility of staff and students and academic cooperation by providing trainings for teachers in a few key disciplines in order to improve students' skills and education quality and relevance;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on the EU and African governments to strengthen African national education systems, including technical vocational education and training (TVET), by prioritising and investing at least 20% of their national budgets on education and scaling up the EU’s support to the global partnership for education (GPE) and education cannot wait (ECW);

Amendment 209 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Also stresses the role of education in preventing man-made humanitarian crises by avoiding conflict and violence in post-conflict situations; recalls that education in emergencies is crucial in addressing key issues, including migration and security

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Cotonou Agreement with the EU, to which 79 ACP States are parties, including 48 in sub-Saharan Africa, governs the main partnership between the EU and Africa; whereas there is a need to move towards a modernised and more political partnership, with a focus on defending our key common interests; whereas the EU has also established relations with African countries that are not parties to the Cotonou Agreement under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI);

Amendment 210 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on the EU to promote student exchanges between the two continents under the Erasmus + programme and is in favour of young entrepreneurs and researchers also being included in it;

Amendment 211 #

Norbert NEUSER, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Elly SCHLEIN, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; that guarantee access to care for all by being affordable and high quality whilst taking into account the specific situations of vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities; thus calls for the introduction of universal health coverage by setting up horizontal national health systems;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; in this context, the importance of investing in science, technology and innovation (STI) to tackle the still huge burden of poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs) that disproportionately affect the most marginalised African populations, and thereby addressing the critical need to achieve the SDGs;

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; that satisfy all the needs of the population, from basic healthcare to highly specialised services in second- and third-level hospitals; and to support the training of healthcare professionals right up to the level of specialised training.

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; as well as promoting, through lifelong education, the formulation and implementation of health policies that address women and men's needs, such as proper diagnosis, access to medicines and access to reproductive and health care services

Amendment 215 #

Louis MICHEL, Charles GOERENS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), vital to ensure healthy lives and well-being by lowering maternal and newborn mortality and reducing the risk of sexually-transmitted diseases;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; calls for the introduction of minimum universal coverage and an increase in the global health fund, particularly concerning maternal health and the fight against infant mortality;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; in particular underlines the need to train an additional one million more skilled health professionals than it is set to on current trends to meet the minimum WHO standard by 2030;

Amendment 218 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; which break down barriers to access faced by women and other vulnerable groups, and ensure fair and equitable access to health services for all;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems, guaranteeing access to them at all levels, particularly for the most vulnerable, such as women, children and the LGBT community;

Amendment 22 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) has a budget of EUR 30.5 billion, of which 900 million is reserved for the African Peace Facility, and whereas 1.4 billion of the EDF will be used for the EU Trust Fund for Africa; whereas more than 5 billion has been spent on the needs of African countries in the context of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), and whereas 845 million has been allocated to the Pan-African Programme under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) to implement the Joint Africa-EU Strategy;

Amendment 220 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective and, therefore, public and universal health systems;

Amendment 221 #

Louis MICHEL, Charles GOERENS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Underlines that Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) are essential means for the implementation of the SDGs, as these drive social and economic development and can provide life-saving solutions that tackle poverty- related and neglected diseases in the African continent that disproportionately affect the most marginalised; calls for the Commission and Member States to improve both the financial and policy environment to promote STI through its development cooperation;

Amendment 222 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Supports targeted and coordinated policies, along with investment in health, and sexual and reproductive rights; helps the younger generations to prevent and reduce maternal and infant mortality by tackling violence against women, traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and forced and/or child marriage;

Amendment 223 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Underlines the importance to protect children and women from violence and exploitation, especially as regards child marriage and harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, and to enhance access to reproductive health services for women and girls;

Amendment 224 #

Louis MICHEL, Charles GOERENS, Thierry CORNILLET

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Reiterates the need to ensure respect of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in line with the Agenda 2030 and Policy Coherence for Development;

Amendment 225 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Considers that greater investment in the access to healthcare for family planning is necessary; notes the inadequate access to contraception in Sub-Saharan Africa; believes that greater investment in that policy would help to mitigate the negative impact of the reinstatement of the ‘global gag rule’;

Amendment 226 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Notes the problems arising from the urbanization and explosive growth of megacities and the challenges this poses for social, economic and environmental resilience; calls for balanced regional and local social and economic development to relieve the pressure to migrate to urban megacentres, thus alleviating the problems of uncontrolled urbanization.

Amendment 227 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Recalls that Africa is one of the largest pools of cultural diversity; emphasises the undeniable link between culture and development and the importance of drawing up a sub-regional strategy for development, to promote culture and to protect heritage.

Amendment 228 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Stresses the fact that democracy is a universal value which can be part of any culture

Amendment 229 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Notes the focus put by the Commission in its Communication “for a renewed impetus of the Africa - EU Partnership” on reducing migration and refugee flows; deems that this approach is not constructive for an EU - AU partnership, while prioritising migration risks distorting and damaging development policies aimed at poverty alleviation; against this background, reiterates that ODA should not be diverted away from its ultimate objective of reducing poverty;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the next Africa-EU Summit, which will take place in Abidjan on 29 and 30 November 2017 on the topic of ‘Investing in Youth’, is an opportunity to create, support and develop economic conditions of true equality between partners wanting to defend key common interests;

Amendment 230 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Recalls that the EU should further support the AU’s priority in improving remittance mechanisms as remittances make up a larger flow of money to developing countries than the total ODA and can significantly contribute to achieving Agenda 2030;

Amendment 231 #

György HÖLVÉNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls that migration and mobility have an economic, security-related, social, environmental and political impact between and within our continents, and that this challenge must be tackled in a ~~manner which is coordinated between the EU and Africa;~~coordinated manner between the EU and Africa that aims at maximising the synergies and applying the necessary leverage, using all relevant EU policies, instruments and tools, including development and trade.

Amendment 232 #

Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Patrizia TOIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls that migration ~~and mobility have~~has an economic, social, environmental and political impact and that this challenge must be tackled in a manner which is ~~coordinated~~responsible and collaborative between the EU and Africa;

Amendment 233 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls that migration and mobility have an economic, social, environmental and political impact and that this challenge must be tackled in a manner which is coordinated between the EU and Africa; and which takes into consideration the crucial role played by diaspora, youth diaspora and diaspora organizations;; calls on the EU to strengthen multi- stakeholder partnerships by enhancing CSOs experiences at community level and identifying best practices, implemented at different latitudes along the migration path, which deal with the arrival and the integration of refugees, tailored to respond to the real needs of the people.

Amendment 234 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Considers that Africa and Europe have a shared interest and a shared responsibility concerning migration and that the crisis calls for global solutions based on solidarity, responsibility sharing, the respect of migrants' rights and the principle of non-refoulement; stresses that a strong cooperation between African countries and the EU, and in particular between countries on the two sides of the Mediterranean, is key in fighting against the trafficking of human beings and the smuggling of migrants; supports, in this regard, the implementation of comprehensive policy and legal frameworks based on the Unconventional against Transnational Organised crime and its protocols.

Amendment 235 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Recalls the positive impact that migration and mobility have on the host societies, to which they contribute culturally, socially and financially; recalls the positive impact that economic returns have on the home societies, and the intellectual exchange between both continents;

Amendment 236 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Recalls that a coherent European migration policy based on respect and human dignity is necessary; recalls that such an approach requires international cooperation between the countries of origin, transit and destination countries;

Amendment 237 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Acknowledges that the increase in human mobility, if managed in a safe, orderly, regular and responsible manner, can provide significant benefits, as recognised by the 2030 Agenda

Amendment 238 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Recalls the EU’s responsibility, through the action of its companies and foreign, economic and trade policies, for the root causes of forced migration, as well as poverty, unemployment, exploitation, environmental problems stemming from the unrestrained exploitation of natural resources and from climate change;

Amendment 239 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA, Paavo VÄYRYNEN, Louis MICHEL, Charles GOERENS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Proposes that the framework and structures to be put in place in the countries of origin should be looked at with a view to receiving those turned away at EU borders in a manner that maintains their dignity.

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas a stable regulatory and institutional environment and a healthy economy are essential elements for ensuring competitiveness, investments, job creation, a higher standard of living and sustainable growth;

Amendment 240 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)

24c. Calls on the EU and all its Member States to immediately suspend all readmission agreements with African countries whose governments continually violate the human rights of their people, and reminds the EU and its Member States of their obligation to guarantee and respect migrants’ rights to international protection;

Amendment 241 #

György HÖLVÉNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. ~~Wishes to see migration and mobility~~Sees migration and mobility as a pressing issue for both developing and developed countries, because migration is a complex, global, long-lasting phenomenon requiring a carefully designed, balanced, evidence-based and sustainable policy response which shall respect national competences approached as reciprocal development tools for the two continents, with a long-term strategy which takes into account demographic perspectives;

Amendment 242 #

Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Wishes to see migration a~~nd mobility approached as reciprocal development tools for the two~~ddressed with a long-term strategy which considers demographic perspectives and helps the intellectual and economic elites to remain on the African continents,; wi~~th a long-term strategy which takes into account demographic perspectives~~shes to see European universities open affiliates in large African capitals to educate the African elites where they are rather than granting them student visas used to empty the continent of tomorrow’s elite;

Amendment 243 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Wishes to see migration and mobility approached as reciprocal development tools for the two continents, with a long-term strategy which takes into account demographic perspectives; welcomes the plan to expand African countries’ participation in Erasmus+ programmes with the goal to encourage mobility of staff, students and young people. Notes the need that ensuring circular migration is possible within these programmes is essential to ensure it contributes to sustainable development;

Amendment 244 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

Amendment 245 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Encourages a change to be considered to the way that development aid is spent as regards investment in human capital in the developing African countries; believes that some funds might be used to finance highly specialised education of those countries’ citizens not in Africa but in the European Union, in particular in the following sectors: healthcare, construction industry, infrastructure, environment, economy, management and entrepreneurship;

Amendment 246 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Calls upon the EU to support and encourage increasing and better-targeted budgets allocated to education and exchange programs, in order to promote the free movement of young people between EU and African countries and generate a multi-cultural dialogue between the two continents; calls for a discussion on the recognition by the EU of certificates and diplomas issued by African schools and universities;

Amendment 247 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Support~~Notes the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently; reiterates its call for creating avenues for legal migration, in line with the recommendations of the Valletta Action Plan;

Amendment 248 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Support~~Notes the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; And calls for ~~their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently~~sustainable development policies designed to improve the living conditions of the entire population and not ones that are conditioned by the EU’s economic and migration policy interests;

Amendment 249 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Supports the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently; reiterates its concerns that these new policies and financial instruments may be implemented to the detriment of development objectives; asks for a stronger scrutiny role of the European Parliament in this regard to ensure that the new funding tools are compatible with EU legal basis, principles and commitments; rejects the idea of conditionality of aid based on border control, management of migratory flows or readmission agreements as the basis of partnership and cooperation with third countries;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the EU is engaged with the African countries in a political institutional dialogue advanced through the EU-Africa summits, the intergovernmental organisation the ‘Union for the Mediterranean’ (UfM) and the ACP-EU cooperation bodies, including at parliamentary level via the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the EU Delegation to the UfM Parliamentary Assembly and with the Pan-African Parliament;

Amendment 250 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Supports the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently; notes the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa remains severely underfunded; welcomes the European External Investment Plan on the condition that it could really deliver on its commitments to mobilize investments in Africa, support inclusive and sustainable growth and stimulate jobs creation thus contributing to address the root causes of migration.

Amendment 251 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Supports the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently; calls on the European Commission to introduce more flexible financial instruments and to explore a more flexible use of existing tools in order to enhance possible synergies among different instruments, programmes and activities, both in internal and external action;

Amendment 252 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 253 #

Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 254 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY

Amendment 255 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Opposes the progressive movement of the EU’s external borders to different African countries including Morocco, Libya, Niger and Chad; opposes the fact that funds earmarked for cooperation policy are being sent to programmes whose sole objective is to stop the arrival of migrants or asylum seekers and to hold them in third countries or deport them;

Amendment 256 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Recognises the special position of the diaspora in both the receiving countries and the countries of origin by sending considerable funds; wishes that the diaspora could act as a source of information on the dangers linked to irregular migration and contribute to social inclusion in the receiving country.

Amendment 257 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26a. Takes the view that it would be useful to consider technical support for the project managers in the ACP countries, designed to guarantee access and the efficient and effective use of EU Funds, the EDF in particular;

Amendment 258 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)

26b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to carry out an investigation into the activities of European companies in Africa and to launch programmes to prevent human exploitation, one of the main causes of forced migration;

Amendment 259 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)

26c. Condemns the intervention of Member-State armed forces in African countries including Libya, Niger and Mali; condemns the sales of arms by EU companies to African countries where there are high levels of repression or armed conflicts; recalls that this kind of violence is one of the main causes of forced migration;

Amendment 26 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the new joint Africa-EU strategy must be included in the future Post-Cotonou agreement;

Amendment 260 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 d (new)

26d. Condemns the political support given, by signing migration agreements such as the Trust Fund for Africa and the EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative, to the governments of dictators such as the Sudanese Omar al-Bashir, for whom the International Criminal Court have issued a warrant for arrest, and to repressive governments and those which systematically violate human rights; expresses concern over how those governments could use the funds for tasks such as border control or the detention of migrants;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the ~~EU is a~~permanent members of the UN Security Council are major guarantors of the security of the continent of Africa and whereas instability in Africa has a direct impact on the stability inof European societies;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the EU is a ~~major guarantor of~~long-standing partner for the security of the continent of Africa and whereas instability in Africa has a direct impact on stability in Europe;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the ~~EU is a major guarantor of the~~ security of the continent of Africa is of the utmost importance and whereas instability in Africa has a direct impact on stability in Europe;

Amendment 3 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9

— having regard to the conclusions of the 4th EU-Africa summit held in Brussels on 2 and 3 April 2014, the roadmap for the format of the meetings (Cairo format) and the areas of cooperation between the two continents for the period 2014-2017 and the EU-Africa declaration on migration and mobility,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the ~~EU is a major guarantor of the security of the continent of Afr~~political, economica and ~~whereas instability~~social situation in Africa has a direct impact on ~~stability in Europe~~the political, economic and social situation in Europe, and vice versa;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the EU is a major guarantor of the security of the continent of Africa and whereas instability in Africa has a direct impact on stability in Europe; whereas constant support for the effective implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture is essential.

Amendment 32 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the European Union, the African Union and other international players present in Africa, particularly China, should engage in a multilateral partnership for the development and stability of the African continent;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the paucity of employment opportunities, owing to the economic situation in some countries, could cause part of the population to migrate, sometimes illegally, particularly to the EU, and whereas development aid should therefore be increased to enable the population to find suitable employment in their country;

Amendment 34 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas migration features prominently in the EU global strategy on foreign and security policy and constitutes a priority topic in the EU’s external relations including its relations with Africa; and whereas the priorities identified by Africa on migration differ from the EU-centred approach to tackling migration to the EU;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas those migration phenomena fuel intolerable human trafficking and could exacerbate populism in some European countries;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital e a (new)

Ea. whereas the new EU-Africa action plan on migration is intended to combat trafficking networks, to improve the security situation in Libya and to further specific measures to help asylum seekers from Chad and Niger.

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas 343 of the 487 least developed countries are in Africa, which makes the EU-Africa partnership a vital tool for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the attainment of the sustainable development goals, particularly the eradication of poverty;

Amendment 38 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas demographic trends will have to be taken into account, bearing in mind that by 2050 ~~Africa is expected to~~, according to some estimates, Africa could have a population of 2.5 billion, most of them young people;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas demographic trends will have to be taken into account, bearing in mind that by 2050 Africa is expected to have a population of 2.5 billion, most of them young people, whilst Europe is expected to have a significantly older population, with an average age of 49 and 11% of the population being aged 80 or older, according to estimates;

Amendment 4 #

Maurice PONGA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the report on the draft recommendations on the institutional reform of the African Union prepared by H.E. Paul Kagame, with the title: ‘The Imperative to Strengthen our Union’,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas demographic trends will have to be taken into account, bearing in mind that by 2050 Africa is expected to have a population of 2.5 billion, most of them young people; whereas there is a need to help with and support the empowerment of women and young people, particularly by means of education, access to healthcare and training;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas demographic trends will have to be taken into account, bearing in mind that by 2050 Africa is expected to have a population of 2.5 billion, most of them young people;, leaving no doubt of the crucial need to generate millions of jobs

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the financial autonomy of the African Union is necessary to give impetus to the process of political African integration; whereas the 2016 Kaberuka plan has created expectations regarding the sustainable financing of the African Union, through a 0.2% levy on imports entering the African continent; and whereas the JAES calls for adapting the legal and financial frameworks to the needs and objectives of the partnership;

Amendment 43 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas gender is a cross-cutting driver of development, as identified in the SDGs; whereas both the African union and the EU put gender equality at the centre of their development strategies, the consensus on development and agenda 2063;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Considers the principal objective of cooperation between the EU and Africa to be tackling the main causes of the inequality and impoverishment in African countries, such as: the despoilment and monopolisation of resources by multinationals; the direct and indirect backing of despotic and corrupt governments by the EU Member States; the arms trade, a catalyst of conflicts; and the devastating effects of paying foreign debt which greatly hinders the introduction of policies and the development of public services to uphold human rights;

Amendment 45 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of thise new communication, which aims to impart fresh impetus to the Africa-EU partnership in order to broaden and intensify it, gearing it to prosperity and stability on the two continents, in accordance with the commitments given in subscribing to the SDGs~~, the new European consensus for development, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and Agenda 2063~~ and human rights;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of this new communication~~, which aims to impart~~ and strongly encourages the EU towards a fresh impetus to the Africa-EU partnership in order to broaden and intensify it, gearing it to prosperity and stability on the two continents, in accordance with the commitments given in subscribing to the SDGs~~, the new European consensus for development, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and Agenda 2063~~;

Amendment 47 #

Norbert NEUSER, Cécile Kashetu KYENGE, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Vincent PEILLON

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Welcomes this new communication~~Takes note of the Communication entitled “For a Renewed Impetus of the Africa - EU Partnership”, which aims to impart fresh impetus to the Africa-EU partnership in order to broaden and intensify it, gearing it to prosperity and stability on the two continents, in accordance with the commitments given in subscribing to the SDGs, the new European consensus for development, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and Agenda 2063;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes this new communication, which aims to impart fresh impetus to the Africa-EU partnership in order to broaden and intensify it, gearing it to prosperity and stability on the two continents, in accordance with the commitments given in subscribing to the SDGs, the new European consensus for development, which serves as guideline for European development policy, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and Agenda 2063;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the importance of Africa as a key strategic partner and a priority for the EU; underlines that today the EU is collectively Africa's main foreign investor, its principle trading partner, a key security provider, its main source of remittances and its first partner in development and humanitarian assistance; acknowledges that the profound economic, political and societal changes underway in Africa, have an important impact on EU priorities and interests;

Amendment 5 #

Maurice PONGA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)

- having regard to the 3rd Civil Society Intercontinental Forum which took place in Tunis from 11 to 13 July 2017, calling for greater engagement of civil society organisations and for individuals from civil society to be placed at the centre of EU-Africa strategy,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that for more than 10 years, China has been asserting and strengthening its presence in Africa by establishing itself as the main partner of a number of African States, in the areas of infrastructure and foreign trade; also notes that structured cooperation between the EU, AU, China and other partners present in Africa could create new impetus for development in Africa

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. CWhile considersing it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment, education and youth, believes that forging a real partnership implies to tackle equally Africa’s top priorities, including their concerns regarding the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreement, especially in terms of regional integration and industrialisation;

Amendment 52 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’, equal and sustainable cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment, urbanization of megacities, gender, education and youth;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation ~~to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance~~particularly in priority areas such as the development and improvement of universal public services with a view to covering basic needs such as food, access to water and sanitation, education and health; sustainable and inclusive social and economic development and the democratisation of the economy via state control of strategic sectors; the creation of quality jobs, good governance and political engagement, security, migration, the environment, education and youth;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment~~, education and youth~~ and human development through education, health, science, technology and innovation;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment, education and youth, human rights, the rights of the child and gender equality;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Invites the EU and the AU to have a frank dialogue on EPAs to evaluate to what extent they contribute to the realisation of the economic goals of the AU’s 2063 Agenda, particularly the goal to increase intra-African trade to 50%by 2050;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Welcomes the fact that the main topic of the 5th EU-Africa Summit, which will take place in Ivory Coast in November 2017, is youth given its importance for the future of both continents;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls the recognised effectiveness of ACP-EU cooperation and the results achieved in the field of development; stresses that this common framework must be maintained, while developing the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation withStresses the need to streamline the various policy frameworks between the EU and Africa; notes that the EU and the regions/countries of the ACP increasingly choose other political frameworks than the Cotonou Partnership Agreement to develop collective action and articulate interests on these global challenges, as in the case of the African Union and the rRegional eEconomic cCommunities, that have become the main interlocutor for the EU and other global players;

Amendment 59 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Recalls the recognised~~ Notes the ineffectiveness of ACP- EU cooperation ~~and the results achieved~~ ; stresses that a common framework which is geared towards strengthening the ~~field of development; stresses that this common framework~~states, mutual understanding and upholding the sovereignty of all the states must be maintained, while developing the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation with the African Union and the regional economic communities;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)

- having regard to the Africa-EU Civil Society Forum Declaration of 12 July 2017 in Tunis,

Amendment 60 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Rec~~Calls for the ~~recognised~~strengthening of the effectiveness of ACP-EU cooperation ~~and the results achieved~~in order to achieve concrete results in the field of development; stresses that this common framework must be maintained, while developing the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation with the African Union and the regional economic communities;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls the ~~recognised effectiveness~~importance of ACP-EU cooperation and notes the results achieved in the field of development; stresses that this common framework must be maintained, while developing the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation with the African Union and the regional economic communities;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls the recognised effectiveness of ACP-EU cooperation and the results achieved in the field of development; stresses that this common framework ~~must be maintained, while developing~~and a legally binding framework with the ACP Group after 2020 must be maintained, and stresses the need to step up the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation with the African Union and the regional economic communities;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

Amendment 64 #

Bogdan Brunon WENTA, Maurice PONGA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that the 2007 JAES stresses the need for a continent-to- continent partnership between the EU and AU, where Africa is treated as one and stresses that the partnership is based on common interests and objectives; recalls that developing this EU-AU partnership enables further regionalization and should be considered as an option for ACP relations post-Cotonou;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Reaffirms the need to adopt, within the Africa-EU partnership, an approach coordinated among the EU Member States themselves and between the EU and its Member States, as provided for by Article 210 TFEU; recalls likewise the necessary respect for the EU principle of ~~the consistency of policies with d~~Policy Coherence for Development ~~goals~~;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that non-aid policies in the EU and Africa need to be better geared towards attaining the SDGs, including by ensuring Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). To this end, the EU and the AU should enhance coherence between all policies and initiatives with development objectives;

Amendment 67 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recognises the added value of decentralised cooperation rooted in the local area and in the interaction between social, economic and institutional persons, and reiterates its contribution to sustainability, the strengthening of civil society and good governance.

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Reiterates that it is important that the Member States fulfil their commitment to directing 0.7% of their GDP to official development assistance to strengthen cooperation with Africa;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Endorses the stated desire to intensify ~~alliances~~dialogue to tackle global ~~governance~~cooperation issues between the EU and Africa; stresses, in this context, the need to step up the dialogue with the AU and the importance of ensuring its financial autonomy by reducing its dependence on external financing;

Amendment 7 #

Norbert NEUSER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

- having regard to the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems that were developed in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS-RAI), in order to contribute to the attainment of SDGs one and two,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Endorses the stated desire to intensify alliances to tackle global governance issues between the EU and Africa; stresses, in this context, the need to step up the dialogue with the AU and the importance of ensuring its financial autonomy, in accordance with the Kigali Decision on Financing, by reducing its dependence on external financing;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Takes note of the proposals put forward in the report drawn up by H.E. Paul Kagame, ‘The Imperative to Strengthen our Union’, on AU institutional reform in relation to the following four areas: - focusing the AU on key priorities with continental scope - realigning the structure of AU institutions to deliver on key priorities - managing the AU efficiently and effectively at both political and operational levels - financing the AU themselves and to do so sustainably;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the role played by civil society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), parliamentary assemblies, the diaspora, youth organisations, the private sector and local authorities in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the role played by civil society, the private sector, trade unions and local authorities in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the role played by civil society, the private sector, the parliamentary assemblies and local authorities in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa;

Amendment 75 #

Patrizia TOIA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the role played by civil society, the private sector and local authorities, each one of them with its own specific features, in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses the role played by civil society, the private sector and local authorities in consolidating the political dialogue between the EU and Africa; calls, therefore, for greater intercontinental dialogue to be established between all stakeholders to ensure a people-focused partnership;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Reiterates the need to reconsider and broaden political dialogue on key common challenges such as terrorism, migration, climate change, and on the individual needs of partner countries such as economic development, diversification, the establishment of value chains;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses the importance of including the principles of transparency and good governance in the EU-Africa Strategy and its planning, implementation and evaluation;

Amendment 79 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses th~~e need to~~at the expiry of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020 provides the opportunity to review the partnership and further increase the participation of civil society in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. having regard to the historical debt that EU Member States continue to owe African countries as a result of colonialist policies and the impoverishment caused by the despoilment and exploitation of their human and natural resources;

Amendment 80 #

Pier Antonio PANZERI, Maria ARENA, Elly SCHLEIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society and social partners in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of ~~its~~their capacities and ensuring their involvement in the design and implementation of relevant reforms and policies; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap;

Amendment 81 #

György HÖLVÉNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society, churches and faith-based organisations in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society, a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society and trade unions in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap;

Amendment 83 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum (JAF), whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap; nonetheless condemns the fact that the JAF has never been held and calls on the EU and the AU to immediately put in place the financial and political means needed to ensure the meaningful participation of all stakeholders in the partnership;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to increase the participation of civil society in the Africa- EU partnership, promoting the reinforcement of its capacities; supports the various platforms established to make civil society a key actor in the partnership, particularly the Joint Annual Forum, whose aim is to implement the EU-Africa roadmap; stresses the need to put in place a space in which the members of civil society can participate at the 5th Africa- EU Summit;

Amendment 85 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Rejects any kind of cooperative approach and/or political dialogue with African countries based on defence and the conditionality of development cooperation regarding the EU’s migration, border and trade policies and/or the economic interests of European companies; is opposed to funds from the European Development Fund or the Development Cooperation Instrument being used to control and manage migration flows in Africa and calls for effective mechanisms to be put in place to be able to thoroughly control the final destination of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and to assess the projects which received funding;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses that European civil society supports the creation and strengthening of NGOs by transferring expertise in order to help them to contribute to the development of partner countries;

Amendment 87 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls that the private sector is a key partner in achieving the SDGs and has an important role to play in fostering civic space and in promoting an enabling environment for CSOs and trade unions

Amendment 88 #

Louis MICHEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses the key role of the diaspora as a development partner at national and regional levels; supports all initiatives taken to promote the transfer of knowledge and the reconstruction of fragile states; encourages the diaspora to be involved in building national and institutional capacities

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Emphasises that it is important that the main aims of EU-Africa cooperation are to achieve gender equality, empower women and to promote respect for diversity in sexual orientations and gender identity;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas the security of the European continent as well as its capacity to maintain a sustainable growth closely and immediately depend on the stability and the development of the African continent;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Building more resilient States and societies for the benefit of young people, women and other cross cutting drivers of development in order to attain the SDGs

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Building more resilient States and societies for the benefit of ~~young~~all people, particularly the youth, in order to attain the SDGs

Amendment 92 #

Thierry CORNILLET, Catherine BEARDER, Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. CRecalls that according to the OECD, 1.6 billion people live in 56 countries identified as fragile1a and that situations of fragility increase the vulnerability of populations due to various factors including conflict and insecurity, forced displacement, extreme poverty, food insecurity, economic shocks, poor governance, weak institutions and natural disasters; considers it necessary to make resilience – in all its five dimensions – a major component of the new EU-Africa strategy; _________________ 1aOECD (2016), States of Fragility 2016: Understanding violence, OECD publishing, Paris

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Considers it necessary to make resilience, in other words the ability of a country to withstand, adapt and overcome difficulties such as violence, conflict and natural disasters, – in all its five dimensions – a major component of the new EU-Africa strategy;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Recognizes the importance of demographic dynamics in Africa in the 21st century making so that by 2050 Africa’s population will be 2.4 billion of predominantly young people; points out that according to projections, sub- Saharan Africa will need to create 18 million new jobs each year up to 2035 to absorb new labour market entrants thus avoiding serious consequences for the stability of societies; insists the creation of sustainable jobs, especially for young people, should be one of the priorities of EU actions in Africa; welcomes the proposal to extend support for Vocational Education and Training and Entrepreneurship by launching an EU Vet Facility to help target countries’ national stakeholders to fill the gap between the needs and opportunities of the labour market and the qualifications of graduates while at the same time promoting inclusion of vulnerable groups;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Recognises the importance of youth as a driving force for the continent’s future; acknowledges that while education in most African countries has increased significantly in the last years, many young people, especially girls, still do not complete primary education and more than 48 million youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are illiterate; calls for a strengthened support of quality education at all levels through improved bilateral programmes and the continued support of global initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Education; stresses the importance of promoting mobility partnerships, tackling the phenomenon of brain drain and supporting programs such as Erasmus+ and of harmonization of higher education through cross-border programmes and the recognition of qualifications;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote ~~good governance~~the stability of states, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises th~~e need to promote~~at good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights~~, but also efforts to combat corruption on both contin~~ are indispensable for sustainable development and long-term security improvements, asnd the~~y are indispensable elements in sustainable development~~se values should therefore not be subordinated to security concerns;

Amendment 98 #

Marina ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Stelios KOULOGLOU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development; recognize that the strategic engagement of CSOs is essential to building capacity of local civil society and to making governments publicly accountable; calls on the EU to introduce a positive conditionality in general and sectoral budget support that foresees the involvement of CSOs at programming, implementing and monitoring stages as a means to provide to the population quality basic services and to prevent corruption;

Amendment 99 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises the need to promote good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption and to introduce policies which would further diversified, sustainable and inclusive growth and which have a clear social approach based on the redistribution of wealth, which would answer the calls of the people and tackle inequality effectively on both continents, as they are indispensable elements in sustainable development;

source: 610.554

2017/09/12 LIBE 84 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph –1 (new)

-1. whereas Africa and the European Union are linked by issues of migration and mobility and face common challenges with regard to security and measures against organised and crossborder crime;whereas it is necessary to tackle these issues together in a practical way;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Recognises the disparities in development among the various countries in Africa;encourages the European Union to cooperate with strategic partners and leading countries which, politically, economically and socially, can create in Africa a climate conducive to growth and development, particularly by means of bilateral agreements and regional strategies, thus making it possible to combat the underlying causes of migration between Africa and Europe;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Considers that, while the EU- Africa partnership should be a central element in our development aid policies and in action taken in Africa, it is the African countries and their leaders that remain primarily responsible for the future of their own continent;considers therefore that the European Union should support efforts by African leaders to promote a stable and prosperous environment in Africa and cooperation based on our shared interests in peace, security and good governance;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU arcan be beneficial to both continents only if it’s guaranteed that migration flows are limited to the hospitality and integration capacity of hosting States, and if it’s guaranteed the respect of laws, customs and traditions of hosting communities, and that a holistic approach to migration and mobility is paramount for boosting sustainable development, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU are beneficial to both continents, and that a holistic approach to migration and mobility is paramount for boosting sustainable development, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights; encourages the Commission to develop new mobility and migration partnerships with African partner countries;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. PRecalls that, in Africa, international migration concerns fewer than 35 million people, and that more than 85% of migration is within Africa itself; points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU armay have beneficial toeffects on both continents~~, and that a holistic approach to migration and mobility is paramount for~~ from both the economic and the demographic point of view, and that a holistic approach would make it possible to boost~~ing~~ sustainable development, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights;

Amendment 15 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Harald VILIMSKY, Auke ZIJLSTRA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU are benef~~In the light of uncontrolled migration from the African Continent to Europe, points out that the EU must adapt its policiales to ~~both continents, and that a holistic approach to migration and mobility is paramount for~~reduce pull factors and to assist the stability and prosperity of the countries of migration, this will be beneficial to both continents with the effect of boosting sustainable development, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU ~~are beneficial~~is a huge problem to both continents~~, and that a holistic~~. A concrete approach to migration and mobility is paramount for boosting sustainable development~~, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human righ~~ for both continents;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU are beneficial to both continents, and that a holistic approach to migration and mobility is paramount for boosting sustainable development, promoting democracy, the rule of law, good governance and human rightconcern and fall within the remit of the African Union and its sovereign member states, while migratory flows from Africa to the EU should be subject to extensive discussion between the Union and the African states;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Stresses that the EU should re- centre development cooperation exclusively on the ﬁght against the root causes of poverty, should end conditionality of aid relating to achieving migration objectives in bilateral and multilateral negotiations and should delink development cooperation from assistance on readmission and migration management.EU external migration policies should be based on dialogue and positive incentives, with human rights at their core centre;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Remembers that immigration is not desirable neither for migrants, constrained to abandon their own native country, nor for those populations who host them, which found themselves, without having chosen it, in front of complex socio-cultural and urban changing phenomena.

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that, once implemented, the EU-Africa strategy should ~~address all aspects of migration, international protec~~tackle all root causes and radically reduce illegal migration and forced displacement, with a focus on the principles of ~~solidarity,~~fair and honest partnership and ~~shared responsibility, and mutual accountability in respect of~~respect of legal commitments with regards to international protection provisions for displaced persons, as well as the continuous, inalienable and non- negotiable respect of democratic principles, the rule of law, good governance, and human rights;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance for the future of Africa of mobility for its young people, recalls that one mobile student in ten worldwide is an African student, and that half of them come to Europe, but that this proportion is falling, with corresponding rises in the numbers going, in particular, to the Persian Gulf countries and Turkey;

Amendment 21 #

Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Emphasises that good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are crucial elements in sustainable development and should be a priority for EU funding and development cooperation, including funds for the purpose of migration management;

Amendment 22 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Auke ZIJLSTRA, Harald VILIMSKY, Gilles LEBRETON, Nicolas BAY, Janice ATKINSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Notes that mass migration policy enforced by the EU is never the solution to solve the demographic challenges

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Calls in particular for implementation of the Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third- country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing for the benefit of African students;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, infringements of human rights, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters and chronic poverty have led to increased mobility in recent years; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, and calls on the EU and its Member States in this regard to sign the International Convention of 1990 on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, corruption, criminality, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters and chronic poverty have ~~led to increased mobility~~been major push factors in migration in recent years; ~~stres~~recognises that while refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights ~~and fundamental freedoms~~nevertheless the security, stability and cohesion of European countries must be the first priority;

Amendment 26 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Harald VILIMSKY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Recognises~~Points out that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters and chronic poverty have led to increased mobility in recent years~~; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms~~, which is still fuelled by the same root causes and pressures; stresses that human rights and fundamental freedoms merit universal recognition and respect, but the applied practice over time is far from the desirable state;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters and chronic poverty have led to increased mobility in recent years; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedomsto prevent concretely, and not with empty words, violent armed wars and conflicts, it is necessary to act on arms trade as a matter of principle;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters and chronic poverty have led to ~~increased mobility~~mass population movements and a great increase in migration to Europe in recent years; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 29 #

Miltiadis KYRKOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, climate change, natural disasters and chronic poverty have led to increased mobility in recent years; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that, once implemented, the EU-Africa strategy should address all aspects of migration, inter~~national protection and forced displacement, with a focus on the princip~~rorism, corruption and good governance, with a view to improving rules of ~~solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility, and mutual accountability in respect of human right~~law and human rights of citizens of African countries;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that violent conflicts, persecution, inequality, terrorism, repressive regimes, natural disasters, climate change and chronic poverty have led to increased mobility in recent years; stresses that refugees and migrants have the same universal human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls for safe and legal channels to be established, including by means of humanitarian corridors and visas, for people seeking international protection;stresses the need to create and to implement more effectively frameworks for the protection of migrants in distress at borders and in the European Union;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Re~~iterates the importance of addressing the root causes of largemovementsof refugees and migrants~~calls that the majority of refugees and migrants find refuge in developing countries, and that populationmovementsprimarily take place within and between those countries;stresses that those countries' aid systems face major challenges, which are liable to seriously compromise the protection of a growing displaced population;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees and migrantsby combating corruption, organised crime and terrorist organisations which destabilise many countries in Africa and create an environment that is not particularly favourable to growth, employment and investment;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees and migrants; recalls that such efforts must entail enhanced political dialogue and cooperation to promote the rule of law, good governance, democracy, fundamental rights and gender equality;

Amendment 35 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Harald VILIMSKY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees and migrants, but acknowledges the insufficient efficiency of this solution in the short term;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Reiterates~~ the importance of addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees and migrants starts from addressing the chronic issue of African debts;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates the importance of addressing illegal migration and the root causes of ~~large~~ movements of refugee~~s and~~ seekers and illegal migrants;

Amendment 38 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Auke ZIJLSTRA, Harald VILIMSKY

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that terrorism is an international phenomenon which has major security implications both in Africa and in Europe;calls on the European Union and Africa to intensify their cooperation and promote exchanges of information between the partner countries to combat terrorism, in order to dismantle terrorist networks and apprehend dangerous and/or wanted individuals;

Amendment 39 #

Soraya POST

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. In particular highlights violence against and persecution of people on the grounds of their race, ethnicity, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, which violate international human rights obligations and fundamental freedoms as well as hindering development and lead to large movement of refugees and migrants;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that~~, once implemented,~~ the EU-Africa strategy should address all aspects of migration, international protection and forced displacement~~, with a focus on the principles of solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility, and mutual accountability in respect of human rights~~ starting from the necessity of assuring, as well declared by his Holiness the Pope Joseph Ratzinger, the "right to not emigrate";

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Recalls that terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, drugs trafficking and trafficking in wild animal species, as well as piracy, have an undeniable impact on development policies in Africa;considers the EU-Africa partnership to be a vital tool in efforts to combat terrorist financing;calls for a joint effort to improve the transparency and traceability of international financial flows;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Expresses its concern about the growing radicalisation of young people in Africa and Europe and the threat to international security arising from that phenomenon;calls upon each State to establish national policies for the prevention of radicalisation;encourages cooperation and exchanges of good practice to prevent radicalisation, and deradicalisation policies;recalls that departures to join terrorist organisations occur on all continents and that only increased international cooperation will make it possible to detect effectively the movements of these 'foreign fighters';

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

Amendment 43 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Draws attention to the fact~~Recommends that the Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue should f~~acilit~~ocus on legal, controlled and coordinated m~~obility and free movement of people in Africa and between Africa and the EU on the basis of a well-managed rights-based approach including safe and legal~~igration between the two regions and shall facilitate mutual movement and mobility of people in Africa and between Africa and the EU on the basis of the internal needs and sovereign will and desire of member states, with absolute respect to rule of law and fundamental rights, while robustly repressing smuggling and trafficking acts and preventing use of any chlan~~nels for migration~~destine or irregular migratory channels;

Amendment 44 #

Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to the fact that the Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue should facilitate mobility and free movement of people in Africa and between Africa and the EU on the basis of a well- managed rights-based approach including safe and legal channels for migration; recalls that the EU should develop and strengthen these safe and legal channels for migration, not only for the resettlement of vulnerable refugees but also for economic migration to take place in a sustainable and structured manner;

Amendment 45 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Harald VILIMSKY, Nicolas BAY, Gilles LEBRETON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to the fact that the Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue should facilitate mobility and free movement of people in Africa and between Africa and the EU on the basis of a well- managed rights-based approach including safe and legal channels for migration; calls on the EU, in this context, to sign mobility partnership agreements with third countries to facilitate family reunification and mobility for persons of all skills levels, including the least qualified;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Draws attention to the fact that the Africa-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue should facilitate ~~mobility and free movement of people in Africa and between Africa and the EU on the basis of a well-managed rights-based approach including safe and legal channels for migration;~~concrete actions for the revival of the African continent,

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers that policies on mobility between Africa and the European Union should on no account result in a brain drain from Africa but should on the contrary place the emphasis on exchanges of knowlege in order to enable young people, in particular, who come from Africa to participate in the development of their countries of origin;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls for strengthened and genuine cooperation on the establishment of safe and legal ways for people to migrate, including for workers in medium and low-wage sectors and calls for the establishment of more flexible rules enabling family reunification;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls for the promotion of alternatives to irregular migration among African societies;

Amendment 5 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the links that exist between security and development, a principle reaffirmed in the Council's conclusions of May 2014 on the EU's comprehensive approach;observes that the climate of insecurity linked to the conflicts raging in Africa, as well as organised transnational crime and terrorism, is detracting from good governance in many African countries;considers that Africa can be developed only with democratic and transparent State structures which are completely resistant to corruption and act in the service of Africa's people;reaffirms, in this context, the need, in post-conflict situations, to link development aid to support for reforms to the security and justice systems;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Reiterates its call for reinforcement of legal channels for people who need international protection;recalls that the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are sheltering more than 26% of all the refugees in the world;calls on the European Union to display solidarity towards countries which receive these refugees, particularly by increasing its commitments to resettlement;calls, in this context, for the establishment of a European resettlement framework which can easily be acted upon by Member States and which encourages the Union and its Member States to play a crucial and exemplary role with regard to resettlement worldwide;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Calls furthermore on the European Union and its Member States to cooperate with and provide assistance to African countries that are faced with movements of refugees or prolonged crises, with a view to increasing their asylum capacities and protection systems;recalls that all cooperation with regard to migration and asylum must have the aim of promoting respect for the principles concerning fundamental rights that govern Europe's migration and asylum policies;

Amendment 52 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Recalls the importance of providing the maximum information to potential migrants regarding the dangers inherent in irregular migration routes, but also regarding their prospects within the European Union, particularly in the fields of employment and training;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)

5e. Recalls that two global compacts, relating to migration and refugees respectively, are to be drawn up by 2018 under the auspices of the United Nations and that it is desirable to step up the Africa-EU dialogue in advance in order, if possible, to identify shared priorities;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)

5f. Considers that policy on return should take greater account of the issue of the reintegration of the people concerned in their societies of origin and that programmes should be promoted to assist voluntary return and assist migrants who return;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for ~~effective, strengthened and systematic cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong and real resettlement policy and finan~~cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings, with the exception of countries where human rights and particularly the rights of migrants are not respected; recalls that this cooperation must never violate the rights of people who are in need of international protection or detract from the right to leave any country, including one's own; rejects any attempts to outsource the European Union’s migration policies; expresses its concern at the many negotiations on readmission and return and the increasingly systematic attachment of conditions to the signature of any European agreement, including agreements on visa facilitation; calls for the suspension of all readmission agreements with countries that do not respect human rights; calls on States to respect the international principle of non- refoulement, in accordance with international law, and especially in~~vestigation, in~~ cases where people risk being returned to countries where their lives would be in danger or the fy might ~~against trafficking and smuggling of human beings~~face torture or inhuman and degrading treatment; calls for the adoption of a strong and real resettlement policy by means, in particular, of permanent and compulsory resettlement programmes and the introduction of humanitarian visas for those fleeing conflict zones, including with the aim of making it possible to enter a third country to seek asylum there;

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for effective, strengthened and systematic cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong and real resettlement policy and ~~financial investigation, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human being~~a repatriation policy of people who have not eligibility criteria for political asylum or for other forms of international protection and financial investigation, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings; the provision of economical grants, supplied by the EU, shall be dependent on the concrete collaboration with African governments and on the achievement of prearranged objectives;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for effective, strengthened and systematic cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong and real resettlement policy ~~and financial investigation, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human being~~, in the fight against trafficking in migrants and trafficking and smuggling of human beings; recalls, in this context, that effective policies are needed to reinforce borders;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Calls for~~Expects effective, strengthened ~~and~~, systematic and binding cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong ~~and real~~, enforceable, conditional, and compulsory resettlement policy and financial investigation of suspect transactions, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings;

Amendment 59 #

Kati PIRI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for effective, strengthened and systematic cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong and real resettlement policy, joint programs for returnees and financial investigation, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Emphasizes the importance of moving away from a traditional donor- recipient relationship and the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, including the Northern African members of the African Union in the spirit of “Africa as one”, human rights-centred and based on shared values and interests, and a specific financial framework in order to tackle global issues such as migration, climate change, persisting starvation, poverty and inequality, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, environmental degradation, unemployment, terrorism and organised crime.

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for effective, strengthened and systematic cooperation with African countries of origin, transit and destination, including a strong and real resettlement policy and financial investigation, in the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the European Union and African countries to step up their cooperation and the efforts to put an end to trafficking by people smugglers operating between the two continents;calls for reflection on the means available to facilitate consideration within African territory of applications for asylum in Europe in order to prevent deadly sea crossings of the Mediterranean;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Welcomes the willingness to place the emphasis on youth within the Africa- EU partnership;calls on the European Union and its Member States to step up their cooperation with African countries to combat the enrolment of child soldiers, female genital mutilation, forced marriages and any other breaches of children's rights;

Amendment 63 #

Miltiadis KYRKOS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls the European Commission and the European External Action Service during the negotiation with African countries on the conclusion of economic partnership agreements and association agreements to keep as a priority the prevention of human trafficking which constitutes a serious violation of human rights;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that the concepts of safe third countries and safe countries of origin must not prevent the indiviual consideration of asylum applications and that under all circumstances migrants who need international protection must be able to submit their applications and have them considered in accordance with international law;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls for comprehensive dialogue and cooperation with African countries with regards to readmission agreements in order to fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings;

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Recalls that terrorism and organised crime are threats to both continents and that the dismantling of criminal networks and efforts to prevent impunity should be integral parts of Africa-EU cooperation in these fields;regards promotion of the rule of law and expansion of police and judicial capacities within African partner countries as priorities;calls for cooperation between those countries and the Union and the Eurojust and Europol agencies to be stepped up;

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises the strategic potential of ~~the~~ African diasporas worldwide in terms of both financial remittances and non- financial values, as regards capacity to build and promote peace, democracy, good governance and social stability; draws attention to the importance of engaging with those diasporas so as to ensure that development aid is effective and targeted at real needs, and to promote local ownership of development policies;

Amendment 68 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises the strategic potential of the African diaspora worldwide in terms of both financial remittances and non- financial values, as regards capacity to build and promote peace, democracy, good governance and social stability; points out that aid by migrants to their countries of origin is worth EUR 600 billion, including 400 billion for developing countries, which is nearly three times the amount of Official Development Aid;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Recognises~~Points out the strategic ~~potential~~contribution of the African diaspora ~~worldwide in terms of bot~~towards their countries of origin and the African continent due to the influx of foreign exchange through financial remittances, and ~~non- financial values, as regards capacity to build and promote peace, democracy, good governance and social stability~~recognises the additionally negative or destabilising dynamic that this transactional activity could potentially pose for the common currency on macroeconomic terms;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Emphasises that the Africa-EU strategy must be able to take into account the considerable diversity of African countries and must therefore be able to adapt to the specific circumstances of each partner country;

Amendment 70 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Harald VILIMSKY, Gilles LEBRETON, Nicolas BAY, Auke ZIJLSTRA, Janice ATKINSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises the ~~strategic potential of the~~ African diaspora world-wide i~~n terms of both financial remittances an~~s often a trauma for the local development of African countries, the development of a country can not be based non- a financial ~~values, as regards capacity to build and promote peace, democracy, good governance and social stability~~remittance system and Europe should not support such a development model;

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. In order to foster mutual understanding, to combat and to nip phenomena such as the traffic of human beings, social exclusion and lack of integration in the bud, the EU shall promote a communication strategy, addressed to African populations, in order to divulge common European values and traditions and procedures of lawful access into the EU.

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Calls for the creation of an enabling regulatory framework for cross- border payments, the introduction of incentives for lowering the cost of remittances and the improvement of undocumented migrants’ access to formal remittances by addressing the issue of identification;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7 b. Recognises that by 2050, Africa’s population will be 2.4 billion of predominantly young people[1];encourages EU to further identify and support initiatives inspired by youth promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights1a; _________________ 1a UN, World population prospects, 2015.

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

~~8. Recalls that African leaders made a pledge to accelerate growth, development, prosperity and good governance on the African continent by 2063;~~deleted

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls that African leaders made a pledge to accelerate growth, development, prosperity and good governance on the African continent by 2063; calls on the Union and its Member States to support developing countries so that they can adopt long-term policies that respect the rights to freedom of movement, education, health and employment; stresses the need for the Union and its Member States particularly to support the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their efforts to combat climate change, so as to avoid aggravating poverty in those countries;

Amendment 76 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Rec~~all~~ommends that African leaders ~~made a~~practically and actually pledge to accelerate ~~growth,~~ development, prosperity and good governance on the African continent ~~by 2063~~to the benefit of their citizens;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

~~9. Recommends further efforts to implement the Valletta Action Plan for humane and sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean.~~deleted

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Recommends further efforts to imp~~Notes the Valletta Action Plan for sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean; recommends the revaluation of the various available me~~nt the Valletta Action Plan for humane and sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean~~ans and solutions to minimise illegal migration and its causes, mainly via effectively combating smuggling and trafficking networks and disrupting the activities thereof, reinforcing the national coast guards and security forces of the Mediterranean countries that ensure enforcement principles of rule of law, and verifying the legality of actions and activities of NGO vessels.

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Recommends further efforts to implement the Valletta Action Plan for humane and sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean.;recalls the importance of initiatives to increase dialogue and cooperation relating to migration issues, such as the 'Rabat process' and 'Khartoum process';

Amendment 8 #

Lorenzo FONTANA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Examining the asylum applications directly in the third countries for asylum seekers;

Amendment 80 #

Lorenzo FONTANA, Auke ZIJLSTRA, Harald VILIMSKY, Janice ATKINSON

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Recommends further efforts to ~~implement the Valletta Action Plan for~~make it possible to implement humane and sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean. and recommends a firm commitment to act on the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants adopted by the UN General Assembly on 19 September 2016;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Recommends further efforts to implement ~~the Valletta Action Plan for humane and sustainable management of migration on both sides of the Mediterranean.~~bilateral agreements between Member States and African countries in order to identify beneficiaries of international protection and those who are not entitled to it before their departure;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls for an assessment of the Rabat and Khartoum processes and monitoring of the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa;calls also for an assessment of all the funds allocated under the new Africa-EU partnership so that they genuinely serve the goals of peace, economic and social development and building up public infrastructure, notably for education and health;stresses that allocation of these funds must be fully transparent and that they must not under any circumstances be allocated to countries whose governments violate human rights on a regular basis;

Amendment 83 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. As regards to our northern Africa neighbors, we underscore the need to revive the Maghreb Arab Union as a vehicle for a regional security cooperation, including the fighting against terrorism, the managing of migration flows, and the controlling of the regional borders

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Calls for greater parliamentary scrutiny of working arrangements agreed with third counties and of the external cooperation activities of the relevant EU agencies;

Amendment 9 #