Activities of Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER related to 2015/0302M(NLE)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, of the other part PDF (245 KB) DOC (90 KB)
Amendments (16)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises that this recent reversal in development progress is largely due to the intensification of violence and conflict, and that internal displacement, the arrival of returnees from the surrounding region and climatic factors, such as drought, have all led to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation; maintains that NATO intervention, which has continued for more than 20 years, has not helped to resolve Afghanistan’s problems, whether as regards democracy, the rule of law, or social and economic development;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that, according to the UNODC, the production of opium, the raw material for heroin, almost trebled between 2002 (3 400 tonnes) and 2017 (9 000 tonnes), that it accounts for 52% of Afghanistan’s GDP, and that the number of child heroin addicts in Afghanistan is estimated at 300 000; maintains that, far from curbing it, the EU-backed NATO intervention has boosted drug production on Afghan soil;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point17 years of western intervention since 2001 – a period longer than the two world wars put together – have not led to any improvement in the situation; whereas drug production has increased dramatically over this period, mreanching that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost9000 tonnes of opium per year in 2017; whereas USD 1 000 000 000 000 (one trillion dollars) has been spent on military operations in Afghanistan; whereas USD 100 billion has been spend on political reconstruction (nation building); whereas 2300 soldiers have lost their lives and a huge number have sustained terrible injuries; whereas NATO is on the brink of defeat, even if it is reluctant to admit it (see Alfred W. McCoy’s long study, ‘How the heroin trade explains US-UK failure in Afghanistan’, The Guardian, 9 January 2018); whereas this intervention should therefore be brought to an end;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Member States to work as closely as possible with the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as with China, Russia, and Iran, in order to fight drug trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan and Central Asia;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Remains committed toBelieves that there is no point in further supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women’s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country’s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment, and that none of these objectives can be met through foreign intervention, but that the Afghans will have to solve their own problems;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; points out that the situation has been the same in Afghanistan for centuries and that nothing will change;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises itsBelieves that the notion that, in the long- term support for, credible, free and fair elections, in line with international standards, and expresses its support forcould ever be hold in the country is naive, and believes that EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election, is useless;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistanthe EU has placed itself in opposition to some of these regional powers – in particular Russia – and that its not always the end goal for these regional actorspolitical stance makes it impossible to cooperate with Moscow on matters such as this one;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. UrgeThanks the regional powers to fully supportfor their support for the peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan’s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is concerned about the territorial gains of the Taliban and various terrorist groups and attacks committed by them against Afghan civilians, security forces, institutions and civil society; reiterates its full commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism and pays tribute to all coalition and Afghan forces and civilians who have paid the ultimate price for a democratic, secure and stable Afghanistan; takes the view that the European Union absolutely cannot do anything in this area;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. EmphasiseConsiders the EU’s continued support for the Afghan-led and Afghan- owned peace process; calls unrealistic; calls politely on the Taliban to denounce violence and join the peace process; recognises that a military presence will be requireduseless in the long term in order to assist the Afghan security forces in the suppression of violent extremists or terrorist groups that refuse to join the peace process;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Further encourages NATO’s Resolute Support mission to continuegive up its training and oversight of the Afghan army; encourages the Member States to offer civilian crisis management training to the national and local governments of Afghanistan;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Supports and endorsesIs convinced that the Government of Afghanistan’s new counter- narcotics strategy, backed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will be just as useless as the strategies tried before it;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the EU is particularly focused on improving the conditions of women, children, poor and disabled persons and that these groups are in special need of assistance, including in the areas of health and education; points out that this kind of social engineering, which has been tried for centuries by foreign powers (British, Russian and others), has proven to be totally ineffective;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. WBelcomesieves that Afghanistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2016 is absurd and recognises the added value that trade and foreign direct investment will bring to Afghanistan’s future; recognises the positive role that WTO membership could have on the integration of Afghanistan into the world economy;