26 Amendments of Tomasz FROELICH related to 2024/2081(INI)
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas democratic systems areconstitutional states are often the most suitable to guarantee that every person has the ability to enjoy their human rights; whereas rules- based multilateralism is the best organisational system to defend democracies;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU strongly believes in and fully supports multilateralism, a rules- based global order and the set of universal values, principles and norms that guide the UN member state, but at the same time is respectful of differences and the diversity of cultural norms;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the rise in authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism threatens the global rules-based order, the protectiocertain dictatorships and autocracies of differing types, and in some cases also democratically governed states, pose a threat to international security; whereas mass migration poses a risk to prosperity and social stability in mandy promotion of human rights in the world, as well as the values and principles on which the EU is foundedarts of the world and is becoming an increasing security risk in the countries of destination; whereas international terrorism, supported and controlled by states or organisations, represents a threat to the security of states and their citizens;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to safeguard and advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as to prevent conflicts globally; whereas governments around the world and in the EU are increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs and CSO, CSOs and political opposition parties in their work; whereas this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation and violence, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and arbitrary arrests and detention; whereas attacks on HRDs are increasingly extending to their families and communities;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reasserts the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the inherent dignity of every human being; reaffirms the duty of the EU and its Member States to promote and protect democracy and the universality of human rights around the worldinherent dignity of every human being; is of the opinion that human rights are a minimum standard resulting from universal moral rules and are of paramount importance for human society; believes that not all strivings for wellbeing can or should be categorised and enforced as human rights; in this connection, notes critically the continuous expansion of the term and the list of human rights;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be the cornerstone of the EU’s external policy; strongly encourages the EU, to that end, to strive for a continued ambitious commitment to make human rights a central part of all EU policies in a streamlined manner and to enhance the consistency between the EU’s internal and external policies in this field and the enforcement of the Member States’ economic and political interests must be the cornerstone of the EU’s external policy; stresses that the world is enormously diverse in terms of political and economic systems, religions and social and economic developments; is of the opinion that states are often prone to human rights interventionism as a means of launching political attacks against other states and drawing attention away from their own human rights violations in the process;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. StressBelieves that the EU must be fully prepared to counter the rise of authoritarianism, illiberalism and populism, as well as the increasing attacks on the universality of human rights, democracy and international humanitarian law, when assessing the human rights situation in third countries, often tends to make high- handed judgements without taking into consideration the cultural, religious or political context of the respective countries or the challenges and difficulties facing these countries when implementing standards; stresses that such an approach is often perceived as paternalistic, and reduces the EU’s influence in the relevant countries;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern the increasing divide worldwide; stresses the responsibility of the EU to continue defending democratic values and principles and human rights, peace and dignity around the world, which are even more important to defend in the current volatile state of global politics and that the global political landscape is becoming increasingly unstable; calls upon the EU to keep communication channels open with different stakeholders and to continue to develop a comprehensso that it can respond rapidly and effectively toolbox to strengthen human rights and democracy globall key political developments in this way;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Fully supports the work of the EUSR for Human Rights in contributing to the visibility and coherence of the EU’s human rights actions in its external relations; upholds the EUSR’s central role in the EU’s promotion and protection of human rights by engaging with non-EU countries and like-minded partners; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EUSR for Human Rights and other EUSRs and Special Envoys in order to further improve this coherence, and calls for greater visibility for the role of the EUSR for Human Rights; calls for the EUSR to be supported in his work with increased resources;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the important role ofNotes that human rights dialogues within the EU’s human rights toolbox and as a key vehicle for the implementation of the EU action plan on human rights and democracy; highlights that these dialogues should address the overall situation of human rights and democracy with the relevant countries; notes that human rights dialogues should be seen as a key element of sustained EU engagement and not as a free-standing instrument; recalls that these dialogues need to be used in conjunction and synergy with other instruments; reiterates the need to raise individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, and ensure adequate follow- up; calls to increase the visibility of theseird countries have been largely ineffective to date in promoting human rights and democracy; calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the outcomes of the individual human rights dialogues andwith their outcomes, including through the publication of a joint press statementd countries;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimes on democratic principles and values; stresses that the defence and support of democracy around the world is increasingly becoming of geopolitical and strategic interest; emphasises the importance of Parliament’s efforts in capacity-building for partner parliaments, promoting mediation and encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise, especially among young political leaders, and empowering women parliamentarians, HRDs and representatives from civil society and independent media; reiterates its call on the Commission to continue and expand its activities in these areas by increasing funding and support for EU bodies, agencies and other grant-based organisations; stresses the critical importance of directly supporting civil society and persons expressing dissenting views, particularly in the current climate of growing global tensions and repression in increasing numbers of countries; reiterates the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls for enhanced collaboration between Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, the relevant Commission directorates-general and the EEASstresses that credible and independent supervisory and accountability institutions in the individual states play a key role in protecting and strengthening democracy;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reaffirms that promoting the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and itsNotes that the United Nations has not succeeded to the extent hoped for in promoting international cooperation and maintaining international security and global peace, because most UN member states refuse to engage in international cooperation; notes that in 2022 the EU Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; reiterates the need for the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice at the UN and in other multilateral forums; calls for EU delegations to play a stronger role in multilateral forums, for whichributed around EUR 14.1 billion to the UN system, whereby the EU alone contributes around EUR 3 billion each year; notes that the EU and its Member States jointly account for the single largest contribution; calls, therefore, for a fundamental debate about the way in which the taxes paid by EU citizens are spent by the UN and whether they EU should have appropriate resources availablecontinue to fund the UN to this extent;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is deeply concerned by growing attacks against the rules-based global order by authoritNotes that based on current trends, the UN member states are increasingly calling into question the added value of UN peacekeeping operations; is concerned by the lack of impartian regimes, includlity, objectivity and non-selectivity ing through the undermining of the functioning of UN bodies, namely the abuse of veto power at the UN Security Council; underlines that the diminished effece UN human rights mechanisms and human rights committees; is deeply concerned by the encroachment of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the prerogativeness of these bodies brings with it real costs in terms of conflicts, lives lost and human suffering, and seriously weakens the general ability of countries to deal States Parties; is deeply concerned by the impact on freedom of expression of the UN’s proposals in connection with gthe Global challenges; calls on the Member States and like‑minded partners to intensify their efforts to reverse this trendPrinciples for Information Integrity and the Pact for the Future;
Amendment 353 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the political and financial support the EU has given to the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the ICC, not least through the launch of the ‘Global initiative to fight against impunity for international crimes’ offering EUR 20 million of support to the ICC; calls for the EU and its Member States to keep supporting the ICC with the necessary means and resources and to use all instruments at its disposal to strengthen the fight against impunity worldwide; calls on all the Member States to respect the actions and decisions of all organs of the ICC, including the OTP and the Chambers, and to support their work as an independent and impartial international justice institution; calls on the ICC to implement the recommendations of the Independent Expert Review in full;
Amendment 363 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates the strong support of the EU for the International Court of Justice and the ICC amid a particularly challenging time for the international justice; notes with deep concern the worrying and rising trend to undermine the decisions of international institutions and their employees by state officials; considers that the impartiality of the judges of the International Court of Justice and the ICC is of key importance for preserving credibility; deems it essential that the International Court of Justice and the ICC not be used as political tools;
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights that climate change and its impact on the environment has direct effects on the effective enjoyment of all human rights; recognises the important work of CSOs, indigenous people, land and environmental HRDs and indigenous activists for the protection of a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; deplores the risks that environmental HRDs and indigenous activists face and calls for their effective protection to be guaranteed; notes with deep concern the increasing threats to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment posed by the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and other forms of warfare that adversely and disproportionately affect the environment; is concerned about the impacts of externalising EU climate policy on the rights of indigenous peoples and on the rights and freedoms of individuals around the world; warns that the EU’s quest for green hydrogen must not come at the cost of populations and the environment in other parts of the world;
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses that women’s rights and gender equality are indispensable and indivisible human rights, as well as a basis for the rule of law and inclusive resilient democracies; deplores the fact that millions of women and girls continue to experience discriminationunequal treatment and violence, especially in the context of conflicts, and are denied their dignity, autonomy and even life; calls for the EU, its Member States and like-minded partners to sstresses that women in most Islamic countries are treatepd up their efforts to ensure the full enjoyment and protection of women’s and girls’ human rights; condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world, as well as gender-based violence; welcomes the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention; calls for the EU andnequally and that this unequal treatment is based on cultural norms and religious practices that are frequently reflected in both civil and criminal law; stresses that domestic violence, marital rape, forced marriage, temporary marriages, child marriages, honour killings and female genital mutilation remain prevalent in many Islamic countries; its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure that women fully enjoy humdeeply concerned by the consequences of mass migration for the freedom and rights and are treated equally to menof women as well as their safety in Europe; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation;
Amendment 498 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Denounces the erosion of the human rights and the safety of refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons; reaffirms their inNotes with concern that the EU’s external borders are under constant and growing pressure, and that since 2015 over 2.39 million migrants have crossed the Mediterranean in order to reach Europe; stresses that the current chalilenable human rights and fundamental right to seek asylum; recalls the obligation of states to protect them in accordance with international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to effectively uphold their rights in the EU’s asylum and migration policy and in the EU’s cooperation with partner couges in the area of migration and asylum have become unmanageable because of the sharp rise in illegal migration; stresses that the inefficiency of the EU’s return system encourages illegal migration and that the difficulty of cooperating with migrants’ countries of origin is one of the reasons for the low return rate of illegal migrants; argues in favour of shifting the emphasis away from managing illegal migration in Europe and towards supporting asylum seekers and migrants in the countries of origin and regions; argues in favour of more effective return systems in the EU Member States and reception centries in this regardrd countries; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; regrets that the European Court of Auditors has once again found that funding under the EU Emergency Trust Fund is still not concentrating enough on priorities to tackle the root causes of illegal migration; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and, where possible, step up their support for countries hosting the most refugees, as well as for transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU10,, including the development of talent partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 10 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).
Amendment 538 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 562 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates its condemnation of all forms of racism, intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, political opinion or membership of a political party, age, sexual orientation or gender identity; condemns the growing international threatnotes with concern that allegations of ‘hate speech, including online; reiterates the crucial role of education and dialogue in promoting tolerance, understanding and diversity; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against all forms of extremism and welcomes the adoption of an EU strategy to this end’ are being misused in the EU and in other regions of the world to criminalise dissenting opinions;
Amendment 589 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Reiterates its concern regarding violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief; deplores the instrumentalisation of religious or belief identities for political purposes and the exclusion of persons belonging to religious and belief minorities and religious communities in certain non- EU countries; recommends that the Special Envoy for the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU be granted more resources so that he can comfortably carry out his mandate; highlights the necessity for the Special Envoy to continue to work closely and in a complementary manner with the EUSR for Human Rights and the Council Working Party on Human Rights; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, to raise these issues at UN human rights forums and to continue working with the relevant UN mechanisms and committees;
Amendment 663 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Stresses the role of trade as a major instrument to promote and improve the human rights situation in the EU’s partner countries; notes, however, that there has been little to no improvement in some of the countries concerned; deplores the detrimental effects of some excessive and exploitative business activities on human rights and democracy; welcomes the harmonisation resulting from the adoption; is concerned by the impact of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence with binding EU rules on responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights on the competitiveness of European businesses on the global market; further welcomes the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market11 and calls for its swift implementation at Member State level; _________________ 11 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM(2022)0453).
Amendment 669 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that in many regions of the world, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are often the driving force of local economies; underlines that MSMEs account for 90 % of businesses, 60 to 70 % of employment and 50 % of gross domestic product worldwide; highlights the importance of MSMEs in their contribution to the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the sustainable development goals, namely those on the eradication of poverty and decent work for alleradication of poverty and to female employment throughout the world;
Amendment 675 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to democracy and human rights, especially if it is not duly regulated; welcomes the Council conclusions on Digital Diplomacy of 26 June 2023 to strengthen the EU’s role and leadership in global digital governance, in particular its position as a shaper of the global digital rulebook; welcomacknowledges, in this regard, the adoption of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which aims to harmonise the rules on AI for protecting human rights, and the advantages that AI can bring to human wellbeing; notes with concern the adverse effects of the ‘fake content industry’ on the right to information and press freedom, including the rapid development of AI and the subsequent empowerment of the disinformation industry12; stresses that freedom of opinion and expression are essential for the functioning of democracies, and must not be curtailed on politically motivated grounds under the guise of combating disinformation; supports the idea of clearly defining any legislation aimed at combating disinformation, and of ensuring that the authorities that are responsible for compliance with this legislation are independent and accountable; _________________ 12 Reporters Without Borders, Reporters Without Borders, ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry’ https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press- freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake- content-industry.
Amendment 685 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that the internet should be a place where freedom of expression prevails; considers, nevertheless, that the rights of individuals need to be respected; is of the opinion that, where applicable, what is considered to be illegal offline, should be considered illegal online; expresses concern for the growing number of internet shutdowns; highlights that internet shutdowns are often used by authoritarian regimes, among others, to silence political dissidence and curb political freedom; calls urgently for the EU to combat this alarming phenomenonCommission to broach the issue of these attacks on freedom of expression in its Rule of Law Reports;