15 Amendments of Urmas PAET related to 2017/2282(INI)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Warmly welcomes the progress made in implementing the Association Agreement and calls on the Georgian authorities to keep up the momentum and tocontinue ensureing stability, further democratic reforms and economic improvements as a key factor in winning hearts and minds on the path towards re-establishing Georgia’s sovereignty over the whole oftowards reconciliation of the societies divided by the war and conflict, while reaffirming EU´s strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised territoryborders;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 o (new)
Paragraph 3 o (new)
3o. Recommends that the Georgian authorities ensure proper involvement of the civil society in the reform processes;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the fact that the EU’s position on Georgia’s constitutional reform coincides with the Venice Commission’s overall positive assessment; regrets the postponement of the implementation of a fully proportional electoral system until 2024 and calls upon political dialogue among main stakeholders to find an intermediary solution for the 2020 parliamentary elections aimed to address shortcomings of the current electoral system; reiterates its readiness to observe future elections in Georgia and to assist the Georgian authorities in following up on and implementing the recommendations that will be presented;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls upon the Georgian authorities to address concerns expressed by credible observers in the context of electoral environment and in particular to conduct meaningful investigation of violent incidents against representatives of opposition;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the role of opposition in a parliamentary system, supports efforts of the Parliament of Georgia to strengthen parliamentary oversight and urges to put in place more rigorous mechanisms of scrutinising the executive;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the effective implementation of the visa free regime for Georgian citizens since 27 March 2017; Takes note of Georgia’s compliance with visa liberalisation benchmarks and encourages regular monitoring thereof in order ensure continued compliance; calls on EU Member States to recognise Georgia as a safe country of origin; points out the need to further address the rise in the number of asylum seekers travelling to the Schengen zone and the disproportionate representation of Georgian citizens in organised criminal groups across the EU;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports Georgia in its pursuit of a policy of peaceful conflict resolution reconciliation and engagement and its constructive participation in the Geneva International Discussions; praises the initiative entitled ‘A Step towards a Better Future’, presented on 4 April 2018, aimed at improving humanitarian and socio- economic conditions of population residing in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and fostering people-to-people contacts and confidence building between divided communities;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that the international community must take a consistent, coordinated, united and firm stance against Russia’s occupation and annexation policy as the only means to ensure peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia and prevention of similar conflicts in the neighbourhood;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Reaffirms its unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia; acknowledges that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1990 OSCE Charter of Paris represent the cornerstones of a peaceful European continent;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Reaffirms its unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia; demands that the Russian Federation cease its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and that it stop the de facto integration of both Georgian territories into Russian administration;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Recalls with regret that 10 years after the Russian military aggression in Georgia of August 2008, the Russian Federation still continues its illegal occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, undermining international law and the rules-based international system; states that the so-called integration and alliance treaties signed between Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2014 and 2015 were clear violations of international law, OSCE principles and Russia’s international commitments;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Urges the Georgian authorities to implement without delay the judgement of 28 November 2017 of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili which established that the Georgian authorities breached Article 18 of the European Convention of Human Rights by pursuing "hidden agenda" and "ulterior motives" when arresting Vano Merabishvili; stresses the fact that after early release of Ilgar Mammadov by Azerbaijan, Vano Merabishvili remains the only individual in Europe in relation to whom the ECHR found breach of Article 18 and who continues to be kept in prison;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Referring to the European Parliament resolution of 15 June 2017 on the case of Azeri journalist Afgan Mukhtarli expresses concern over the lack of progress in investigation of his abduction from downtown Tbilisi and calls upon the Georgian Government to ensure credible investigation and its prompt conclusion;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. CWelcomes Georgia´s recent ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) and calls on the Georgian authorities to take further steps to uphold fundamental freedoms, notably for vulnerable groups, by fighting hate speech and discrimination, including on the labour market through an amended Labour Code, against LGBTQI people, disabled people and minorities;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls the importance of free and independent mass media and a pluralistic media environment as key democratic principles; in this regard, follows very closely the legal dispute concerning the ownership rights of the Rustavi 2 TV company and expects that the Georgian authorities will respect fully the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on this case; notes with satisfaction the improvements in Georgia as reflected in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index established by Reporters Without Borders;