2022/2137(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)

— having regard to the European Social Charter and its additional protocols, and the Revised European Social Charter,

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8 b. Recognises the important work and expertise of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as Venice Commission, in improving functioning of democratic institutions and respect for fundamental rights, the functioning of justice systems and conduct of elections and referendums; encourages further cooperation between the EU and the Venice Commission in the context of EU's enlargement process;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

~~9. Stresses that the EU should also draw on the extensive expertise and recognised processes of the CoE bodies on human rights and the rights of persons belonging to minorities;~~deleted

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that the EU should also draw on the extensive expertise and recognised processes of the CoE bodies on human rights and the rights of persons belonging to minorities; Recalls that minorities contribute to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Union and therefore need a legal framework in the Union to guarantee and monitor their rights;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that the EU should also draw on the extensive expertise and recognised processes of the CoE bodies on human rights, fundamental freedoms, fight against corruption, improving of judiciary processes and the rights of persons belonging to minorities;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Acknowledges the important role which the FCNM has played in the European integration process; recalls that during the process of evaluating candidate countries’ progress towards accession on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission’s systematic monitoring of minority protection in candidate countries has relied to a great extent on the standards developed by the CoE; recalls that the EU considers candidate countries’ implementation of the FCNM an important element in the accession criteria for minority protection;deleted

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Acknowledges the important role which the FCNM has played in the European integration process; recalls that the recognition of the need to protect minorities through this dedicated instrument arose from the the tragedy of internal armed conflicts and wars ravaging Europe in the 1990s; points out that the same preoccupation led to the adoption in 1993 of the Copenhagen criteria on respect for the rights of minorities in the context of the EU’s enlargement policy; recalls that during the process of evaluating candidate countries’ progress towards accession on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission’s systematic monitoring of minority protection in candidate countries has relied to a great extent on the standards developed by the CoE; recalls that the EU considers candidate countries’ implementation of the FCNM an important element in the accession criteria for minority protection;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Acknowledges the important role which the FCNM has played in the European integration process~~Underlines that the CoE is an important partner in the EU’s enlargement process, cooperating with the EU in supporting candidate and potential candidate countries in carrying out reforms in line with the standards of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and in monitoring the progress in these areas; believes that cooperation in the area of enlargement should be further strengthened, becoming more formal, structured, and systematic; recalls that during the process of evaluating candidate countries’ progress towards accession on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission’s systematic monitoring of minority protection in candidate countries has relied to a great extent on the standards developed by the CoE; recalls that the EU considers candidate countries’ implementation of the FCNM an important element in the accession criteria for minority protection;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Acknowledges the important role which the ~~FCNM~~Council of Europe and its bodies hasve played in the European integration process; recalls that during the process of evaluating candidate countries’ progress towards accession on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission’s systematic monitoring ~~of minority protection~~ in candidate countries has relied to a great extent on the standards developed by the CoE; ~~recalls that the EU considers candidate countries’ implementation of the FCNM an important element in the accession criteria for minority protection;~~

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Acknowledges the important role which the FCNM has played in the European integration process; recalls that during the process of evaluating candidate countries’ progress towards accession on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, the Commission’s systematic monitoring of minority protection in candidate countries has relied to a great extent on the standards developed by the CoE, including throught the expertise and the opinions published by the Venice Commission; recalls that the EU considers candidate countries’ implementation of the FCNM an important element in the accession criteria for minority protection;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses that the FCNM should continue to be a major reference for the democratic life of the Union; firmly believes that for reasons of consistency, the maintenance and fostering of democratic standards, as well as commitment to minority protection as an EU-wide common general principle of law, the European Union should incorporate the standards of the FCNM into its monitoring of the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU;deleted

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)

— having regard to the Statement of 30 December 2020 by Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, on the occasion of the 2021-2022 Xacobeo (Holy Year),

Amendment 110 #

Charles GOERENS, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Reiterates, therefore, its call for the European Union to accede to the FCNM and the ECRML7and calls for closer legal ties between the EU and the CoE on minority rights, not least in view of the enlargement process for the Western Balkans, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia; _________________ 7 European Parliament resolution of 13 November 2018 on minimum standards for minorities in the EU (OJ C 363, 28.10.2020, p. 13).deleted

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point 1 (new)

(1) Calls for the EU's enlargement policy to afford a prominent role to the Council of Europe in assessing candidate countries' compliance with rule of law and human rights criteria;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Underlines that a reinforced cooperation in the area of minority rights would be equally beneficial for the CoE, as the political weight of the Union behind the instrument would likely result in increased compliance with standards and recommendations and deeper embeddedness of minority rights in EU Member States and CoE State Parties; points out that stronger cooperation in this area would also allow for better targeted EU funding, including in the context of enlargement or post-conflict reconstruction, supporting the implementation of minority related recommendations, amongst others though the implementation of joint projects (such as such as Promoting Human Rights and Minority Protection in SEE, Promotion of Diversity and Equality in the Western Balkans and Equality education for all);

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Calls for a strategic and well- coordinated collaboration between the EU and CoE to tackle the widespread and severe exclusion, discrimination and poverty issues Roma face in Europe and for increased synergies between activities carried out under the Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025) and the 2020-2030 EU Roma Strategic Framework;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12 c. Stressing the importance of education in the cementing of a culture of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law in our societies welcomes the important work of the Council of Europe through its Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture; calls on the EU to increase its engagement with the CoE in this area;

Amendment 115 #

Charles GOERENS, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6

Cooperation in the area of education ~~and~~, culture and linguistic diversity

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 – point 1 (new)

(1) Recalls the remarkable work undertaken by the Council of Europe's institutions, which should serve as the foundations for the EU's projects;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Recalls that, along with respect for cultural and religious diversity, respect for linguistic diversity is a fundamental value of the EU as laid down in Article 22 of the Charter and article 3 TEU, that the EU is tasked to support Member States in the teaching and dissemination of their languages (art. 165(2) TFEU), and that it has an obligation to respect, safeguard and enhance cultural and linguistic diversity (article 167(1) TFEU); stresses that the bodies of the Council of Europe could be extremely instrumental in this pursuit;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to also explore avenues of cooperation with regards to media freedom and pluralism; believes, in this regard, that the EU should build upon the good work of Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists and closely cooperate with the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDSMI);

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Acknowledges the important aim of the ECRML in promoting and protecting regional and minority languages by, among other principles, respecting their geographical areas promoting their use both in private and in public life as well as their teaching, including through immersion, at various levels to guarantee the transmission of these languages.

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)

— having regard to Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe’s resolution on the cessation of membership of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe of 16 March 2022,

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point 1 (new)

(1) Calls for a common frame of reference for civic education to be set up, focusing on democracy, the rule of law and human rights;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Reiterates1a its call on the the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen cooperation with the Council of Europe, including with regard to the Cultural Routes, with a view to promoting the fundamental values of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and the sustainable territorial development of lesser-known destinations, while preserving, protecting and rehabilitating the cultural and natural heritage of these sites; _________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 14 December 2022 on the implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations (2022/2047(INI))

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Welcomes the success of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which has become an essential tool for assessing language proficiency;

Amendment 123 #

Brice HORTEFEUX

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Stresses that the EU budget must not fund or co-finance any campaign that promotes the Islamic headscarf, such as the Council of Europe's 'WE CAN for human rights speech' campaign, co- financed by the Commission, which claimed that 'beauty is in diversity as freedom is in the hijab' and could therefore exert pressure on Muslim girls and women to wear the headscarf;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to strengthen cooperation with the Council of Europe's European Cultural Routes programme, with a view to promoting the fundamental values of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and the sustainable territorial development of lesser-known destinations, while preserving, protecting and rehabilitating the cultural heritage of these sites;

Amendment 125 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)

External Action

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue the work to identify and map, including in digital format, the Caminos de Santiago and other European Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, and to mark the routes to Santiago de Compostela passing through the European continent with the symbols suggested by the Council of Europe;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Stresses the importance of strengthening coherence and complementarity in EU external human rights action, through increased coordination among the EU, the CoE and the Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE);

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15 b. Calls for a more structured and formalized use of CoE benchmarks and monitoring activities in the context of its enlargement and neighbourhood policies and to continue cooperation with CoE in the provision of support for countries in carrying out essential democratic reforms on a more strategic level;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15 c. welcomes the inclusion in the EU 2020-2024 Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy the establishment of partnership with the CoE to ensure universal respect for the obligations to prevent and address violence against women and girls arising from international instruments as well as the promotion of accession to the Council of Europe Convention on Data Protection;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 19 May 2010 on the institutional aspects of the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15 d. Calls on the EU and the EIB to enhance formalized cooperation with the Council of important areas of cooperation the offering of immediate and long-term assistance to the displaced persons of and refugees fleeing Ukraine and support for the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 b (new)

EU enlargement

Amendment 132 #

15 e. Highlights the continued role the Council of Europe plays in the EU integration process by helping EU candidate countries meet the EU accession criteria on stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

Amendment 133 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)

15 f. Points out the importance the Venice Commission in the provision of assistance in the reform of judicial, governance and electoral processes in the candidate and potential candidate countries; stresses that the EU should ensure without fail that accession candidate countries comply with all its recommendations on their path towards membership;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – point 1 (new)

(1) Welcomes in that regard the effective cooperation of the parliamentary assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe with the European Parliament in election observation missions,

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Welcomes the call1a of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly for: a). the organisation of regular meetings between the respective Presidents, Secretaries General, Chairpersons of committees and between the Presidential Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament; b). the organisation of joint meetings and joint events at the level of committees and/or European Parliament delegations for relations with non-EU member States; c). the mutual invitation of rapporteurs to provide input in each other’s work; d) the strengthening of dialogue and co- ordination with the Assembly in areas which have emerged as prominent challenges for European societies; _________________ 1a the Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 2430 (2022) entitled Beyond the Lisbon Treaty: strengthening the strategic partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Union

Amendment 136 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Recalls the European Union’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders; condemns in the strongest possible terms the unjustified, unprovoked and illegal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; in this regard, encourages cooperation between the EU and CoE on matters linked to war accountability, justice and the future reconstruction of Ukraine;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Acknowledges the grassroots work undertaken the Assembly, which deserves to be brought to the public's attention and has earned the respect of the European Union.

Amendment 138 #

17. Concludes that, in view of the rising importance of the parliamentary democracy provided for by the Lisbon Treaty, the parliamentary cooperation between the EU and the CoE could be deepened~~, building on the existing ‘Agreement for strengthened cooperation between Parliament and the PACE’~~ and, based on rules 224 and 225 of its Rules of procedure proposes the establishment of an interparliamentary delegation for an enhanced cooperation, to improve law making in the common fields of activity, to raise awareness and to provide an exchange on each other’s activities and functioning, to contribute to a more systematic dissemination of information and a more structured and regular dialogue;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Concludes that, in view of the rising importance of the parliamentary democracy provided for by the Lisbon Treaty, the parliamentary cooperation between the EU and the CoE could be deepened, b~~uilding on~~y conducting an assessment of the existing ‘Agreement for strengthened cooperation between Parliament and the PACE’ before implementing it;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the report by Jean-Claude Juncker of 11 April 2006 entitled 'A Shared Ambition for the European Continent',

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls on the European Commission to initiate a revision of the 2007 Memorandum of Undersatnding in order to take account the new competencies the EU gained with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, as well as to formalise the strategic partnership of cooperation that has consolidated between the two institutions, in particular in the area of rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights, including the rights of minorities; expresses its position that this strategic document should also be operationalised and complemented by the adoption of additional agreements for joint action on specific issues between various EU and CoE bodies;

Amendment 141 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Believes that, as a step to deepen parliamentary relations and also in view of the EU’s accession to the ECHR, a new EP Delegation for relations with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe should be established;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

- having regard to the report by the Council of Europe High Level Reflection Group of October 2022,

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

— having regard to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of 25 June 1992 and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of 10 November 1994,

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union and the Council of Europe (CoE) are natural partners and allies in promoting and monitoring human rights, respect for fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law on the European continent;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the EU and the Council of Europe are committed to achieving greater unity among European countries through the promotion of democratic stability and security;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the persisting internal and external challenges to the rules-based multilateral order, democracy and the rule of law, as well as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the impact these have on the human rights situation in Europe provide strong arguments for further strengthening the institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE; recalling in this respect the expulsion of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe, 26 years after its accession;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to the Agreement between the European Community and the Council of Europe on cooperation between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe of 18 June 2008,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas on 15 March 2022, as a result of the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and following the Parliamentary Assembly’s unanimously adopted Opinion, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided that the Russian Federation would cease to be a member of the Council of Europe after 26 years of membership;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the exclusion of Russia, a highly influential member country, means a major change for this organisation, not to say a paradigm shift for the future of the European continent;

Amendment 22 #

Charles GOERENS, Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas although the EU and the CoE form distinct and very different legal systems, already the 2005 “Guidelines on the Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union” 1ahave underlined that the “common objective of a Europe without new dividing lines can best be served by making appropriate use of the norms and standards, as well as the experience and expertise developed in the Council of Europe over half a century” and established that “legal cooperation“ between the organisations “should continue and be further developed” with guideline number 5 stating that the EU “shall strive to transpose those aspects of Council of Europe Conventions within its competence into European Union Law”; _________________ 1a Guidelines on the Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, appended to the Council of Europe Warsaw Summit Action Plan CM(2005)80 final 17 May 2005

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas this development means that the bloc of 27 EU Member States constitutes two-thirds of the population of the European continent, on the one hand, and two-thirds of the number of member countries of the Council of Europe, on the other; whereas this is bound to affect relations between the EU27 and the Council of Europe;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations states that “the European Union regards the Council of Europe as the Europe-wide reference source for human rights” and that “the Council of Europe will remain the benchmark for human rights, the rule of law and democracy in Europe”;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas in its Resolution 2430 (2022) Beyond the Lisbon Treaty: strengthening the strategic partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Union the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called for a renewed impetus towards strengthening the strategic partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Union;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

E b. whereas in its Decision CM/Del/Dec(2022)132/4 on Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe also called for co-operation with the European Union to be stepped up still further in view of the many challenges currently facing Europe;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

E c. whereas in June 2022 the Secretary General of the Council of Europe set up a High-level Reflection Group in order to issue recommendations relating to the Council of Europe’s role in responding to new challenges facing Europe and the world; whereas the Reflection Group has issued its recommendations on October 2022, recommending among others the strengthening of political dialogue between the Council of Europe and the European Union and that consideration is given to updating and reinforcing the 2007 MoU;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

E d. whereas the Committee of Ministers agreed to hold a 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe Member States in Reykjavik, Iceland on 16 and 17 May 2023 associating representatives of the EU, where the issue of co-operation with the European Union is also expected to feature as part of the agenda;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

E e. whereas the EU remains the biggest donor of the Council of Europe technical co-operation activities, covering the EU Enlargement Region, countries of the Eastern Partnership, EU Member States, the Southern Mediterranean and Central Asia, as well thematic areas; whereas in 2021, the global volume of the Council of Europe-EU Joint Programme co-operation reached €207.4 million; whereas joint co-operation programmes in the rule of law sector accounted for 54.7% of the cumulative budgetary envelope in 2021;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to the Resolutions adopted by the Council of Europe establishing an Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) on Cultural Routes and confirming its establishment (CM/Res(2010)53 and CM/Res(2013)66),

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E f (new)

E f. whereas the financial volume of the joint programmes implemented in the Council of Europe Member States which are Member States of the EU continued to steadily increase in recent years due to the structured joint cooperation and technical support frameworks put in place under the Structural Reform Support Programme and the Technical Support Instrument of the EU since 2019;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E g (new)

E g. whereas the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) is the oldest European multilateral development bank with an exclusively social mandate; whereas of the CEB’s 41 members, 26 are EU members and 8 are official or potential candidates for accession to the EU; whereas, beyond other international financial institutions and several United nations specialized agencies, the CEB regularly cooperates with the EU on common initiatives such as the Western Balkans Investment Framework, the Neighbourhood Investment Facility, Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environmental Partnership;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas the lack of accession of the EU to important CoE conventions in the area of human rights, including the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women prevents the EU to be represented in their supervisory bodies;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the EU already relies to a great degree on the CoE for the monitoring of the rule of law in its Member States; whereas information sources used by the Commission when establishing benchmarks to measure the situation of the rule of law and the functioning of judicial systems in the Member States include the Venice Commission’s Rule of Law Checklist, reports commissioned from the CoE agencies by the EU, such as the annual study on the functioning of judicial systems commissioned by the EU from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice as part of the EU Justice Scoreboard and regular reports on topics linked to the rule of law drawn up by the CoE agencies, particularly on the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption;deleted

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the EU already relies to a great degree on the CoE for the monitoring and promotion of the rule of law in its present and future Member States; whereas information sources used by the Commission when establishing benchmarks to measure the situation of the rule of law and the functioning of judicial systems in the Member States include the Venice Commission’s Rule of Law Checklist, reports commissioned from the CoE agencies by the EU, such as the annual study on the functioning of judicial systems commissioned by the EU from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice as part of the EU Justice Scoreboard and regular reports on topics linked to the rule of law drawn up by the CoE agencies, particularly on the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas Parliament has repeatedly called for the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights covering all aspects of Article 2 of the TEU; whereas the establishment of such a mechanism would create an opportunity for formalised, structured and comprehensive cooperation between the EU and the CoE on the defence of these values by means of a dedicated partnership agreement;deleted

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the rights of vulnerable persons, such as women, people with disabilities, Roma, LGBTI+ people and the elderly, are still not fully respected in some Member States, and these groups are not fully protected against hatred and discrimination, which is a violation of the Union's values as set out in Article 2 TEU; whereas Parliament has repeatedly called for the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights covering all aspects of Article 2 of the TEU; whereas the establishment of such a mechanism would create an opportunity for formalised, structured and comprehensive cooperation between the EU and the CoE on the defence of these values by means of a dedicated partnership agreement;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas the Council of Europe has acquired extensive experience and expertise in intergovernmental cooperation and assistance activities in the field of human rights, having established several human rights monitoring and control mechanisms, various respected human rights monitoring committees such as the European Committee of Social Rights, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as well as the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas the Istanbul Convention, which entered into force on 1 August 2014, was signed by the EU on 12 June 2017 but it has not yet been ratified; whereas all EU Member States have signed the Istanbul Convention, but only 21 have ratified it; whereas the EU’s accession to the Convention does not exempt Member States from national ratification;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

H b. whereas the action of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) is based on the three main principles of the European constitutional heritage: democracy, human rights and the rule of law; whereas the Venice Commission was established in 1990 in order to respond to the pressing need to assist central and Eastern European countries in adopting new constitutions after the fall of the Berlin wall; whereas the Venice Commission has played an outsize role in the democratisation of post-communist states wishing to join the EU; whereas the opinions of the Commission enjoy great authority and are followed in the majority of cases; whereas the EU strongly encouraged states which wanted to join the EU as well as current members to comply with its opinions;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

— having regard to the Statement of Intent for the Cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the EU Enlargement Region and the Eastern Partnership and Southern Mediterranean Countries (EU Neighbourhood Region) of 1 April 2014,

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

H b. whereas the European Social Charter and the revised European Social Charter have been landmark instruments for the protection and enforcement of fundamental trade union, workers’ and social rights and the improvement of working and living conditions of European citizens; whereas all 27 EU Member States have ratified the original Charter but only 22 Member States have ratified the revised Charter;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)

H c. whereas the Agreement between the European Community and the Council of Europe on cooperation between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe of 2008 established a general cooperation framework with the aim to develop joint projects in areas of mutual concern, engaging in dialogue with stakeholders to improve respect for fundamental rights in Europe, coordinating communication activities to increase awareness on fundamental rights, informing each other about the results of each organisation’s activities and exchanging data and consulting each other at operational level;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H e (new)

H e. whereas the annual reports on the cooperation between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe show the breadth and depth of the cooperation ranging from consultations on specific projects and activities, regular data and information exchanges, participation in CoE Parliamentary Assembly hearings, participation in project inception meetings, joint projects and activities, the Agency’s observer status in several CoE monitoring and intergovernmental committees, participation in respective civil society structures to mutual references to each other’s work;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

J b. whereas the establishment of a joint European Union Fundamental Rights Information System (EFRIS) brings together in one online space the human rights information from the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the EU, including, since 2022, the data, analysis and findings generated under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM);

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas the impact of the Council of Europe reaches beyond the European continent, as many of its conventions are open for global signature and several of its mechanisms extend around the world;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)

J c. whereas the Statement of Intent for the Cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the EU Enlargement Region and the Eastern Partnership and Southern Mediterranean Countries of 2014 established a strategic framework to help promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Regions based on the Council of Europe's binding international conventions, monitoring bodies and assistance programmes;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe underline, inter alia, that minority and regional languages require additional protection and take note of the Council of Europe Convention on Minority Languages and the FCNM;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

Ka. whereas the Council of Europe's European Cultural Routes, which occupy a prominent position in the geography of the European continent, have played and continue to play an important role in the feeling of belonging to a shared European culture;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)

Kb. whereas the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes invites the European Union to join the Agreement as soon as possible;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)

L a. Whereas the EU has signed and ratified the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and the Council of Europe, which hosts its Standing Committee, is shaping an appropriate legal framework for environmental human rights and for combating environmental crime; whereas the global environmental and climate challenges that we are currently facing will be better tackled with joint actions and coordination between the EU and the CoE;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the Decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Del/Dec(2022)132/4 on Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the European Union adopted at its 132nd Session,

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)

L a. whereas on 7 November 2022 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to convene a Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe that will take place on 16-17 May 2023 in Iceland; whereas this Summit arrives at a particularly important moment and represents an opportunity to upgrade relations between the Council of Europe and the EU;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)

L b. Whereas the joint programmes and partnership cooperation frameworks implemented by the CoE and the EU in the candidate countries, the Eastern Partnership countries and the Southern partner countries concerned by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) are a crucial element of the Union's enlargement and neighbourhood policy;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)

(1) Supports the holding of the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe and calls on the Secretariat to invite representatives of the European Union to attend with observer status; calls on the European Council also to consult the Council of Europe in the preparation of European Political Community summits and to invite it to attend them with observer status;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Observes that the cooperation between the two international organisations has been increasing over the years while leaving still open potential for more “inter-organisational cooperation” where the EU, in line with the 2005 Guidelines on the Relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, strives to transpose those aspects of Council of Europe Conventions and other instruments into European Union Law where the Union holds respective competences;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it necessary to further strengthen the institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE ~~and give new impetus to bilateral cooperation in the promotion and defence of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, including the rights of minorities~~;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it necessary to further strengthen the institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE and give new impetus to bilateral cooperation in the promotion and defence of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, including the rights of minorities, as well as the defense of human rights in the field of the environment and environmental crimes;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers it necessary to further strengthen the institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE and give new impetus to bilateral cooperation in the promotion and defence of democracy, the rule of law ~~and~~, fundamental ~~rights, including the rights of minoritie~~freedoms and human rights;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 1 (new)

(1) Believes that the appointment of high-level political figures to the posts of Secretary-General and Commissioner for Human Rights would not only enhance the visibility of the Council of Europe but also contribute to ensuring a balanced institutional relationship between the two organisations,

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point 2 (new)

(2) Points out that institutional exchanges at all levels would be beneficial to both organisations;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Highlights that as the EU has gradually transformed into a political union, the areas where the activities of the two organisations overlap and complement each-other has increased; considers therefore that given the frequent overlapping of competences it is important to avoid duplications of work or diverging standards; considers it important in this regard to set up appropriate consultation channels between the European Union and the Council of Europe which would allow the coordination of normative work in an incipient phase, especially in the areas of the current or a future MoU;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention),

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Is concerned by the persistent failure by some Member States to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which contributes to the erosion of the rule of law and weakens the Union’s external action in terms of Human rights, particularly with regard to third countries members of the Council of Europe; calls on the Commission to analyse systematically data on non-compliance with judgments of the ECtHR and apply relevant tools, such as the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, in such cases;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Considers it necessary to improve the institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE in the field of good governance and multilevel governance, further promoting local and regional democracy as well as regional and cross- border cooperation;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Calls for the strengthening of institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE on gender equality and women's rights, tackling discrimination against LGBTI+ people and gender-based violence; calls for the accession of the EU, without any further delay, to the Istanbul Convention;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2 d. Calls for the strengthening of institutional cooperation between the EU and the CoE on media pluralism, media freedom and the protection of journalists. Stresses the importance of fostering a favourable environment for freedom of expression, offline and online, in Europe, in accordance with the Council of Europe recommendation of 7 March 2018 on media pluralism and transparency of media ownership;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

The EU’s accession to the ECHR and other forms of cooperation on fundamental rights

Amendment 65 #

Charles GOERENS, Sandro GOZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Recalls that the Treaty of Lisbon introduced a legal obligation for the EU to accede to the ECHR, enshrined in Article 6(2) of the TEU, and laid down the conditions for an agreement relating to this accession under the Protocol on Article 6(2) of the TEU; takes note of the Court of Justice of the EU’s Opinion 2/13 on the draft agreement on the accession of the EU to the ECHR delivered on 18 December 2014;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the EU’s accession to the ECHR; calls on the negotiating parties to invest every effort into resolving the outstanding issues and addressing all of the CJEU’s concerns expressed in its opinion 2/2013 of 18 December 2014 with a view to concluding negotiations successfully; believes that these outstanding issues are complex but not insurmountable; undertakes to review the EU Treaties to assess how the powers of the CJEU can be strengthened and made more compatible with those of the European Court of Human Rights; calls on all Member States accordingly to ensure compliance with the ECHR and all case law established by the European Court of Human Rights; calls on the European Commission to monitor more closely compliance by EU Member States with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. RWelcomes the European Commission’s and the Council’s renewed commitment to the EU’s accession to the ECHR and the resumption of negotiations in 2020; reaffirms its strong commitment to and support for the EU’s accession to the ECHR; calls on the negotiating parties to take all steps necessary and invest every effort into resolving the outstanding issues and addressing all of the CJEU’s concerns expressed in its opinion 2/2013 of 18 December 2014 with a view to concluding negotiations successfully ideally before the Fourth Summit of the Council of Europe that will take place on 16-17 May 2023 in Iceland;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the EU’s accession to the ECHR as expressed in the resolution of 19 May 2010 on the institutional aspects of the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; calls on the negotiating parties to invest every effort into resolving the outstanding issues and addressing all of the CJEU’s concerns expressed in its opinion 2/2013 of 18 December 2014 with a view to concluding negotiations successfully;

Amendment 69 #

Victor NEGRESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the EU’s accession to the ECHR; calls on the negotiating parties to invest every effort into resolving the outstanding issues and addressing all of the CJEU’s concerns expressed in its opinion 2/2013 of 18 December 2014 with a view to concluding negotiations successfully and to propose a timeframe for achieving this objective;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the 48 European Cultural Routes certified to date by the Council of Europe,

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. SUnderlines that the accession constitutes not only a priority objective for both organisations, but also a treaty obligation for the EU; stresses that the EU’s accession to the ECHR would have numerous benefits, including strengthened coherence between EU law and the CoE conventions system, harmonisation in human rights legislation and case law between the EU and the CoE and the protection of EU citizens against the actions of the Union’s institutions and bodies;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the EU’s accession to the ECHR would have numerous benefits, including strengthened coherence between EU law and the CoE conventions system, harmonisation in human rights legislation and case law between the EU and the CoE, placing the EU under the jurisdiction of the ECtHR, and the protection of EU citizens against the actions of the Union’s institutions and bodies, by allowing individuals to bring cases against the EU directly before the ECtHR;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that the EU’s accession to the ECHR would have numerous benefits, including strengthened coherence between EU law and the CoE conventions system, harmonisation in human rights legislation and case law between the EU and the CoE and the protection of EU citizens against the actions of the Union’s institutions and bodies; stresses that EU accession to the ECHR would also establish an indispensable external mechanism to ensure full compliance with the rule of law on the part of the EU and its institutions;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Emphasises that as a result of accession, the EU’s role in the Convention system will become more prominent as this will include a proportionate contribution to the budget of the Council of Europe, the nomination of candidates for judge of the ECtHR, the participation of a delegation of the European Parliament in PACE sittings related to the election of judges of the ECtHR, and representation on the Committee of Ministers when supervising the implementation of judgments of the ECtHR;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Recalls the pertinence of the promising cooperation between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and CoE - as exemplified in the 2022 cooperation report between the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe - in the pursuit of common objectives and strategic priorities related to promoting and protecting human rights, including the need to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity between the work of FRA and the CoE;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Is of the opinion that it is useful both for the Council of Europe and the FRA to further expand their relationship such as by expanding the Council of Europe conventions covered by EFRIS and by inviting FRA to contribute to the work of the Venice Commission;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4 c. Calls on the Commission to work closely with the Council of Europe in the area of artificial intelligence and new digital technologies, including their appropriate use by law enforcement and their impact on human rights, the rule of law and democracy;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4 d. Highlights the particular importance of close cooperation with the Council of Europe in the fight against child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse; stresses the importance of the the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention) as the first international treaty that addresses child sexual abuse that occurs within the home or family and which is is open to accession by any state in the world, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the fight against this crime at international level; calls on te EU to finalise accession to the Convention as swiftly as possible;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)

4 e. Calls on the Commission to enhance cooperation and complementarity on all human-rights related areas where the Council of Europe developes substantial activity, such as anti-discrimination, fight against traficking in human beings, migration, justice and equality;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties it has already signed, such as the Istanbul Convention, and ~~the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment~~working towards EU accession to other treaties to which it is not yet a party, such as the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention); calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the revised European Social Charter and to ~~propose a timeframe for achieving that objective~~make progress with regards to accession by proposing a clear propose a timeframe for achieving that objective; calls on the still reluctant Member States to finally give up their resistance and clear the way for an accession of the Union;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)

— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 10 May 2010 on the institutional aspects of accession by the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention ~~and the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatmen~~, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption or the Civil Law Convention on Corruption. Reiterates its call for the European Union to become full member of the Group of States against Cor ~~Punishment~~ruption (GRECO), in which the EU has held observer status since 2019; calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention and the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective; is convinced that the EU’s accession to these conventions will increase its legitimacy in the area of fundamental rights and promote synergies and facilitate cooperation between the two organisations;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s ~~broadest possible~~ alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession ~~to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention and~~, where justified, to certain CoE treaties, such as the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; ~~calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective;~~

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention and the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective; calls on the Commission to look into the EU joining the Council of Europe's Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes;

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention and the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; in this regards, calls on Member States to finalise the ratification processes of the outstanding conventions; calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. ACalls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a time-frame for achieving that objective; advocates the EU’s broadest possible alignment with the CoE convention system through the finalisation of its accession to other CoE treaties, such as the Istanbul Convention and the Convention against Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; ~~calls on the Commission to look into what steps are needed for the European Union to accede to the European Social Charter and to propose a timeframe for achieving that objective;~~

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)

(1) Welcomes the fact that the overwhelming majority of conventions negotiated within the Council of Europe enable the EU to accede to them and stresses that many such conventions are negotiated by the Union itself;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Welcomes the EU signature of Istanbul Convention on 13 June 2017; emphasises that the EU’s accession to the Convention will provide a coherent European legal framework for the EU’s internal and external policies to prevent and combat violence against women and gender-based violence and to protect and support victims; underlines that the EU’s accession would allow better monitoring, interpretation and implementation of EU laws, programmes and funds relevant to the Convention, together with better collection of comparable disaggregated data at EU level; urges the Council to step up discussions and procedures in order to ensure the EU’s swift ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which requires only a qualified majority in the Council; calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that Parliament will be fully involved in the Convention’s monitoring process after EU accession; strongly encourages also the six remaining Member States who have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention to do so without delay;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Underlines that accession to certain CoE treaties would allow the EU to play an active role in CoE bodies, facilitate EU-CoE coordination, and in certain cases allow the CoE bodies’ activities to cover EU bodies and agencies; calls, in this regard, to evaluate the possibility for the EU to become a full member of Council of Europe agencies and bodies of which it already is an observer member, such as the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI); reiterates, in particular, its call for the EU to advance its application for full membership of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) as soon as possible and for Parliament to be kept up to date with the progress of this application;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4 b (new)

EU involvement in Council of Europe bodies and the associated agencies takes the view that the EU’s taking a more active role in CoE bodies, agencies and joint programmes could further improve partnerships and synergies between the respective organisations while avoiding overlaps in their fields of action; calls on the European Commission to assess the possibility of full EU membership of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) the Group of Experts on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) as a way of defending the EU's interests and propose arrangements for EU involvement in these bodies;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)

— having regard to the Santiago de Compostela Declaration of the Council of Europe of 23 October 1987, on the occasion of the proclamation of the Camino de Santiago as the first European Cultural Route,

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that the existing framework for cooperation between the EU and the CoE should be reviewed in order to take stock of the changes brought by the Lisbon Treaty and the evolving relations between the two organisations; suggests, in this regard, revisiting the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding, notably by taking stock of what has worked and what has not, with a view to upgrading it into the main legal instrument coordinating EU-CoE cooperation in a comprehensive way; proposes, furthermore, complementing the Memorandum with agreements for action on specific issues;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Welcomes the reflection process on the side of the Committee of Ministers and of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the further strengthening of concertation, co- ordination, political dialogue and technical co-operation with the European Union, putting an emphasis on issues relating to democratic security and the rule of law;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Expects that based on this process, as well as on the work of the High-level Reflection Group of the Council of Europe, the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member States in Reykjavik, Iceland on 16 and 17 May 2023 will also present clear conclusions on the future cooperation and relationship between the CoE and the EU;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5

~~Partnership on the mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights~~deleted

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6 c. Points out that given the extended cooperation on issues of rule of law and the extensive reliance by the EU on CoE benchmarks, existing cooperation should be more formalized and structured, thereby ensuring better cooperation and increased visibility for the activities of the Council of Europe;

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6 d. Acknowledges the reliance of the EU on the know-how of the Venice Commission to help improve constitutional standards, electoral law, and judicial, governance and other reform processes both in the EU as well as in the EU external action and calls for regular exchanges between the European Commission and the Venice Commission;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates the position expressed in its resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights and its resolution of 7 October 2020 on the establishment of an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights on the need to establish a mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights covering all the values set out in Article 2 of the TEU; stresses that this should draw on the experience and expertise of the CoE; recalls that Parliament has also expressed the need to closely involve the CoE and its relevant bodies in this mechanism, including through a more structured partnership, in its resolutions on the Commission’s Rule of Law Report for 2020 and 2021 of 24 June 2021 and 19 May 2022;deleted

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is of the opinion, given this, that the EU and the CoE should establish a dedicated agreement on the mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights covering all the values set out in Article 2 of the TEU;deleted

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Reiterates the importance of cooperation in criminal matters, such as fight against human trafficking, terrorism and radicalisation; notes that both the EU and CoE should continue cooperating on matters linked to supporting the work of journalists, protecting media freedom, countering hate speech and manipulative spread of disinformation and foreign and domestic interference in electoral processes;

Amendment 99 #