Activities of Hans-Olaf HENKEL related to 2015/2229(INI)
Plenary speeches (3)
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (A8-0344/2015 - Cristian Dan Preda) DE
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (debate)
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter PDF (417 KB) DOC (426 KB)
Amendments (21)
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O c (new)
Recital O c (new)
Oc. whereas the EU should promote the triad of human rights, democracy and free trade in dealings with third countries;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses deep concern that human rights and democratic values are increasingly under threat in many parts of the worldwide;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to enhance their efforts to effectively place human rights and democratic values at the heart of their relations with the wider world, as they committed to doing so in the TEU; notes that the EU should not be reluctant to use appropriate measures in dealing with serious human rights breaches in third countries;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Warns against the unintended consequences of continuously expanding the definition of human rights by ideologically or politically motivated issues, as this could ultimately reduce general support for the very idea of universality and indivisibility of human rights;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Believes that the return to the initial human rights definition offers the best chance not only to broaden its appeal but also to increase the effectiveness of dealing with the breaches of human rights worldwide;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates its view that the adoption of the EU Strategic Framework and of the first Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy in 2012 constituted a major milestone for the EU in placing human rights and democracy at the core of its relations with the wider world; believes in the promotion of human rights through free trade as a way of spreading values and ideas;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the extension of the EUSR’'s mandate until February 2017, and reiterates its request for this mandate to be turned into a permanent onethat the extension of the EUSR mandate should be based on proven merit; recommends, in this regard, that the EUSR have own-initiative powers, higher public visibility and adequate staff and financial resources to work at his full potential;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Acknowledges the importance of additional measures against individuals (targeted sanctions such as freezing of assets or travel bans) of authoritarian regimes should dialogues persistently fail;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights provisions in its impact assessments for legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; urges the Commission to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of the impact assessments and to ensure the systematic incorporation of human rights issues; highlights the role which international and local NGOs could play in this process;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Recalls that the EU enlargement policy is one of the strongest tools for reinforcing respect for human rights and democratic principles; welcomes, therefore, the implementation of the new approach during accession negotiations of the chapters covering the judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom, and security, which duly takes into account the time needed for these reforms to be properly implemented; emphasizes that high European standards on the rule of law should not be compromised;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Expresses concern at the deterioration of freedom of expression and media in certain enlargement countries, such as in Turkey; emphasises the urgent need to reinforce independence of the media in those countries and to tackle the political and economic pressures on journalists, which often lead to self- censorship; calls on the Commission to continue prioritising respect for freedom of expression and for the media in the accession negotiation process;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)
Paragraph 41 b (new)
41b. Is extremely concerned about the spread of instability and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa and by extremist and jihadist groups exploiting those situations;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 c (new)
Paragraph 41 c (new)
41c. Condemns the actions by Russia in its neighbourhood that foment armed conflict and human suffering;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; positively notes that 14 countries had been granted GSP+ preferences by the end of 2014, as a means of stimulat; reminds that those 14 countries are required to maintaing the effective implementratification of 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards and to ensure their effective implementation and are subject to monitoring imposed by those conventions as well as by the EU; expects the Commission to report back to Parliament and to the Council on the status of ratification and the effective implementation of the conventions by the beneficiaries of the GSP+ preferences by the end of 2015;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Believes that the business community has a great role to play in promoting human rights, that such efforts are deeply desirable and should be supported by public institutions worldwide; believes that the promotion of human rights should be built on cooperation between government and private sector;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Believes furthermore that trade between nations, and the personal exchanges as well as the exchanges of ideas and practices that come with it, have the potential to promote human rights and democracy;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Expresses its solidarity with the high number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as victims of conflicts, tangible governance failures and, networks of illegal immigration and trafficking, extremist groups and criminal gangs who exploit their vulnerability; expresses also its deep regret at the tragic loss of lives of people seeking asylum in the EU;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses the urgent need to tackle the root causes of migration flows and, therefore, to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights-based approach to migration and calls on the EU to collaborate with the UN, regional organisations, governments and NGOs in order to address the root causes of migration flows; takes note in this contexturges the European Commission and the Member States to significantly increase, as promised, their funding of organisations who operate on the ground in order to tangibly improve the situation in refugee camps near conflict areas; takes note of the European Union Naval Force – Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med) operation against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean; welcomes the measures proposed by the Commission on 9 September 2015 to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Recalls that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental human right, as recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms encompassing the rights to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practise theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one's choice;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 b (new)
Paragraph 65 b (new)
65b. Urges the EU to commit to its values and principles on torture and the death penalty regardless of the depth and degree of the economic and political ties of the EU with the third country;
Amendment 392 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78
Paragraph 78
78. Is deeply concerned that civil society is increasingly under assault worldwide; recalls that independent civil society plays an essential role in the defence and advancement of human rights and in the functioning of democratic societies; emphasizes the role that ICT technology plays in contributing to the efforts of civil society movements in undemocratic regimes;