6 Amendments of Carlos ZORRINHO related to 2020/0157M(NLE)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights that VPAs are part and parcel of the EU efforts to achieve the targets set by the Paris Agreement and the UN Agenda 2030, notably the SDGs; invites the Commission and its Member States to fully integrate the FLEGT agenda into the new strategic framework of the European Green Deal, by encouraging its promotion at global and regional level and further strengthening the international cooperation between producing and importing countries;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the commitment shown by Honduras and the progress made so far, and is aware that the full implementation of the VPA will be a long-term process entailing the adoption of a whole batch of legislation to establish the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) and to make it operational; stresses that the implementation of the VPA will require sustained political will, as well as the dedication of significant human and financial resources to running the TLAS; urges therefore the Commission to assist Honduras all along the process of issuing FLEGT licences and provide the necessary technical support to ensure the full implementation and correct operationalisation of TLAS; recalls to this end that monitoring, follow-up and assessment arrangements are integral part of a sound and effective agreement;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that land tenure has been a major source of violence and human rights abuses in Honduras; believes, in this context, that the VPA process could contribute to clarifying land tenure rights as a question of social justice;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Is fully aware of the grave situation that land and environmental defenders face in the country and strongly condemns any attack, killing, threat or intimidation against them; reiterates its call for immediate and independent investigation to be carried out in order to bring those responsible of these hideous crimes to justice; wishes to this end that VPA could be an opportunity to promote a more robust legality framework in the timber sector to safeguard the rights of local populations, indigeneous communities and environmental defenders; supports therefore the collaboration among different stakeholders, which is key towards a more socially inclusive and fairer society, whilst ensuring transparency and involvement of citizens and civil society organizations in the process;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that the success of the Agreement will also depend, inter alia, on tackling fraud and corruption, corruption and poor governance at all levels of administration, especially in the forestry sector and timber trade in order to tackle illegal logging and mismanagement of natural resources;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the EU to ensure the coherence of the VPA agreement with all of its policies, notably in the fields of development, environment, agriculture and trade, while ensuring complementary with EU commitments to environmental and climate protection.