30 Amendments of Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER related to 2018/2097(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU’s security environment is now more volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous than at any time since the end of the Cold War; whereas current EU policies may no longer suffice to promote a stable and prosperous neighbourhoodbear a large amount of responsibility for this instability, particularly on the Eurasian continent;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU’s population is in decline and forecast to account for just 5 % of the world’s population around 2050, compared to 13 % in 1960, and whereas now, because of security reasons, it also seems necessary to create new policies to support families and EU demographics, since immigration contributes to instability and insecurity;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas more than half of the world’s population growth by 2050 is expected to occur in Africa, which is expected to account for 1.3 billion of the additional 2.4 billion people on the planet; whereas, nevertheless, Africa would be quite capable of providing for this population as long as it does not endure corrupt politics and economic predation;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas by 2050, China, the US and India are expected to be the world’s leading economic powers, with even greater political clout, while none of the world’s largest economies will be an EU Member State and whereas the single market and currency have not produced the expected results, thereby concentrating the prosperity in Germany and destroying European growth, and whereas, therefore, EU Member States are subject to the fiscal policy of the Political Union, which is leading us straight towards the next currency and debt crisis;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the new world order is characterised by asymmetry, with numerous non-state actors becoming increasingly influential over the past decade: from NGOs advocating human rights, to transnational corporations influencing government policy, to social media activists calling for democratic change; whereas, nevertheless, no emergent state or non-state actor can impose an incontestable world view; whereas strengthening the rights and jurisdiction of sovereign Nation States is the only way to counter this development because their foundations are thousands of years old, and whereas the Nation State is the natural framework for responsible governance;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas globalisation has increased interdependence, with decisions taken in Beijing or Washington having a direct impact on our lives; whereas, in turn, interdependence has resulted in global public opinion becoming cognisant of transnational problems, which require transnational solution; whereas it is not within the EU’s remit to deal with this situation, and whereas the EU is a complete failure because of its federalist vision, abandoning the Europe of Nations and the state framework that is responsible for its internal borders through new found sovereign powers, thereby cooperating better externally with other States, and whereas this failure is caused by the freedom of movement for goods, capital, services and people, and whereas taking control of our common destiny requires rebalancing global trade, putting an end to freedom of movement, and also re-establishing customs duties within Europe so as to counter aggressive trade policies;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas almost one fourth of the world’s population live in fragile states or societies, and whereas policy within the EU has made Southern States fragile;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the EU’s aspirational global leadership has been undermined as a result of the financial crisis, rising Euroscepticism, theimpossible task of spearheading one foreign proliferation of ccy for 28 countrises on our doorstep and rising scepticism of European public opinion on the projection of forceand the fact that only sovereign States can be influential on the world stage through cooperation based on common interests; whereas, therefore, attempts to share foreign policy decisions abcroad, which has given rise to a tendency to respond to events rather than to shape themss the EU have instead made Member States powerless, thereby preventing States that really have common interests from cooperating with one another;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas Western democracies have become more protectionist, and inward- looking, and are swinging to the extremes at a time when multilateral cooperawhereas this is inevitable given the massive inequalities in global trade and given the impoverishment, not to mention is the only way to respond to global challenges effectively;plundering of wealth, carried out in the name of free trade, and whereas othiser power vacuum is being filled by os such as China or Russia have instead regulated their powers such as China or Russiatrade and development, which makes them vital actors in the global balance;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and impose secondary sanctions on European companies doing business with Iran has shown the limits of European economic sovereignty; reality of international relations stemming from a balance of power that the EU has not known how to develop, thereby being dependant on the US deep state and criticising Trump but not the US because within the inner workings of the Commission, American law is accepted as universal, including its extraterritoriality, the acceptance of American accounting standards, the refusal to sanction US banks following the 2008 financial crisis, and the lack of support for France with its policy towards Iran; sharing foreign policy through the Lisbon Treaty having instead lessened the clout of EU states on the world stage, including the power of European companies; the euro not having become a reserve currency, yet a similar crisis making US currency the currency of trade and allowing them to exercise extraterritoriality, such as using all US information technology; whereas, therefore, the EU only has the problem without a solution;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the time has come for the European UnionEU Member States to take itstheir destiny into itstheir own hands; takes the view that the EU should embrace its role as a fully- fledged, sovereign political power in international relations that helps to resolve conflicts worldwide and shapes global governance, cooperating where necessary, but also acting freely and independently;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that no single EU Member State can respond effectively to today’s global challenges on its own; believes that, by pulling their weight together within the EU, the Member States can exert an influence on the world stage that they would not otherwise possess; is convinced that 28 Member States together, representing 500 million citizens, have more leverage in international negotiations and in setting international regulations and standards; believes, moreover, that under the protection of the EU, globalisation can represent an opportunity for EU citizens and not a threatthe EU will never replace sovereign Nation States in terms of foreign policy and that the EU is instead an obstacle to this;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that the Member States all too often prioritisedo not openly defend their national interests, regardless of the possible consequences at a European level, thereby undermining the EU’s credibility as a global player; calls for a greater division of responsibilities and enhanced coordination between the EU and its Member States; believes that good cooperation among the Member States is essential to safeguard our democracy, our freedom, and our social and environmental standards often enough, under the pretence of a contrived European federalism, thereby preventing real solutions from being found for several problems because of lies and hypocrisy;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that, taking the 28 Member States as a whole, the EU is the world’s largest economy with more than half a billion people; stresses that the EU is also the world’s leading development aid donor, with Brussels federalism causing national means to be powerless, having been constructed in opposition to Strasbourg’s Europe of States and Nations;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Stresses that the European approach to external relations is characterised by: – the defence of our people and identity founded on the search for truth (Greek heritage), law, including the State (Roman heritage), and personal freedom, secularism and solidarity (Christian heritage); – the commitment to multilateralism, the cornerstone of which is support for the United Nations system, whose Charter is underpinned by the principle of State national sovereignty and the prohibition of any interference with a State’s domestic affairs; – the determination to give priority to diplomatic rather than military solutions; – an emphasis on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and institution building;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the EU should stay true to its principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law; emphasises the importance of assessing whether the promotion of these principles in third countries has been successful, firstly within its borders by rejecting falsehoods (the Iraq war and the coup in Ukraine), the support for international coalitions that are not based in international law (Libya and Syria), and also the systematic destruction of Christian heritage (laws on gender, giving preference to foreigners, and the destruction of our identities; opposition to Poland and Hungary who are defending Europe’s Christian roots), and stresses that from now on, before being keen to promote principles such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law in other countries, the EU should lead by example because it is necessary for good international relations, and stresses that hypocritical values belie a new form of imperialism and warfare;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls onfor the abolition of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States to act strategically by using all the means at their disposal, including trade, development, and diplomatic and military tools, to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical influence and protect its interestineffective back room of the Commission, and for it to be replaced by limited coordination between sovereign States;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the EU has often played an important role in de-escalating and resolving foreign policy crises, namely when some Member States have taken the lead under the auspices of the Union overall, role in stoking international tensions, namely through its so-called Eastern Partnership policy; notes that ad hoc formats such as in the Normandy format or the EU3+3 negotiations with Iran are preferable to a blanket adoption of foreign policy, which often results in deadlock or the smallest common denominator for agreement; supports the establishment of ad hoc coalitions of Member States that can intervene to respond to international crises, making EU external action more flexible and responsive by reducing the pressure of having to achieve universal consensus among the Member States;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights that transatlantic relations are indispensable for the security and prosperity of both sides of the Atlantic; regrets the US’s progressive retreat from the multilateral, rules-based world ordNotes that the rationale behind permanent alliances and blocs belongs to a bygone era, namely its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreementthe Cold War;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that investing in the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans means investing in the security and future of our Union; reiterates the European perspective for the countries in the Western Balkans; highlights that the enlargement process is merit-based and must depend on nothing other than the concrete results achieved by each individual country; reiterates the importance, throughout this process, of the rule of law, reconciliation and good neighbourly relations, security and migration, socio-economic development, transport and energy connectivity and the digital agendaare under threat by NATO attempts to bring the entire peninsular back under its control, thereby stoking international tensions;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue using the EU’s transformative power at its Eastern borders, using trade agreements and access to the single market as incentives to foster democratic reforms and the adoption of European rules and standardsreflect very seriously on their role within in the Ukrainian crisis and in the resulting crisis in relations with Russia;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the Mediterranean is one of the most unequal borders in the world; reiterates the urgent need to stimulate the economic development of the Southern Mediterranean basin and Sub- Saharan Africa in order to create local economic opportunities in the countries of origin of migrants; welcomes, in this regard, Commission President Juncker’s proposal to build a new Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs between Europe and Africa, and his initiative to develop the various European-African trade agreements into one continent-to- continentbut reiterates the fact that implementing an economic partnership between equals is completely incompatible with and contradictory to the outcome of free -trade agreement, as an economic partnership between equalss, which create massive inequalities in global trade;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that, despite their importance, soft power and institution building alone are not sufficient to exert influence in a world where power politics and hard power are increasingly significant; believes that the effectiveness of the EU Member States’s foreign policy will ultimately depend, to a large extent, on the resources and capabilities that support it;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. WelcomDeplores the steps taken to increase the EU’s military autonomy, namely the establishment of a European single command centre in Brussels for European military training missions, and removing obstacles to the deployment of EU Battlegroups; believes that the establishment of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on defence projects and the coordinated review of national defence budgets will help the Member States to spend their defence budgets more effectivelyfact EU Member States’ defence is subcontracted out to NATO, which is an alliance where national independence is greatly diminished by integrated command;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the capacity to dispatch forces to global conflicts is an essential pre-condition for becoming a credible political power; calls on the EEAS and the Member States and that only the Member States, acting independently or together, are able to develop sufficient military capabilities to defend their values and interests around the world;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that developing new formats, such as a European Security Council, as advocated by Chancellor Merkel, could facilitate a more efficient decision-making process for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFDSP) may only be achieved when Member States regain their national sovereignty and abandon their futile attempts to take action together;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. SupportsRejects categorically the proposal set out by Commission President Juncker in his State of the Union Address on 12 September 2018 to move to qualified majority voting (QMV) in specific areas of the CFSP where the Treaties currently require unanimity, notably human rights issues, sanctions and civilian missions; believesrefutes categorically that the use of QMV would enable the EU to act more resolutely, quickly and effectively; calls urgently on the European Council not to take up this initiative by making use of the passerelle clause (Article 31(3) TEU); encouragesstresses that the European Council should noto consider extending QMV to other areas of the CFSP;