2018/2236(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Point a a (new)

(aa) provide for regular and in-depth dialogue, notably on the ongoing political and democratic reforms aimed at creating independent institutions, such as the judiciary, and a genuinely independent parliament, on protecting human rights, media freedoms, and creating an environment in which a strong civil society can operate without undue interference from the state and where civil society is involved in the reform process;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q a (new)

(qa) call for the release of all individuals convicted on politically motivated charges, such as Akrom Malikov, Rustam Abdumannapov, Jamoliddin Abdurakhmanov, Mirsobir Hamidkariev, Andrei Kubati, Jahongir Kulidzhanov, Mirsobir Hamidkariev, Aramais Avakyan, Ruhiddin Fahriddinov, Ravshan Kosimov, Viktor Shin, and Alisher Achildiev, Aziz Yusupov; and calls for the establishment of an independent mechanism for the review of the situation of other individuals sentenced under charges commonly used to criminalised dissent;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q b (new)

(qb) call the authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations that journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev was severely tortured in pre-trial detention as well as all other allegation of torture or inhuman treatment;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q c (new)

(qc) urge the government to swiftly amend its criminal code provisions relating to extremism that are commonly used to criminalise dissents, in particular the articles 159, 216, 244-1, and 244-2 of the Criminal Code, and bring them into compliance with Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q d (new)

(qd) welcome the emergence of an increasingly vibrant media environment and the statements issued by high level officials supporting the media to address urgent social issues; however, express concern at the continued state control over the media, at the continued censorship and self-censorship, and at the regular blocking of numerous websites, including of domestic news outlets, international news and human rights websites and social media platforms;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q e (new)

(qe) urge the authorities to end pressure on and the surveillance of media, stop blocking independent websites, allow international media to accredit correspondents and to operate in the country;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q f (new)

(qf) welcome the new law on registration of non-governmental organisations relaxing some registration procedures and some requirements of advanced permission for holding activities or meetings, but express concerns that the law was not effectively implemented yet;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q g (new)

(qg) welcome the pledges made and steps taken by the government of Uzbekistan to address serious human rights abuses in the country, but express continued concern at the outstanding concerns and lack of implementation of key reforms;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q h (new)

(qh) strongly welcome the release of dozens of persons imprisoned on politically motivated charges since September 2016; express, however, concerns at the continued detention of many individuals on politically motivated grounds and at the lack of legal redress for those recently released;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q i (new)

(qi) press the authorities to create an independent National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), namely with the involvement of civil society, in order to make unannounced visits to prisons and other places of detention and to monitor the treatment of prisoners;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q j (new)

(qj) urge the government of Uzbekistan to provide those recently released with legal rehabilitation, overturn unsound convictions, ensure access to adequate medical treatment and end continued surveillance on them;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Point a a (new)

(aa) stress the strategic, political and economic interest of the EU in strengthening its relations with Uzbekistan, on the basis of common shared values;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q k (new)

(qk) welcome the commitments made in order to stop using Article 221 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code regarding “violations of prison rules” as the basis to arbitrarily extend the sentences of political prisoners; press, however, the authorities to act accordingly and to urgently remove this article from the Criminal Code;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q l (new)

(ql) note the relaxation of some restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly but express concerns at the occurrences of detention of peaceful demonstrators;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q m (new)

(qm) urge the authorities to fully implement the new law on NGOs that relaxes registration (purported to overturn the June 2015 law that severely restricted NGO activities) to end the surveillance of civil society activists and other procedures and to allow international monitors and human rights organisations to freely operate in the country, including by removing all barriers to the registration of Human Rights Watch and other international organisations and make accreditation available to international media outlets;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Point r

(r) use the negotiations ~~and the forthcoming ratification and implementat~~of the EPCA to support genuine and sustainable progress towards an accountable and democratic regime that guarantees and protects fundamental rights for all citizens; ensure that before the conclusions of the ~~EPCA to support a sustainable transition for Uzbekistan towards a more accountable and democratic regime;~~ negotiations Uzbekistan takes genuine measures to bring freedom of association and peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in line with international standards and secures the release of individuals still detained under politically motivated charges, and publicly assess such progress in view of the conclusion of the negotiations and the ratification and implementation of the EPCA;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Point r

(r) use the negotiations ~~and the forthcoming ratification and implementation of the EPCA to support a sustainable transition for Uzbekistan towards a more accountable and democratic regime~~of the EPCA to support genuine and sustainable progress towards an accountable and democratic regime that guarantees and protects fundamental rights for all citizens; ensure that before the conclusions of the negotiations Uzbekistan takes genuine measures to bring freedom of association and peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in line with international standards and secures the release of individuals still detained under politically motivated charges, and publicly assess such progress in view of the conclusion of the negotiations and the ratification and implementation of the EPCA;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Point r

(r) use the negotiations ~~and the forthcoming ratification and implementation~~ of the EPCA to support a sustainable transition for Uzbekistan towards a more accountable and democratic regime that guarantees and protects fundamental rights for all citizens; ensure that before the conclusions of the negotiations and in view of the ratification of the EPCA, Uzbekistan takes genuine measures to bring freedom of association and peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in line with international standards and secures the release of political prisoners;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Point r

(r) use the negotiations and the forthcoming ratification and implementation of the EPCA to support a sustainable transition for Uzbekistan towards a more accountable and democratic regime, focusing in particular on ensuring an enabling environment for civil society, human rights defenders and independence of lawyers;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Point s

(s) negotiate a modern, all- encompassing and ambitious agreement between the EU and Uzbekistan that will replace the PCA of 1999, enhancing people-to-people contact, political cooperation, trade and investment relations, and cooperation on sustainable development, environmental protection, connectivity, human rights and governance, and contributing to the sustainable ~~transition~~economic and social development of Uzbekistan;

Amendment 118 #

Brando BENIFEI, Ana GOMES, Soraya POST, Hilde VAUTMANS, Malin BJÖRK

Motion for a resolution
Point t

(t) renew their commitment to the advancement of democratic standards, principles of good governance and the rule of law, and to respect for human rights, including by taking steps to repeal legislation which stands in stark contrast to international human rights standards, such as article 120 of the Criminal Code which criminalises male homosexuality;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Point t

(t) renew their commitment to the advancement of democratic standards, principles of good governance and the rule of law, and to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Point b

(b) provide significant support to sustainable reforms, on the basis of the current and future agreements, leading to tangible results and addressing political, societal and economic issues, with a view in particular to improving governance, opening up space for a genuinely diverse and independent civil society, strengthening respect for human rights, protection of minorities and vulnerable people, including people with disabilities, ensuring accountability for abuses and removing obstacles to entrepreneurship;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Point t

(t) renew their commitment to the advancement of democratic standards, principles of good governance and the rule of law, and to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Amendment 121 #

Francisco ASSIS

Motion for a resolution
Point t

(t) renew their commitment to the advancement of democratic standards, principles of good governance and the rule of law, and to respect for human rights and human rights defenders;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Point t a (new)

(ta) support the regional efforts to solve the problem of water shortage and to address the challenges of climate-induced arable land loss and desertification in Central Asia in a joint effort of all partners concerned; support the efforts to improve irrigation infrastructure in border areas, where there is some risk of renewed local conflict over water; call for a strong interregional and international cooperation in tackling environmental challenges as well as for strong political and participatory democratic solutions to implement the obligations of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 UN Agenda, especially SDG aims #14 and #12 regarding the dramatic shrinking of the Aral Sea and other water resources;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Point t a (new)

(ta) ensure regular and in-depth political dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan, on political and democratic reforms; provide adequate support to Uzbekistan for these reforms, notably aimed at creating independent institutions, in particular the judiciary, and independent parliament, protecting human rights, media freedoms, and creating an environment in which a strong civil society can operate without undue interference from the state and where civil society is involved in the reform process;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Point t a (new)

(ta) ensure that non-governmental organisations are provided unimpeded opportunities in line with international standards to register and operate, including foreign institutions and independent political foundations, so that the government's measures following the Presidential Decree of May 2018 towards simplifying the procedure for receipt of funding and registration of NGOs are completed with all necessary steps and can be implemented in practice;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Point u

(u) support Uzbekistan’s renewed efforts towards multilateral and international cooperation on global and regional challenges, such as international security and countering violent extremism, organised crime, drug trafficking, water management, climate change and migration, among others;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Point u

(u) support Uzbekistan’s renewed efforts towards multilateral and international cooperation on global and regional challenges, such as international security and countering violent extremism, organised crime, climate change, business and human rights and migration, among others;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Point u

(u) support Uzbekistan’s renewed efforts towards multilateral and international cooperation on global and regional challenges, such as international security and countering violent extremism, organised crime, environmental degradation, climate change and migration, among others;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Point u a (new)

(ua) ensure that the comprehensive agreement facilitates and strengthens regional cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution of the existing controversies paving the way for genuine good-neighbourly relations;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Point u b (new)

(ub) support and strengthen the cooperation with Uzbekistan on environmental issues with regard, in particular, to sustainable policies and practices of water management and conservation and a credible gradual plan of clean-up and restoration of the Aral sea basin with all the countries concerned and the competent regional organisations;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Point b

(b) provide significant support to sustainable reforms, on the basis of the current and future agreements, leading to tangible results and addressing political, societal and economic issues, with a view in particular to improving governance, opening up space for a genuinely diverse and independent civil society, strengthening respect for human rights, ensuring accountability for abuses and removing obstacles to entrepreneurship;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Point v

(v) enhance provisions related to trade and economic relations, by better linking them to human rights benefits, committing to implement the UN guiding principles on business and human rights, and providing mechanisms to assess and address negative human rights impacts on the one hand, and by promoting market economy principles, including legal certainty, and independent and transparent institutions, in order to guarantee sustainable FDI and contribute to the diversification of the economy on the other hand;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Point v

(v) enhance provisions related to trade and economic relations, by promoting market economy principles, including legal certainty, and independent and transparent institutions, in order to guarantee sustainable FDI and contribute to the diversification of the economy; improve cooperation in the fight against corruption, money laundering and tax evasion;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Point v

(v) enhance provisions related to trade and economic relations, by promoting social market economy principles, including legal certainty, ~~and~~ independent and transparent institutions, social dialogue and implementation of ILO labour standards in order to guarantee sustainable FDI and contribute to the diversification of the economy;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Point w a (new)

(wa) ensure that before the conclusion of the agreement Uzbekistan takes tangible steps to consolidate operating environment for civil society;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Point x

(x) ensure the involvement of all relevant actors, including ~~civil society~~all relevant actors of the civil society, in particular women’s organisations and trade unions, during both the negotiations and the implementation phase of the agreement;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Point x a (new)

(xa) ensure that before the conclusion of the negotiations Uzbekistan improves substantially the operating environment for civil society removing the obstacles that hinder all new groups from registering and legally start activities in the country and from receiving foreign funding; ensure that NGOs are not subject to excessive and unnecessary reporting requirements to various government agencies and that international monitors and human rights organisations are allowed to operate freely in Uzbekistan including by opening local branch offices for monitoring purposes;

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Point y

(y) include ~~terms on the potential suspension of cooperation~~a clearly-defined suspension clause in the event of the breach of essential elements by either party with regard, in particular, to the respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, including consultation of Parliament in such cases;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Point y

(y) include terms on the potential suspension of cooperation in the event of the breach of essential elements by either party, including human rights violations or the failure to resolve key outstanding human rights concerns, including consultation of Parliament in such cases;

Amendment 138 #

Motion for a resolution
Point y

(y) include terms on the potential suspension of cooperation in the event of the breach of essential elements ~~by either party~~, including human rights violations or the failure to resolve key outstanding human rights concerns, including consultation of Parliament in such cases;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Point y

(y) include terms on the potential suspension of cooperation in the event of the breach of essential elements, in particular on human rights violations by either party, and including consultation of Parliament in such cases;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Point b

(b) provide significant support to sustainable reforms, on the basis of the current and future agreements, leading to tangible results and addressing political, societal and economic issues, with a view in particular to improving governance, opening up space for a genuinely diverse and independent civil society, strengthening respect for human rights, ensuring accountability for abuses and removing obstacles to entrepreneurship;

Amendment 140 #

Georgios EPITIDEIOS

Motion for a resolution
Point y

(y) include terms on the ~~potential~~ suspension of cooperation in the event of the breach of essential elements by either party, including consultation of Parliament in such cases;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Point y a (new)

(ya) set up an independent monitoring and complaint mechanism providing affected populations and their representatives with effective tool to address negative impacts on human rights that may arise from the agreements and monitor implementation;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Point ac

(ac) implement a public outreach campaign highlighting the expected positive outcomes of cooperation to the benefit of EU and Uzbek citizens, in order to also further boost people-to-people contacts;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Point b a (new)

(ba) stress the importance that the reforms so far undertaken are fully implemented and ensure their effective incorporation into relevant laws and government policies;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ongoing reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade ~~and~~ improving the business environment; and creating an enabling environment for civil society organisations, notably by removing the prohibition of unregistered groups, undue or burdensome registration fees and processes, non-argued denial of registration, and the impossibility for legal recourse in case of denial of registration;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ~~ongoing~~pledges of reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency, and stress the importance of their full and verifiable implementation; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise and support the ongoing reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; encourage Uzbekistan in its structural reform process; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ongoing administrative and economic reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; welcome the liberalisation of the foreign currency and of the foreign exchange market; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)

– having regard to the steps Uzbekistan made towards a more open society and towards more openness in relations with its neighbours since independence from the Soviet Union,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ongoing reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be implemented in a socially sustainable way, promoting eradication of poverty and social exclusion and backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ~~ongoing~~pledges of reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; stress the importance of their full and verifiable implementation; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ongoing reforms to improve the business climate, the judicial system and security services, labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency, and stress the importance of their full implementation; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c

(c) recognise the ongoing reforms to improve the business climate, ~~the judicial system and security services,~~ labour conditions, and administrative accountability and efficiency; highlight that Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reform plan, the Development Strategy for 2017– 2021, must be backed up by measures facilitating external trade and improving the business environment;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c a (new)

(ca) support a reform of the judicial system that encompass the lifting of all restrictions on the independence of lawyers, including the impossibility to set up independent bar associations outside of the Chamber of Lawyers controlled by the Ministry of Justice, where membership is mandatory for all licensed lawyers; authorities should ensure that licensing exams are devoid of political influence and that the practice of disbarring lawyers working on politically- sensitive cases is ended;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c a (new)

(ca) support the reforms in the justice sector and its full independence from the executive branch; support the strengthening of the rule of law, as well as the development of a strong framework for the protection of human rights and gender equality; encourage similar reforms in the security sector to ensure that this service stop surveillance of citizens critical or perceived to be critical to the government;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c a (new)

(ca) encourage genuine reforms in the justice sector, penitentiary and of security services and encourage steps for full independence of the judiciary and depoliticisation of the security services;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c b (new)

(cb) urge authorities to end the practice of surveillance and harassment, both online and offline, of human rights defenders and civil society actors and to ensure that they can operate in a legally sound and politically safe environment, without interference in their activities;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c c (new)

(cc) ensure that international monitors and human rights organisations are allowed to operate freely in Uzbekistan including by opening a branch office for monitoring purposes in the country;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Point c d (new)

(cd) urge the Uzbek government to allow regular, unfettered and independent monitoring of conditions in prison and detention sites; encourage the Uzbek government to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and bring its laws and practices in line with international law and standards;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)

– having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Point d

(d) promote the emergence of a tolerant and democratic society under a credible government by supporting gradual liberalisation in full respect of the UN guiding principle on business and human rights and socio-economic progress to the benefit of the people, even the most vulnerable;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Point d

(d) promote the emergence of a tolerant, inclusive, pluralist and democratic society under a credible government by supporting gradual liberalisation and socio-economic progress to the benefit of the people;

Amendment 32 #

Georgios EPITIDEIOS

Motion for a resolution
Point d

(d) promote the emergence of a ~~tolerant and~~ democratic society under a credible government by supporting gradual liberalisation and socio-economic progress to the benefit of the people;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Point d a (new)

(da) welcome the new powers given to the Oliy Majlis and the establishment of mechanisms strengthening the parliamentary oversight; encourage the authorities to implement the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR report following the 2014 parliamentary elections and to ensure that the forthcoming 2019 elections will be genuinely competitive, by notably allowing independent candidates to stand and encouraging the formation of new parties;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners ~~and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience~~but urge the authorities to guarantee them full rehabilitation, access to remedy and medical treatment and ask for the release of the remaining political prisoners and all individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges, and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience; encourage the authorities to repeal the laws and arbitrary practices which restrain human rights defenders, independent journalists and former prisoners sentenced on politically motivated charges from traveling outside of Uzbekistan;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners and encourage the authorities to resolve the cases of ~~prisoners of conscience;~~ human rights activists, civil society and religious activists, journalists and opposition politicians, which are still being held on politically motivated charges; encourage furthermore the removal of restrictions on the rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience; encourage the full rehabilitation of those who served lengthy prison sentences on politically motivated grounds; stress the need to cease the practice of politically motivated persecutions and surveillance on civil society representatives and journalist such as Agzam Turgunov, Bobomurod Abdullayev and others;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience, thereby adhering to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; support the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism against torture and expects further measures to ensure a moratorium on the practice;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners ~~and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience~~; however, note that released prisoners remain under surveillance and have not been officially pardoned and many other prisoners of conscience are still being held on politically motivated charges and calls for their release and rehabilitation;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of some political prisoners and ~~enco~~urage the authorities to re~~solve cases of~~lease all other prisoners of conscience;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas on 23 November 2018, the EU and Uzbekistan launched negotiations on a comprehensive Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), with a view to replacing the current EU- Uzbekistan PCA, aiming for enhanced and deeper cooperation in areas of mutual interest and based on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, respect for fundamental freedoms and good governance, in order to promote international security and effectively tackle global challenges such as terrorism, climate change and organised crime;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of political prisoners and ensure their rehabilitation, and encourage the authorities to resolve cases of prisoners of conscience;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of some political prisoners and ~~enco~~urage the authorities to re~~solve cases of~~lease all other prisoners of conscience;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e

(e) welcome the release of some political prisoners and ~~enco~~urage the authorities to re~~solve cases of~~lease all other prisoners of conscience;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e a (new)

(ea) ensure that all those who are convicted of criminal and other offences are automatically given copies of the court sentences on their cases so as to enable them to access their right to appeal and apply for rehabilitation; draw the attention, in this regard, to the case of the late Member of Parliament Murad Djuraev who spent more than 20 years in jail on politically motivated charges and died in jail in 2017, whose family has been unable to receive copies of the court sentences passed in relation to him, thus hindering the process of application for posthumous rehabilitation;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e a (new)

(ea) ensure that the mechanism of a transitional justice is established, including the right to appeal for those who served lengthy, politically motivated sentences, the right for former political prisoner to have access to copies of the court sentences on their cases, so as to be able to appeal, seek rehabilitation and clear their names from criminal offences; urge the government to ensure access for them to adequate medical treatment and end continued surveillance on them;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e a (new)

(ea) welcome the measures taken towards ensuring the independence of the media and civil society organisations, for instance the lifting of some restrictions governing their activities, as well as the return of foreign and international media and NGOs, formerly excluded from the country; encourage the authorities to address the remaining restrictions limiting the work of NGOs, such as burdensome registration requirements and intrusive monitoring;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e a (new)

(ea) note that Uzbekistan’s ranking in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index has improved only slightly, from 166th out of 180 countries in 2016, to 165 in 2018; remain concerned about the censorship, harassment and politically motivated criminal charges, censorship and self- censorship of journalists and bloggers;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e a (new)

(ea) support the work of independent journalists, human rights defenders and legitimate opposition politicians;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e b (new)

(eb) urge the Uzbek government to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to visit the country and implement the recommendation from the last visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture from 2003 to close the prison colony 64/73 in Zhaslyk in Karakalpakstan and to set up an independent national preventive mechanism (NPM), including civil society, which will be allowed to visit prisons and other places of detention to monitor the treatment of prisoners;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e b (new)

(eb) urge the authorities to establish an independent monitoring mechanism which will have unhindered access to prisons and other closed facilities with the purpose to monitor and prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and to enable the penitentiary system to transition to more human structures;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas on 23 November 2018, the EU and Uzbekistan launched negotiations on a comprehensive Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), with a view to replacing the current EU- Uzbekistan PCA, aiming for enhanced and deeper cooperation in areas of mutual interest and based on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, in order to promote sustainable development, international security and effectively tackle global challenges such as terrorism, climate change and organised crime;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e c (new)

(ec) express concern at several closed- door trials with regard, in particular, to the trial of Rashitjon Kadyrov and 12 co- defendants ongoing since 7 January 2019, where there are serious allegations of torture, and urge the government to end the practice of such closed-door trials;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e c (new)

(ec) urge Uzbekistan to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, whose last visit in the country took place in 2002;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e d (new)

(ed) ensure a review of the passport system in order to solve the problem of all those Uzbek citizens who from 1993 to 2016 were deprived of their citizenship after being granted refugee status abroad in violation of the Convention on the Prevention of Statelessness;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Point e d (new)

(ed) welcome the fact that international human rights organisations have increased access to the country and ensure that operation of these organisations can be guaranteed without any hindrance and with a view of conducting monitoring and documentation work;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

(f) welcome the progress made towards the eradication of child labour and the phasing-out of forced labour, as well as the recent visits to Uzbekistan by UN Special Rapporteurs and the reopening of the country to international non- governmental organisations in this field; point out that, despite the measures taken by the government, state-sponsored forced labour in the cotton and silk industries and other areas remains a systemic and deeply-rooted problem affecting tens of thousands of people; expect steps by the government of Uzbekistan to begin to dismantle the structures which perpetuate and drive forced labour and in particular the system of mandatory quotas and the state control over all aspects of the cotton production; stress that more efforts need to be done and further legal measures must be adopted to consolidate progress in this area;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

(f) welcome the progress made towards the eradication of child labour and the phasing-out of forced labour, as well as the recent visits to Uzbekistan by UN Special Rapporteurs and the reopening of the country to international non- governmental organisations in this field; emphasise, however, the need to eradicate all forms of forced labour in the cotton and silk sector as well as in public works and to apply the rule of law evenly and without discrimination and the importance to ensure that EU companies who invest in the cotton and garment and other sectors in Uzbekistan play a key role in promoting all respective ILO core labour standards;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

(f) welcome the progress made towards the eradication of child labour and the phasing-out of forced labour, a~~s well as the recent visits to Uzbekistan by UN Special Rapporteur~~nd the reopening of the country to international non-governmental organisations in this field, but express concerns andt the ~~reopening of the~~fact that despite measures taken various authorities count~~ry to international non- governmental organisations in this field~~inued to mobilize some public sector workers, students and employees of private businesses to pick cotton on threat of punishment or loss of employment;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Point a

(a) welcome ~~strongly the~~the commitments and steps taken by Uzbekistan towards a more open society and the genuine engagement within the political dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan, which led to the opening of negotiations on a comprehensive EPCA;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) strongly urge the authorities to fully ensure the abolishment of forced labour in cotton fields as well as in other sectors of the Uzbek economy; push them to tackle the root causes of the phenomenon, including the setting of quotas, the low wages, the lack of modernization of agriculture; press them to hold accountable local authorities and officials that mobilize public sector workers and students under threat of punishment; urge the government to facilitate a country visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) press the authorities to continue abolishing the practice of forced labour in cotton fields, in particular by holding accountable local authorities that mobilise public sector workers and students on threat of punishment; and call the government to urgently facilitate a country visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) press the authorities to fully abolish the practice of forced labour in cotton fields, including by holding accountable local authorities that mobilise public sector workers and students on threat of punishment; and press the government to urgently facilitate a country visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) underline the importance of efforts to develop a sustainable cotton supply chain and introducing modern, socially and environmentally sound cotton growing technologies and farming practices in the country; stress the need to support the domestic cotton farmers to improve their production efficiency, safeguard the environment and improve labour practices;

Amendment 65 #

Timothy Charles Ayrton TANNOCK

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) encourage the authorities to decriminalise of consensual sexual relations between men, through the repeal of Article 120 of the Criminal Code and foster a culture of tolerance for LGBT people who currently face deep-rooted homophobia and discrimination;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) welcome the abolition of the system of "exit visas" that were previously required by Uzbek citizens travelling outside of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS);

Amendment 67 #

Urmas PAET, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Point f a (new)

(fa) call on the Uzbekistan authorities to uphold and promote women’s rights;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Point g

(g) encourage the authorities to ~~take advantage of the relatively high level of education among its young people in order to reduce unemployment in the country and str~~step up action to reduce unemployment in the country, including opening the private sector and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises; recall the potential of its young population and its relatively high education in this sense; encourage to promote entrepreneurship education programmes; recall the importance of EU programmes such as Erasmus+ in promoting intercultural dialogue betweeng the~~n small and medium- sized enterprises~~ EU and Uzbekistan and in providing opportunities for empowerment for students taking part in them as positive actors of change in their society;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Point g

(g) encourage the authorities to take advantage of the relatively high level of education among its young people in order to reduce unemployment in the country and strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises; welcome, in this regard, the extension of the Management Training Programme and encourage further training programs for entrepreneurs;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Point a

(a) welcome ~~strongly the~~the pledges and steps taken by Uzbekistan towards a more open society and the genuine engagement within the political dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan, which led to the opening of negotiations on a comprehensive EPCA;

Amendment 70 #

Urmas PAET, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Point g a (new)

(ga) take into consideration that labour migration and remittances are a key mechanism to address poverty in Uzbekistan; note that more than three million people, almost one third of the able-bodied population, live on earning outside Uzbekistan, including about two million citizens of Uzbekistan who work in Russia, transferring annually about $ 3 billion; applaud the Uzbek government for reaching an agreement with Russia on labour migration which significantly improves the conditions of the migrants;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Point g a (new)

(ga) urge the authorities to decriminalise same-sex relations and uphold the rights of LGBTI people;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues, and in this context press for the resolution of individual cases of concerns, including political prisoners; establish concrete benchmarks ahead of each round of dialogues and assess progress on deliverables in line with EU standards, while mainstreaming human rights issues in all other meetings; encourage and assess compliance with international human rights instruments;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues, while mainstreaming human rights issues in all meetings; encourage compliance with international human rights instruments; set benchmarks ahead of each round of dialogues and evaluate the dialogues on an annual basis, based on the deliverables; encourage and support the implementation of comprehensive reforms of the judiciary;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues, while mainstreaming human rights issues in all meetings; encourage and assess compliance with international human rights instruments; press for the resolution of individual cases, including political prisoners; establish concrete benchmarks ahead of each round of Dialogue;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues in cooperation with the EEAS, while mainstreaming human rights issues in all meetings; encourage compliance with international human rights instruments;

Amendment 77 #

Francisco ASSIS

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues, while mainstreaming ~~human rights issue~~issues relating to human rights and human rights defenders in all meetings; encourage compliance with international human rights instruments;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h

(h) continue holding annual Human Rights Dialogues, while mainstreaming human rights issues in all meetings and policies; encourage compliance with international human rights instruments;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h a (new)

(ha) welcome the pledges made and steps taken by the government of Uzbekistan to address serious human rights abuses in the country; express continued concern at the outstanding problems and lack of implementation of key reforms;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Point a

(a) welcome ~~strongly the~~the pledges and steps taken by Uzbekistan towards a more open society and the genuine engagement within the political dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan, which led to opening of the negotiations on a comprehensive EPCA;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h b (new)

(hb) urge the government to swiftly amend its criminal code provisions relating to extremism that are commonly used to criminalise dissent, and bring them into compliance with Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h c (new)

(hc) welcome the commitments made to stop using Article 221 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code regarding “violations of prison rules” to arbitrarily extend the sentences of political prisoners; press the authorities to urgently remove this article from the Criminal Code;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h d (new)

(hd) welcome the emergence of an increasingly vibrant media environment and the statements by high level officials supporting media to address urgent social issues; express concern at continued state control over the media, continued censorship and self-censorship, and regular blocking of numerous websites, including of domestic news outlets, international news and human rights websites and social media platforms; urge the authorities to end pressure on and surveillance of media, stop blocking independent websites, allow international media to accredit correspondents and to operate in the country;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h e (new)

(he) welcome the relaxation of some restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly; express concerns at the occurrences of detention of peaceful demonstrators;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h f (new)

(hf) welcome the new law on registration of non-governmental organisations relaxing some registration procedures and some requirements of advanced permission for holding activities or meetings; urge the authorities to fully implement it, to end surveillance of civil society activists and other procedures and to allow international monitors and human rights organizations to freely operate in the country, including by removing all barriers to the registration of Human Rights Watch and other international organizations and make accreditation available to international media outlets;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Point h g (new)

(hg) welcome the recent visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religions and Belief and the pledge to facilitate the visits of other special procedures; press the authorities to implement the recommendations of the above-mentioned Special rapporteur and swiftly facilitate the visits of the Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, on contemporary forms of slavery, on the independence of judges and lawyers, as well as the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Point i

(i) urge the authorities to improve the local healthcare system and increase state resources to facilitate improvements, since the situation has deteriorated significantly since the country gained its independence;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Point i

(i) urge the authorities to improve public, in particular the local healthcare system, since the situation has deteriorated significantly since the country gained its independence;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Point i a (new)

(ia) urge the authorities to provide the necessary support and seek the contribution and support of international partners to enable the Republic of Karakalpakstan to tackle the economic, social and health-related consequences of the Aral Sea environmental disaster;

Amendment 89 #

Georgios EPITIDEIOS

Motion for a resolution
Point j

(j) acknowledge Uzbekistan’s new foreign policy, which has led to improvements in cooperation with neighbours and international partners, in particular on the promotion of stability and security in the region, border and water management, border demarcation and energy; ~~support~~welcome the positive engagement of Uzbekistan in the peace process in Afghanistan;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Point a

(a) welcome ~~strongly~~ the steps taken by Uzbekistan towards a more open society and the genuine engagement within the political dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan, which led to negotiations on a comprehensive EPCA;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Point j a (new)

(ja) welcome the continued commitment of Uzbekistan in upholding the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone; recall the commitment by the EU to support Uzbekistan in dealing with toxic and radioactive waste; encourage Uzbekistan to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;

Amendment 91 #

Urmas PAET, Marietje SCHAAKE

Motion for a resolution
Point j b (new)

(jb) welcome the positive developments in regional cooperation on water, in particular with Tajikistan on the issue of the Rogun Dam and with Kazakhstan on the Aral Sea; welcome the establishment of the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund on Human Security for the Aral Sea Region, the commitment shown by the authorities and the progress in reviving the Aral Sea; urge the authorities to further step up their action in this sense;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Point k a (new)

(ka) welcome Uzbekistan’s announcement that it will no longer require visas from citizens of the EU Member States as of January 2019;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Point m

(m) ensure effective cooperation in the fight against corruption, money laundering and tax evasion; note that criminal justice proceedings on the grand scale bribery scandal in Uzbekistan’s telecommunications sector and related money laundering continue in several EU jurisdictions; ensure that the assets stemming from corruption currently frozen in several EU and EEA Member States are repatriated responsibly for the benefit of all the Uzbek people – the ultimate victim of corruption; stress that officials responsible for these crimes who are still in office must be brought to justice;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Point o

(o) support effective implementation of the key international conventions required for GSP+ status;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Point o

(o) support effective implementation of the key international conventions required for GSP+ status;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Point p a (new)

(pa) acknowledge the role, which Uzbekistan can assume, of an important cultural and political bridge between Europe and Asia, enhancing cooperation in education, science and culture;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q

(q) take into account the development of relations in the context of the implementation of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative but insist on the necessity to address the human rights concerns linked to this initiative also by developing guidelines in that sense;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Point q

(q) take into account the development of relations with other third countries in the context of the implementation of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative;

Amendment 99 #