9 Amendments of Joachim SCHUSTER related to 2017/2283(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the increase in trade volume between the EU and Ukraine and the diversification of Ukrainian exports to the EU; points out that exports to Russia over the same period have decreased.
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament a detailed assessment of the Association Agreement on the basis of progress made so far, since the 2007 impact assessment has long been overtaken by events.This should cover the following points in particular: - an in-depth presentation of Ukraine's trade balance set out according to sector and region; - the development of small- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) and a presentation of the DCFTA loan facility for SMEs, which was set up with EUR 200 million in 2015 to help SMEs in the Eastern Neighbourhood; - a presentation of market share; - a presentation of the socio-economic situation; - a presentation of the labour market situation, the shadow economy and informal employment; - an up-to-date analysis of Ukraine's macro-financial situation, including tax revenues and expenditure, tax avoidance and tax evasion.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that Regulation (EU) 2017/1566 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the introduction of temporary autonomous trade measures for Ukraine supplementing the trade concessions available under the Association Agreement includes a legal requirement that the Commission's annual report on the implementation of the DCFTA includes a detailed assessment of the autonomous trade measures including the social impact.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers the trade liberalisation and regulatory approximation between the EU and Ukraine under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) to be an optimal instrument bringing Ukraine closer to the EU and contributing to trade facilitation, a better business and investment climate, and sustainable economic development of Ukraine; is concerned at the growing poverty of the population.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the DCFTA is part of a reform process based on good governance and the fight against corruption and organised crime; is very concerned at the current stagnation and even regression in terms of the fight against corruption; considers the establishment of an anti- corruption court as recommended by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to be essential; notes that a free, critical civil society plays an important part in this process of reform and calls on the Government of Ukraine to free civil- society organisations from the e- declaration obligation; calls on the Government of Ukraine to guarantee the independence of the National Anti- Corruption Bureau (NABU) and to carry out a corresponding reform of the secret services; reminds the Government of Ukraine of its undertaking in the preamble to the Association Agreement to construct a deeper, sustainable democracy; calls for a reform of voting rights prior to the 2019 parliamentary elections as recommended by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets the lack of progress in the approximation to EU animal welfare standards and calls on Ukraine to urgently adopt a strategy to fulfil that commitment.
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on Ukraine to urgently appoint its domestic advisory group to ensure the monitoring of the implementation of the agreement by civil society organisations.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that a coordinated approach between the EU and Ukraine to sanctions related to Crimea and eastern Ukraine would contribute to increasing pressure in order to secure a peaceful resolution of Ukraine’s territorial challenges; recalls the commitment to the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts in Article 9 of the Association Agreement.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that the Eastern Partnership has until now primarily been focused on bilateral trade and investment between the EU and the other countries involved; calls for the development of a more unified approach for all countries in the Eastern Partnership and increased cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union in terms of trade facilitation, visa freedom and technical standards.