Activities of Barbara SPINELLI related to 2014/2249(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union - Improving the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty - Budgetary capacity for the Eurozone (debate) IT
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on improving the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty PDF (493 KB) DOC (99 KB)
Amendments (82)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Union, due to the economic, financial and social crisis and to the measures adopted to address it, is experiencing an increased distrust and disillusion by its citizens towards the European project as a whole; whereas in order to address this criticism, regain legitimacy and rebuild the trust and confidence of the European citizens in the European Union, in the spirit of the Preamble of the Treaty on the European Union, the EU should redefine its priorities by giving primary consideration to the promotion of civil and social rights as enshrined in the Treaties and the EU Charter of fundamental rights, also providing for the involvement of civil society in decision-making and implementation processes;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the dominating role of the European Council amounts to a continuing rejection of the Community method with its dual legitimacy concept;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the European Council’'s working methods should be rendered more transparent vis-à-vis Parliament and its interference in legislative decision- making should remain within the limits of the Treaty provisionsfunctions should be carried out within the limits of the Treaty provisions, in particular article 15 TEU, allowing for ex ante input and ex post accountability;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the existing economic governance system is not yet strong enough to tackle all potential future criseshas proved itself ineffective to tackle the major challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and shocks as it should, nial exclusion, high-rate unemployment and work is it yet sufficiently good at generating higher competitiveness, structural convergence among its membersnsecurity while not being able, at the same time, to generate new economic growth, sustainable growth development and social cohesprotection; whereas, therefore, progress towards the completion of the EMU should be sustained, as well as efforts by linking it to the deepening of the social dimension and to the principles of the EU Charter of fundamental rights, in order to render its institutional structure more legitimate and democratically accountable;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the Fiscal Compact should be incorporated into the EU legal framework on the basis of an assessment of experience with its implementation; replaced by a macroeconomic mechanism for reducing current account imbalances with a special focus on surplus countries, which should expand domestic demand to avoid the high social and economic costs of internal devaluation for deficit countries and should possibly be incorporated into the EU legal framework;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the Union needs a new legal act on economic policy, including the adoption of Convergence Guidelines, as well as some crucial structural reforms in the areas of competitiveness, growth and social cohesionbut mostly a legal shift on its economic policy based on the full application of Article 3 TEU and the principles provided for, in particular, in articles 9 to 12 TFEU;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the European Semester process should be simplified, should address the social aspects of better governance and assess Member States' performance on the basis of social criteria, in addition to economic criteria, and rendered more focused and democratic, by enhancing Parliament’'s scrutiny role over it and by investing it with a more substantial role in the various cycles of negotiations, in cooperation with national parliaments;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas the Union should be endowed with increased investment capacity by ensuring better use of the existing structural funds and by fully implementing the existing six-pack and two-pack legal frameworkand by a golden rule for public investment which exempts public investment from debt accounting as investment creates assets and future income streams;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas part of the EU budget should be used to establish a fiscal capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms based on certain conditions; whereas this additional fiscal capacity should be placed outside the ceilings of the MFF and should be financed by genuine own resourcesincreasing their public investment;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas the growth potential of the Single Market should be further exploited in the areas of services, the Digital Single Market, the Energy Union, and the Banking Union and, whereas the Capital Markets Union should be rejected; whereas decentralised and bank-based finance should be strengthened by cleaning banks' balance sheets from non-performing loans; whereas austerity, which dampens investment and credit demand, should be ended;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
Sa. whereas there are deficiencies in relation to the functioning and implementation of the Instrument of the European Citizens' Initiative and therefore a need for improvement in order for it to function effectively and be a true instrument for participative democracy and active citizenship;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U
Recital U
U. whereas recent security challenges, some in the immediate vicinity ofevents in the EU’'s borders, have revealed the need to move progressively towards the establishment of a common defence policy, and eventually, a common defence; whereas the Treaty already contains clear provisions as to how this could be done, notably in Aneighbourhood countries have shown the need to move towards a different approach in the EU's external relations founded on the peaceful promotion of social, economic, environmental and human rights standards for the benefits of all the particles 41, 42, 44 and 46 TEUinvolved;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
Recital V
V. whereas the refugee crisis has exposed the need for a fair and effective common asylum and immigration policy, based on the principles of solidarity, non- discrimination, non-refoulement, sincere cooperation among all the Member States and on proactive search and rescue, which should provide as well for a fair distribuand more consistent relocation of asylum seekers across the European Union;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the European Union and its Member States are facing unprecedented challenges, such as the refugee crisis, the foreign policy challenges in the immediate neighbourhood and the fight against terrorism, as well as globalisation, climate change, the consequences of the financial and debteconomic crisis, the lack of competitiveness and the social consequences in several Member States, and the need to reinforce the EU internal market, which have so far been inadequately addressedthreats of disintegration and divergence, social exclusion, long term unemployment, increasing euroscepticism and the social consequences in several Member States, which have so far been inadequately addressed; noting that all these challenges need differentiated answers, and cannot form a unique package, lumping together, for example, the very different questions of refugees and of terrorism;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the Union needs to restore the lost confidence and trust of its citizens by enhancing the transparency and accountability of its institutions and decision-making, and imimproving its capacity to act and strengthening its democratic legitimacy providing its capacity to actfor a greater involvement of civil society in the decision-making process. To this end, it should also revise Regulation 211/2011 in order to encourage the Commission to have a less restrictive approach on the legal admissibility of an ECI and to allow a successful initiative to have an appropriate and concrete follow-up;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that intergovernmental solutions should not exist, not even in areas where not all the Member States fulfil the conditions for participation, and that the Fiscal Compact and the European Stability Mechanism, as intended by th should be Treaties should therefore be incorporated into Union law and no new institutions should be introduplaced by a macroeconomic mechanism for reducing current account imbalanceds;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Insists that Parliament’'s legislative powers and control rights must be guaranteed, consolidated and strengthened, pari passu with those of the Council by an inter-institutional agreement, and through the use of the corresponding legal base by the Commission; asks consequently to be involved in the confirmation of the President of the European Council as well as of the High Representative for the EU Foreign Affairs, who is also one of the Vice-presidents of the European Commission;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers it necessary for the European Parliament to reform its working methods in order to cope with the challenges ahead, by using its control over the Commission, including in relation to the implementation and application of the acquis in the Member States, by limiting first-reading agreements to exceptional cases of urgency, and by improving its own electoral procedure through the revision of the 1976 Electoral Act in line with Parliament’s proposals contained by strongly limiting and guaranteeing the full transparency of the Trilogues in the ordinary legislative procedure and by improving its resolution of 11 November 2015 onown electoral procedure through the reformvision of the e1976 Electoral law of the European Union5 or as a future stepAct through the adoption of implementing measures in application of Article 14 of the Electoral Act; __________________ 5 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0395. Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0395.
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages meaningful political dialogue with national parliaments on the contents of legislative proposals; insists, however, on a clear delineation of the respective decision-making competences of the national parliaments and the European Parliament, where the former should exercise their European function on the basis of their national constitutions, in particular via the control of their national governments as members of the European Council and the Council, which is the level where they are best placed to directly influence the content of and exercise scrutiny over the European legislative process; is theref; stresses, however, that national parliaments must have new rights, negative and propositive, to monitore against the creation of joint parliamentary decision-making bodies for reasons of transparency, accountability and ability to actnd influence EU decisions. Election and referenda results cannot be systematically neglected by EU authorities;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Insists on curbavoiding theany interferences of the European Council in the legislative process as it goes against the letter and spirit of the Treaties, in particular article 15 TEU;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Insists that the European Council publicly and regularly explain and motivate its policies before the European Parliament, including by presenting its intentions in advance of its meetings;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Insists on the importance of enhancing theguaranteeing transparency of Council legislative decision-making and the access of Parliament representatives as observers in meetings of the Council and its bodies in cases of legislation as well as full access to its documents;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Reiterates the need that all Commission's proposals are fully justified and accompanied by a detailed impact assessment, including a human rights assessment;
Amendment 351 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Suggests, on the basis of Article 352 TFEU, the creation of an EU Fiscal and Treasury Administration, with a role similar to that of the Congressional Budget Office in the United States, in order to support the European Finance Minister;
Amendment 361 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Insists on ensuring a single representation of the EU/eurozone within the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and other international financial institutions (Article 138 TFEU) by its Finance Minister/VP of the Commission and the President of the European Central Bank (ECB); however, insists that the EU should firstly clarify the legal nature of the decisions taken by the informal bodies leading the monetary Union, first of all the Eurogroup;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls that the Commission and, the Parliament and the Council must ensure better application and implementation of European Union law in line with the obligations arising from the EU Charter of fundamental rights;
Amendment 416 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls that any further development of the EMU should be based on, and build on, existing legislation and its implementationlinked to the deepening of the social dimension and to the principles of the EU Charter of fundamental rights;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Insists that any EMU reform must include a social dimension and stabilisation mechanism, based on solidarity and reciprocity, which could prevent acute and persistent disparities in economic and social outcomes across EU Member States;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls for further institutional reforms in order to provide the EMU with an effective and democratic economic government with improved capacities and integrated within Believes that the democratic legitimacy of the EMU should be strengthened by a significant and strongly enhanced involvement of the European Parliament in the economic policy- making process; calls therefore for further institutional framework of the Union, whereby the Commission acts as the executive and Parliament and Council as co-legislators, as outlined belowreforms in order to provide the EMU with a democratically accountable governance structure;
Amendment 437 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Insists on the adoption of Convergence Guidelines, to be enshrined within a Convergence Code and adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure, with a view to creating a more binding framework for economic policy coordination (with key economic, competitiveness and social targets, such as in the areas of labour markets, competitivenessa focus on current account imbalance, noting the importance of stimulating aggregate demand in surplus countries, full employment, business environment and public administrations, aspects of tax policy and social protection) that is open to all 28 Member States and that guarantees them the possibility of participating in a shock-absorption mechanism; recalls that convergence criteria shall not represent a levelling down of social and human rights standards and a tool to restrict the objectives of the Union as provided for in article 2 and 3 of the TEU;
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Believes that a limited number of crucial areas for structural reforms that increase competitiveness, the growth potential, real economic convergence and social cohesionabove all that a sizeable investment programme is needed in order to increase the growth potential, real economic convergence and social cohesion and a number of crucial policies that promote sustainable development, full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment over a five-year period to strengthen the European social market economy, as outlined in Article 3 (3) TEU, should be laid down;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Stresses the need of a radical reform of the EU policies, so as to avoid internal economic and social unbalances between Member States, and to allow processes of debt restructuring;
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers it necessary for Parliament to be invested with a more substantial role in negotiations within the framework of the European Semester by allowing it to call hearings with governments of Member States affected by Country Specific Recommendations, Economic Partnership Programmes (EPP), Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Alert Mechanism Reports (AMRs);
Amendment 488 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Calls for the integrationreplacement of the Fiscal Compact into the EU legal framework on the basis of an assessment of the experience with its implementationby a truly symmetric macroeconomic mechanism for reducing current account imbalances;
Amendment 493 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Points out the need to switch from unanimity to QMV for the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) Regulation, by using the provisions of Article 48 (7) TEU and Article 312 (2) TFEU; highlights the importance of establishing a link between the duration of Parliament’'s legislative term, the European Commission's mandate and the duration of the MFF, which can be reduced to five years under the provisions of Article 312 (1) TFEU;
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Proposes to change the procedure for the adoption of own resources through the general ‘'passerelle clause’' contained in Article 48 (7) TEU, which would facilitate the necessary transition from acombine the system based on Gross National Income (GNI) contributions to onewith a system based on real own resources for the EU and the eurozone budget, such as a reformed Value Added Tax (VAT)n EU wide coordinated wealth levy, a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) or revenue from other sources such as the Emission Trading Schemea carbon tax;
Amendment 512 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Calls for better use of the existing structural funds in the direction of fostering competitiveness and cohesion, and for the creation of an incStresses that in the current economic environment of subdued demand, the inflation target of the ECB can only be reasched EU investment capacity through the exploitation of innovative approaches such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments, or through the creation of a specific facility to finance and guarantee infrastructure projects in the interest of the Unwith the support of expansionary fiscal policies as well as strengthening unions collective bargaining power in order to ensure wage growth in line with countries average productivity growth and the ECBs inflation target; calls for better use of the existing structural funds in the direction of fostering cohesion;
Amendment 514 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Calls for the deduction of net public investment from public debt in an effort to implement the "golden rule for public investment" in order to allow for an optimal intergenerational allocation of public investment; believes that the definition of what qualifies as investment should be assessed; considers that in order to limit short term public debt a corresponding threshold for net investment could be implemented; considers that implementation of the rule could be done through annexing an "investment protocol" to the Treaties under the simplified revision procedure of Art. 48 TEU;
Amendment 517 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Recalls that the euro is the currency of the Union and that the EU budget is designed to help less developed Member States catch up and become able to join the eurozonePoints out that the current construction of the euro renders it unsustainable as currency of the Union if the governance framework is not fundamentally revised;
Amendment 542 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Proposes the establishment of a fiscal capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms, based on incentives and certain conditions, including the effective implementation of the National Reform Programmes agreed within the European Semesterabsorbing asymmetric macroeconomic shocks by assisting the ECB monetary policy via corresponding fiscal backstops for the eurozone; considers that this could be done through the creation of additional capacity and/or by earmarking funding from the existing EU budget for this purpose; underlines that any new instrument should be placed within the EU budget, but outside the ceilings of the MFF, and financed from real own resources;
Amendment 552 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Pledges to increase the resilience of the EMU when facing economic shocks while preventing any form of permanent fiscal transfers;
Amendment 560 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
Amendment 568 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Considers it necessary to incorporate the European Stability Mechanism into the Union legal framework and, as a next step, to transform it into a European Monetary Fundcreate a European Monetary Fund without replicating the policy errors of the IMF and its counterproductive macroeconomic conditionalities as well as establishing an international mechanism for orderly sovereign debt default and restructuring;
Amendment 612 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Calls forRejects the establishment of a true capital markets union, with a single European capital markets supervisor and especially the securitisation of SME loans; calls for the clearing of the bank balance sheets and the end of austerity policy in order to foster bank financing;
Amendment 615 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
Amendment 625 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Considers it necessary to improve the automatic information exchange between national tax authorities in order to avoid tax planning, base erosion and profit shifting, as well as to promote coordinated actions to fight tax havens; calls for the adoption of a sufficiently broad Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base directive establishing a minimum rate and spelling out common objectives for progressive harmonisation, apportioning tax revenue to member states according to economic substance and spelling out common objectives for progressive harmonisation; calls for binding public country-by-country reporting for all multinational companies with a taxable presence in the EU; deems it necessary to embark on a comprehensive review of the existing VAT legislation, addressing i.a. the issue of reduced rates and the introduction of the country of origin principle, and to establish a partially automatic stabilising mechanism to foster convergence and counter differences in the economic cycles of the Member States;
Amendment 629 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)
Paragraph 59 a (new)
59a. Calls for the democratic control of the ECB via the European Parliament;
Amendment 630 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 b (new)
Paragraph 59 b (new)
59b. Recalls the need that the meetings of the European Council and the Eurogroup being webcasted in order to guarantee their transparency and democratic accountability in line with the praxis of the European Parliament;
Amendment 660 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Calls for full enforcement of existing internal energy market legislation according to Article 194 TFEU in order to establish an Energy Union; points out however that the Energy Union should be principally fostered through appropriate research and development investments in renewable energy sources, in line with the objectives of the EU as listed, for example, in article 3 TEU and 37 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights;
Amendment 668 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Encourages the use of ‘project bonds’, in close cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB), for the financing infrastructure and energy projecta greater use of financing of public infrastructure and energy projects through the European Investment Bank (EIB); in this regards, is concerned by the increased use of public-private- partnership project, financed through EFSI projects or project bonds;
Amendment 682 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Stresses that the rights of workers, when they exercise their right of mobility,free movement represents a fundamental principle of the EU that should be always guaranteed and promoted, along with their social rights, in accordance with Articles 151 and 153 TFEU, in order to ensure a stable social basis for of all citizens, according to article 9 TFEU, the EU Charter of fundamental rights and in full respect of the principle of non-discrimination; to this end the EU should make full use of the legal instruments provided for in Title X of the TFEMU;
Amendment 686 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)
Paragraph 71 a (new)
71a. Calls on the Commission to set up a EU Social Framework focused on policies aimed at improving living and working conditions, quality employment, fair wages, equal treatment, social dialogue, quality public services and effective social protection, taking into account the relevant ILO Conventions, which should represent the essential basis for the future development of the economic pillar of the Union;
Amendment 694 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Points out the importance of promoting the idea of a fair and decent minimalum wage, of a basic minimum income and of minimum pensions determined by each Member State, and suggests that, under current Treaty provisions, an ‘'Employees Mobility Directive’' could be adopted to reduce still-existing barriers for employees;
Amendment 700 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)
Paragraph 72 a (new)
72a. Recalls that the horizontal social clause enshrined in the Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU determines the need to mainstream social objectives throughout all European initiatives, including the European Semester and the Growth and Stability Pact;
Amendment 707 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Calls on the Commission to set up social criteria for the evaluation of Member States’' performance, and to recommend structural reform, through the modification of Regulation No 1303/2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, to ensure better use of regional and social fundsincluding the fight against unemployment and social exclusion;
Amendment 715 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Calls on the Commission to asses better the need for EU action, and the potential economic, social and, environmental and human rights impacts of alternative policy options before it proposes a new initiative (as legislative proposals, non-legislative initiatives and implementing and delegated acts), in keeping with the Better Regulation Guidelines adopted by the Commission on 19 May 20157 ; __________________ 7; __________________ 7 SWD (2015) 111 final SWD (2015) 111 final
Amendment 719 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Calls for the establishment of a new social pact aimed at preserving Europe’s social marketomoting a socially oriented Europe's economy, fully respecting the right to collective bargaining; calls for a European Labour Inspectorate; points out that such a pact could enhance the coordination of the social policies of the Member States;
Amendment 730 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 a (new)
Paragraph 75 a (new)
75a. Points out that, in accordance with the aims and principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, Article 21 TEU is explicitly obliging the EU institutions to keep peace in the world, to prevent conflicts, to strengthen international security and to promote the principles of international law in the world; requires the High Representative and Vice-President to submit concrete Strategy Papers to the development and implementation of disarmament concepts and their corresponding standards within the EU and the world, to build up a new collective security system in Europe including the experiences and structures of the OSCE as well as to the development and global implementation of norms of international law, instruments and institutions, especially the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Arms Trade Treaty;
Amendment 731 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75 b (new)
Paragraph 75 b (new)
75b. Underlines the need of coherence regarding the policies dealing with external relations of the EU; considers different interests of the EU member states in this area stemming from different historical conditions, constitutional traditions and political cultures as fully justified and rejects therefore any political or institutional attempt to create a unity in a forced way; advocates the strengthening of the role of the Community policies in the development of a coherent external action of the EU and a corresponding CFSP through concrete proposals on how the trade, development, climate or agricultural and fisheries policies could contribute to implement the foreign policy objectives as stipulated in the Treaty; calls on the Commission to submit proposals to the European Parliament;
Amendment 732 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. Takes the view that the European Union’s comprehensive approach toa peaceful, civilian and neutral intermediary approach of the European Union to solve external conflicts and crises should be reinforcedpolitically reinforced, amongst others, by bringing together more closely theogether the existing different actors and instruments inat all phasstages of the conflict cycle, and considers it necessary that Parliaprevention, solution and aftercare of conflicts; recalls that stability and security are always the result of fair and equitable societal conditions and therefore any activity to promote stability and security should be brought forward by assuring the primacy of development, economic and conflict- avoiding instruments and the Council start adopting joint strategic documentpolicies which may open the opportunity to the conflicting parties to resolve the conflict without the use of force; stresses that Article 21 (1) TEU is obliging the EU institutions to search mainly for multilateral solutions of such conflicts and crises within the framework of the United Nations;
Amendment 734 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
Paragraph 77
77. Insists on using the provisions of Article 22 TEU to set upthat, by implementing Article 22 TEU, decisions on strategic interests and overall strategic framework for, and to take decisions on, strategic interests thatbjectives should be taken aiming at ensuring peace and stability, the enforcement of the principles of the UN Charter and of the Helsinki Final Act and the development of equal cooperation for mutual benefit with any country or region and that such decisions can extend beyond CFSP to other areas of external action; recalls that decthese strategic interests must be the object of a deep and common revisions, taken on the basis of such a strategy could be implemented by QMV; ing into account that any revival of cold war habits is excluded and a common European security system, including Russia, is needed; notes that appropriate implementation decisions going in this direction could be adopted under Art. 31 (2) TEU by qualified majority;
Amendment 739 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Considers it necessary that the EU Special Representatives be integrated into the EEAS, including by transferring their budget from the CFSP lines to the EEAS lines, as this would incwhich shall be under the direct control and coordination by the High Representative and Vice- President will be equipped with all necessary services and resources via a strong organizational link to the EEAS and that the related budget resources are transferred therefore from the CFSP lines to the EEAS lines; calls to strengthen the transparency and accountability of the mandate of the EU Special Reprease the coherence of EU effortntatives and their performance by debates and hearings with the relevant committees of the European Parliament on a regular basis;
Amendment 743 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
Paragraph 81
81. Believes that there is a need to increase the flexibility of the financial rules for external action in order to avoid delays in the operational disbursement of EU funds and, thereby, increase the EU’'s ability to respond to crises in a speedy and effective way; advocates to agree on binding regulations to allow a disbursement of EU funds exclusively under the condition that the EU is acting in this kind of conflicts as an independent and neutral party, and that the use of resources applies exclusively to the enforcement of humanitarian aims by peaceful means; considers it necessary, in this regard, to set up a fast-track procedure for humanitarian assistance to ensure that aid is disbursed in the most efficient and effective way possible;
Amendment 745 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82
Paragraph 82
82. Urges the Council, the EEAS and the Commission to uphold their respective obligations to immediately and fully inform Parliament at all stages of the negotiating and concluding processes of international agreements, as stipulated in Article 218 (10) TFEU and, as detailed in interinstitutional agreements with the Commission and the Council and in line with the relevant case-law of the European Court of Justice, namely, for instance, case C-350/12 P, Council of the European Union v Sophie in 't Veld;
Amendment 750 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 a (new)
Paragraph 82 a (new)
82a. Reminds that any security policy of the EU must have a merely defensive, not aggressive, dimension, must be based on disarmament and arms control, focusing essentially on cooperation in the European continent, bearing in mind that the cold war confrontation is finished. Any establishment of military bases in the Eastern countries of EU, as any enlargement of the Atlantic Alliance to the East must be avoided. The arms race must not be permitted to reinitiate its old cycle, as it is happening nowadays, in the absence of e serious reassessment of European interests in the continent, in the Mediterranean and in the greater Middle East (Turkey included);
Amendment 801 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93
Paragraph 93
93. Considers that there is a need to enhancereview EU-NATO cooperation at all levels in areas such as capability development and contingency planning for hybrid threats, and to intensify efforts at removing remaining political obstacles, taking into account the profoundly changed scenarios of the post-cold war era in Europe and the substantive failures of NATO policies in the US-led anti-terror war outside the NATO area;
Amendment 808 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 a (new)
Paragraph 93 a (new)
93a. Express its deep concern for the recent adoption or proposition of both national and European legislative provisions, in the framework of the fight against terrorism, that could seriously impact on individual and collective rights and freedoms such as, for instance, the right to respect for private and family life, to protection of personal data, freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, non-discrimination, and on the fight against islamophobia and antisemitism; recalls, in this respect, the European and international obligations concerning the protection of fundamental rights and the relevant case-law, amongst others, of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights;
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94
Paragraph 94
94. Underlines that in the light of the recent attacks and the increase of the terrorist threat, a more intense and structured exchange of information and data between national security agencies and intelligence services, and with Europol and Frontex, is absolutely essential, without allowing for restricting or lowering down existing EU rights and freedoms enjoyed by European citizens and residents;
Amendment 819 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95 a (new)
Paragraph 95 a (new)
95a. Emphasises that while using the necessary security measures to combat terrorism, it is also essential to take a preventive approach based on education and mobilisation of physical and human resources in the social, political and economic sphere, in order to ensure the full integration of citizens in European societies;
Amendment 825 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96
Paragraph 96
96. Highlights the need to set up an fair and effective EU common asylum and immigration policy, based on the principles of solidarity, non- discrimination, non-refoulement, sincere cooperation among all the Member States and on proactive search and rescue, which should provide as well for fair distriburelocation of asylum seekers in the European Union; takes the view that such a policy should involve all Member States, but that, if this proves impossible, the potential of enhanced cooperation could be exploited; stresses that a new asylum and migration framework should build upon fundamental rights of the migrant;
Amendment 829 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96 a (new)
Paragraph 96 a (new)
96a. Stresses that no country has to face, in asylum and migration related policies, excessive burdens, so as to avoid the risk of their de facto exclusion from the Schengen agreement;
Amendment 832 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96 b (new)
Paragraph 96 b (new)
96b. Points out that further steps are necessary to ensure that the Common European Asylum System becomes a truly uniform system; calls on Member States to harmonize their legislation and practices with regards to the standards as to who qualifies as a beneficiary of international protection, guarantees on international protection procedures and reception conditions following the jurisprudence of the ECtHR and CJUE and established best practices in fellow Member States;
Amendment 833 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96 c (new)
Paragraph 96 c (new)
96c. Recalls that Article 78(2)(a) TFEU calls for "a uniform status of asylum valid throughout the Union"; suggests therefore that refugees should be entitled, immediately upon recognition, to rights and equality which should extend throughout the European Union and not only in the Member States granting the status;
Amendment 834 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
Amendment 848 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 98
Paragraph 98
98. Stresses the importance of distinguishing between the concepts of ‘unsafe third countries’ (war zones) and ‘safe third countries’ (mostly Western Balkans countries), and Underlines that, according to Article 3 of the Geneva Convention of 1951, Member States shall not discriminate refugees on the basis of their race, religion, or country of origin; notes that the use of safe country lists, whether nationally designated or at EU level, further corresponding distinntributes to a practionce of procedures for processstereotyping certaing applicants coming from these two categories of countries; calls for the signature of agreements with safe third countries in order to control and reduce migration flows before migrants arrive at the EU border; insists, at the same time, on strict procedures for rettions on the basis of their nationality and increases the risk of such applications not being subject to a thorough examination of a person's fear for persecution or risk of serious harm on an individual basis, which is at the core of the refugee definition and crucial to ensurning applicants with unfounded claimsfull respect of the principle of non-refoulement;
Amendment 857 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99
Paragraph 99
Amendment 861 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 100
Paragraph 100
100. Calls for an upgrade of the human and financial capabilities of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) so that it can be deployed to support Member States under particular migratory pressure in the processing of asylum requests, including in its mandate for the deployment of joint operations, and pilot projects and rapid interventions similar to the ones added by Regulation 1168/2011 to the mandate of Frontex;
Amendment 876 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104
Paragraph 104
104. Recalls the obligation for the accession of the Union to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), in line with Article 6 (2) TEU, and urges the swift re-launching of negotiations with the Council of Europe to this effect; at the same time, asks the Commission to start negotiations with the Council of Europe for the accession of the Union to the European Social Charter;