Activities of Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS related to 2015/2220(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Implementation and review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy (A8-0051/2016 - Tamás Meszerics)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the implementation and review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy
Amendments (13)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the importance of the Central Asian region for strategic relations with the EU and insists on the strengthening of trade ties and exchanges between the two regions; calls for the EU’s role in the region to be more proactive in response to the growing regional influence of Russia and Chinpoints out that the EU is the second largest trading partner for the Central Asian countries; calls for the EU’s role in the region as a promoter of free trade, open and diversified market economies, WTO standards and principles of the international trade and to be more proactive in response to the growing regional influence of Russia and China; welcomes efforts to explore possibilities for cooperation with China on the Central Asia region with regard to development of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative; calls on exploring possibilities for closer cooperation with the US on the economic initiatives in Central Asia;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes the positive efforts of Kazakhstan in eliminating bureaucratic burdens and improving regulatory framework for businesses, which is now in the 41st global ranking position in the World Bank Doing Business Index; calls on all Central Asian countries to step up their efforts in this regard to improve business climate and eliminate barriers to cross-border trade; points out that corruption remains one of the biggest impediments for foreign investment in the region;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Strongly believes that trade can be an effective tool for promoting sustainable development and environmental governance; supports increasing EU support for development of renewable energy, energy efficiency and resource management in the Central Asian countries and encouraging cross-border cooperation among them, as a basis of sustainable development of the region;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that there is a significant lack of highly-skilled, professional workforce which affects the competitiveness and economic development of the region and limits possibilities for foreign investment; calls, therefore, on the Commission and Member States to put more emphasis on support for higher education reforms, coupling of education with labour market, vocational training, student exchanges, scholarships, training and sharing of know-how, with the focus on younger generation;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for continued efforts to support the modernisation and diversification of the economy of these countries and to help them create a favourable environment for foreign investment by strengthening the rule of law, reducing bureaucratic burdens and administrative interference in enterprises, reforming the judicial system to ensure the protection of foreign investment, and fighting corruption;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Following the findings of the OECD, recognises the particular importance of FDI-SME business linkage programmes (BLPs) as a tool for diversification and maximising the spill-over effect of investments, enabling Central Asian countries to tie FDI more closely with their domestic economies, enhancing their competitiveness while gaining access to international markets, finance, technology and management skills; in this regard, calls upon the governments of Central Asian states to initiate these programmes and to increase the involvement of stakeholders in already existing BLPs; points out that in order to ensure that local production meets international quality standards, complementary measures such as offering training programmes that help SMEs upgrade the skills of their staff or aiding SMEs in embracing internationally- recognised quality standards, need to be put in place;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Taking into consideration the highlights of the Strategy progress reports, emphasises the importance of Member States' involvement in the implementation of EU assistance in order to bring higher impact and results.
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for closer cooperation between EU and OSCE on Central Asia, especially in the fields of human rights, democratisation and security, with the aim of joining and complementing, where appropriate, their efforts in the region;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Points out that providing broad possibilities on the EU side for people-to- people contacts, youth education and mobility is one of the priorities that can bring about positive developments in relatively closed societies, help to address the lack of highly skilled technical professionals in the Central Asian countries and wider opportunities for youth, and in the longer-term unlock the economic development potential in the countries;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to make full use of existing instruments and look for new ways to encourage student and young professionals' exchanges, provide wider opportunities for receiving higher and university education in Europe, especially in technical and applied sciences;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Invites the Commission, EEAS and Member States to explore possibilities for easier travel and work in Europe for skilled professionals, students, journalists and young people from the Central Asian countries;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls upon the Commission and EEAS to define and apply robust and objectively verifiable conditions for any continuing budget support programmes, in particular, giving sufficient attention to support for anti-corruption mechanisms; points out that the EU budget support should not be used for direct financing of the basic public services (such as primary and secondary education, basic healthcare, basic infrastructure), which is a primary responsibility of the authorities, the EU aid should rather be tied to the performance of the authorities in this regard, the EU budget support should encourage the development of the advanced public services, such as research, innovations, university education, innovative infrastructure etc.;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is concerned that stalled and uneven socio-economic development, poor governance and a weak institutional framework, lack of respect for rule of law; unresolved ethnic issues and lack of prospects for orderly succession and non- inclusive governance in the countries of Central Asia are sources of potential instability;