30 Amendments of Maria HEUBUCH related to 2017/2083(INI)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the central pillar for cooperation between the EU and Africa at the continental level is the Joint Africa- EU Strategy (JAES) adopted in 2007; whereas relations between the EU and Africa must be guided by principles of mutual interest and understanding and by shared common values within the framework of a reciprocal partnership;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Cotonou Agreement with the EU, to which 79 ACP States are parties, including 48 in sub-Saharan Africa, governs the main partnership between the EU and Africa; whereas the EU has also established relations with African countries that are not parties to the Cotonou Agreement under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI); whereas the EU-ACP partnership was established at a time when ACP countries had not yet formed their current regional or continental cooperation structures; whereas the emergence of the AU in 2003 and the Joint African-EU Strategy in 2007 makes it essential to streamline the various policy frameworks between the EU and Africa; whereas the objective to “treat Africa as one” is clearly stated it the preamble of the JAES;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas migration features prominently in the EU global strategy on foreign and security policy and constitutes a priority topic in the EU’s external relations including its relations with Africa; and whereas the priorities identified by Africa on migration differ from the EU-centred approach to tackling migration to the EU;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the financial autonomy of the African Union is necessary to give impetus to the process of political African integration; whereas the 2016 Kaberuka plan has created expectations regarding the sustainable financing of the African Union, through a 0.2% levy on imports entering the African continent; and whereas the JAES calls for adapting the legal and financial frameworks to the needs and objectives of the partnership;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes this new communicationTakes note of the Communication entitled “For a Renewed Impetus of the Africa - EU Partnership”, which aims to impart fresh impetus to the Africa-EU partnership in order to broaden and intensify it, gearing it to prosperity and stability on the two continents, in accordance with the commitments given in subscribing to the SDGs, the new European consensus for development, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and Agenda 2063;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. CWhile considersing it vital to intensify relations between the EU and Africa and to establish ‘win-win’ cooperation to meet shared challenges and secure common benefits, particularly in priority fields such as economic development and job creation, good governance, security, migration, the environment, education and youth, believes that forging a real partnership implies to tackle equally Africa’s top priorities, including their concerns regarding the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreement, especially in terms of regional integration and industrialisation;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Invites the EU and the AU to have a frank dialogue on EPAs to evaluate to what extent they contribute to the realisation of the economic goals of the AU’s 2063 Agenda, particularly the goal to increase intra-African trade to 50%by 2050;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls the recognised effectiveness of ACP-EU cooperation and the results achieved in the field of development; stresses that this common framework must be maintained, while developing the regional dimension, including by means of increased cooperation withStresses the need to streamline the various policy frameworks between the EU and Africa; notes that the EU and the regions/countries of the ACP increasingly choose other political frameworks than the Cotonou Partnership Agreement to develop collective action and articulate interests on these global challenges, as in the case of the African Union and the rRegional eEconomic cCommunities, that have become the main interlocutor for the EU and other global players;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the 2007 JAES stresses the need for a continent-to- continent partnership between the EU and AU, where Africa is treated as one and stresses that the partnership is based on common interests and objectives; recalls that developing this EU-AU partnership enables further regionalization and should be considered as an option for ACP relations post-Cotonou;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that non-aid policies in the EU and Africa need to be better geared towards attaining the SDGs, including by ensuring Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). To this end, the EU and the AU should enhance coherence between all policies and initiatives with development objectives;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the importance of including the principles of transparency and good governance in the EU-Africa Strategy and its planning, implementation and evaluation;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises the need to promoteat good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, but also efforts to combat corruption on both contin are indispensable for sustainable development and long-term security improvements, asnd they are indispensable elements in sustainable developmentse values should therefore not be subordinated to security concerns;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the need to address the question of human rights and governance on the basis of international and existing legal instruments, laws, principles and mechanisms established i.e. by the AU and the existing regional and pan-African governance bodies, so as to strengthen ownership;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports the organisation of a joint high-level AU-EU conference on electoral processes, democracy and governance in Africa and Europe, and calls for the European Parliament and the PAP to be fully involved in it;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Reiterates its call to European Union member states and African states to continue supporting the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court (ICC); calls on all signatories of the Rome Statute to ratify it as soon as possible;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime and trafficking in human beings; notes that this should be done through specific security instruments and additional funding;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates the importance of the African Peace Facility and its support for’s contribution to the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and African-led Peace Support Operations (PSOs); reiterates the importance of the various EU missions and operations deployed in Africa; calls for European peace and security actions to be stepped up, in cooperation with African and international partners;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change; considers it necessary to supportessential for the EU to develop a strategic approach to building climate resilience and to support accordingly African countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt; recalls that it isstresses the importance of climate change as a risk multiplier for conflict, drought, famine and migration; in particular, underlines that the recent outbreak of famine in South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia highlighted the effect and inter- linkages of insecurity, climate change, food and water shortage; points out that these challenges have led to unprecedented levels of forced displacements in Africa; against this background, recalls that it is all the more vital to respect the commitment given in Paris in 2015 to allocate USD 100 billion to developing countries by 2020;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the EU and the AU to promote synergies between food security and climate since agriculture and food systems are not only impacted by, but also drive, climate change;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Urges the EU, in a context where agricultural food systems are responsible for up to 29% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to scale up its assistance to sustainable agriculture and the development of domestic markets to cope with climate change, targeting its support to small-scale farmers, crop diversification, agro-forestry and agro- ecological practises;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes; recalls that the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possibleaim to support the private sector in African countries, particularly local business and SMEs in fragile countries, and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; recalls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countriesiterates that trade agreements should be a leverage to promote sustainable development, human rights, fair and ethical trade; against this background, deems that an in-depth analysis on the impact of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on African economies and their sub-sectors, their respective labour markets, and the promotion of intra-regional trade in Africa is needed; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and sustainable agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Deplores the fact that, each year, some USD 50 billion is drained out of Africa in the form of illicit financial flows, which exceeds total annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) and undermines efforts for domestic revenue mobilisation; calls therefore on both parties to create effective tools to combat tax evasion and to support initiatives to increase the corporate responavoidance; in particular, calls for public transparency of who is the ultimate beneficial owner of legal entities, trusts and sibmility of businessear legal arrangements;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Reiterates its call on EU and AU member states to constructively participate in the intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights to work towards the setting-up of a mandatory and enforceable regulatory framework, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that Africa’s population is growing rapidly, which necessitates a long- term strategic vision; stresses the crucial role of the emancipation of women, gender equality and education, particularly of girls, in building a resilient society; stresses the need to offer opportunities and ensure non-discrimination of those in disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised situations including children, older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBTI persons and indigenous peoples; calls on the EU and AU to prioritize the implementation of the SDG's as this contributes to countering the demographic challenge;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Reiterates the need to ensure respect of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in line with the Agenda 2030 and Policy Coherence for Development;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Notes the focus put by the Commission in its Communication “for a renewed impetus of the Africa - EU Partnership” on reducing migration and refugee flows; deems that this approach is not constructive for an EU - AU partnership, while prioritising migration risks distorting and damaging development policies aimed at poverty alleviation; against this background, reiterates that ODA should not be diverted away from its ultimate objective of reducing poverty;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Recalls that the EU should further support the AU’s priority in improving remittance mechanisms as remittances make up a larger flow of money to developing countries than the total ODA and can significantly contribute to achieving Agenda 2030;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Wishes to see migration and mobility approached as reciprocal development tools for the two continents, with a long-term strategy which takes into account demographic perspectives; welcomes the plan to expand African countries’ participation in Erasmus+ programmes with the goal to encourage mobility of staff, students and young people. Notes the need that ensuring circular migration is possible within these programmes is essential to ensure it contributes to sustainable development;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. SupportNotes the various initiatives adopted at European level to tackle the underlying causes of irregular migration: migration partnerships, trust funds for Africa and the European Fund for Sustainable Development; calls for their implementation to be ensured and continued efficiently and coherently; reiterates its call for creating avenues for legal migration, in line with the recommendations of the Valletta Action Plan;